by Shannon Farlouis

Created on: March 23, 2010

Medicinal Uses of Black Pepper

Black pepper is most often used as a spice and a seasoning. Black pepper is wdely used in most parts of the world. It has many health and medicinal benefits. The pepper plant is a woody vine that produces the fruit called the peppercorn from which black pepper is made. Black pepper is a native to India. It is one of the most common spices added to food. It has been used as a spice in food since prehistoric times. Black pepper was believed to treat and cure constipation, diarrhea, earache, gangrene, heart disease, hernia, indigestion, insect bites, insomnia, joint pain, liver and lung disease, sunburn, and toothaches. It is recomended that patients who have abdominal surgery not use black pepper. The worl's largest exporter of black pepper is Vietnam. Other producers of black pepper are Indonesia, India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, and China.

Black pepper is grown in soil that is rich in organic matter. The pepper requires watering every other day. The berries of the pepper plant are called peppercorns.  The pepper plant is a woody vine. It is a spreading vine that can grow on trees and poles. Pepper plants grow well on trees with rough bark. In history, peppercorns were very highly prized and referred to as "black gold." Black pepper has changed the course of world history because of the trading and exporting of the spice, it has lead to the discovery of many sea routes. In Ancient times, black pepper was a very expensive spice. At that time, in Greece, only the wealthy could afford it. It was a very valuable spice that was often used in place of money or currency. In the Middle Ages, black pepper was considered to be a luxury item. Today, black pepper is used at the tables around the world. It is a popular spice and it is rather cheap in price. Black pepper is still exported and traded today. Black pepper can be purchased year-round.

Black pepper is spicy and can lose flavor in evaporation. Keeping black pepper in an airtight container will preserve the spiciness. Peppercorn is the most widely traded spice in the world. The is an International Pepper Exchange that is lOcated in India. If you are planning to use black pepper or any herb for medicinal purposes, please seek the advice of a herbalist or doctor before using.

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