Ayurveda | 8 min read
Pippali: Nutritional Value, Benefits, and Side Effects
Medically reviewed by
- Table of Content
Key Takeaways
- Pippali churna reduces intestinal infections
- Consuming pippali relieves menstrual problems
- Taking pippali enhances libido in men and women
Pippali, also known as long pepper, is an aromatic and perennial herb that bears conical ridge-shaped fruits. According to ayurveda, pippali contains therapeutic properties. Pippali benefits your health by treating following diseases [1]:
- Chronic bronchitis
- Constipation
- Cholera
- Diarrhea
- Asthma
- Malaria
Pippali contains a diverse range of natural compounds such as:
- Essential oils
- Alkaloids
- Eugenols
- Resins
- Glycosides
- Saturated fats
All these natural elements help fight infections and reduce inflammation. Packed with numerous health benefits, pippali can help you heal from several health issues. To understand how having pippali churna or powder can benefit you, read on.
Pippali (Long Pepper) Nutritional Value
Pippali, also known as Indian long Pepper, contains a lot of alkaloids, beta-sitosterol, and analgesics. Eugenol, glycosides, piperine, resins, sugar, saturated fat, volatile and essential oils, piperine, myrcene, terpenoids, quercetin, triacontane, and sylvatine are all abundant in this substance. Long Pepper contains all of these necessary nutrients and chemical compounds, which help your body's entire system function more effectively.
Pippali Benefits
Here are some of Long Pepper's health benefits. Even long, Pepper is employed for a variety of therapeutic purposes. This plant's root is beneficial for reducing inflammation and pain.
Long Pepper is beneficial to diabetic individuals
Diabetes is a condition that affects millions of people every year and is brought on by abnormally high or low blood glucose levels. If left unchecked, this can cause various issues with the system, such as organ failure, amputation, and even death.
Diabetes patients are informed that managing or controlling their condition is the best course of action even though there is no surefire cure for the condition. In Ayurvedic medicine, Indian long Pepper has long been used as a treatment for this condition.
Long Pepper aids in controlling blood sugar levels, making the condition much more tolerable and safe.
Long pepper guards against liver problems
A functioning liver guarantees a healthy system. It has an important influence on how your digestive system functions as well as how your body secretes specific hormones and enzymes. Today, we all consume a lot of processed foods, which causes various liver disorders to arise, making liver issues quite widespread.
Components in long Pepper are known to protect the liver. It can guarantee that liver toxicity is always under control and shield against jaundice.
Bacterial infections are combated by long Pepper
Strong antibacterial properties are seen in Indian long Pepper. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do to keep germs from entering your body because they are always present around you. However, bacterial infections may be avoided with certainty.
The body is shielded from bacterial infections by long Pepper. It also aids in this by having anti-amoebic qualities. One can consume the Pepper's root or stem to obtain this defence.
Long Pepper for weight loss
More and more individuals are becoming obese as a result of our continual exposure to processed meals and junk food, as well as our growing habit of consuming those things rather than wholesome home cuisine. Not only for reasons of self-image and aesthetic standards but also for health grounds, the notion of weight loss has become utterly ubiquitous.
Indian long Pepper aids in maintaining weight reduction. It simply decreases the amount of body fat and eliminates fatty toxins, which aids in weight loss. Indian long Pepper does not negatively affect your body when used for weight loss, unlike diets or weight loss medications.
Your body is oxygenated by long Pepper
Your organs need to get oxygen and energy from the lungs in order to function at their best capacity. Numerous medical issues, including organ failure and sepsis, can arise when individuals don't get the oxygen they need or the pace they need.
It is crucial that oxygen circulates throughout your blood effectively and without any issues. Indian long Pepper aids in promoting the blood flow that carries oxygen to the organs and the brain.
Reduces Hunger Pangs
Include this herb in your weight loss meal plan as it contains fat-burning properties. It helps in detoxifying your body by eliminating toxins. This also helps you control your hunger pangs to a great extent. Your dependency on unhealthy foods also reduces. Helping to boost your metabolism, pippali burns fat cells and helps you shed weight easily. It also helps prevent accumulation of bad cholesterol in your body.
Boosts Digestion
Having pippali is an easy ayurvedic method to improve your digestion. With both digestive and carminative properties, this herb is an ideal solution to all your digestive ailments. Its carminative properties help in reducing flatulence. This herb minimizes gas formation in the alimentary canal and thus prevents constipation, bloating and abdominal problems. Since it is a potent antacid, taking this herb regularly can prevent excessive acid formation in your stomach. This way health ailments like gastritis, indigestion and ulcer can be treated. Pippali also enables better absorption of nutrients in your body.
Additional read: Home Remedies for IndigestionEnhances Libido in Men and Women
The desire for sexual activity can be increased when you take this herb. Being rich in aphrodisiac properties, it helps in minimizing your anxiety and mental stress. This is an effective herb that helps stimulate hormones for increasing overall sexual activity. In men, pippali is known to increase stamina and virility. Regular consumption of this herb, as per a doctor’s recommendations, can be used for minimizing erectile dysfunction too.
Reduces Diarrhea
Since pippali contains anti-diarrheal and anti-bacterial properties, it is one of the most effective medicines to remove bacteria from your intestines. As a result, intestinal infections subside [2]. Have this in powder form and see how effectively your toxins are eliminated! It also reduces the frequency of stools thereby helps in treating acute diarrhea.
Treats Respiratory Disorders
Pippali is an ideal solution to reduce any respiratory ailments like asthma, COPD or cough [3]. This herb helps in removing phlegm deposits from your respiratory tract and eases congestion in your chest. Make a herbal drink by mixing pippali, turmeric and dried ginger. Add these powders to glass of lukewarm water and mix a teaspoon of honey in it for sweetness. Try taking it regularly to get relief from respiratory issues.
Additional read: Kadha BenefitsManages Liver Ailments
Due to the hepatoprotective properties in pippali, it may be effective in providing protection against viral hepatitis. When there is an inflammation in the liver, the condition is called hepatitis. The liver is an important organ as it helps in eliminating toxins from the blood. If hepatitis is not treated on time, it can lead to liver cancer. Consuming this herb is a precautionary measure to safeguard yourself from hepatitis.
Relieves Menstrual Problems
Before the onset of monthly cycles, your hormonal fluctuations can cause mood swings or stomach cramps. Using pippali can control heavy menstrual flow and ease your cramps. Since olden times, this herbal powder has also been used for inducing contractions during childbirth. It is also given after delivery to encourage quick healing.
Potential Pippali Uses
Alkaloids (piperine and piperlongumine), which are significant secondary metabolites, flavonoids, essential oils, and steroids, are among the numerous phytochemicals found in pippali.
The following is a list of some of pippali's medicinal applications:
- Analgesic and anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Antimicrobial
- Anticancer
- Anti-parkinsonian
- Anti-stress
- Nootropic
- Anti-epileptic
- Anti-hyperglycemic
- Hepatoprotective
- Anti-hyperlipidemic
- Anti-platelet
- Immunomodulatory
- Anti-arthritic
- Anti-ulcer
- Anti-asthmatic
- Anthelmintic
How to Use Pippali?
There are several uses for Pippali:
- Piper longum leaves are crushed in a wooden bowl with a bit of water and used to cleanse a person's chest who likely has breast cancer in traditional medicine
- You may consume the fruits whole. The fruits have been utilized in traditional treatments for digestive discomfort, with the ripe fruits being used as a substitute for a tonic
Pippali Side Effects
Pippali Side effects can be discussed as follows:
- The Indian long pepper fruit is usually safe to ingest by mouth.
- There isn't enough solid evidence to say whether Indian long pepper is harmless or what the potential side effects are when taken as medication.
Pippali Precautions Tips
When utilizing Pippali, keep the following considerations in mind:
- Indian long pepper may have an effect on blood sugar levels. In principle, consuming more Indian long pepper than what is found in food might change blood sugar management in diabetics. Diabetes medications may need to be dosed differently as a consequence
- There is insufficient data to determine if Pippali is safe to use as a medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding. As a result, it should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- In principle, consuming more Indian long pepper than is used in cooking might increase the risk of bleeding in those with bleeding problems
- Taking Indian long pepper in larger dosages than those found in food may cause bleeding problems or affect blood sugar levels after surgery. You should cease using Indian long pepper in amounts larger than those used in diets at least two weeks before surgery
Though pippali side effects are negligible, consuming pippali for a long period can cause health problems like stomach pain, itching, swelling, stomach pain and indigestion. So, take the right dosage as per your doctor’s recommendations. Ideally, you can consume 0.5-1g of pippali powder either in water or milk twice a day. Always have it after meals. To get the best advice, you can talk to ayurvedic specialists on Bajaj Finserv Health. Book an online doctor consultation and get your queries solved from the comfort of your home!
- References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2005290111600204
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0378874194011818
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3611634/
- Disclaimer
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