Indian Long Pepper: A powerful Ayurvedic remedy | Fusion - WeRIndia

Indian long pepper, a key component in Ayurvedic medicine, has been used for centuries to treat various ailments.

The fruit of this plant offers digestive, respiratory, and neurological benefits. It is often combined with other herbs to enhance its medicinal effects.

Indian long pepper is widely used for several health conditions, including:

• Digestive Health: It helps stimulate appetite, improve digestion, and relieve stomach discomfort, including indigestion, bloating, diarrhoea, and intestinal gas.
• Respiratory Support: Used to manage asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and persistent cough.
• Neurological Conditions: Traditionally used for headaches, epilepsy, stroke, and coma.
• Fever and Infections: Known for its effectiveness in reducing fever, treating cholera, and tetanus, and boosting immunity.
• Menstrual and Reproductive Health: Some women use it to stimulate menstrual flow, relieve cramps, improve fertility, and aid postpartum recovery. It is also used to induce abortions, but medical guidance is necessary.
• Other Conditions: It is used for muscle pain, fatigue, nasal congestion, paralysis, psoriasis, tumours, snakebites, and spleen disorders.

How Indian Long Pepper Works

This plant contains piperine, a bioactive compound that helps fight parasites and improves nutrient absorption in the intestines.

This property makes it beneficial for increasing the effectiveness of certain medicines and dietary supplements.

Precautions and Possible Side Effects

• Pregnancy & Breastfeeding: There is insufficient research on its safety during pregnancy or lactation. It is best to avoid use.
• General Safety: Long-term effects are not well studied, so use with caution.

Indian long pepper may enhance the absorption of certain medications, increasing their effects and potential side effects.

Some affected drugs include:

• Phenytoin (Dilantin) – Used for seizures.
• Propranolol (Inderal) – Used for heart conditions and blood pressure control.
• Theophylline – A medication for asthma and lung diseases.

There is no standardized dosage for Indian long pepper. The right amount depends on age, health condition, and purpose of use.

Always consult a healthcare professional before consuming, especially if taking other medications.

Following product label instructions ensures safe and effective use.

Image Credit: Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pippali.jpg