How To Use Spices Internally and Externally - Black Pepper

Black Pepper, known as Piper nigrum (Piper nigrum), is a part of the family Piperaceae. Usually dried and used as a spice known as a peppercorn, it is an excellent aid for stimulating digestion. It's qualities are Hot and Dry, pacifying Kapha and Vata. It is a powerful expectorant and mucus-cleanser when added to honey. Vipaka, post-digestive effect, is pungent, and heating. Black pepper strengthens the plasma (Rasa dhatu), blood (Rakta dhatu), fat (Meds dhatu), marrow and nerve tissues (Majja dhatu).

Black pepper is native to Kerala in Southwestern India and is extensively cultivated there and other tropical regions. Used in ancient remedies for: constipation, insect bites, tooth decay, sunburn, arthritis, lung disease, toxins in the colon, fever and more! Because black pepper is a carminative (expels gas from the body), it discourages intestinal gas from forming, in addition, the outer layer of the peppercorn aids in the breakdown of fat cells. It promotes sweating as well, which can help rid the body of ama (toxins). This common condiment comes from a lineage of royalty and was considered the King of Spices during the Middle Ages. At that time, Black Pepper was more valuable than gold. Only the wealthy could afford to keep and store. Now, it's considered a staple in most homes.

Why is Piperdine so important?
Black pepper contains essential oils like piperine, which is the source of its bold character and heat. This compound zaps your taste buds and triggers a sneeze when it hits the nerve endings inside your nose. Piperine stimulates the taste buds, activating the pancreas to start producing digestive enzymes. It tones the lining of the intestines, and speeds up the time it takes to move all the way through the digestive tract. Piperdine is is exceptional in its influence on the liver, drug-metabolizing system and improves digestion and metabolizes medications faster.

How to consume for best benefit?
A pinch or more is enough. You can put black pepper on anything, including fruit. Add pepper last, as adding in too early may leave a bit of bitterness. Store in glass, metal, or plastic. Never store in wood, as wood leaches the oil from the peppercorns, making them stale. Use in moderation as it is Pitta aggravating when used in excess.

RECIPES

Black Pepper Gravy

Ingredients

• 5 tbsp olive oil or vegan butter
• 7 tbsp all-purpose flour
• A pinch of garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning, optional
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 4 cups cashew milk, at room temperature
• 2-3 tsp Fresh cracked pepper (or more)
• Salt, to taste

Directions

• In a medium sized pot heat oil over medium-high heat, add flour and stir for 2 – 3 minutes, until it turns light golden brown
• Add the garlic powder, poultry seasoning and nutmeg, mix well, stir for a minute or so. Mixture will form a ball of sorts
• Slowly add the milk and continue to stir
• Bring just to a boil, reduce heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until gravy has thickened to desired consistency, about 10 minutes.
• Gravy will thicken a bit more as it cools. Season with plenty of pepper and salt to taste. Set aside with lid on, or slightly askew stirring every now and then until ready to serve. If gravy cools too much, heat over low until warmed

Black Pepper Tea

Ingredients

• 2 cups filtered water
• 1 Ginger tea bag or 1 tsp chopped fresh ginger
• 1 tsp. freshly ground Black Pepper
• 1 Tbsp. honey 
• 1 tsp. lemon/lime juice
• 1/8tsp Turmeric (optional)

Directions

• Bring the water to a boil. 
• Turn off heat.
• Add all other ingredients 
• Steep for three to five minutes
• Strain and drink while hot

Would you like to learn more? All year long I'll be sharing about spices, herbs and how to use them for healing internally and externally.  Coming up next is Ginger! Stay tuned!

How To Use Spices Internally and Externally - Turmeric

Turmeric is a staple across kitchens in India and is a rhizome, or underground stem. It is one of nature's most powerful healers, and owes its preventative and curative nature to its active ingredient: curcumin. Curcumin is a compound rich in anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory actions that have been proven to improve and protect every organ in the body. Curcumin has been shown to combat more than 70 ailments, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes, poor circulation, skin disorders and more.

Turmeric is a natural antibiotic, strengthens digestion, and improves intestinal flora (gut health). It also purifies the blood and stimulates formation of new blood tissue. It reduces Kapha Dosha but can increase Pitta and Vata when consumed in excess. Turmeric is energetically bitter, astringent, pungent and heating and works on all the 7 tissues (dhatus), which effectively cleanses the Chakras, purifying the channels of the subtle body.

Why is the fact that Turmeric is an anti-oxidant with powerful anti-inflammatory abilities so important?? 
Oxidation is a kind of internal "rust" caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) - which are molecules that are missing an electron from their outer ring and so they steal an electron from other molecules, creating oxidative damage or oxidative stress. These little thieves! The oxidative stress leads to chronic low-grade inflammation, which may trigger or advance many dis-eases.

The East has used this spice for over 2,000 years. Natural Medicine uses for Turmeric include:

• antacid to soothe digestive problems
• topical paste for skin problems
• analgesic to relieve headache (curcumin is the active ingredient in Tylenol!)
• decongestant to clear nasal passages
• speed wound healing and prevent infections

How to consume for best benefit?

A teaspoon a day, spread throughout all meals is suggested. Turmeric is a key ingredient in Curry, however they are not the same. Turmeric is what gives Curry its bold yellow color, which used to be incorrectly called the "poor man's saffron" due to Marco Polo mistakenly identifying this powerful, healing spice. Adding Black Pepper with Turmeric has shown to improve absorption, when consumed together.

Turmeric and Black Pepper?

"Curcumin only makes up about 5% of turmeric, similar to black pepper where the active ingredient, piperine also makes up about 5% of the spice. Piperine is responsible for black pepper’s rich flavor and helps inhibit drug metabolism. For example, the liver gets rid of foreign substances by making them water-soluble so that they can be excreted, and piperine can inhibit this process so that curcumin is not excreted. This explains how piperine can help to make curcumin more bioavailable. With just 1/20 teaspoon or more of black pepper, the bio-availability of turmeric is greatly improved, and turmeric’s benefits are further enhanced.

Another way to increase the bio-availability of turmeric is to consume this spice with a source of fat (such as avocado, nut butters and nuts, fish, etc.), and therefore curcumin will directly be absorbed into the blood stream and bypass the liver."

Recipes

Tri-doshic Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

• 4 cups mixed vegetables according to what’s in season 
• 8 cups of water
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 6 black peppercorns
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 10 cloves
• 10 cardamom pods
• 2 tbsp ghee
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• a pinch of salt

Directions

• Cut vegetables into bite sized pieces and cover with water. 
• Cook on medium heat until tender. 
• Grind cumin seeds, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, cardamom pods and cloves in pestle and mortar or blender. 
• Add ghee to large saucepan and then ground spices. 
• Sautee for a moment but be very careful not to burn them. Remove from heat once they become fragrant.
• Add the vegetables and 4 cups of the water they were cooked in. 
• Boil for 2 minutes, reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes,
• Add salt and serve. Serve with toast.

Face Mask

Ingredients

1/2 cup besan (garbanzo bean flour)

1 1/2 tsp turmeric

odorless oil (coconut or sesame)

water

Directions

Mix the flour and turmeric in a container with a lid. 

To Make Mask

Mix 1 tablespoon of the mixture with 5 drops of oil. Add enough water to make a paste with a consistency like cake batter. 

Application

Using your fingertips, spread mixture on your face and neck, staying away from the eyes. Remember this stains, so use old t-shirts and towel.  Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse off. Pat face dry with clean towel.

After learning about this healing spice, will you be giving it a try? Would you like to learn more? All year long I'll be sharing about spices, herbs and how to use them for healing internally and externally.  Coming up next is Black Pepper! Stay tuned!