PEPPER
King of spices
In the gallery of spices, pepper is considered numerouno and is known as the "king of spices." Pepper is a most important and is one of the oldest spices. The pepper plant is a smooth evergreen creeper, swollen at its roots.
Black pepper is the whole dried spice. White pepper is treated in water; thus the mesocarp is removed. Both are used in powdered form or ground. In 372-287 B.C, Greek philosopher Theophrastus had mentioned. Pepper in his writing. Ancient Romans, Greek and some other tribes of Central Asia used pepper in their food and medicine. It was used in seasoning food and as a preservative in meat. It also used to overcome the odors of bad food, along with other spices. Pepper is originated from the Western Ghats of India, especially at Malabar Region. Nowadays it is grown in many tropical countries. In ancient times pepper was a prominent commodity in sea trade between the southern kingdoms of India and Rome, Greece and Arabian countries.
Black pepper is the whole dried spice. White pepper is treated in water; thus the mesocarp is removed. Both are used in powdered form or ground. In 372-287 B.C, Greek philosopher Theophrastus had mentioned. Pepper in his writing. Ancient Romans, Greek and some other tribes of Central Asia used pepper in their food and medicine. It was used in seasoning food and as a preservative in meat. It also used to overcome the odors of bad food, along with other spices. Pepper is originated from the Western Ghats of India, especially at Malabar Region. Nowadays it is grown in many tropical countries. In ancient times pepper was a prominent commodity in sea trade between the southern kingdoms of India and Rome, Greece and Arabian countries.
Hakeem Hashmi, a prominent unani physician points out that pepper is called as " king of spices" not because its food value but for its enormous healing power and curative properties.
Black pepper is a nervine tonic and is digestive, aromatic, pungent and stimulant. The pungency of black pepper is most abundant is its over layer or mesocarp. This is useful in relieving flatulence.
The eminent Unani physician Hakeem Hashmi gives us some valuable pepper cures for common ailments.
Digestive disorders: -Digestive organs get a stimulating effect on the digestive organs by consuming pepper and produced a more flow of saliva and gastric juice. For digestive disordered pepper is a good home remedy and is an appetizer. Black pepper powder can be taken mixed with jaggery. In indigestion or heaviness in the stomach, taken 1/4 tsp of pepper powder mixed in thin butter milk and it will cure the ailments. Adding some cumin powder with the above remedy will give better results.
Cold & fever: -In the treatment of cold and fever, pepper is very beneficial. 5 to 6 peppercorns finally ground and mixed in a glass of warm water along with some sugar candy can be taken for a few nights for good results. Twenty grams pepper powder boiled in milk with a pinch of turmeric powder can be taken daily once for three days to cure acute cold in the head.
Pyorrhoea: -For pyorrhoea or pus in the gums finely powdered salt and pepper mixture is very useful for massaging the gums. This decreases inflammation and swelling.
Impotency: -In an impotent person, eating 6 peppers with 4 almonds once daily in milk, is a nerve tonic and acts as an aphrodisiac.
Cough: -Three pepper sucked with a pinch of caraway seeds along with little salt, is an effective remedy is curing cough, caused due to throat irritation.
Amnesia: -A pinch of finely ground pepper mixed with honey taken twice a day is an effective cure for amnesia.
Muscular pains: -A tablespoon of peeper powder fried in seasame oil until it is charred can be applied as an ointment for mylagia and rheumatic pains. Besides this pepper is widely used as a condiment, its flavor and pungency mixing well with most savoury dishes. Pepper is extensively used in pickles, sausages and for seasoning dishes all over the world. So add some pepper to add some health, to stay healthy.
