BLACK PEPPER
Botanical name: Piper nigrum

Therapeutic Benefit - Mind:  Black Pepper is warming, stimulating, and energizing. It dispels anger, exhaustion, fatigue, and frustration. Black pepper also helps concentration.

Therapeutic Benefit - Body:  Black Pepper is analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-toxic, antispasmodic. It is a circulatory stimulant and rubefacient that is good for cramps, fever, flu, bruises, hernia, anemia, and chilblains. Black Pepper when combined with Rosemary relieves muscular aches, joint pain, sprains, and rheumatoid arthritis. Black Pepper also works on the digestive system as a laxative and diuretic.

Therapeutic Benefit - Spirit:  Black Pepper opens the base chakra. It is used in meditation and enhances courage, physical energy, protection and manifestation.

Application Method:  Dilute 10 drops in 1 oz carrier oil, massage oil, or lotion and apply to skin. Use 4 drops in 2 cups of hot water for a steam.

Action Word:  Warming and Stimulating

Color Energy:  Red - Stimulating

Fragrance:  Pungent, spicy, herbaceous, sharp, woodsy

Note:  Top-Middle Note

Color of Oil:  Clear

Major Chemical Constituents:  alpha-pinene, beta-caryophyllene, sabinene, thujene

Common Adulterants:  Rarely adulterated

Blends well with:  Basil, Bergamot, Clary Sage, Clove, Coriander, Cypress, Fennel, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Grapefruit, Juniper, Lavandin, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Mandarin, Marjoram, Palmarosa, Rose, Rosemary, Sage, Sandalwood, Spruce, Vanilla, Ylang Ylang

Botany:  Dark green leaves; white flowers and red fruits adorn this climbing vine-like shrub. Originally a forest plant, Black Pepper thrives best in the shade. It naturally grows to over twenty feet, often needing support. However, these days it is cultivated to just twelve feet.

History:  A very old and highly revered spice, used in India over 4,000 years ago; mainly for urinary and liver disorders and probably for cholera and dysentery as well. The root word comes originally from the Sanskrit “pippali,” changing to the Latin “piper.”

Warnings:  May irritate skin – always dilute. Too much can over stimulate the kidneys.