Piper Nigrum

Botanical name : Piper nigrum

Plant origin : Berries

Extraction method : Steam distillation

Aroma : Spicy, warm, woody

Odor intensity : Medium

Evaporation rate : Medium note

Black pepper essential oil is a digestive, diaphoretic, carminative, aperient, analgesic, anti viral, anti spasmodic, anti rheumatic and anti arthritic, anti bacterial, antioxidant, anti-toxic, stomachic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, diuretic, febrifuge, laxative, rubefacient, tonic to nervous system

Black pepper is native to Western India. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years and is mentioned in the early writings of the Romans. Attila the Hun is known to have demanded 3,000 pounds of black pepper in ransom for the city of Rome. During the time of Hippocrates pepper was used for treatments of the stomach and fever preparations. In Asia, black pepper is considered to be a detoxifying and anti aging compound.

Black pepper essential oil helps the circulatory system by warming the body and increasing blood flow. It also aids digestion, encourages peristaltic movement, and may stimulate appetite. Because of its analgesic properties black pepper essential oil assists the musculoskeletal system by relieving aches and pains, sciatica, and rheumatism. It also helps to overcome both mental and physical fatigue. It is reputed to be an aphrodisiac.

Extraction

The unripe, sun-dried peppercorns (fruit berries) are used for the extraction of the oil, using steam distillation which produces a yield of approx 2%.

Chemical composition

The essential oil is composed of various chemical constituents and includes the following; a-thujone, a-pinene, camphene, sabinene, b-pinene, a-phellandrene, myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, b-farnesene, b-bisabolene, linalool and terpinen-4-ol.