The efficacy and function of pepper

I wonder if you have ever heard of peppercorns. Grass pepper has great benefits for regulating our body and can also play a good role in treating some diseases. Today let us look at the relevant knowledge about grass pepper.

【English name】 all-grass of Shiny Peperomia

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Piper nigrum, a plant of the Piperaceae family.

[Original form] Peppercorn is an annual fleshy herb, 20-40cm tall. The stem is erect or sometimes procumbent at the base, 1-2 mm thick, branched, glabrous, and often has adventitious roots on the lower nodes. Leaves are alternate; petiole is 1-2cm long; leaf blade is broadly ovate or ovate-triangular, length and width are nearly equal, about 1-3.5cm, apex is short-pointed or obtuse, base is cordate, glabrous on both sides, leaf veins are 5-7, basal, reticular and unclear; membranous, translucent. The spike inflorescence is terminal at the top of the stem, opposite the leaves, light green, thin and weak, 2-6cm long, less than 1mm in diameter, and both it and the axis of the same order are glabrous; the flowers are sparse; the bracts are nearly circular, about 0.5mm in diameter, with a thin short stalk in the center, and are shield-shaped; the flowers are extremely small, bisexual, without perianth, with 2 stamens, short filaments, and nearly circular anthers; the ovary is elliptical, the stigma is terminal, and is covered with short soft hairs. The berries are spherical, extremely small, pointed at the tip, and no more than 0.5mm in diameter.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows in forest wetlands, rock cracks or at the foot of house walls.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The stem is branched, with fine longitudinal grooves, and adventitious roots grow on the lower nodes. The leaves are wrinkled or broken. When the complete leaves are unfolded, they are broadly ovate or ovate-triangular, with almost equal length and width, 0.8-3cm, heart-shaped base, glabrous on both sides, basal veins, inconspicuous reticulate veins, and petioles 0.8-2cm long. Often with spike inflorescence, terminal or opposite to leaves. Slight odor, light taste.

[Chemical composition] The whole plant contains apiol, 2,4,5-trimethoxystyrene, β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmsterol.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; Cool

【Meridian】 Liver; Lung

【Functions and indications】 Disperses blood stasis and relieves pain; clears away heat and detoxifies. Mainly used for carbuncle, swelling, sore, burn, scald, traumatic injury, and bleeding due to trauma

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 15-30g. For external use: take appropriate amount, mash the fresh product and apply it or add wine to it; it can also be mashed and squeezed into juice.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": The whole plant; has the function of dispersing blood stasis and relieving pain, and is used for bruises, burns, etc.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the above description, we know what grass pepper is and what effects it has. Grass pepper has high medicinal value and is beneficial to improving the immune system. It is a worthy choice for us.