Pippali Root Powder

Botanical Name: Piper longum

Common Name:

• English: Long Pepper
• Ayurvedic: Pippali, Maagadhi, Granthika, Pippalika, Maagadha, Maagadhaa, Maagadhikaa, Magadhodbhavaa, Vaidehi, Upkulyaa, Pippalikam, Chapalaa, Kanaa, Krishnaa. Uushnaa, Shaundi, Kolaa, Tikshna-tandulaa
• Unani: Filfil Daraaz, Daarfilfil.
• Also, known as: Long Pepper, Jaborandi, Dee Plee, Thippili, Arisi Thippili, Thippiliver, Bi Bo, Pipulmul, Piper Root, Gantoda, Ganthoda, Piparamula, Modikaddi, Hippali, Tippali, Modi, Kattuthippaliver, Tippaliveru, Pimplimula, Pippalimula, Bana Pippalimula, Pippalimula, Magha, Kanda Tippili, Ambinadi Desavaram, Madikatta, Pipoli, Pipul, Pipil, Dulgiyat Piper, Bat But, Cheung Jiu, Chang Jiao, Langwerpige Peper, Balinese Pepper, Jaborandi Pepper, Bengal Pepper, Pikk Pipar, Pitkapippuri, Poivre Long, Langer Pfeffer, Stangenpfeffer, Balinesischer Pfeffer, Jaborandi-Pfeffer, Bengalischer Pfeffer, Makropipero, Pipari, Bali (Szigeti) Bors, Bengáli Bors, Cabé Bali, Cabe Jawa, Lada Panjang, Pepe Lungo, Indonaga-Kosho, Hippali, Gajahippali, Morech Ansai, Pilbal, Bakek, Chabai Jawa, Kedawak, Pippla, Pimpli, Pipi, Pipla, Pipali, Piphli, Pieprz Dlugi, Magha, Darfilfil,  Chanchala, Magandhi, Kana, Ushana, Tippili, Gajatippili, Podolgovati Poper, Langpeppar, Tippali, Vanapippili, Pippallu Kandandippili, Dok Dipli, Dipli, Dee Plee, Phrik-Hang, Dipli-Chueak, Pi-Pi Ling, Uzun Biber and Pipalli

Habitat: South Asian

Origin: India  

Harvested: Wild or cultivated

Parts Used: The tiny berries, which merge to a single, rod-like structure                     

General Information:

Piper longum is an underground creeper or under-shrub which has a large woody root and numerous creeping, jointed stems that are thickened at the nodes and grows in the sub-tropical climate of the Indian subcontinent.  Herbal remedies have become popular, due in part to the lower risk of adverse reactions. Thousands of plants have been used traditionally to treat various diseases. Among them, species of the genus Piper are important medicinal plants used in various systems of medicine. The Piper longum fruit has been used in traditional medicine, including the Ayurvedic system of medicine. Long pepper is a close relative of Piper nigrum, which gives black, green, and white pepper and has a similar but generally hotter flavor.

The leaves are alternate, ovate, spreading, without stipules and with blades varying greatly in size, 5-10 cm long, acuminate and have a cordate base. Flowers are unisexual, green or yellow with berries crowded in a black spike, 1 to 3 cm long and 1-3 mm in diameter. When chewed it is greenish, slimy with a spicy odour and mild pungent smell, slightly different from that of black pepper. Flowers grow in solitary spikes. The fruiting spike used as peepali is mainly obtained from various cultivars of P. longum and allied species. The fruits, which grow in fleshy spikes 2-4 cm long and 3-4 mm thick, are oblong, blunt, and blackish-green. The mature spikes are collected and dried as the commercial form of pippali, and the root radix is known as pippalimula. The root of Piper species, under the name peeplamul, is widely used in Ayurvedic medicines. The commercial drug consists almost entirely of transversely cut pieces, which are cylindrical, straight, or slightly curved; some have distinct, swollen internodes exhibiting a number of leaf and rootlet scars. The surface is a dirty light brown. The drug has a peculiar odor and a pungent bitter taste that produces numbness on the tongue.

How to use:

Powdered Herb:

There are different ways to use powdered herb.

Food Preparation: You can add powdered herbs to any super food, herbal smoothie, sauces, spreads and even cookies. Also for children, you can mix powdered herbs with honey or glycerin to make a paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help the medicine go down. This method is also known as "Electuaries".

Capsules: Encapsulating your own powdered herb at home, give you assurance that the contents of the capsules are pure herb and no filler or any other products. These capsules can be taken with liquid.

Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.

Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot. 

Precautions: 

You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

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This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.

This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.