Health Benefits of Black Pepper Essential Oil

Always use therapeutic-grade black pepper essential oil, which is not the same as food-grade essential oil.

Obtained from the distillation of black pepper berries, black pepper essential oil is said to have high therapeutic value. Although limited research has been done on the use of black pepper essential oil, it has been used as a traditional medicine in Asian countries, like China and India, to treat a wide range of ailments. Following are its benefits.

Black pepper essential oil can also help improve digestion. It prompts the body to release stomach acids, which play a crucial role in breaking down food. The increased flow of digestive juices can get rid of slow digestion.

For centuries, this essential oil has been an integral part of Chinese folk medicine to treat digestion problems such as heartburn, constipation, and diarrhea. Adding 2-3 drops to your favorite dish can help ease the symptoms.

Looking for a natural way to relieve painful gas that causes a bloated stomach? How about taking black pepper essential oil? The essential oil shows carminative action, which means, it can facilitate expulsion of intestinal gas, thereby, helping relieve gas and bloating. Taking a gelcap containing the essential oil can help alleviate the symptoms.

This essential oil is well-known for its diaphoretic activity, meaning it promotes perspiration. So, its ingestion increases sweating, which helps flush out harmful toxins through the skin. Moreover, it also displays diuretic properties, which increases urine flow. The increased urinary rate also contributes in toxic elimination.

Coming home after a hard day's work, we often look for a topical ointment to relieve our aches and pains. Instead of taking OTC medication, a better option would be to use black pepper essential oil. Applying it topically can work wonders to soothe muscular and joint pain.

The essential oil acts as a natural analgesic, and hence, it can help relieve body ache. Place 4 drops of black pepper essential oil on a warm compress, and then, gently press around the joint or aching area to reduce pain.

This essential oil also displays anti-arthritic effects and is a natural anti-inflammatory. So, massaging with this oil can cut down joint swelling associated with arthritis.

Radical scavenging activity of black pepper essential oil can provide protection against age-related degeneration of cells that cause a wide range of health problems such as vision impairment and joint stiffness.

If one small study is to believed, breathing in the aroma of black pepper essential oil may help get rid of smoking as inhaling its scent is found to reduce nicotine cravings.

The study published in the book Aromatherapy Science: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals, authored by Dr. Maria Lis-Balchin, suggests that those who want to quit smoking and are looking for ways to reduce cravings, may use this essential oil. So, whenever you feel like smoking, use the inhaler containing drops of black pepper essential oil.

This may help you overcome the urge to light a cigarette. Thus, inhaling the scent of this essential oil may boost your efforts to quit smoking.

People with poor blood circulation problems may also be benefit with topical application of black pepper essential oil. When diluted with equal amounts of carrier oil, such as coconut oil, its application can assist the circulatory system and facilitate blood flow.

Circulatory issues that cause numbness in feet, cold feet and hands, or bruises may resolve by applying this oil blend.

Black pepper essential oil has high antimicrobial properties which can act as a powerful tool to combat bacterial and fungal infections. Its usage can also be helpful to treat a wide range of infections including UTIs.

This essential oil is a good source of minerals like iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and selenium. It also contains a good dose of vitamin A and vitamin K. So, its supplemental intake, as mentioned in the point about digestion, may add nutrition to your health.

Using the diffuser to breathe in the aroma of black pepper oil can help alleviate anxiety and relax the mind. Inhaling the aroma may help clear the mind of negative thoughts, and promote emotional well-being.

Internal usage of this essential oil, such as in the form of supplement, should be done strictly under the guidance of your healthcare provider or a qualified aromatherapist. Although this essential oil is generally considered to be safe, one should not apply it near the eyes as it may cause irritation.

Accidental eye contact, can cause a stinging sensation. In such circumstances, rinsing the eye with water or whole milk, or putting 2 drops of pure vegetable oil can help relieve the pain. Also, diluting the oil with a carrier oil in equal parts is necessary when massaging it on the skin.

Also, health claims of essential oils are not backed by the USFDA. Hence, a cautious approach needs to be adopted when using essential oils.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner.