Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)



Botanical characteristics

  • Latin name: Piper nigrum L.
  • Botanical family: Piperaceae
  • Part used: fruit
  • Country of origin: Madagascar

Precautions for use

Black pepper essential oil is quite flexible but should not be used lightly.

It is only authorised for adults and children over 6 years of age and its use must be controlled.

The oral route is reserved for the therapist, but all other routes of use are possible, even if its composition reveals risks of skin irritation and dermocausticity.

It is therefore necessary to respect the recommended dilution doses to avoid any risk.

It is also similar to cortisone.

Other precautions

Warning:

  • People with epilepsy and asthma should seek medical advice before use.
  • This essential oil should not be used for prolonged periods without medical advice.

Cutaneous use:

  • As it contains dermocaustic and skin irritating components, its essential oil must be diluted in a vegetable oil (10% essential oil to 90% vegetable oil) for safe use.

Ingestion:

  • This essential oil should not be taken orally without the advice of a therapist.
  • This essential oil can be used in cooking if diluted in a fat (oil, cream, yoghurt, milk) or sweetened (syrup, honey).
  • It should not be used pure.

Allergenic components:

Black pepper essential oil is significantly dosed in biochemical allergenic components:

  • limonene (14-23%)
  • linalool (≤ 1%)

Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).

Authorised users

 Adults and adolescents

Children under 6 years

 Pregnant and breastfeeding women

 Pregnant women younger than 3 months

 Infants under 3 years old

How to use

 Inhalation

 Cutaneous

 Oral

Diffusion

Risks of use

 Cortisone-like

 Skin irritation

 Pure dermocautic

Properties

  • Analgesic, odontagic
  • Tonic, general stimulant, aphrodisiac
  • Digestive tonic
  • Expectorant, anti-catarrhal
  • Febrifuge
  • Phlebotonic

Indications