Pimpali, also known as pippali, pipli, or Indian long pepper, is a flowering vine in the Piperaceae family. The scientific name for pimpali is Piper longum.
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Pimpali is also used in Ayurvedic medicine. It’s the most commonly used herb in home remedies
Indian long pepper is a plant. The fruit of the plant is used to make medicine. Indian long pepper is sometimes used in combination with other herbs in Ayurvedic medicine.
Pippali is an effective herb in managing cough and cold. Pippali controls cough, releases mucus, clears air passages, thus allowing the patient to breathe freely. This is because Pippali has decongestant, bronchodilator and expectorant effects due to its Kapha balancing properties.
How to use Pimpali
Pippali, also known as long pepper, can help with coughs, congestion, and phlegm. Here are some ways to use pippali for coughs:
- Pippali churna
Take a pinch of pippali churna and swallow it with a teaspoon of honey. Repeat one to two times a day until the cough subsides.
- Pippali powder
Take two to three pinches of pippali powder and swallow it with honey after lunch and dinner.
- Herbal kadha
Mix one teaspoon each of pippali powder, turmeric powder, dried ginger powder, and honey into a cup of lukewarm water.
- Pippali capsules
Take one to two capsules twice a day, or as prescribed by a doctor.
Indian long pepper is used to improve appetite and digestion, as well as treat stomachache, heartburn, indigestion, intestinal gas, diarrhea, and cholera.
It is also used for lung problems including asthma, bronchitis, and cough.
Other uses include treatment of headache, toothache, vitamin B1 deficiency (beriberi), coma, epilepsy, fever, stroke, trouble sleeping (insomnia), leprosy, extreme tiredness, enlarged spleen, muscle pain, nasal discharge, paralysis, psoriasis, intestinal worms, snakebites, tetanus, thirst, tuberculosis, and tumors.
Some women use Indian long pepper during childbirth and during the 3-6 weeks following childbirth while the uterus returns to normal size. Women also use Indian long pepper to stimulate menstrual flow; to cause abortions; and to treat menstrual cramps, infertility, and loss of interest in sexual activity.
How does it work?
Indian long pepper contains a chemical called piperine. Piperine may be able to fight certain parasites that can infect people. It also seems to change the lining of the intestines. This change allows some drugs and other substances taken by mouth to be better absorbed by the body.
