Pipali ~ Piper longum

Pipali

Latin name: Piper longum

Family: Piperaceae

Part used: berries

Habitat: hotter parts of India

Main constituents: volatile oil, alkaloids (piperine, piperlongumine, piplartine)

Energetics: pungent, heating, sweet

Main herbal actions: carminative, enhances bioavailability of foods and drugs, local counter-irritant and analgesic, rasayana

Minor herbal actions: hepatoprotective, reproductive tonic

Main medicinal uses: asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and generally compromised conditions of the lungs, nausea, weak digestion, flatulence, malabsorption; muscular pain and inflammation (external)

Minor medicinal uses: infertility, impotence, premature ejaculation

Preparations: powder: 1-5 g/day; 1:5 tincture: 1-4 ml qd; infusion; oil

Contraindications: hyperacidity and ulcers, excess pitta, other inflammations of the intestines

Toxicity: unknown

Sources: http://www.herbalayurveda.com/therapeutic_detail.asp?ID=57; http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/herbfinder/h_piperl.htm; http://www-ang.kfunigraz.ac.at/~katzer/engl/generic_frame.html?Pipe_lon.html