Pippali, the long pepper, brings energy and has a stimulating effect on the mind and body. In Ayurveda, it is not only an effective detox agent, but is also used for medicinal purposes. The fiery spice goes well with almost all dishes and can fully unfold its effect at every meal. Here we show you what pippali does and give you delicious tips for preparing it, which will keep your digestive fire burning!
What is Pippali?
The long pepper, or Piper longum in Latin, is a perennial climbing plant native to the hotter regions of India. It has been used there for thousands of years as a medicine and is highly valued thanks to its good taste. More precisely, it is the approximately 4-5 cm elongated fruits that are used. They look a bit like birch catkins and are already dried when they are still unripe because their effect is strongest then.
As a pleasantly hot powder, the pepper is then used in a wide variety of dishes. If you are not a fan of spiciness and the mere thought of spicy is already sudorific for you, then here is a comparison to calm you down: Pippali is only about as hot as black pepper, but much gentler on the stomach.
Pippali as Rasayana: The effect of the long pepper
The long pepper plays a very special role in Ayurveda, because it is considered a rasayana, i.e. a rejuvenating agent. This is because its sweet, warming pungency stimulates digestion and purifies the body. In this way, it reduces Vataand Kapha dosha and strengthens Pitta. Nevertheless, the pepper does not have too extreme an effect on the Pitta dosha, so that it is beneficial even for the hot-tempered Pitta types, who should usually hold back on stimulating spices. The spice even has a number of positive effects.
Strengthening for body and mind
The long pepper has a stimulating and invigorating effect and stimulates the immune system. It ensures a clear, sharp mind and strengthens both thinking and comprehension. It can also help to regenerate tissues and give the necessary strength to regain balance in the case of allergies and rheumatic complaints. The fiery spice breathes new life into you and gives you valuable energy. So you are well equipped for all the challenges of everyday life!
Slim with the long pepper: good for digestion
If you want to lose weight, the long pepper is an ideal helper. As an ingredient, it ignites Agni, the digestive fire, and thus declares war on obesity.
Metabolic waste products are reduced and cravings are successfully curbed. Especially for kaphas and vatas, pepper is the optimal detox spice!
Expectorant - breathe easy at last!
The spice even makes a good medicinal plant. It has a mucus-reducing effect and facilitates breathing. So it is no wonder that pepper is used in Ayurveda especially for colds and complaints such as chronic bronchitis or asthma.
In this way, it cleanses your respiratory tract and lets you breathe easy again.
Are there any side effects of Pippali?
Spicy food is healthy, but as with so many things, it all depends on the dose. While the spice is quite beneficial to health in normal use, it should not be used too excessively or in too high a dosage over a long period of time. Otherwise it can happen that the doshas get out of balance again and the pepper does not do what it should. If you already notice heartburn or increased sweating, reduce the amount in any case. Pittas in particular should not overdo it!
Tasty Pippali: Use of the pepper
The great thing about the pepper is that it can be added to almost any dish to spice it up! The easiest way is to buy some Pippali and add it to your lunch as a spice. As a delicious addition, it goes particularly well with curries or chutneys. Especially a mixture of three parts turmeric and one part pippali is very tasty. On the one hand, this stabilises the appetite and at the same time stimulates digestion.
But pepper is also part of the most important stimulating spice combination in Ayurveda, namely the spice mixture Trikatu. This powerful mix of pippali, black pepper and ginger is a true miracle elixir for digestive disorders! The dynamic blend provides quick relief for digestive complaints and tastes extraordinarily good to boot. But that's not all! Because the spice can do so much more.
Pippali with honey: reduces Kapha
An insider tip from Ayurveda is to combine the pepper with a little honey. To do this, simply take ½ tsp of the pepper with a little honey in the morning. This combination reduces Kapha and is particularly helpful in losing weight. If you want, you can also expand the recipe a little:
- ¼ tsp Pippali Churna
- ¼ tsp cardamom
- 1 tsp honey
All ingredients are simply mixed in a small container and swallowed before eating. This really gets the metabolism going again and fires up Agni. Try it out!
Traditional milk with long pepper: for excess Vata
If you want to reduce Vata, you can do yourself some good by taking the long pepper with ghee or milk. It's a real energy booster and replenishes empty reserves. Here is our favourite recipe for a classic milk with the spicy long pepper:
- 250 ml water
- 250 ml milk
- ½ tsp Pippali powder
- Rock candy
The preparation is very simple: Simply simmer water, milk and the Pippali together at medium temperature until the water has evaporated and about 250 ml of liquid remains. Then pass the whole thing through a sieve and sweeten to taste with a little rock candy. Enjoy it!
The Pippali Stair Cure
Give your body a little rest and try out the so-called staircase cure! Especially in spring, this cure is ideal to reduce excess Ama from winter and to cleanse the body! But it can also be quickly effective for Kapha disorders such as obesity, colds, coughs or asthma, in order to bring imbalances back into balance.
Here's how it works:
In the staircase cure, the pepper is taken over 14 days , first in increasing, then in decreasing doses. To do this, boil the powder together with 125 ml of water and 125 ml of milk until only 125 ml of liquid remains. You should drink this mixture twice a day, preferably in the morning and after lunch.
But what about the dose of the churna? Well, start with 1 g of Pippali on the first day and increase the dose by 0.5 g daily until the fifth day. Then during the next three days keep this amount of 3 g pepper constant. Then reduce the dosage again by 0.5 g every day until the cure is over.
Give your body and mind an energy boost with the spirited Pippali! The long pepper enhances practically every dish and is just as effective for losing weight as it is liberating for the respiratory tract. So if you want to reduce Kapha and Vata, Indian pepper is just right for you.
