Botanical Name: Piper nigrum Plant Part: Dried Berries Extraction Method: Steam Distilled, Organic Origin: Sri Lanka  

Description: The plant is originally a forest plant, and this climbing woody vine uses trees or other supports to grow to about twenty feet high but is normally kept to about 12 feet for commercial purposes and has a lifespan of about twenty years.  

Common Uses: Black pepper oil can be used to help in the treatment of pain relief, rheumatism, chills, flu, colds, increase circulation, exhaustion, muscular aches, physical and emotional coldness, nerve tonic, and fevers. The therapeutic properties of black pepper oil include the following as an analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, aphrodisiac, digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, laxative, rubefacient, tonic (especially of the spleen).  

History: The word pepper is derived from the Latin word piper, which in turn is taken from the Sanskrit word pippali. It has been used since the times of the Ancient Romans and Greeks and even the Turks levied a tax on pepper, while the French, Portuguese and Dutch often went to war in the Middle Ages to fight for this lucrative trade from the far east.  

Cautions: Black pepper oil may cause irritation to sensitive skins and using too much could over-stimulate the kidneys and should be avoided in pregnancy due to its skin sensitizing effect.