In the days of Christopher Columbus, men were pretty much obsessed with spice. They yearned for it and basically traveled all around the world in a futile effort to find new spices.  But, of all the men obsessed by sensuous spice, none was as seduced as Christopher Columbus, who went across the ocean searching for spices like cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger. However, one spice he looked for in particular was the black pepper!

Although black pepper is quite overlooked these days, it the peak days of spice trade black pepper was used as currency! It is high time people started looking on this spice differently, as it indeed has a lot to offer. Black pepper, particularly black pepper essential oil, offers a wide range of surprising health benefits.

Health Benefits of Black Pepper Essential Oil

Black pepper essential oil offers countless remedial properties, including laxative, carminative, antibacterial, expectorant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antiseptic, stimulant, antispasmodic, rubefacient, diaphoretic, febrifuge, and many more.

• Good for the stomach: It increases the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which in turn improves digestion. Healthy digestion is essential to prevent colic, constipation, and diarrhea.  Black pepper also prevents the formation of intestinal gas and it promotes urination and sweating, which helps remove toxic matter from the body.
• Weight loss: The outer layer of the peppercorn stimulates the breakdown of fat cells, which makes it ideal for blasting fat and shedding weight in an all-natural way.
• Skin health: Pepper helps cure vitiligo, a condition which causes areas of the skin to turn white. It has been scientifically shown that piperine present in pepper stimulates the production of pigment.
• Respiratory relief: Pepper relieves nasal congestion and sinusitis, due to its ability to dissolve mucus and phlegm in the respiratory tract.
• Antibacterial activity: Pepper`s antibacterial properties help fight against insect bites and infections. Regular consumption of this spice cleanses the arteries, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.
• Antioxidant activity: Its antioxidant properties help prevent or repair damage by free radicals, which in turn protects against liver problems, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer.
• Neurological health: Piperine, one of the major compounds of black pepper, has been found to reduce cognitive malfunction and memory impairment.

The benefits of black pepper essential oil heavily depend on the way it is consumed. It can be ingested, inhaled, or applied topically.  Read on for more in-depth information regarding the three ways of using black pepper essential oil and the benefits attributed to each, respectively.

Orally

When ingested, such as added to BBQ or steak sauce, black pepper essential oil provides sesquiterpenes, potent antioxidants which are known to promote urination and sweating, two ways in which the body eliminates toxins.  This oil also increases bile in the stomach, which helps break down food and ensure healthy digestion.

Aromatically

While black pepper essential oil is mostly known for its ability to relax the body physically, it relaxes the mind, too.  When inhaled, often used aromatically with oils like lavender and juniper, it helps ease mental stress and help people deal with the stress of smoking cessation.

Topically

Ultimately, using black pepper oil topically along with carrier oil helps relax the muscle and alleviate cramps and pulls. Its antispasmodic properties alleviate cramps while its antioxidant properties remove uric acid from the blood, making it beneficial for people suffering from gout, arthritis, and rheumatism.