King of Spices: What You Should Know About Black Pepper

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Black pepper is the spice that adds a kick of heat and flavor to many classic dishes. This spice is surprisingly helpful as a natural remedy for relieving respiratory congestion as well. It has the ability to do this because it contains a compound in it you may know as piperine. The compound is what gives black pepper its warmth flavor and aroma that helps clear out mucus membranes so you can breathe with is again.

The tasty healing spice also contains antibacterial properties, which helps find off a bacterial infection that could be possibly causing the congestion and it contains other essential nutrients for maintaining a healthy respiratory system such as vitamins C and K, manganese, iron and potassium.

What exactly is black pepper?

This bit of information may surprise you, but black pepper is actually a fruit that comes from a flowering fruit baring vine. The little fruits the vine produces are what you may know as peppercorns. The peppercorn is ground up into black, white or red pepper powder and useful for adding warm spicy flavor to foods and beverages. In other countries, it is useful the most as a remedy to rid sinus problems such as stuffiness, headaches, runny noses and congestion.

You can find this spice in its organic form at grocery stores, farmer’s markets, herbal shops and spice stores.

Ways the Spice is Useful for Treating Congestion

There are a handful of different ways you could use the spice to treat respiratory congestion.

  1. The most common way is by adding it to soups or chicken or vegetable broths.
  2. You may even use the spice to make a tea by adding a teaspoon of peppercorns into a tea steeping ball, placing it into a large coffee mug, pouring boiling water over the top, adding some honey and allowing the wellness beverage to steep for 10-minutes  before sipping it down.
  3. Another popular way is by filling a large bowl with boiling water, adding the spice into it and placing your head gently over the spicy steam that is coming from it.
  4. You could also add a tablespoon of black spice to a cup of honey and make syrup that you can take several times a day to help relieve your congestion naturally.

However, you should consult with a physician before giving a small child any of these natural remedies.

Possible Side Effects

Black pepper should be used in moderation since large doses of the spice can cause a burning sensation in the month and could cause harm to the lungs if too much is consumed. In fact, death has occurred from using extremely large doses of this spice, but it is rare.

You should also avoid contact with the eyes when using black pepper since it could burn and sting if it were to get into them. Pregnancy is another reason to avoid the spice in large doses since it does have the potential to cause miscarriages.

If you’re unsure if using black pepper as a remedy to treat congestion is safe for you it is best to consult with a doctor first.

End Notes

The next time respiratory congestion creeps up on you head to the kitchen spice cabinet for some black pepper instead of going to the pharmaceutical store for some decongestant.  It will provide natural relief and help you breathe again so you can go on with your day and evening in comfort.

More from Alex Jordon:

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