Sunday, January 2, 2011

Black Pepper Essential Oil

Okay, in line with my goal for 2011 in refreshing myself in regards to my Aromatherapy, I have decided to read and write about various essential oils. I suppose this will help me to recall back my "lost" knowledge. Think I got my diploma in Aromatherapy in 2005 or 2006, so it's been easily 4-5 years since I last really studied about the oils......

Black Pepper (aka Piper Nigrum):

The essential oil is extracted by steam distillation of the dried berries. This essential oil is good for stomach problems. The only issue I find is the strong smell of it. So, if you wanna diffuse it, my recommendation is to blend it with some other essential oils so the smell will not be tooo over powering. It is recommended not to be used neat (i.e without dilution) on the skin because it can be irritating.

Some properties of this essential oil is that it is stomachic (i.e helps and strengthens the digestion system). One other good point about it is that is an anti-toxic which makes it great during food poisoning. It also has grounding properties for the emotion. It also helps with muscle relaxation since it is an anti-spasmodic. It is considered a "warming" oil so it helps with blood circulation as well. It is not recommended for use on people with high blood pressure. It is also an expectorant, thus good for coughs and colds.

I personally find it great for my stomach problems since it is helpful with a whole hosts of them. I usually use it neat (against most recommendations) on my stomach and it brings much relief. For others who prefer to play it safe, they can always dilute it with a carrier oil, then rub it on their stomach. Alternatively, the essential oil can be applied to the soles of the feet and will automatically be circulated through the whole body. For muscle ache relief, again the oil can be diluted then applied to the affected area.

Yap I think this is it for my first oil. Will talk about others along the way......

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