Long peppers may sound unfamiliar to some, but not in the ears of Javanese people. In Java it is also known as Javanese pepper, with the scientific name being Piper Retrofractum Vahl.

It is considered as spice, and commonly used for jamu, which is traditional Indonesian herbal drink, hence its nickname being “cabe jamu” or jamu pepper.

If you wish to learn more about long peppers, you are absolutely on the right track! For your information, long peppers grow at a maximum altitude of 600m with 1.259mm/year of rain. Anyway, what exactly is a long pepper?

About Long Pepper

Long peppers are otherwise known as Balinese pepper or Indian pepper, tracing its original roots in South Asia, particularly in India and Sri Lanka. In India long peppers are called “pippali.” Long peppers serve four main functions, notably as a home remedy, cooking ingredient, medicinal herb as well as a catalyst to enhance the effects of other herbs. The benefits of Javanese long peppers are somehow similar to the health benefits of indian long pepper.

Just like its scientific name suggests, long peppers contain piperine. Piperine is an alkaloid that works as a stimulant for poor blood circulation. Piperine is also found on black pepper and is also responsible for making the two a pungent spice.

Now here goes the main question; do long peppers have any other uses aside from being spices and a cooking ingredient? Yes it does, and here’s the health benefits of long pepper.

1. Ailment for Liver

Liver ailments arise due to our habit of enjoying unhealthy junk foods. At the end of the day, the liver becomes overworked. Pepper balances the workload of the liver by eliminating toxins that have built up inside the liver caused by digesting these kinds of food. Here are also the best fast way to detox liver after several years of drinking.

2. Loses Weight

Long pepper has the ability to burn fatty acids similar to other types of pepper without any side effects. It is indeed considered a safer and healthier alternative compared to its clinical counterparts.

3. Reduces Diabetes Risk 

Just like the health benefits of red rice for diabetics, long peppers help ease diabetes by regulating the rate of glucose released in the blood system. Long peppers also stimulate the production of insulin. That is the main reason why long pepper is much recommended for diabetic patients.

4. Lowers Bacterial Infection

The risk of bacterial infection can incline as daily temperature rises. Unhygienic food as well as unsterile water can be prone to bacterial infection, which causes stomach upset. Long peppers can be used to counter these occurrences.

5. Treats Cough

Long peppers treat cough by making it into a simple remedy. This is how you do it.

• Step 1 – Take 1 to 2 grams of the spice and fry it with a bit of ghee. Ghee is a kind of Indian butter.
• Step 2 – Swallow it as it cools.
• If ghee is not available, you can use honey instead.

6. Solves Indigestion

The contents of long pepper is able to cure digestive problems.

7. Lowers Down Fever

Long pepper’s antibiotic and antiseptic properties which can bring down fever or relaxes the throat. You can easily bring down fever by mixing long pepper with a hot bowl of soup.

8. Soothes Toothache

You can also heal toothache by making a paste out of long pepper, salt and water.

9. Heals Diarrhea

Diarrhea can be cured by consuming long pepper soup. Here are other ways on how to prevent diarrhea.

10. Relieves Asthma

Long peppers are an alternative to relieve occasional asthmatic attacks as well as other symptoms of asthma. However you should not use it as a substitute for respiratory medicine.

How to Use Long Pepper for Traditional Cures

In relation to the pointers above about the health benefits of long pepper, here are the simple recipes to make your own long pepper remedy.

1. Chills Down Fever

Step 1 – Prepare 3g of dried long peppers

Step 2 – Smoothen it until it reaches its smoothest state.

Step 3 – Brew it with hot water, and consume.

Despite its hot taste, it is indeed suitable for both children and adults alike.

2. A Cure for Toothache

Step 1 – Prepare 3 long pepper leaves

Step 2 – Crush them, but not until its smoothest form.

Step 3 – Brew it on warm water

Step 4 – Use the formula to gargle. Do it regularly until toothache disappears completely.

3. To Get Over “Masuk Angin”

Masuk angin is an Indonesian term to describe the uneven distribution of gases inside the body characterized by cold-like symptoms. It has no direct English translation, nor a specific knowledge to this “disease” hence making “masuk angin” a largely loose term. Long peppers can treat “masuk angin” by following this simple formula.

Step 1 – Prepare 3g of long peppers, some brown sugar, ginger as well as “temulawak” (Curcuma Zanthorrhiza).

Step 2 – Boil until all those becomes soft and add warm water.

Step 3 – Drink that formula while it is still warm.

4. Prevents Abdominal Spasm

Step 1 – Take 3 long pepper leaves and add a glass of water.

Step 2 – Boil the two completely and then let it cool for some time.

Step 3 – Consume completely as it becomes warm.

5. Cleanses Post-Labour Ovary

Step 1 – Prepare 3 grams of long pepper roots.

Step 2 – Add warm water to it and boil completely.

Step 3 – Filter the water when done.

Step 4 – Consume the boiled water until it finishes. It is suggested to consume it while it is still warm.

Those are just about the healthy creations that you can make out of long peppers. The recipes aren’t patented so you can easily adjust it to better fit your own preference or requirements.

However, it is still much recommendable for you to follow exactly what is written above. Aside from the uses of long peppers above, there will be more below however the ones below aren’t categorized specifically per disease.

Generic Long Pepper Recipe

Step 1 – Boil 150cc water.

Step 2 – Formulate it with 4 grams of long pepper powders.

Step 3 – Consume while it is warm to get its maximum advantage.

If there are still long pepper powders left, you may also…

• Fill it inside capsules for consumption anytime.
• Apply the powders directly into the affected area for toothache.
• Use it to treat swollen gum.

Besides for health, long peppers are equally useful for planting plus soil fertility as well. Thirty eight uses of long peppers can be obtained by making use of it into a “jamu” or a traditional herbal drink, which has the potential to heal practically everything but insecticide. Long pepper doesn’t work with insecticide because it kills the insecticide reaction inside plants.

Those are just about the main health benefits of long pepper that may sound unfamiliar to you, especially among the young ones these days. Either way, hope it helps!