Black Pepper Essential OilBotanical Nomenclature: Piper nigrum Native to Indonesia and southern India, the plant that gives us black pepper has been cultivated by humans for more than 2,000 years. This perennial flowering vine produces small fruits that, when allowed to ripen, produce the spice we call white pepper. But if those fruits are picked before they're allowed to fully ripen, the resulting pepper is known as black pepper. And it's from those unripe fruits, with their berries still intact, that essential oil producers distill their precious essential oil.
Characteristics of Black Pepper OilDepending upon the ripeness of the fruits used to make it, black pepper oil will range from colorless to pale green. All black pepper should have a warm, spicy wood scent with a definite "pepper" smell.Psychological AromatherapyAromatherapy regards black pepper oil as "warming" and "tonifying". It is often diffused to dispel melancholy and to strengthen reserve. Spiritual aromatherapists tell us that people who feel especially drawn to black pepper are responsible but often self-righteous people with strong leadership skills and a "can-do" attitude.Traditional Uses for Black Pepper OilTraditionally, pepper has been used mainly to stimulate organs like the spleen. Author Salvatore Battaglia assigns the following actions to the essential oil:
Scientific Studies on Black Pepper Essential OilAs is the case with other culinary spices, much of the research on black pepper has focused on the ground spice and not on the essential oil. While laboratory tests have shown that black pepper may have anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and antioxidant activities, only one peer-reviewed human study on the oil itself was found in the course of our investigation of this oil.Effect on the Sympathetic Nervous System Your sympathetic nervous system, or SNS, is the branch of your autonomic nervous system responsible for the fight-or-flight response during times of stress. A 2002 Japanese study found that inhalation of black pepper oil caused a 1.7 fold increase in hormones associated with the fight-or-flight response. Exactly how this information will prove useful has yet to be determined.
Safety IssuesLike many essential oils, black pepper has not been exhaustively studied for side effects. Most aromatherapy texts list black pepper oil as non-irritating and non-sensitizing but, again, this has not been proven scientifically.References: Battaglia, S. (2005). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy Leave Black Pepper Essential Oil & return to Essential Oils Directory
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