Medicinal & Therapeutic Use

In India, thippali is used mainly in the preparation of pickles and health stimulants like 'chawanprash' and also for imparting flavour and pungency to beverages. But it has well identified medicinal properties. Piper longum is most commonly used as an expectorant to treat respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, cough, cold etc. and has aphrodisiac, analgesic and carminative properties. In Ayurvedic medicine, the herb is said to be a good rejuvenator and helps improve vitality; and is employed as a tonic to stimulate appetite. It is also being used against stomach ache, spleen diseases, tumours, indigestion, epilepsy, flatulence, gout, laryngitis etc. This herb has nerve depressant and antagonistic effects on muscular spasms; and when applied topically, it soothes and relieves muscular pains and inflammation. The oil extracted has antibacterial and anthelminthic properties.