Black Pepper is a climbing vine that can grow up to 10 meters high. It is cultivated in most tropical countries including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, and Madagascar.
The stem of the plant grows into a plentiful green column as the many shoots go on to produce green, almond-shaped leaves with clusters of flowers and the fruit of the plant – the peppers.
The peppers, or fruits, are round and can grow to be approximately 6 mm in diameter and turn from green to red, and are picked at various times of their ripening stages to produce varying types of peppers.
Black Pepper essential oil is steam distilled from the dried and crushed black peppercorns which are fully-grown unripe fruit.
The warming, spicy, woody, and penetrating scent, with fruity undertones, can be described as stimulating for the mental faculties, energising the body as well as soothing mind and body. It can be enjoyed aromatically through diffusing as well as topically, diluting in a carrier oil.
Black Pepper’s primary uses include:
- tobacco addiction
- support digestion
- warming
Another way we can use this essential oil, (which you can only do with my favourite brand, doTERRA as it is safe, proven, and tested), is to use it internally. Definitely try adding to your cooking – the flavour is fabulous. You can also add a drop to a veggie capsule and swallow to help support digestion.
Black Pepper does come with a skin irritation warning, and here I’ll share an anecdote with you of what not to do with this essential oil….
Some years before I studied Aromatherapy, when I was in my early 20’s I used to use essential oils a lot and absolutely loved using Black Pepper in my oil burner and one day decided I wanted to add it to a bath.
I ran a really hot bath and dropped many drops of the oil into the water, with a few extra for good luck. The water was so hot so I couldn’t just get in. So I stepped in gradually and slowly crouched down…. very quickly realising the heat I was feeling on my skin was not just hot water!
I quickly got out of the bath and sprayed cold water onto my skin, which of course made it worse. Had I been educated in the art of Aromatherapy I’d have known I was driving the oil further into my skin.
I had red marks on my legs for a week and it was quite sore to sit down for a few days afterward. This experience completely put me off Black Pepper and I never opened another bottle of this oil until 20 years later when I met doTERRA’s oils. All is forgiven now – I am back to loving my Black Pepper, and never forgot that experience and ever since respected you only need a couple of drops, not 15+!!!
As an aside and top tip, should you ever have a reaction with essential oils, as quickly as possible, apply carrier oil to the area as it instantly dilutes. Any carrier oil will do, even olive oil or vegetable oil from the kitchen will do the job. I wish I’d known this back when I had my experience!
Another point to note is that oil burners are not recommended nowadays because the essential oil is de-natured due to over-heating. A diffuser is the best way to get oils into the atmosphere and not sticky and messy like those old oil burners were.
Back to Black Pepper now …. doTERRA’s Black Pepper is sourced from Madagascar, and when you inhale the aroma, you can probably picture yourself in a hot tropical country, heavenly.
Black Pepper’s been a highly revered spice for years and in medieval England, it was used in charms and amulets for protection, probably because it was used as an antidote to poison and used to prevent the spread of infection.
There’s so much support from nature, we’re so lucky!
Please note, essential oils are not safe to ingest unless the bottle indicates you can. I don’t know any other brand that promotes their oils safe to use in this way. My favourite brand, doTERRA is the world’s largest essential oil company where they perform ongoing scientific research as they discover more and more about wonderful oils. For me, they are just the best.
If you want to purchase some Black Pepper from me, please get in touch or you can visit my webshop here.
| Extraction method | Steam distillation from berries |
| Place of origin | India, Indonesia, Malaysia, China & Madagascar |
| Aroma | Spicy, peppery, musky, warm, with herbaceous undertones |
| Properties | analgesic, anti-catarrhal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, aphrodisiac, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, laxative, rubefacient, stomachic, stimulant (nervous, circulatory, digestive), tonic |
| Body systems | digestive and nervous system |
| Blends with | Basil, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Copaiba, Coriander, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Grapefruit, Juniper Berry, Kumquat, Lavender, Lemon, Marjoram, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Tea Tree, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang |
| Practical use |
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| Historical use |
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| Emotional use | The Oil of Unmasking
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| Chakras | Solar plexus – courage and motivation |
| Interesting fact |
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| Safety data |
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