Pippali Root Powder (Ganthoda)

Botanical Name: Piper longum

Pippali (Indian long pepper) is a plant. The fruit of the plant is used to make medicine. Indian long pepper is sometimes used in combination with other herbs in Ayurvedic medicine.

Pippali is used to improve appetite and digestion, as well as treat stomachache, heartburn, indigestion, intestinal gas, diarrhea, and cholera.

It is also used for lung problems including asthma, bronchitis, and cough.

Other uses include treatment of headache, toothache, vitamin B1 deficiency (beriberi), coma, epilepsy, fever, stroke, trouble sleeping (insomnia), leprosy, extreme tiredness, enlarged spleen, muscle pain, nasal discharge, paralysis, psoriasis, intestinal worms, snakebites, tetanus, thirst, tuberculosis, and tumors.

Some women use pippali during childbirth and during the 3-6 weeks following childbirth while the uterus returns to normal size. Women also use Indian long pepper to stimulate menstrual flow; and to treat menstrual cramps, infertility, and loss of interest in sexual activity.

Pippali contains a chemical called piperine. Piperine may be able to fight certain parasites that can infect people. It also seems to change the lining of the intestines. This change allows some drugs and other substances taken by mouth to be better absorbed by the body.