PIPPALI : Long Pepper, Piper Longum - Piperacea
Most widely used of all ayurvedic herb

Part used : Fruit

Energetics :
- Rasa (taste) : Pungent
- Virya (action) : Heating - not Hot
- Vipaka (post-digestive effect) : Sweet
- Guna (quality) : Oily, Light, Penetrating

Doshas : VK-, P+

Dhatus (tissues) : Plasma, Blood, Fat, Nerve, Reproductive

Srotas (systems) : Circulatory, Digestive, Respiratory, Reproductive

Action :
Digestive, stimulant, carminative, expectorant, anthelmintic, analgesic, circulatory stimulant, aphrodisiac, enkindles the digestive fire, digests toxins, destroys toxins, denefits breathing, mitigates fevers, rejuvenative specifically to fat tissues

Indications :
LUNGS: Primarily used for cold, wet and mucusy conditions of the lungs. It is a rejuvenative for the lungs and kapha generally. It encourages vasodilation and therefore incraese circulation. Specifically to the lungs. Used in asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and generally compromised conditions of the lungs.
GIT: Used to stimulate agni and clear weak digestion and symptoms of nausea, slow digestion, flatulence, cold and painful abdomen. In malabsorption it can increase assimilation of nutrients. Used as part of a formula to kill worms and parasites. Helps diarrhoea from cold symptoms. Also considered to have a hepato-protective effect.
REPRODUCTION: Its sweet post-digestive effect points to its ability to tonify the reproductive tissue. Useful in infertility, impotence, premature ejaculation.

The Ayurvedic text list Pippali as one of the most powerful Rasayana herbs, meaning it is a longevity enhancer. It also cleans the srotas the transport nutrients and remove wastes so it is considered important for purification.
Pippali enhances all 13 of the metabolic processes (Agnis) that create categories of bodily tissues (Dhatus).
It balances two of the three doshas : Vata and Kapha.
It also soothes the nerves to improves the sleep at night.

Often boiled with milk for deficient lungs.
Pippali vardhanam is a cumulative treatment where 1 long pepper is boiled in a glass of milk and water (1:1 reduced to 1) and drunk daily. 1 long pepper is added daily for 14 days (up to 14 Pippali!) and then reduced by the same ratio for 14 days. Excellent for asthma where there is not dairy intolerance.

Contraindications :
In excess pitta and other inflammations of the intestines.

Dosage :
1 - 5g per day