The humble Sichuan peppercorn is not only an important condiment in our daily diet but also possesses significant medicinal value in Traditional Chinese Medicine. However, few people have studied what benefits peppercorns actually have for our health. What are their effects? Let's explore the benefits of Sichuan peppercorns together.
Many Benefits of the Little Peppercorn
1. Anticoagulant and Thrombosis Inhibition:
Similarly, experiments on rats have found that the extract of Sichuan peppercorns has a significant inhibitory effect on thrombosis. Furthermore, the water extract of peppercorns has a stronger anticoagulant effect than the ether extract. Additionally, bergapten contained in peppercorns has a certain antagonistic effect against heparin's anticoagulant action and a hemostatic effect.
2. Preventing Boiling Oil from Spilling
When frying food, if the oil reaches its boiling point, it will spill out of the pot. However, if you add a few peppercorns, the boiling oil will immediately subside.
3. Antibacterial and Bactericidal Effects
Sichuan peppercorns contain two very special components, laurocapram and dimethyl sulfoxide. Experiments have confirmed that these two components can inhibit fungi and penetrate fungal cells to accelerate their death.
4. Analgesic Effect
Due to its numbing and spicy sensation, peppercorn has an analgesic effect. Although its effect is not as pronounced as that of an anesthetic, animal experiments have already proven that peppercorns have a significant analgesic effect.
5. Preventing Snoring
If you snore while sleeping, soak 7 or 8 peppercorns in water to drink at night for several consecutive days, and you will stop snoring.
6. Repelling Insects and Relieving Itching
Sichuan peppercorns are not only spicy to eat but also have a very unique smell when sniffed, a smell that many insects dislike. This is mainly due to the effect of the volatile oil in peppercorns. If you have itchy skin due to allergies or insect bites, you can also apply peppercorn water to quickly relieve the itching.
7. Protecting Grain from Insects
If stored grain is infested, wrap several dozen peppercorns in a cloth and place it inside. The insects will either leave on their own or die.
8. Liver Protection and Laxative Effect
Once, an experiment was conducted on white mice. The extract of peppercorns was injected into their bodies, and it was found that peppercorn water has the effect of preventing intestinal ulcers. It can also counteract liver damage. Additionally, it was discovered that peppercorns have a laxative effect. Although this effect is relatively slow, it is quite long-lasting.
5 Classic Sichuan Peppercorn Food Therapy Recipes Recommended
Treating Dysmenorrhea: Use 10 grams of Sichuan peppercorns and 3 grams of black pepper. Grind them into a fine powder together. Mix with white liquor to form a paste, apply to the navel, and seal with a topical analgesic plaster. Apply once daily. This method is most suitable for dysmenorrhea caused by cold stagnation and qi stagnation.
Stopping Lactation: Take 6 grams of Sichuan peppercorns, add 400ml of water, soak, and then boil and concentrate to 200ml. Add 30-60 grams of brown sugar. Drink it hot all at once on the day you stop breastfeeding, once a day. Lactation should cease within about 1-3 days.
Treating Knee Pain: Crush 50 grams of Sichuan peppercorns, 10 slices of fresh ginger, and 6 chopped scallions. Mix them together, place in a cloth bag, and apply a hot water bag on top of the medicinal bag. Apply a hot compress for 30 to 40 minutes, twice a day.
Treating Hemorrhoids: Put a handful of Sichuan peppercorns into a small cloth bag, tie it, and steep it in boiling water in a basin. The patient first uses the steam to fumigate and wash the affected area. After the water cools to a comfortable temperature, proceed with a sitz bath. The whole process takes about 20 minutes, once in the morning and once in the evening daily.
Treating Baldness: Soak an appropriate amount of Sichuan peppercorns in high-proof liquor. After one week, use a clean soft cloth to dab the infusion and apply it to the scalp several times a day. For better results, combine it with a ginger juice hair wash.
Little Tip: When selecting Sichuan peppercorns, first look for those with large and full oil sacs (the outer layer of the seed), which are considered superior. Second, smell them; good peppercorns are hard to smell if not heated. Third, rub them; peppercorns that release a fragrance after being rubbed are good. If your hands are left with a strong color after rubbing, or if the color leaches out into water, they may contain artificial coloring. Additionally, for a toothache caused by hot or cold food, placing a single peppercorn on the aching tooth will gradually relieve the pain.