Black Pepper Essential oil (Piper nigrum) was an oil I wasn't sure if I'd like. I'd read great things about it and gotten to sample some blends with it as an ingredient, but all by its self? I wasn't sold.
Have you ever gotten black pepper in your nose? It either burns or gives you a sneezing fit. I've always had a mistrust of it as a cooking spice because of it's inevitability to get in my nose. I don't use finely ground pepper often for that reason. I smell everything as I cook, it's habit, and a good habit until I sniff black pepper or fish sauce (the first causes sneezing... the other just smells gross, but tastes amazing).
Anyway, back on track, this oil is awesome and has changed my aversion to Black pepper. It smells warm, spicy, and earthy.
It's an amazing energizer when diffused. My mother diffuses it in the morning with Orange Essential oil to get her day going. I've also used it to keep me alert on long car trips.
5 Reasons why you should be using Black Pepper Essential oil
- Has an energizing aroma.
- It's a great support for digestion wellness- add 1-2 drops (diluted) to food.
- It's wonderful to add to message oil for achy muscles.
- It may help aid in the journey to stop smoking- check out this medical study about it.
- It helps revitalize your hair- try adding it to an oil hair mask.
*Black pepper can be a strong irritant in high doses, take care when smelling straight from the bottle and always dilute with a carrier oil when using topically or adding to a recipe for consumption*
For more information on Essential oils check out my Oils page and the other 'Reasons why' posts.