Alternative Uses for Pepper

Alternative uses for pepper are numerous, however they're not all that well known or documented. Truth be told, many herbs and spices have multiple uses and pepper isn't without it's own magical ways to utilize its benefits. Here's four of them that I stumbled upon in Fitness magazine's Jan/Feb 2011 issue.

Facial Scrub

As a facial scrub, I've heard of pepper's talents for quite awhile. Not only was it mentioned in this article, I've personally heard of using pepper in this way when I owned and operated my health food store. A couple of my customers sang the praises of pepper's capability for stimulating life giving circulation to the face, creating a nurturing environment for oxygen and nourishment to the skin's surface. As a result a toned and clearer complexion will emerge from pepper's stimulative effects as skin cell's regenerate.

Decongestant

As a natural decongestant, pepper will work itself into the nasal tissues upon inhalation causing mild irritation. This will create a watery, thin mucus that will help to clear the nasal congestion for better breathing. If you're looking for a way to inhale the pepper vapors, just add it to a favorite soup. Especially if your congested with a cold, you'll have the perfect avenue to receive the decongestant benefits as the hot soup vapor rises to your nostrils carrying the pepper vapor with it. You can also just use hot water if no soup is available.

Laundry Additive

If the color of your clothing is on the dull side and lacks vibrancy, give your next load of laundry a shot of pepper. Already faded colors won't benefit from the effects of pepper, however a teaspoon in your normal wash load that includes your regular detergent will help maintain newer colors. that haven't yet been faded by repeated washing to significantly prolong their color.

Cancer Prevention

Piperine, an effective anti-oxidant component of pepper, may be helpful for thwarting breast cancer in a preventative way before it ever begins. According to this article, a study at the University of Michigan Cancer Center suggested that peppercorn along with another valuable spice called Turmeric appears to have more potential for effectiveness in cancer prevention when combined. It's easy to use these two herbs together and it's regularly done in Indian dishes of many types.

Source: Feb/March issue of Fitness

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