MEDICINAL PLANTS

The pepper plant includes a group-of which differ up to 50 different varieties, which fall into 2 main groups: the sweet and spicy. Overall this is an annual plant that grows to three feet high, with branched stems and ovate leaves and steep, covered by a long corner. The flowers are born at a time, with the rebar, bent down. The fruit is a berry dry, hollow, scarlet, smooth and shiny on the surface and very varied. The pepper is native to Central and South America, where it was cultivated before Columbus arrived there. In our peninsula is grown in gardens, both in summer and autumn.

FLOWERING

The pepper blooms in summer, but given the wide diversity of breeds that are flowering can occur from April to July. Same goes with the fruits: the need to mature in May and June do thereafter. It is the result that interested in therapy. As mentioned in the introduction, fruit shape is varied, being generally long and 4 to 16 cm. Long by 2 to 8 cm. In diameter. Within the fruit there is usually 2 to 4 partitions that run along the pericarp in these walls is where the seeds are inserted, which are kidney-shaped.

APPLICATIONS

The most important active principle of chilli is capsaicin, whose chemical name is vanillylamide metilnonénico acid. This is a pungent compound that is normally located in the placenta of the fruit, ie partitions that run along the wall of the fruit. In addition to this active ingredient, are also other substances: water, nitrogenous compounds, carbohydrates and fats. It also appears some copper, vitamin C and some of group B. Capsaicin has the ability to inflame the skin where applied, ie serving as rubefaciente substance activating the circulation in the treated area. This effect is widely used as topical anti-rheumatic. It also applies with other substances in myalgia (muscle pain), alopecia (hair loss) and lumbago (low back pain). Administered orally, the pepper is stimulating the digestive system. It is often used to aid digestion after a hearty meal. Another effect found is significantly stimulates the gallbladder. When the pepper is used as medicinal remedy (in different dosage forms) must take care not to exceed the indicated doses, as its abuse can cause vomiting, diarrhea, gastritis and inflammation of the urinary tract.

ADMINISTRATION

Tincture of chillies. Chilli is called the dry hot pepper. This can be very useful to prepare a rubbing alcohol in case of rheumatic pains, back pain or stiffness. Is obtained by leaving macerated in 1 / 2 liter of wine about 60 gr. Chopped chilli, the maceration lasts for a couple of weeks, after which it is filtered and packaged alcohol.
Powder. The obtained powder powdered pepper fruit. This powder can be taken from 0.3 gr. 1 gram. Daily, in capsule or other solid form.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Solanaceae
HABITAT: Central and South America
FLOWERING: Summer
PART USED: Fruit
CASTILIAN: Hocico de buey, guindilla
CATALAN: Pebrotera, pebrot coent

USES

Fort Antihemorroidal, Antirheumatic Strong, Mild diuretic.