False Black Pepper: Health Benefits, Traditional Uses, Side Effects

The botanical name of the false black pepper is Embelia Ribes Burm. The other common names of this false black pepper are Nainidang, Vidanga, and Vavding. It is a large tropical forest woody scandent shrub. This plant has the gland-dotted leaves and slender branches. It is one of the powerful anti-parasitic herbs in the Ayurveda; it is widely used to treat intestinal worm infections. The native of this plant is tropical Asia. This climbing shrub is commonly found in the evergreen and semi-evergreen forest of India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and China. In India, it is mostly available in the forest of Western Ghats of South India, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam. The fruits are used in Ayurveda to treat various health issues. This false black pepper has antibacterial, antifertility, and anthelmintic properties.

In This Article

Other Names of False Black Pepper

Benefits and Uses of False Black Pepper

Common Questions About False Black Pepper

False Black Pepper Plant Description

Side Effects of False Black Pepper

Common Names of False Black Pepper

Botanical Name: Embelia ribes Burm

English Name: Vidanga, False black pepper, Vaividang, White-flowered embelia, Vavding, Vai vidang

Tamil Name: Vellal, Kattukodi, Varnanai Vai vilangam, Vaivitankam, Vayu-vilangam, Vayu-vilamga, Vayvilankam, Vayivilangam

Hindi Name: Bhabhiramg, Baba-rang, Karkannie, Baberang, Wawrung, vaividang Vayvidamg

Malayalam Name: Pu-valli, Tiriitticanni, Vayivalannam, Tiruvittikanni, Visalam, Vilal, Vishaul, Vayvilankam

Telugu Name: Vayivilangamu, Potosul, Vayuvilangam-chettu, Vaividungalu, Vilangamu, Vellal, Vayi-vitangamu, Vidangamu, Vyivilangamu

Kannada Name: Vayubaliga, Amogha, Vayuvilanga, Vayi-vulanga, Vaayu vilanga, Varana, Vidanga, Vilanga, Vaayu-vilanga, Vayivilanga

Marathi Name: Karkannie, Ambti, Vaavadinga, Baavdinga, Vayvarang Vvavadinga, Karkunnie, Waiwarang

Bengali Name: Bhaibirrung, Biranga, Vidang

Urdu Name: Baobarang, Baobadang

Gujrati Name: Vavading, Vayavadang, Vavding

Punjabi Name: Vavaring, Babrung

Oriya Name: Vidanga, Bidanga

Other Names of False Black Pepper

Akar kelimpar, Akar asam kubang, Areuj kathembang, Akar sulur kerang, Baberang, Aroi kachembang, Bai huan suan teng guo, Babrung, Biranga, Baibirang, Butterfly pea, Birangi Kabuli, Kakannie, Chu’prek sangkong, Madie, Laoqiu, Songgui, Memory improver, Vavading, Vaivarang, Vidanga, Vayuvilanga, Vrishanasana, Vizhal, amogha, Wawrung, baberang, babading, babrug, babrang, baobarang, babrung, baranj, barang, bhabhiranga, baranj kabuli, bidongo, bidanga, biranj kabuli, biranga, jantughna, false pepper, kirmighna, karkannie, krmihara, krmighna, krmiripu, lumping seladang, tiruvittikanni, silgilla, vaividang, vavading, vavding, vavaring, vaividungalu, vayavidanga, vayavadang, vayuvidangalu, vayuvidanga, vayuvilanga, vayuvidangam, vella, 

False Black Pepper Plant Description

The false black pepper is a straggling shrub, which has the slender, long, terete, and flexible branches.

The branches of this plant have long internodes. The leaves of the false long pepper plant are elliptical or elliptical lanceolate shapes, and both sides of the leaves have glabrous.

The upper part of the leaves are shining, and the lower part are silvery beneath. The length of the leaves is 6-16 m, and the petioles are glabrous, and also, it is less or more margined.

The flower of this plant is small, pentamerous, numerous, and the in lax panicled racemes are terminal. The length of the calyx of the flower is 1.25 mm, and the sepals are ciliate, which is a broadly triangular-ovate shape.

The petals of the flowers are elliptical shape, and it is subobtuse. The petals of the flowers are greenish-yellow color, and the length is 4 mm. Both sides of the petal are pubescent.

The flowers are followed by globose berry. The fruits of this plant are succulent and smooth. The total diameter of the fruits is 3-4 mm, and it is black after ripened the outer layer.

The horny reddish seeds are enclosed by the berries, which are depressed in the base with the ruminate endosperm. The fruits of this plant are aromatic, and it has a slightly pungent taste.

Health Benefits and Uses of False Black Pepper

Heart Ailments

Mix the asafoetida, false black pepper, long pepper, dried ginger, sanna rashtram, himalayan pink salt, siphonanthus indica, and sadyaksharam, consuming the 3 gm of this mixed powder with the cow ghee twice per day is a good relief for the heart ailment and cough. It also helps to eliminate the germs.

Fungal infection

Consuming the decoction of 50 gm of false black pepper twice per day and also taking the robust powder as an ingredient in the food recipes helps to treat fungal infection.

Applying the paste of the robust berry on the skin effectively treats the skin infection. This paste can be applied on the skin or bath with the boiled water.

Blood motions

Due to the deficiency of iron, some people have blood motion. The false black pepper helps to treat this problem. Consuming the 3 gm of powder of the fried false black pepper with the sugar syrup  2-3 times per day helps to relieve the blood motions.

Treat Stomach Worm

In Ayurveda, this false black pepper is used to treat the stomach worm. The stomach worm causes a lot of health problems.

Consuming the 3 gm of false black pepper powder with the honey twice per day helps to cure all stomach problems that are related to the stomach worm.

Used for Facial Paralysis

Prepare fine paste of the false black pepper with the equal amount of black sesame with water. Apply the 4-5 drops of paste in the nose by using the soft cloth and breath. This will help to get better relief from facial paralysis because of the heat.

Sticky Motions

Fry the false black pepper by using the clay pot and prepare a fine powder of the fried pepper. Mix the powder with the equal quantity of candy sugar powder and consume these powder 6 gm three times per day with the buttermilk to treat sticky motions.

Treat Backaches during menses

This false black pepper is also used to treat backaches. Grind the 10 gm of false black pepper, 5 gm of dried ginger, and 20 gm of jaggery. Mix it in half a liter of water.

Heat the water until it is reduced to half, then filter it and settle to cool. Regularly consuming this decoction once per day will help to reduce the backaches during menses.

Removes Intestinal worms

This false black pepper helps to remove intestinal worms. Grind the false black pepper with an equal amount of Aristolochia bracteolata and make it as a paste.

Consuming the 10 gm of this paste twice per day effectively helps to eliminate the worms in the intestines. The false black pepper also has the Kriminghna property, which helps to treat worm infections such as threadworms, roundworms, and other types of worms.

Treats forehead pain, eyebrow pain

Grind the equal amount of jaggery, false black pepper, and Himalayan pink salt with the betel nut leaves juice. Allow the paste to dry under sunlight for a day and make it as a powder.

Add a little amount of water with a pinch of powder and use it as a nasal drop. Taking the 4-5 drops of this nasal drop will provide the good relief of forehead and eyebrow pains.

Treat Grinding teeth during sleep

Slightly fry the false black pepper and grind it. Replace the false black pepper as a seed of the grapefruit and make it as a pill.

Consuming this pill in the morning and evening will help to eliminate the intestines worm and treat the grinding teeth during sleeping.

Treat Elephantiasis

The false black pepper is also used to treat elephantiasis. Grind the false black pepper with an equal amount of Himalayan cedar, picrorhiza-kurroa, dried ginger, and Tinospora cordifolia with the cow urine and make it as a paste. Apply this paste on the infected leg, that will help to treat elephantiasis.

Treat Piles

Usually, piles are occurring because of the poor or weak digestion, which is caused because of the imbalances of pitta and Vata. The piles leads to pain, burning, and sometimes it causes bleeding in the anal region.

Some researches prove the false black pepper helps to cure piles. It balances the Vata in your body because of its digestion and appetizer property that helps to improve the digestive system.

It will resist the bleeding in piles. The astringent and rejuvenation properties of this false black pepper help to maintain the overall health.

Treat indigestion

In folk medicine, this false black pepper is used to treat indigestion. This false black pepper has a high amount of laxative property, which helps to manage constipation. The false black pepper also has the hot potency that effectively helps to treat indigestion, vomiting, nausea, and flatulence.

Reduce Depression

Nowadays, depression is the most serious problem among people; it is caused because of the modern lifestyle. The false black pepper has the antidepressant property, which helps to get better relief from depression.

Treat Toothache

The false black pepper is also used to treat tooth problems. Make a paste by mixing the Asafoetida and false black pepper powder and apply the paste on the affected area that helps to get better relief from toothaches.

The decoction of the false black pepper is the alternative option, which helps to get relief from tooth decay and bad breath.

Treat Parasitic Infection

The false black pepper is a good source of antifungal property, which helps to get better relief from parasitic infection.

Add the 1/2 tsp of false black pepper, 1/4 tsp of neem, 1/4 tsp of chitrak with the half cup of warm water, and consume this mixture three times per day before meal for 7 days.

On the 7th day consume 1-2 tablespoon of castor oil with the ginger tea before sleeping. This will help to treat the parasitic infection.

Treat Bacterial Infection

The false black pepper also has a good quality of antibacterial property so that it was used to treat bacterial infection in folk medicine.

Mix the 1/4 tsp of false black pepper, 1/4 tsp of turmeric, and 1/8 tsp of neem with the half cup of lukewarm water and regularly consume this mixture three times per day before meal for 60 days. This will help to remove the harmful bacterias from the body.

Treat Migraine

Grind the black pepper, long pepper, fennel seeds, watermelon seeds with the false black pepper. Consume the 1 tsp of the powder with the 1 cup of milk once per day; this will provide excellent relief from migraines.

Traditional uses of False Black pepper

• It helps to rejuvenate the skin and also improves the complexion of the skin.
• It removes toxins from the blood and treats different skin infections.
• The paste of the false black pepper is used to treat skin problems.
• The decoction of the false black pepper is used as the oil pulling for better relief from bad breath and dental problems.
• The decoction prepared by using the dried fruit helps to treat chest problems and fever.
• This herb is used to treat vomiting, bloating, indigestion, gastritis, and constipation.
• The false black pepper powder with the milk helps to remove the tapeworms.
• The fruit also helps to treat headache, rhinitis, hemorrhage, epilepsy, and insomnia.
• Consuming the root will help to treat cough and diarrhea.
• The young leaves of this plant are used for abdominal pain.
• The false black pepper is used to treat liver problems and removes the stomach worm.
• The leaves of the false black pepper with the ginger are used as the mouthwash, and also it helps to cure ulcers and sore throats.
• This herb is used to treat snake bites and scorpion sting.
• The powder of the false black pepper is used for constipation, indigestion, convulsions, epilepsy, and other worm infections in the body.
• Applying the bark paste on the chest will help to treat some lung diseases, such as pneumonia. 
• The oil of the false black pepper will help to treat skin problems and wound infections.

Culinary uses of False black pepper

• You can mix the leaves of the false black pepper with other greens and use it as a side dish for rice.
• You can prepare a refreshing drink by using fruits.
• You can replace the leaves for the tamarind in the soups and vegetable dishes.
• You can consume raw fruits.

Risks and Side Effects of False Black Pepper

This false black pepper has a lot of health benefits. Due to the medicinal property of this herb, it is used in folk medicines to cure many health issues. But some side effects also occur in the usage of false black pepper, you have to consider before using it.

• Consuming the false black pepper regularly may lower the testosterone lever to the men.
• The pregnant women should consider their doctor before using this false black pepper.
• This herb has high pitta so that it may cause hyperacidity, excessive heat, loose stools, anger, and diarrhea.
• The people who are trying to get a baby should avoid this herb, because the contraceptive effect of this herb may lead to infertility.

Frequently Asked Questions About False Black Pepper

What is the chemical contained in the false black pepper?

The leaves, fruits, and roots of this plant are used as a medicine; it has different chemical components, such as embelinol, embelin, embeliol, embeliaribyl ester, and vilangin. These chemical components are the responsibility of the medicinal properties of this plant.

What are the forms of false black pepper available in the market?

The false black pepper is available in the market in the form of dried herb, powder, and capsule.

Is the false black pepper cause loose motions?

the high dosage of the false black pepper may cause loose motion. This herb has the laxative property so that consuming the excess amount of herb may cause loose motion.

Does the false black pepper help to treat a sore throat?

This false black pepper has anti-inflammatory and anti-irritation property, which helps to get relief from the sore throat. It will form the film over the mucous membrane that helps to protect the underlying cells and helps to relieve inflammation and minor pain.

What are the uses of False Black Pepper?

The false black pepper has a lot of health benefits. This herb has antimicrobial properties; due to this, it is used to treat bacterial infection in modern medicine. It also improves the metabolism level in the body so that it helps with weight loss. Due to the anti-inflammatory and antifertility property of the false black pepper, it is used to treat the abdominal problems. 

In ancient medicine, this false black pepper is used to treat a lot of health problems, such as worm-infection, indigestion, and internal weakness. Generally, these problems are caused because of the imbalance of three doshas. The digestion, appetizer, and anti-worm property of the false black pepper helps to improve the digestive system. This herb helps to develop internal strength and also helps to maintain overall health.

Is false black pepper helping to cure acne?

Yes, the false black pepper helps to control acne. This herb has the embelin component, which is effectively resisting the activity of acne-causing bacterias, and also it helps to reduce the swelling and redness caused by the acne.

Is false black pepper used to treat hair fall?

The false black pepper also helps to control the hair fall. The embelin component of this herb is a reason for preventing the hair fall.