Sichuan pepper, also known as Chinese prickly ash, is the dried mature pericarp of the Zanthoxylum or Capsicum plant, which belongs to the Rutaceae family. According to traditional Chinese medicine, Sichuan pepper has a warm nature and a pungent taste. It enters the spleen and kidney meridians and is believed to have the functions of warming the middle, dispelling cold, eliminating dampness, relieving pain, expelling parasites, promoting digestion, diuresis, reducing swelling, strengthening teeth, and neutralizing fishy toxins. Sichuan pepper has a spicier and stronger dampness-dispelling effect compared to regular pepper. In addition to its warming and dispelling cold properties, it also has insecticidal, analgesic, and anti-itching effects. Frying Sichuan pepper with sesame oil can be used to treat abdominal pain and vomiting caused by roundworms. Boiling Sichuan pepper with vinegar and drinking the soup can be used to treat biliary roundworms. Boiling Sichuan pepper with water and using it for enema can be used to treat ascariasis. Rinsing the mouth with Sichuan pepper water can be used to treat toothache. Boiling Sichuan pepper with Sophora flavescens and Houttuynia cordata and using the decoction for fumigation and washing can be used to treat eczema and itching.
Black pepper, also known as Piper nigrum, is the fruit of the Piperaceae family, a vine plant. According to traditional Chinese medicine, black pepper has a hot nature and a pungent taste. It enters the stomach and large intestine meridians. In addition to its warming and dispelling cold properties, black pepper can stimulate the appetite, aid digestion, stop diarrhea, and detoxify. Consuming a small amount of black pepper can increase appetite. Adding a small amount of black pepper when simmering crucian carp soup can be used to treat poor appetite and indigestion caused by spleen and stomach weakness and food stagnation. Applying black pepper powder on a plaster and placing it on the navel can treat cold-induced diarrhea. Soaking white pepper in an appropriate amount of white wine for 7 days and applying it to frostbite can have a good effect. Boiling black pepper with water and taking it orally can be used to treat abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea caused by fish, crab, and turtle poisoning.
