hu jiao

胡椒·Fructus Piperis

Pepper

About hu jiao

Hu Jiao (胡椒) is the peppercorn, the fruit of black pepper, recorded as Fructus Piperis. It is acrid in flavour and hot in temperature, entering the Stomach and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that warm the Interior and expel Cold.

Names

Pinyin	hu jiao
Chinese	胡椒
Latin Name	Fructus Piperis
English Name	Pepper·pepper fruit
Japanese	kosho
Korean	huchu

Classification

Category: Warm Interior, Expel Cold
Channels: Large Intestine, Stomach
Flavour: Acrid
Temperature: Hot
Family: Piperaceae
Species: Piper Nigrum
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Warms the Middle Jiao, disperses Cold and relieves pain

Cold in the Stomach and Spleen causing epigastric or abdominal pain

Stops vomiting

Vomiting of Cold type, including of clear, watery fluid; for severe cases, combined with warming herbs that descend Stomach Qi such as fresh ginger

Stops diarrhea

Diarrhea when Cold settles in the Large Intestine
Chronic diarrhea without infection, using a warming powder plaster over the navel

Resolves Phlegm and moves food stagnation

Food or Phlegm accumulating after exposure to cold

Combinations

gao liang jiang
Vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain from Cold in the Stomach
sheng jiang + zhi ban xia
Stomach Cold with severe vomiting

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 1.5-4.5g crush before using; May use up to 30g; Pills and Powders: 0.5-1g	1.5-4.5 g	—	—	—	—

Cautions

contraindication Heat signs from Yin deficiency, such as night sweats, flushed cheeks, a dry mouth or a red, peeled tongue
contraindication Bleeding disorders
contraindication Hemorrhoids
contraindication Any existing inflammation or complaint of the eyes, teeth, mouth or throat, which its acrid heat can inflame further
pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy at medicinal doses; ordinary use as a seasoning is regarded as food
caution Beyond seasoning amounts, pepper can itself upset the stomach and cause diarrhea