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December 1, 2013

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TCM Treasures Piper longum

By Zhang Qian | December 1, 2013, Sunday | Print Edition

Piper longum

Simplified Chinese: 鑽滆寚 Pinyin: bi bá

Bi ba, or piper longum, the fruit of piperaceae, is dried and used as a spice and seasoning, but it also can be an effective medication for diarrhea and pains.

A legend goes that Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) had serious diarrhea that the imperial physicians could not cure. An imperial announcement said that anybody who could cure the emperor would be well rewarded.

A physician named Zhang Baozang offered his prescription based on years of medical practice. It was a very simple formula — cook bi ba (piper longum) with milk and drink it. The emperor was quickly healed. As a reward, the physician became a five-class official.

Piper longum is a “warm” herb that travels through the spleen, stomach and large intestine meridians. It can help warm the body and dispel pathogenic cold, as well as help relieve digestive problems due to pathogenic cold, such as stomachache, poor appetite, belly pain, vomiting and diarrhea. It can also work for infertility in women due to pathogenic cold gathered in the uterus, and a sore lower pack due to pathogenic cold gathered in kidneys.

It is often prescribed together with ginger, cinnamon and ginseng to relieve diarrhea. It is banned for those with problems like diabetes, fever, tuberculosis and menopausal syndrome.

Piper longum and yellow croaker

• Ingredients: yellow croaker (500g), piper longum (10g), sha ren (fructus amomi, 10g) dried orange peel (10g), pepper (10g), green onion, salt and soy sauce to taste.

• Wash fish, place piper longum, sha ren, pepper and orange peel in fish abdomen.

• Pan-fry fish with onion, salt, soy sauce.

• Add water and stew the croaker.

Benefits: Helps reinforce and boost energy circulation, as well as improve appetite.

Piper longum congee

• Ingredients: piper longum (3g), pepper (3g), shaved cinnamon bark (3g), rice (300g)

• Have herbs made into powder.

• Cook congee with rice.

• Add powder while stirring; add salt.

Benefits: Relieves bellyache, poor appetite.

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