5 Top Benefits & Uses Of Kabab Chini

These dried fruits belonging to a plant called Kabab Chini and Tailed Pepper | Cubeb in English has amazing health benefits. From treating fever and indigestion to getting rid of dandruff, it does have wide medicinal uses. Here in our home, we make hair oil, mouth wash, tea and we also use it for making potpourri.

What Is Kabab Chini?

They are the fruits of a plant, the fruits called cubeb berries closely resemble our regular black pepper but it has a small tail and hence the name tailed pepper. It is mostly widely cultivated in Java and that is why it is also called Java pepper. This plant belongs to the genus piper and it is cultivated mainly for the fruits and essential oil.

Cubeb berries have a spicy aromatic smell and it is used as a seasoning in cooking in certain countries and as a flavoring in certain drinks. In India, we rarely or never use tailed pepper in our cooking but it has been used in Unani and Ayurvedic medicine for many many years. It has diuretic, anti asthmatic, antiseptic, anti inflammatory, anti dysentery, expectorant, emmenagogue, stomachic and sedative properties.

Kabab Chini Common Names:

Its botanical name is Piper Cubeba. We call it Val Milagu in Tamil, Toka Miriyalu in Telugu, Balamenasu in Kannada, Kankol in Marathi, Chinikabab in Gujarati, Valmulaku in Malayalam and Kabab Chini in Hindi, Benglai & Urdu. (I might be wrong about the names and if I am, please do correct me in the comment section)

Kabab Chini Medicinal Uses:

1. Kabab Chini For Mouth Odour:

Cubeb is very aromatic and has antiseptic properties so it has been used for dental problems for many many years and it is especially very useful for halitosis (mouth odour). You can read the research that proves this use here. I have given a simple mouth wash that is very effective for mouth odor below.

2. Anti Bacterial & Anti Fungal Properties:

Cubeb has amazing anti-bacterial and antifungal properties and here in our place it is used in small quantities in hair oil and hair packs to prevent dandruff very effectively. You can find the link for making the hair oil below.

3. Kabab Chini For Cold & Cough:

Cubeb is one of the best ingredients to take during cold, cough and even during mild fevers as it has antipyretic properties. We take it in the form of tea along with holy basil and turmeric powder. It is very soothing to drink when we suffer from a cold and it also relieves headache.

4. Kabab Chini For Inflammation:

Cubeb has wonderful anti-inflammatory properties and is an amazing remedy when used as a tea to treat throat inflammation. To. make the tea for treating inflammation, heat a cup of water along with 1/4 tsp of kabab chini, turmeric powder and pepper, strain and drink.

5. Anti Estrogenic Properties:

Cubeb has anti estrogenic properties. Men who have low testosterone tend to have high levels of estrogen and to treat it, an estrogen lowering diet is usually suggested for them. Since cubeb lowers estrogen, including it in their diet will greatly help.

Kabab Chini Side Effects:

Like pepper, kabab chini has a fiery pungent taste and should be had in moderation, if we consume it in excess it will lead to burning sensation in the stomach. People with irritable bowel syndrome and stomach ulcers should be cautious when consuming kabab chini.

5 Top Medicinal Uses & Health Benefits Of Kabab Chini | Cubeb | Piper Cubeba:

1. Cubeb For Cough:

For cough, pound cubeb in a mortar and pestle very finely. Take 2 pinches of the pounded mixture mixed along with honey. This remedy will give immediate relief but if not you can take it once more after a gap of 5 to 6 hours.

2. Cubeb For Dandruff:

For dandruff, we make hair oil using unrefined sesame oil, fenugreek leaves, cubeb and haritaki, very very effective for treating all scalp infections. It can be used as a pre-shampoo treatment. You can find the recipe here.

3. Cubeb Mouthwash:

This is a very very effective mouth wash that is a very good home remedy for mouth odor. For the mouth wash, boil 1/4 tsp of pounded cubeb along with 1 small broken Ceylon cinnamon and a cup of water for a few minutes and strain. Use it as a mouthwash.

4. Cubeb for Mild Fever & Indigestion:

For treating mild fevers and indigestion, take a handful of holy basil leaves and slightly pound them along with 1/8 tsp of cubeb. Take the pounded mixture, 1/4 tsp organic turmeric powder, a dash of black pepper and a cup of water in a bowl and boil till it reduces in half, strain and add honey to taste. A very very good remedy for treating mild fevers and stomach problems.

5. Cubeb For Potpourri:

Like cinnamon and star anise, cubeb has a wonderful smell on it’s own and is great for adding it to potpourri. I always have potpourri at home and add fragrant ingredients to it that I like and cubeb is one such ingredient.

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