Pippalimula (Pipalamul)

Pippalimula (Hindi Pipalamul, Piparamul) is the root of the long pepper vine, Piper longum, the plant whose fruit is pippali. In the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu it comes right after trikatu, in two verses that give its names, its properties and the conditions it is used in (p. 273, verses 64–65).

Names

ग्रन्थिकं पिप्पलीमूलमूषणं चटकाशिरः । दीपनं पिप्पलीमूलं कटूष्णं पाचनं लघु ॥ ६४ ॥

The first line gives four Sanskrit names: Granthika ("the knotted one"), Pippalimula ("root of pippali"), Ushana and Chatakashira (p. 273, verse 64).

Properties

रूक्षं पित्तकरं भेदि कफवातोदरापहम् । आनाहप्लीहगुल्मघ्नं कृमिश्वासक्षयापहम् ॥ ६५ ॥

• Rasa (taste): pungent (katu)
• Guna (quality): light (laghu), dry (ruksha)
• Virya (potency): hot (ushna)
• Actions: kindles digestion (dipana), digests (pachana), breaks up and moves the stool (bhedi)
• Doshas: removes kapha and vata; increases pitta

(p. 273, verses 64–65)

Conditions it is used in

According to the text, pippalimula is used in abdominal disorders (udara), bloating with constipation (anaha), an enlarged spleen (pliha), gulma, worms (krimi), breathlessness (shvasa) and wasting (kshaya) (p. 273, verse 65).

Chaturushana

A few lines later the text says that trikatu with pippalimula added is called chaturushana, "the four hot ones", and has the properties of trikatu in greater measure (p. 273, verse 66).

The plant

The Hindi commentary of this edition adds notes on the root (p. 273):

• What it is: the knotted root of the long pepper vine, Piper longum Linn.
• Buying it: the commentary warns that many sellers cut the thick stems of the vine into small pieces and sell them as pippalimula, so it should be bought with care.
• Compared with pippali: it acts like pippali but more mildly, and it is more stimulating than pippali.
• Childbirth: the commentary cites a physician, Dr. Desai, on giving it in prolonged labour and after delivery. This is a note for physicians, not a home remedy.
• Regional names: Hindi Pipalamul, Piparamul; Bengali Pipul mul; Marathi Pipali mul, Pipalmul; Gujarati Pipari mul; Punjabi Pippala mul; English Piper root.

Sources

• Bhavamishra, Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, Haritakyadi varga, verses 64–66: p. 273 (scan and text on SarvaKosh)
• Vidyotini Hindi commentary, notes on the plant: p. 273

This page describes what the granth says. It is not medical advice; consult a qualified vaidya before using any remedy.