Fact Check: Can Black Pepper be used for Minor cuts and Bruises?

A post on Pinterest claims that black pepper can be used for minor cuts and bruises. This claim is Misleading.

Claim

A Pinterest post titled, "Black Pepper Health Benefits," claims that "black pepper can be used for minor cuts and bruises". In the post, the user Deena Barger states, " Black pepper, one of the most ancient and prolifically traded of spices, having been employed for culinary and medicinal use, such as for, colds, nasal congestion, diarrhoea, anaemia, improve blood circulation, heart and lung tonic, halitosis and relieve toothache, indigestion remedy, anti-inflammatory, cholera and syphilis, mild to moderate stomach complaints, hoarseness of voice and sore throat, gingivitis, minor cuts and bruises, rinse for wounds, helps to prevent or delay food spoilage."

In addition to other claims, the post claims that black pepper can be used for minor cuts and bruises.

The post can be accessed here.

Fact Check

The claim is Misleading. Although black peppers exhibit numerous beneficial properties namely antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory and help with wound healing, its use is not recommended as its spicy and pungent nature may cause tissue irritation, and a burning sensation when applied directly to cuts and bruises rather than aid healing.

Minor Cuts and Bruises

Cuts or Lacerations are a pattern of injury in which skin and underlying tissues are cut or torn due to an external injury. They are usually caused by sharp objects like knives, paper, or even rough surfaces. They typically involve minimal bleeding and only affect the outer layers of the skin. The body starts to heal these cuts quickly by forming a clot to stop the bleeding and sending immune cells to protect against infection.

Bruises are skin injuries that occur when blood leaks into the connective tissue of the skin or deeper layers. This happens when a forceful impact breaks small blood vessels, causing blood to spread into the surrounding tissue. The body reacts by sending inflammatory agents to the area to help with healing.

Dr Aman Rathore, DNB, Critical Care Medicine, Max Super Speciality Hospital, shared insights with Health Dialogues on the best immediate treatment for minor cuts and bruises. He advised that "For minor cuts, rinse the area with clean water, gently clean with soap, and pat dry. Apply an antiseptic, then cover with a clean bandage. For bruises, use an ice pack wrapped in cloth to reduce swelling. Keep the area elevated if possible. When in doubt, seek professional advice."

Black Pepper and its Benefits

Black pepper, scientifically known as Piper nigrum, comes from dried, unripe berries, which are called peppercorns. Peppercorns are dried fruits that haven't fully ripened, and they are the main part used as a spice and seasoning. It contains lignans, alkaloids, flavonoids, aromatic compounds and amides. It also has piperine, which imparts pungency to the black pepper. 

Black pepper offers several health benefits. Piperine, a compound extracted from black pepper, helps other substances stay in cells longer, improving their effectiveness. It also has stimulating and digestive effects, meaning it can reduce gas, increase saliva flow, boost stomach juice production, and enhance appetite. It also has antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and it helps lower cholesterol by improving the digestion of larger fat molecules.

Can Back Pepper be used for Minor cuts and Bruises?

Black pepper provides several health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, as well as aiding in digestion and relieving gas. Some studies suggest that black pepper may help with the healing of minor cuts and bruises. However, its spicy nature can cause strong tingling and tissue irritation rather than promoting healing when applied directly to wounds. Moreover, there is no scientific evidence or medical consensus supporting its use for treating cuts and wounds.

The study published in the UK Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biosciences found that black pepper extracts contain certain phytochemical constituents that are thought to help speed up wound healing.

A review article by Kaliyaperumal Ashokkumar et. al. mentions that black pepper has a wound-healing effect.

Another review article published in the Biomedical Journal of Scientific and Technical Research mentions that black pepper helps in wound healing and provides nutrients for the body.

While black pepper may have some wound healing properties to a certain extent and also exhibit antimicrobial properties that can potentially help prevent infections when applied to small wounds, these benefits are neither clinically proven nor recommended as a first-line treatment by the medical fraternity.

Dr Sachin Choudhary, MBBS, MS (General Surgery), FMAS, FIGS, Assistant Professor (General Surgery), Army College of Medical Sciences, told Health Dialogues that, "While black pepper offers some natural antibacterial benefits, it’s not ideal for direct use on cuts due to its stinging nature and potential irritation. It’s also ineffective for treating bruises. For both minor cuts and bruises, stick to gentle cleaning, antiseptics, suturing if the size of the cut is big and ice packs to promote healing safely."

Dr. Aman Rathore, DNB, Critical Care Medicine, Max Super Speciality Hospital, added "Black pepper’s antimicrobial qualities may offer some support in managing minor cuts, but its spicy nature can irritate wounds, causing discomfort rather than soothing. While it may aid in fighting infections to a degree, it’s not a substitute for traditional first-aid treatments. Always clean the wound and use a proper antiseptic."

Medical Dialogues Final Take

Black pepper contains anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that could potentially aid in the healing of minor cuts and bruises. However, its spicy nature may cause a strong burning sensation and irritation when applied directly to wounds, which can be uncomfortable. While it might have some benefits, it's safer to rely on established treatments rather than using black pepper for wound care. Hence, the claim that beck pepper can be used for minor cuts and bruises is Misleading.