In traditional herbal medicine: Black pepper is regarded as a stimulating expectorant in Western and Ayurvedic medicine, and as a tranquilizing and anti-emetic in Chinese medicine[238 ]. The seed is used internally to treat indigestion and wind in western herbalism[238 ]. In Chinese medicine it is used as a warming herb to treat stomach chills, food poisoning, cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea and vomiting caused by cold[238 ]. It is used externally in Ayurvedic medicine to treat nasal congestion, sinusitis, epilepsy and skin inflammations[238 ].

The pungent fruits, known as peppercorns, are dried, ground into a powder known as black pepper, and used as a condiment.