HOW TO USE NEGRO PEPPER (UDA)

Negro pepper( Xylo-pia aethiopica ) also known as Uda by the Igbos in Nigeria, has different other names like Senegal pepper, selim pepper, Ethiopian pepper, African Guinea pepper. Uda is a tall evergreen aromatic tree, growing as tall as 20m high found in Africa, Brazil and South America.

Negro pepper contains flavonoids, alkaloids, cineol, phytosterols, tannins, saponins, glycosides, carbohydrates, β-pinene, paradol, α-terpineol, terpinene-4-ol, terpenes, cryptone, verbenone, β-phellandrene, spathulenol, bisabolene, trans-pinocarveol, limonene, linalool, and myrtenol.

Uda is used as spice for flavouring foods like soups, porridge yam, stews, sauce, meat and fish etc. It can be ground or used as a whole. The seed, stem and bark of Uda can be used to prepare herbal medicine.

Negro pepper(Uda) like several other plants inhibit male and female fertility and maybe developed into natural contraceptive.

How to Use Negro pepper (uda) as Natural Contraceptive

1. Get a sizable quantity of Uda seed
2. Wash and drain the water
3. Put the seed in a pot and pour about 60cl of water.
4. Boil for 5mins and allow to cool
5. Strain out the liquid and pour in a container. Store in a cool place or preferably in the refrigerator.
6. Drink a glass of the properly shaken concoction immediately after intimacy to prevent conception.

Some women also prefer to take this before sex(this is because some spermatozoa are stubborn).

Other Benefits of Uda

1. The uda can be used as a herbal stimulant for treating gastrointestinal problems such as stomachache, dysentery and gastric ulcers.

2. Dried Negro peppers are usually used in folk medicine for increasing the menstrual blood flow. It can also be used for treating amenorrhea, which is an abnormal absence of menstruation.

3. Aqueous extract from Uda is effective against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. It can be used as anti microbial agent.

4. Negro pepper can be used to relieve pain as it acts as an analgesic.

5. The essential oil from Negro pepper can be used for the manufacture of cosmetics like cream, soaps, perfumes etc

6. Xylopia aethiopica has anti-spirochoectal propertiess so that
   it works both as a preventive measure and in treatment of primary,secondary and tertiary stages of syphilis .

7. Negro pepper has anti inflammatory properties and so can be used in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and other inflammatory conditions

8. Anti malaria properties of Uda makes it a useful tool for prevention and treatment of malaria.

9. The phytochemical constituents of Negro pepper like flavonoids makes it a useful tool for the prevention and treatment of cancer

10. Uda seed is used to prepare food given to women after delivery to relieve pains, promote healing and lactation.

#WARNING!

According to Murray A. (1998), The use of herbs requires good knowledge of the toxicity dosage, purity, suitable extraction solvent and adverse effects.

Prolonged use of Xylopia aethiopica(uda) without proper monitoring of the usage can cause adverse effects on the reproductive system of man by affecting the sperm count, motility and viability etc as reported(Burkhills,1985).