Tree Science eBook - Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
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<strong>Therapeutic</strong> <strong>Uses</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Common</strong> <strong>Backyard</strong> <strong>Tree</strong>s <strong>and</strong> <strong>Plants</strong><br />
17. Mountain pepper<br />
Native pepper berry trees, Tasmannia<br />
lanceolata, are found in the cold high<br />
country in Southern NSW, Victoria<br />
<strong>and</strong> Tasmania. Growing to some 5<br />
meters high, both their leaves <strong>and</strong><br />
fruits have been used by Indigenous<br />
Australians in both cooking <strong>and</strong> as<br />
medicine for thous<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> years.<br />
<strong>Therapeutic</strong> benefits<br />
Mountain pepper berries are known for their anti-inflammatory<br />
properties <strong>and</strong> high antioxidant content. Pepper-berry has<br />
been used by many traditional medical practitioners to<br />
treat diseases like arthritis <strong>and</strong> digestive issues. Because<br />
mountain pepper fruits <strong>and</strong> leaves can help slow absorption<br />
<strong>of</strong> glucose from the stomach, it’s possible that both could act<br />
preventatively against diabetes.<br />
How to grow mountain pepper berries<br />
Pepper berries are bit fussy, <strong>and</strong> require a specific climate <strong>of</strong><br />
good rainfall, cold winters, <strong>and</strong> mild summers. Only the female<br />
mountain pepper plants bear fruit, <strong>and</strong> it takes several years for<br />
them to begin doing so.<br />
In order to cultivate the pepper fruits you will need both a<br />
male <strong>and</strong> a female plant. Plant them close to one another in a<br />
shaded area, <strong>and</strong> give them lots <strong>of</strong> water for them to thrive.<br />
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