How to store Sichuan peppercorns without losing their flavor

In life, many people like to add some Sichuan peppercorns when cooking, because Sichuan peppercorns have a strong taste, which can bring out the best taste of the dishes. Some people also use Sichuan peppercorns as traditional Chinese medicine. In fact, biting a Sichuan peppercorn when you have a toothache can effectively relieve the toothache. Because Sichuan peppercorns have a strong taste, the smell is particularly easy to dissipate in the air. So how can you preserve Sichuan peppercorns so that the smell does not dissipate?

The efficacy and function of Sichuan pepper

In addition to being edible, Sichuan pepper can also be used as medicine to treat vomiting, stomach and abdominal cold pain, etc. The specific effects and functions are introduced below.

1. Analgesic effect

Because of the spicy taste of Sichuan peppercorns, this feeling has the effect of relieving pain. Although the effect is not as obvious as that of anesthetics, animal experiments have proved that Sichuan peppercorns have a significant analgesic effect.

2. It has the effect of protecting the liver and promoting catharsis

Someone once conducted an experiment on mice, injecting pepper extract into the mice's bodies. The results showed that pepper water can prevent intestinal ulcers. It can also fight against liver damage. It has also been found that Sichuan pepper has a laxative effect. Although this effect is relatively slow, it is more lasting.

3. Anticoagulation inhibits thrombosis

The experiment was also conducted on rats, and the results showed that the extract of Zanthoxylum bungeanum had a significant inhibitory effect on thrombosis, and the anticoagulant effect of the water extract of Zanthoxylum bungeanum was stronger than that of the ether extract. Moreover, the bergamot lactone contained in Sichuan pepper has certain anticoagulant and hemostatic effects against heparin.

4. Antibacterial and bactericidal effects

There are two very special ingredients in Sichuan pepper: laurocapram and dimethyl sulfoxide. Experiments have shown that these two ingredients can inhibit fungi and can enter fungal cells to accelerate their death.

5. Anti-insect effect

Sichuan peppercorns not only taste spicy, but also have a very unique smell, which many insects don't like. This is mainly due to the volatile oils contained in Sichuan peppercorns.

Taboos of Sichuan pepper

Dishes cooked with Sichuan peppercorns have a spicy taste. Sichuan peppercorns are generally not eaten, but are only used to enhance flavor. So what are the taboos of Sichuan pepper?

1. People with yin deficiency and excessive fire should avoid taking pepper.

2. Pregnant women should be careful when taking pepper; eating too much may cause abortion.

3. Zanthoxylum bungeanum is afraid of coltsfoot and orpiment, and is incompatible with withered twig and sunflower.

4. For patients with impotence and weak legs due to exhaustion of essence and blood rather than deficiency of fire in the gate of life and coldness, it is not suitable to use medicine for the lower burner.

5. If there is heat in the lungs and stomach, or if there is coughing and sputum, or if there is nausea, vomiting of acid water, or heat accumulation in the large intestine and bleeding, salt should not be used.