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Is Black Pepper Better Than Styptic Pencil for Cut?

Many people find ground black pepper better than the alternatives for stopping the bleeding from a cut or scratch. Surprisingly, it does not hurt.

Do you have a favorite home remedy to stop bleeding? Many people insist that pouring ground black pepper on a cut stops the bleeding more quickly. Is black pepper better than other approaches to stopping bleeding?

Black Pepper Better Remedy for Bleeding:

Q. Yesterday I cut my bottom lip shaving and it would not stop bleeding. I used a styptic pencil several times with no success. No way I could stop it.

About a half hour later, my wife read your article about black pepper. She dampened a paper napkin, loaded it down with pepper and I put it on the cut. Five minutes later, I gently removed it and voila, no more bleeding. I went on to eat breakfast, had my cup of coffee and had no further problem the rest of the day.

Black Pepper Remedy Is Wood Carver’s Favorite:

A. We first learned about this remedy thanks to a wood carver. He and his hobbyist friends always kept packets of black pepper with their carving tools. That’s because they had learned from experience that black pepper helps stop bleeding.

Since we shared this idea, we have heard from scores of people who have tried it with surprising success. People have also told us that cayenne pepper or powdered sage or thyme can provide the same benefit. If you have a favorite remedy to stop bleeding, please tell us about it in the comment section below.

If you enjoy home remedies like this, you may be interested in our book, Quick & Handy Home Remedies. In it, we have collected home remedies for many dozens of troublesome problems like cuts that won’t stop bleeding. In addition, we include discussions of the wonderful health benefits from some of our favorite foods, including blueberries, coffee and chocolate.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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