The Negro pepper which is also known as Ethiopian pepper, uda in Igbo, eeru in Yoruba, chimba in Hausa, and Xylopia aethiopica scientifically, is an aromatic plant used either as a spice, perfume, incense, or birth control by women. The plant, which is found in Africa and South America, comes in dark color when dried and can be up to 5mm in length. Its medicinal content includes antioxidants and its ethanolic extract is said to have anti-fertility properties which serve as a great way to reduce the chances of a woman becoming pregnant.
The negro pepper can be ingested into the body as food through soups and tea. Here are the health benefits and effects of uda for men and women you should know before adding it to your diet.
What Makes Uda Potent For Family Planning?
Although others believe that the use of uda to stop pregnancy is only a myth, many women have claimed that it has worked for them. Judging this claim with scientific proof, a publication of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University on Xylopia Aetiopiopica (Uda) shows that the presence of ethanol in the plant can reduce the potency of spermatozoa. This can in turn reduce the chances of a woman to conceive.
However, one may want to argue that the major components of clinically approved contraceptives used by women have the presence of estrogen and progestin. The question is, does the negro pepper have the 2? In any case, there are suggestions based on scientific studies that the spice has an effect on a woman’s estrogen which can lead to the limitation of conceiving when taken.
The major argument for the negro pepper and modern contraceptive pill is that both work towards stopping ovulation. This means that the chances of a woman getting pregnant at this point are very slim.
How Does Uda Affect Male Fertility?
The effect of negro pepper on male fertility has remained contrastive based on studies. To others, it can have a negative effect while there are sources that claim some contents of the Ethiopian pepper have a positive impact on male fertility.
In any case, a scientific study on the assessment of the reproductive impact of Xylopia Aethiopica showed that there is an increase in sperm motility (movement), increase in the weight of reproductive organs such as testis, and epididymis (where mature sperm are kept in the body). These advantages were noticed as a result of the intake of uda in moderation.
However, the study also showed a significant reduction in the quality of sperm in the aspects of motility and epididymis if taken in higher concentrations. In summary, the intake of uda should be done moderately as excessive and uncontrolled consumption of it may lead to damage to the testes and may reduce the fertility of men.
However, moderate consumption may increase spermatogenic processes which in turn increase the weight of reproductive organs and fertility. It is also reported in studies that taking the uda in high quality often may lead to permanent infertility in men.
