Grains of Paradise – Loose Grains

Description & Use

• Sold as whole dried seeds (loose grains), food-grade and vegan.
• Used traditionally as a spice (pepper substitute) and functional ingredient in tisanes, culinary blends, and herbal brews.
• Flavor: Pungent, peppery, slight citrus and ginger notes; related to ginger and cardamom.

Culinary & Functional Benefits

• Metabolism/Weight Management: Activates brown adipose tissue (BAT), increasing thermogenesis and energy expenditure—aiding fat loss.
• Digestive Health: Used for stomach upset, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea; stimulates gastric motility and digestive enzyme release.
• Anti-inflammatory & Antioxidant: Contains powerful phenolic compounds (6-paradol, 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol) for whole-body inflammation balance.
• Antimicrobial: Broad-spectrum support against food-borne and other pathogens.
• Traditional/folk uses: Appetite stimulant, sexual tonic, wound healing.

How to Use

• Grind or crush seeds for spice blends, teas, or functional drinks (1–2 tsp/cup boiling water, steep 8–10 min; strain and enjoy).
• Dose: Traditionally safe when used in culinary amounts; supplement studies often use 10–40 mg extract/day.

Quality & COA

• Vegan, food-grade, non-GMO.
• Premium sources: batch COA and purity info available.

Grains of Paradise – Vegan Herbal Capsules

Description

• Powdered or standardized extract of Aframomum melegueta (seeds), encapsulated in a 100% plant-based (hypromellose) shell.
• Typical dose: 100–250 mg per capsule; often standardized to 6-paradol content.
• Often combined with other metabolic or fat-burning ingredients, but available as single-ingredient vegan supplement.

Health Benefits

• Thermogenesis/Weight Loss: Proven in human clinical trials to increase resting energy expenditure, activate brown adipose tissue (BAT), and decrease visceral fat and waist circumference over 12 weeks of use.
• Metabolic Health: Supports blood glucose control and insulin sensitivity.
• Digestive Support: Mimics ginger’s soothing and anti-inflammatory effects on the gut.
• Joint & Inflammation: Phenolic compounds act as antioxidants, reduce inflammation, and ease joint discomfort.
• No stimulant effects: Non-jittery, non-addictive—ideal for stimulant-sensitive users.

Lab/Quality

• Vegan, allergen-free, gluten-free. No fillers or animal derivatives.

How to Use

• 1–2 capsules daily (totaling 100–500 mg/day extract, or as on label).
• Take with water and preferably with a meal for enhanced absorption.

Main Compounds & Mechanisms

• 6-Paradol (key active): Responsible for BAT activation, thermogenesis, and metabolic upregulation.
• 6-Gingerol & 6-Shogaol: Shared with ginger—anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
• Other actives: Saponins, tannins, terpenes, flavonoids.

Safety, Dosage & Precautions

• Safe at recommended/culinary dosages.
• Side effects rare; occasional mild digestive upset possible at high doses.
• Not recommended during pregnancy/breastfeeding due to lack of human safety data.
• May interact with blood pressure medications or increase body heat; consult a professional if on chronic medication.
   

Quick Reference Table

Grains of Paradise is a supplement and culinary spice, not a replacement for a healthy diet or prescribed medicine. Always consult a qualified practitioner if you have medical conditions or take medications.

Source : http://www.wikiphyto.org/wiki/Poivre_de_Guinee

Reference on http://www.wikiphyto.org

Translation in English by Google Translate  (go to the page of the source linked | on Chrome cellphones go on the 3 dots on the top right and select translate in your preferred language | on laptop right click your mouse and select option translate when hoovering on the page

plant name

Guinea Pepper, Maniguette , Seed of Paradise

International Latin denomination

Aframomum melegueta Rosc. or Aframomum exscapum

botanical family

Zingiberaceae

Description and habitat

• Reed grass, native to West Africa, reaching 2 meters in height
• Leaves lanceolate alternate, narrow
• Flowering low to the ground, beautiful large waxy flowers
• The fruit is a red, leathery, pear-shaped, ribbed berry, 8-10 cm long
• Thick, pulpy, tangy pericarp, containing many reddish, pyramidal seeds, the size of a peppercorn , with a camphorous odor and an acrid, burning flavor

History and tradition

• Seeds were imported to the United States in 1940 during a pepper shortage

Parts used

• Seeds, essential oil

Dosage forms available

• Essential oil

Usual dosages

Composition

Main components of the plant

• 0.3% essential oil , of which eugenol is the main component
• Paradol , close to gingerol from ginger
• Shogaols

Main components of buds or young shoots

Main components of essential oil

• Main component eugenol , or eucalyptol depending on chemotypes [1]
• Acrid substance, paradol , close to the gingerol of ginger
• Shogaols

Properties

Plant properties

• Anti-oxidant, contains shogaols and paradol , among the most powerful anti-free radicals
• Antiviral
• Interesting potential in obesity [2]

Bud properties

Properties of essential oil

• Antioxidant , contains shogaols and paradol anti-free radicals among the most powerful
• Aphrodisiac, increases sexual activity in rats (increases the erectile index of males as well as the frequency of penetrations and ejaculations) [3]
• Antiviral

Directions

Indications of the whole plant (phytotherapy)

• Labial and genital herpes
• Arthritis and polyarthritis
• Asthma
• Cancer (?)

Indications of the bud (gemmotherapy)

Specific indications of essential oil (aromatherapy)

• Labial and genital herpes
• Arthritis and polyarthritis
• Asthma
• Cancer (?)
• Obesity (?)

Known or suspected mode of action

• Eugenol is anticonvulsant , anti-infective, analgesic, anti-platelet aggregation

Usual formulations

Regulations

Possible side effects and precautions for use

Bibliographic references

1. Aller↑ Koffi A. Muriel, ZF Tonzibo, Koua Oi Koua, G. Bedi, JC Chalchat. Essential Oil of Aframomum exscapum (Sims) Hepper from Côte d'Ivoire. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, Volume 14, Issue 3, 2011. DOI:10.1080/0972060X.2011.10643933
2. Aller↑ Ekanem AP, Wang M, Simon JE, Moreno DA. Antiobesity properties of two African plants (Afromomum meleguetta and Spilanthes acmella) by pancreatic lipase inhibition. Phytother Res. 2007 Dec;21(12):1253-5. PMID: 17705140
3. Aller↑ Kamtchouing P, Mbongue GY, Dimo ​​T, Watcho P, Jatsa HB, Sokeng SD. Effects of Aframomum melegueta and Piper guineense on sexual behavior of male rats. Behav Pharmacol. 2002 May;13(3):243-7. PMID 12122315

• Franchomme Pierre, The science of aromatherapy vol. 1, no. 1 & 2

Store in a cool, dry place, away from light. Keep tightly closed, away from the reach of Children and pets.

Do not exceed the daily dose.

This product is not intended to prevent or cure any form of illness or disease.
 

If you are pregnant or nursing ; If you have a medical condition or are in the course of medical treatment ; If you are programmed for theater/operation in the near future, please consult your healthcare practitioner before using this product.

This product cannot replace a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

This product has not been evaluated by the SAHPRA for its quality, safety or intended use.

For More Information please check our General Safety Herbal products Page