It was once popular in Arab cooking. Because of its aromatic qualities, cubeb would go well with meat, cheese and vegetable dishes. Cubeb and its oil are carminative, diuretic, stimulant and antiseptic and were employed as genito-urinary antiseptics and especially for clearing up gonorrhea. Extract of cubeb is also expectorant, being helpful in pulmonary infections such as bronchitis.

The herb has often been associated with the reproductive system and has been used to treat cystitis, leukorrhea, urethritis and prostate infections, and has often been used in the treatment of gonorrhea. Cubeb Berry has been shown to be effective in easing the symptoms of chronic bronchitis and has also been used for digestive ailments. The herb is believed to be effective in treating dysentery. Cubeb Berry also has a local stimulating effect on the mucous membranes of the urinary and respiratory tracts.