Cayenne

Cayenne pepper, Latin name Capsicum frutescens, is also known as African Pepper, Bird Pepper, Capsicum, Chili Pepper, and Marichi-phalam (Sanskrit). The common name Cayenne Pepper also includes the species Capsicum annuum, a species that includes both Chili Peppers and Paprika.

Recently, this fiery, bright-red herb has become as hot in healing as it is on the tongue. Believe it or not, Cayenne, which can set your mouth ablaze, actually quells certain types of severe, chronic pain, including arthritis, diabetic foot pain and shingles. And here's another bit of news: Cayenne aids digestion and may even help prevent heart disease.

Cayenne has long been considered as having the following properties : alterative, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, astringent, carminative, circulatory tonic, diaphoretic, expectorant, stimulant, and tonic. Primary chemical constituents of cayenne include capsaicin, capsanthine, beta carotene, flavonoids, and Vitamin C. 

Cayenne peppers vary greatly in the amount of heat they induce, and are actually categorized from anywhere between 0 to 300,000 scovile units. Green peppers are rated at "0"......while the hottest, such as Habaneros, are rated at "300,000". A more modern system simply rates heat on a scale of 1 to 10. Many people consume lots of hot peppers in tropical climates as the heat will induce perspiration, which actually helps a person to cool off.

Digestion? Yes, we know. Lots of folks still think this fiery food causes ulcers. Not so, say scientists. In one study, researchers using a tiny video camera examined subjects' stomach linings while they ate both bland meals and food liberally spiced with jalapeno peppers, a close cousin of cayenne. No difference in their effects on the lining was observed.

Scientists believe capsaicin, the active ingredient in cayenne, assists digestion by stimulation the flow of both saliva and stomach secretions. Saliva contains enzymes that begin the breakdown of carbohydrates, and gastric juices contain acids and other enzymes that help digest food.

Healing with Cayenne:

If your goal is to aid digestion or to possibly reduce the risk of heart disease, experts recommend taking cayenne in capsules, which are available from Viable Herbal Solutions. For pain relief, over-the-counter preparations are available. Or just keep this spice on your dinner table. Even very small amounts of cayenne are therapeutic. Some of its best-known curative powers include:

• Rubbing out minor aches and pains: For centuries, herbalists have recommended topical applications of red pepper for sore muscles and joints. Medically, this type of treatment is known as "counter-irritant": It causes minor superficial discomfort but distracts the person from the more severe, deeper pain. One over-the-counter brand of capsaicin counterirritant is Heet™.

• Easing long-term pain: Doctors recommend the topical cream Zostrix™, which contains capsaicin, for arthritis pain, diabetic foot pain, and the pain caused by shingles.

• Relieving cluster headaches: In a study, people who regularly experienced cluster headaches characterized by a sharp, stabbing sensation on one side of the head, often around the eye; rubbed a capsaicin preparation on and inside their nose on the same side of the head as their pain. Within five days, 75 percent reported less pain and fewer headaches. If you suffer from cluster headaches, ask your doctor about prescribing a capsaicin treatment.

• Helping the heart: "Cayenne cuts cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of the blood clots that trigger heart attacks," explains Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D., director of the American Phytotherapy Research Laboratory in Salt Lake City and author of The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine.

Cayenne can also be found in a variety of other external uses such as gargle for sore throat, and as a topical salve to stop bleeding of wounds. Lotions and creams can also be purchased that contain the active ingredient, capsaicin, which is applied topically to arthritic joints, sprains and bruises.

Historical culinary uses of cayenne include salsas, chilis, curries, and sauces (such as Tabasco).

Safety Considerations:

Cayenne is generally regarded as safe unless you have existing ulcers or a history of stomach problems. While cayenne may not be responsible for causing ulcers, it can surely irritate existing ones. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after using either the herb or Zostrix™ cream. Cayenne may be kind to your stomach lining, but rub into your eyes and you've got an entirely different story.

Keep cayenne away from mucus membranes.  Wash hands after contact with any loose form of cayenne.  If you ingest cayenne and it is scorching your mouth, rather than drinking water, use milk or beer - whichever is closest - to quell the fire.  Avoid large doses when pregnant and nursing.  Seeds can be especially hot and in some varieties are best avoided.  Large doses may irritate the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys.

(This herbal ingredient can be purchased from Viable Herbal Solutions in powdered and capsule form as part of our Single Herb sales program, and in capsule form as part of our Combo Herbs sales programs.)