Cayenne Pepper

Species name: Capsicum frutescens.

Also known as: Bird's Beak, Chilliepin, Guinea Pepper, Mad Pepper.

What is Cayenne Pepper? Did you know that this herb also has many uses other than just seasoning food? Do you know the many different benefits to using cayenne?

Cayenne Pepper is used not only for flavoring foods but it also has many medicinal uses as well.

Cayenne Pepper is made from the dried pods of spicy chili peppers. This herb is often added to dishes from Asia, the Americas and the Middle East.

Cayenne Pepper comes from Central and South America and the West Indies. Cayenne Peppers were grown for thousands of years in the West Indies and Central and South America.

Spanish explorers looking for black pepper misnamed them as pepper, and introduced them to the rest of the world. They are still very widely used in cooking today but they have more benefit than just pleasing the taste-buds. There are also medicinal uses for this herb.

Home Remedies using Cayenne Pepper:

Benefits of Cayenne Pepper:

Cayenne Pepper is well known as a spice and due to it’s use in cooking, it has come to be recognized for other uses as well. The cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, the ingredient that makes the pepper hot.

In addition to adding heat to the pepper, capsaicin acts to reduce platelet stickiness and relieve pain. Other ingredients of cayenne are vitamins E, vitamin C and carotenoids, all of which can have health benefits.

When you are sick or part of body is sick, blood flow is usually restricted to that part of the body. Cayenne pepper works better than any known herb to increase blood flow so this can be very helpful at helping you become well again.

Uses of Cayenne Pepper:

  • Increase blood flow
  • For shingles, psoriasis, arthritis, or toothache
  • For digestive problems
  • Capsaicin cream: may be applied directly to the affected area up to four times a day. May cause some initial burning or itching, but these symptoms should disappear quickly.
  • Capsaicin capsules:(30 to 120 mg, three times daily)
  • Infusion: (a tea) by adding 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of powder to a cup of boiling water
  • Directly consuming the cayenne pepper

Side Effects of Cayenne Pepper:

Capsaicin cream may cause an itching, burning sensation on the skin. Capsaicin capsules may cause stomach irritation.