Cayenne Pepper Information

Cayenne Pepper
 
General Cayenne Pepper Information
 
Cayenne pepper is a very hot red powder used to flavor dishes; its name comes from the city of Cayenne in French Guiana. The powder comes from the fruit of several cultivated varieties of the Capsicum baccatum and Capsicum frutescens species of the nightshade family. The fruits are either dried and ground, or pulped and baked into cakes, which are ground and sifted to make the powder. Cayenne pepper is generally rated at 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Units.
 
 
Cayenne pepper is a popular spice used in many different regional styles of cooking, but it has also been used medicinally for thousands of years.
 
The main medicinal properties of cayenne pepper are derived from a chemical called capsaicin. Capsaicin is the ingredient that gives peppers their heat. A pepper's capsaicin content ranges from 0-1.5%. Peppers are measured according to heat units. The degree of heat determines the peppers' value and usage. Generally, the hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains. In addition to adding heat to the pepper, capsaicin acts to relieve pain and reduce platelet stickiness. Other constituents of cayenne peppe are vitamins C and E and carotenoids.
 
Cayenne pepper has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, diuretic, analgesic, expectorant, and diaphoretic properties. The dried ripe fruit and seeds of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. Cayenne pepper is available in many forms, including capsules, ointments, liniments, tinctures, creams, oils, and dried powders.
 
Medicinal Properties - General Use
 
Today cayenne pepper is used worldwide to treat a variety of health conditions, including weak digestion, chronic pain, shingles, heart disease , sore throats, headaches, high cholesterol levels, poor circulation, and toothache.
 
Indian Ayurvedic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean medicines use cayenne to treat many different conditions. One Ayurvedic remedy for pain combines cayenne and mustard seeds into a paste to be applied to the affected area. Ayurvedic medicine also utilizes cayenne pepper to treat gas and poor digestion. Chinese medicine employs cayenne for digestive ailments. An ointment or tincture made from cayenne is used in China and Japan to heal frostbite and myalgia (muscle pains). The German Commission E has approved cayenne pepper in the treatment of painful muscle spasms, arthritis, rheumatism, neuralgia, lumbago, and chilblains.
 
Medicinal Properties - Digestive Aid
 
Cayenne pepper is used as a digestive aid throughout India, the East Indies, Africa, Mexico, and the Caribbean. When taken internally, cayenne pepper soothes the digestive tract and stimulates the flow of saliva and stomach secretions. These secretions contain substances that help digest food.
 
Cayenne peter is also used to relieve constipation as it stimulates gastric secretions, thereby activating a sluggish gastrointestinal tract.
 
Medicinal Properties - Circulatory Helper
 
Many people take cayenne pepper internally to treat and prevent heart disease. The intake of cayenne has been found to have a positive effect on the circulatory system. Cayenne pepper may reduce the risk of heart attacks. It has been shown to lower cholesterol levels and the risk of blood clots . Studies have shown cayenne pepper to lower blood pressure. A study in India showed that cayenne pepper prevented a rise in liver and serum cholesterol levels when taken with dietary cholesterol.
 
Medicinal Properties - Pain Relief
 
Cayenne pepper is a proven remedy for the temporary relief of pain, both external and internal. Its analgesic effect acts to distract sensory nerves from the irritation or pain, which results in a temporary abatement of pain. The capsaicin in cayenne depletes substance P, a chemical that sends pain signals to the brain from the local nervous system. When there is a lack of substance P, the sensation of pain diminishes because it cannot reach the brain.
 
Capsaicin has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pain caused by shingles, an adult disease that is caused by the virus that causes chicken pox in children. Such over-the-counter (OTC) creams as Zostrix or Heet contain capsaicin and are applied externally to treat rheumatic and arthritic pains, cluster headaches, diabetic foot pain, fibromyalgia, and post-herpetic nerve pain. These creams usually contain 0.025-0.075% capsaicin.
 
Medicinal Properties - Other Conditions
 
Cayenne pepper can be an effective remedy for relieving congestion and coughs. It acts to thin mucus, thus improving the flow of body fluids. It is also used to boost energy and relieve stress-related fatigue and depression. In addition, cayenne pepper can be used as a treatment to prevent thumb sucking and nail biting in children.