| Cayenne - also known as red pepper, capsicum, chili | | | | cholesterol in humans? This is yet to be scientifically |
| pepper, and several other names is a shrub that | | | | proven. But the facts that it has been used for many |
| grows in subtropical and tropical climates. Its fruit | | | | generations to alleviate circulatory problems suggests |
| grows into long pods that turn red, orange, or yellow | | | | to its effectiveness in doing so. |
| when they are ripe. The fruit is eaten raw or cooked, | | | | Some authors say that the pharmaceutical companies |
| or is dried and powdered into the spice that has been | | | | do not want the public to be aware of the |
| used for centuries in foods and medicines. | | | | effectiveness of cayenne in treating heart disease and |
| Cayenne has become an important spice, particularly in | | | | other ailments. This would not surprise me. I would side |
| Cajun and Creole cooking, and in the cuisines of | | | | with a natural cure that has been used for years over |
| Southeast Asia, China, southern Italy, and Mexico. | | | | a synthetic-pharmaceutical one that has been tested |
| Capsaicin is the ingredient in cayenne that makes it hot. | | | | only briefly (less than a generation). We've seen too |
| Even though cayenne tastes hot, capsaicin is reported | | | | many of those cause problems. |
| to actually help lowering body temperature, which is | | | | In any case, cayenne has been used for a long time to |
| one of the reasons that people in hot climates like to | | | | treat various ailments and has gained a certain amount |
| eat so much of it. | | | | of credibility in doing so. It has become a very popular |
| Capsaicin also contributes to many of cayenne's other | | | | spice for medicinal and nutritional purposes. |
| medicinal properties to stimulate the cardiovascular | | | | Cayenne is readily available in powder form, in capsule |
| system, relieve pain on the surface of the skin or in | | | | or tablet herbal formulations, as tincture, dried herb, tea, |
| joints (capsaicin creams), improve digestion, act as an | | | | or essential oil. It is suggested that an oil preparation |
| expectorant, and fight bacteria. It is also an antioxidant. | | | | can be rubbed on sprains, swelling, sore muscles, and |
| Cayenne has been frequently used by herbalists to | | | | joints to ease pain. Cayenne can be combined with |
| treat diseases of the circulatory system. Some herbal | | | | myrrh and used as a gargle or antiseptic wash to treat |
| stores report that cayenne lowers levels of cholesterol | | | | laryngitis. |
| in the blood, although there are few if any scientific | | | | Note that - pregnant women and patients with ulcers, |
| studies that would support this claim. They also | | | | gastritis, or bowel diseases should avoid cayenne or |
| suggest that it keeps blood in your arteries from | | | | use only under the supervision of a healthcare |
| clotting. These properties would help to prevent heart | | | | practitioner. Large doses can cause stomach pain or |
| disease, such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the | | | | vomiting. Prolonged application of cayenne on the skin |
| arteries). | | | | can cause dermatitis or blistering. |
| There is a paucity of studies done to see the effects | | | | In the future, I believe the true medical effectiveness of |
| of cayenne on humans. There are a few studies that | | | | cayenne in treating various ailments will be revealed |
| have tested the effects of cayenne on rats. Is this | | | | and it will get the respect it is due. In the meantime, I |
| spice highly underrated? Does it in fact lower | | | | won't turn down a good (spicy) bowl of chili. |