Cayenne Pepper-Capsicum frutescens
The book, Curing with Cayenne: A Layman's Guide by Sam Biser, taught me what this cayenne pepper was truly capable of (I highly recommend this book. It will change your life. It certainly changed mine). Cayenne is a very special pepper that does more than spice up your food. Some of the major benefits of cayenne pepper are that following: stops external and internal bleeding, stops the beginning of a heart attack and stroke, dissolves clots, and much, much more. It is truly an amazing herb!
What Makes Cayenne Pepper Stand Out
First, I tried it in hot tea- Boy was that cayenne muy caliente! But I had what I would like to call, "a spicy bowel movement". Now I mix the cayenne pepper with honey or jam and drink it with hot or lukewarm tea- same results. But the herb is not without side effects. I got an intensive stomachache and intensive nausea. Other side effects are dizziness, weakness and confusion. I almost felt like throwing up every-time but I did not; thank goodness! In order to reduce your chance of getting the side effects, take the cayenne/honey or jam paste with ginger or lemon tea.
What else can cayenne pepper do? IT TREATS PAIN! That's right you chronic pain sufferers out there. You hate taking pharmaceuticals? Are you a heartbeat away from becoming an opioid addict, a drug addict? What to wave that big, bad, chronic pain bye bye? Introducing... (drumroll please), organic cayenne pepper powder! Just make sure that the strength of the cayenne pepper is above 80,000 units (same for everything else). I was suffering from shoulder pain all of last week. However, I took some cayenne/honey paste every night with daily application of my homemade topical pain salve & patch and voila! My shoulder pain scale went from an 8 to a 3! Pain Relief can be yours for less than your medical insurance deductible (😅)!
Monograph
Botanical Name: Capsicum minimum, Capsicum frutescens
Common Name: African pepper, African red pepper, American red pepper, capsicum, cayenne pepper, Spanish pepper, Chillies, Cayenne, Bird Pepper
Family Name: Solanaceae
Plant Parts Used: Fruit, pods
Constitution: Hot and wet
Taste: Pungent
Key Actions: Circulatory stimulant, circulatory & digestive tonic, antiseptic, analgesic, alterative, astringent, antiemetic, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antispasmodic, anti-rheumatic, carminative, condiment, emetic, sialagogue, stomachic, pungent, rubefacient, anti-catarrhal, diaphoretic, relieves muscle spasms, sudorific
Plant Preparations: Infusion, decoction, powder, gargle, tincture, infused oil, pills, ointment, vaginal bolus (rarely used because it is very uncomfortable), fomentation, plasters, poultices, liquid extract
Cautionary Pearls: Avoid excessive consumption, which may cause digestive, liver, or kidney disorders. Taking too much of cayenne pepper in any form will induce vomiting. Take caution on the quantity of cayenne pepper that you consume.
Self-Help Uses: Culinary- As seasoning in Asian and Central American cuisines. Medical- Heart and circulatory stimulant, hemorrhage, muscular pains, poor circulation, rheumatic pains, arthritis, psoriasis, neuralgia, lumbago, and unbroken chilblains, flatulent dyspepsia, hemorrhoids, debility, diarrhea, heals stomach and intestinal ulcers, cramps, rich in vitamin C, cold, debilitated appetite, headache, heart attacks, strokes, colds, sore throat, flu, headaches, diminished vitality, indigestion, depression, toothaches, swellings and inflammations, hemorrhage, low/high blood pressure, high fever.
Pertinent Information
Cayenne is a powerful and most useful of the systemic and local stimulant, producing a burning sensation on contact with the skin.
As a warming stimulant, cayenne is a valuable remedy for poor circulation, improving blood flow to the hands and feet and to the central organs.
Applied to the skin, capsaicin desensitizes nerve endings and acts as a counter irritant, stimulating blood flow. This is due to its rubefacient characteristic- increased blood flow to the affected part, and this helps to stimulate circulation in cold rheumatic and arthritic conditions. In turn, this aids in the removal of waste products and increases the flow of nutrients to the tissues.
Externally, cayenne pepper is used in ointment, liniments, and plasters to treat muscular pains, arthritis, rheumatic pains, psoriasis, headache, neuralgia, lumbago, and unbroken chilblains (use in moderation).
Related Species & More Information
Related Species: The genus Capsicum includes red and green chilies, cayenne, paprika, and bell peppers. Many closely related species and varieties of C. frutescens exist, all with different grades of pungency. Paprika or Hungarian pepper (one of the mildest peppers), and the large green and red peppers that are eaten as vegetables are both varieties of C. annuum and are important medicinal foods.
More Information: Just drop by any organic foods store and ask for the organic cayenne pepper. The organic one is reddish orange in color, not dark red (that one is not organic and is probably less than 80,000 units in strength). You want the organic, SUPER HOT one that is at least above 80,000 units. I say 80,000 units because that was what the legendary herbalist, Dr John Christopher started out with. There are lesser strength units out here, but I recommend starting with 80,000 units if you want to see results. And please, take your time ingesting the cayenne/honey paste; just ingest it with a spoon and enjoy with any tea of your choice; preferably herbal tea.
If you want to learn more about this amazing herb, you can get Curing with Cayenne: A Layman's Guide by Sam Biser from Amazon, as well as the VHS tapes that come with it.
Cayenne Pepper is truly an herb not to be underestimated!