Capsicum is a pure, energetic, permanent stimulant, producing in large doses vomiting, purging, pains in the stomach and bowels, heat and inflammation of the stomach, giddiness, a species of intoxication, and an enfeebled condition of the nervous power. — King’s American Dispensatory, a nineteenth-century herbal medical text
When a medicinal herb makes your gut growl like that, it brings new clarity to the old adage "The cure is worse than the disease."
Of course, dosage matters. Who knows how much capsicum, better known as cayenne pepper, brought on such a purging?
In the case of cayenne, a little is good, but more isn’t usually better, says Priscilla Evans, N.D., a naturopathic doctor at the Community Wholistic Health Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. "In small amounts, it is often beneficial, but by its very nature, cayenne is an irritating herb," she says.
Whether eaten as a food or taken as medicine, cayenne pepper has been used for centuries to treat asthma, fevers, sore throats, respiratory infections, and digestive problems. It can relieve flatulence and stimulate the stomach and gastrointestinal tract, and it may also reduce blood cholesterol and decrease a tendency to form blood clots.
Many of these actions stem from the ability of cayenne to stimulate the circulation and generate heat, says Dr. Evans. "Cayenne is found in many herbal formulas to get the blood moving."
Stops a Charging Bear
Cayenne is native to tropical America. Also called chile pepper or red pepper, it comes from the dried fruit of several species and hybrids of plants in the Solanaceae family.
The main active ingredient in cayenne is capsaicin, the stuff that makes hot peppers hot. In concentrated form, cayenne is so irritating that it’s bottled in self-defense sprays that are advertised as being strong enough to stop a charging grizzly bear. Other constituents in cayenne include carotenoids, vitamins A and C, and volatile oils. The carotene molecules are potent antioxidants.
In 1552, an Aztec herbal text recommended cayenne as a treatment for toothaches and scabies, a skin disease caused by parasites. Subsequently, it was introduced to Europe, where it was used to reduce swollen lymph glands caused by tuberculosis, which was then known as the king’s evil.
By the nineteenth century, doctors and herbalists prescribed cayenne as a general stimulant, believing that it "made the blood go round" and restored "internal heat." In the early twentieth century, it was used as part of the cure for alcohol and opium withdrawal. Doctors reasoned that the quickened action of the circulation increased the rate of blood cleansing and purification.
Mucus Mover
Because cayenne acts as a diaphoretic (which means that it makes you sweat), it was an herbal mainstay for general cleansing of the body, breaking fevers, and fighting infection.
"When you eat something hot like cayenne, your nose runs, you sweat, and all your fluids get moving," says Dr. Evans. That’s a good thing when you have a cold or flu and your mucous membranes are swollen and inflamed. Breaking up stagnant and congested mucus brings some relief from cold symptoms, says Dr. Evans, but even better, it brings fresh blood to the site of the infection. Fresh blood contains infection fighters from the immune system—white blood cells and leukocytes—that fight viruses and other foreign invaders.
SUPPLEMENTSNAPSHOT
| Cayenne Botanical names: Capsicum frutescens, C. annuum, and other species. May help: Blood clots, asthma, fever, sore throat, respiratory infections, flatulence, and high cholesterol and triglycerides. Special instructions: Take with food. Origin: Native to tropical America. Cautions and possible side effects: May cause a burning sensation in the gastrointestinal tract in high doses or for some sensitive people. |
Cayenne is frequently found in herbal cold and flu combinations, especially those with immune stimulants like echinacea and goldenseal, says Dr. Evans. "Cayenne helps the action of these other herbs by stimulating circulation and therefore the delivery of the herbs," she adds.
Its stimulating effects may also be good for your heart, says Pamela Herring, N.D., a naturopathic doctor at the Naturopathic Clinic of Concord in New Hampshire.
People in cultures that consume large amounts of cayenne appear to have lower rates of cardiovascular disease. There’s evidence that frequent consumption of cayenne reduces levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (another type of blood fat) in the bloodstream. High levels of either can lead to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and blockages in the blood vessels.
Cayenne also appears to decrease the tendency to form blood clots and reduces the bunching up of blood platelets around plaque buildups in the vessels.
Dr. Herring believes that the herb’s antioxidant properties and circulation-enhancing effects benefit the heart muscle. "Cayenne really stimulates the whole cardiovascular system," she says.
Fire Down Below
Cayenne is available in pills, capsules, and tincture. You can take it by itself or in combination with other herbs. You can also add it to foods as a spice.
When you take a capsule, you’re likely to feel a bit of heat in your belly. For that reason, it’s best to take it with food and start out with just one or two capsules a day, advises Dr. Herring. Sensitivity to cayenne varies from one person to the next.
