Free Herbal Information Via Email
Cayenne is a hot pepper
plant that is native to tropical and sub-tropical
zones of Latin America and southern Asia. It is a perennial bush
when grown in its native lands, but being frost-sensitive, it is an annual
when cultivated outside warm areas.
It is a sensitive plant with branched stems, simple, ovate leaves and white flowers that have pungent smelling fruits. The plant reaches a height of three to six feet and does well in rich, well-drained soil in sun, at a minimum of sixty-four degrees Fahrenheit.
The herb has been cultivated for thousands of years in tropical areas, but legend says that Columbus was the first European to take note of food flavored with this herb and introduced it to Europe after his return.
Archaeologists have found remains of peppers in Mexican dating from 7000 B.C., where these peppers played an important role in Aztec and Mayan mythology. They are still a staple in Latin American and Southwestern diets.
It is a member of the Capsicum genus that includes red and bell peppers, pimento, paprika and Tabasco peppers. Capsicum peppers vary in the amount of heat and are categorized from anywhere between 0 to 300,000 scovile units with green peppers at 0, while the hottest, the habaneras, rate at 300,000.
Capsicum is derived from the Greek word "to bite," and it is known as the "plant that bites back." Although it is frequently used in cooking, its medicinal history is long.
Cayenne has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Indians in North America used it as a stimulant, and the Navajo used it for weaning children. It is rich in nutrients, a range of carotenes like beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, an alkaloid bitter, essential fatty acids, amino acids, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, B-vitamins and vitamins A, C and E.
The plant is an overall digestive aid that stimulates the production of gastric juices, clears excess mucus from the stomach, helps to treat ulcers, improves the appetite and relieves nausea from seasickness.
It is also used as a carminative that helps to relieve gas. It relieves pain when taken internally or applied topically. It provides natural heat, and its main ingredient, capsaicin, is a strong pain-relieving compound that helps pain of arthritis, rheumatism, muscle spasms, cramps and bowel pain.
In addition, it is thought to cause the release of endorphins by the brain, chemicals that relieve pain that may be helpful in treating cluster headaches. It is a stimulant that boosts metabolism, helps to enhance athletic performance and is valuable in treating prostration.
As a cardiovascular stimulant, it is believed to help regulate the heart and blood pressure. It may improve blood circulation and is thought to normalize both high and low blood pressure. It increases heart action without increasing blood pressure, and it is being studied for use in lowering serum cholesterol and triglycerides.
It is thought that it speeds up the metabolism of fat and may reduce weight gain due to a high fat diet by increasing the liver enzymes needed for fat metabolism, and decrease fat deposits in the liver caused by poor diet.
It is considered to be an anti-inflammatory and may ease upset stomach and damage due to alcohol. As an astringent, it is said to be useful in the treatment of diarrhea and may stop bleeding from ulcers.
The herb is also a tonic that is said to strengthen the immune system and believed to build resistance to sore throats, sinus infections and colds. As a vermifuge, it is said to be effective in destroying many types of worms. The plant is called a "carrier" or "catalyst" herb that increases the efficacy of almost every other herbal combination.
It is rich in lutein and beta carotene, two substances that are thought to be beneficial to good eye health. Lutein is a carotenoid that is found in many fruits and vegetables, and researchers have found that this nutrient may significantly decrease the risk of developing macular degeneration of the eyes.
Avoid prolonged use if you have hypertension or peptic ulcers.
Asthmatics should not inhale the pepper's fumes which can be irritating to
lungs, and it should not be taken by people with irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS) or bowel inflammation (IBD).