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Cayenne Pepper Herb -Benefits, Uses And Side Effects

Scientific name: : Capsicum annuum

Actions: Alterative, anti-rheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, condiment, emetic, expectorant, hemosta­tic, pungent, rubefacient, sialagogue, stimu­lant, stomachic, sudorific, tonic.

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Cayenne pepper (also called Capsicum frutescens) is a stimulating herb made from the dried pods of chili peppers and is well known for its pungent taste and smell. Cayenne is a popular spice used in many different regional styles of cooking, but it has also been used medicinally for thousands of years. Cayenne is often referred to as chili, which is the Aztec name for cayenne pepper.

Description

Cayenne chile peppers are extremely hot and provide the heat for many spicy dishes. When fresh, cayenne peppers appear wrinkly and may be either deep green or bright red (when mature). They can range between 5 and 10 inches (12.5-25.5cm) long and are generally about 1/2 to 1 inch (1.2-2.5cm) across. The red, mature pepper is hotter than the green. Cayenne peppers tend to be long and hooked and they terminate in a sharp point.

History/Region of Origin

Cayenne Peppers were grown for thousands of years in the West Indies and Central and South America. Spanish explorers looking for black pepper misnamed them as pepper, and introduced them to the rest of the world. One of Columbus' passengers, de Cuneo, wrote how the Native Americans ate pepperlike fruit "like we eat apples."

Uses and benefits of Cayenne Pepper

• Used in high blood pressure cases because of its vascular dilation properties.
• Increases circulation. Excellent in cold conditions.
• Stimulates lymph flow. However, it also creates mucus. I do not recommend long term use of cayenne or any hot peppers because of their stimulating and mucus-forming properties.
• Can be an irritant to the mucosa of the GI tract in prolonged usage.
• Used to beal ulcers.
• Used with castor oil packs to help drive oils and herbs into tissues.
• Used as a homeostatic externally and internally (stops bleeding).
• A must for strokes and heart attacks.
• Treats shock.