Cayenne Pepper: Medicine or Food?

Cayenne is used worldwide as a seasoning—in regional dishes as varied as jambalaya, chili, Szechuan chicken, pad Thai, and barbequed ribs. Cayenne adds flavor and heat to a meal, but it has also long been used as medicine in many cultures.

Ancient usage of cayenne tracks back to Greece, China, and the Middle East. It acts as a stimulant to blood flow, increases the action of mucous membranes, heals muscle aches, cleanses the body, and is part of the homeopathic repertoire known as a remedy for both acute and chronic disease.

Capsicum annuum is the Greek name for the cayenne pepper. The name means “to bite.” It is a member of the Solanacea family of plants, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, and deadly nightshade. Cayenne peppers originated in South America and the West Indies. Columbus discovered them in India, and the poweder was popular along the spice routes. (The seedpod of the plant is dried, and then pulverized for use.)

Cayenne has the unique ability to stimulate circulation and also to bind tissues together. Because of these cleansing qualities, it is often used in herbal therapies that demand an increase in blood circulation. It is also used as well as in detox programs. Because cayenne is a stimulant, it can keep a person awake and prevent grogginess.

Most of the pepper family act as digestive irritants, that is, they irritate the digestive tract. That is why people who have an irritable stomach, or stomach ulcers, shouldn’t use black pepper to season their food. Cayenne pepper will stimulate the production of digestive juices, but the use of cayenne is healing to the stomach tissues and other digestive organs. Therefore, its usage in foods can add spice as well as to heal inflamed tissues.

Homeopaths use cayenne to treat depression and conditions of sluggishness in the mucous membranes. Known in homeopathic literature as Capsicum, the “mental picture” of a person who needs a constitutional treatment with Capsicum is that of a melancholic person who experiences “homesickness.” Clinically, cayenne is used to treat various inflammatory conditions, such as chronic urethritis, colitis, gastritis, mastoiditis, and hemorrhoids. Cayenne has also been used to treat recovering alcoholics. Other uses include toothache, asthma, bronchitis and fever.

For reducing pain caused by inflammation, cayenne is one of the best herbs available. Whether the pain is caused by swelling of tissues or by muscle sprains and tears, cayenne is the herb of choice. Because of its ability to improve blood flow, cayenne is used by herbalists to heal muscle and joint pain, and even to speed healing of damaged tissue. Increased blood flow provides a source of healing nutrients to the tissue, and the blood also carries away the toxins from the damaged or wounded area.

A friend of mine’s grandmother danced with the Ziegfield Follies. She claimed that a cayenne poultice was frequently used by the dancers, to aid healing of their tired or sprained muscles. This is her recipe:

Add a teaspoon of cayenne powder to a half cup of apple cider vinegar and simmer until it turns into a paste. Apply the paste to the injured muscle or joint, cover with a cloth, and lie down and rest. This ointment reduces swelling and speeds healing of damage tissue.

Cayenne lemonade is a household remedy for colds and flu. It can be helpful to decrease the flow of mucous when you have a cold. To make, squeeze the juice from half lemon into a glass of water and add a touch of cayenne. Sweeten to taste with either maple sugar or honey.

Food or medicine? Cayenne heals the body and tempts the taste buds.