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Botanical Name:
Capsicum frutescens/Capsicum spp. Common Names: Capsaicin, Chili Pepper,
Red Pepper
Overview Native Americans
have used cayenne (or red pepper) as both food and medicine for at least 9,000
years. The hot and spicy taste of cayenne pepper is primarily due to an
ingredient known as capsaicin. Although it tastes hot, capsaicin actually
stimulates a region of the brain that lowers body temperature. In fact, many
people in subtropical and tropical climates consume cayenne pepper regularly
because it helps them tolerate the heat.
The popularity of cayenne
pepper has spread throughout the world, and it has become an important spice,
particularly in Cajun and Creole cooking, and in the cuisines of Southeast Asia,
China, Southern Italy, and Mexico. As well as being an important spice in many
ethnic cuisines, cayenne has also been used in traditional Indian Ayurvedic,
Chinese, Japanese, and Korean medicines as a remedy for digestive problems,
appetite stimulation, muscle pain, and frostbite. Today, topical preparations of
cayenne are used in the United States and Europe primarily to relieve pain
associated with certain conditions such as arthritis, shingles (Herpes zoster),
and cancer. Capsaicin is also a key ingredient in many personal defense sprays.
Pain Control
Capsaicin in cayenne
pepper has very powerful pain-relieving properties when applied to the surface
of the skin. Laboratory studies have found that capsaicin relieves pain by
destroying a chemical known as substance P that normally carries pain messages
to the brain. This appears to be true when applied topically for the following
conditions:
Osteoarthritis and
Rheumatoid arthritis, as well as joint or muscle pain from other causes.
Shingles and other painful skin conditions; pain from shingles can continue to
recur even after the skin blisters have disappeared. Capsaicin may help this
latter pain, which is called post-herpetic neuralgia, as well, but not all
studies agree and the research is somewhat limited. Whether your post-herpetic
neuralgia improves or disappears using capsaicin may be very individual. Check
with your healthcare provider to see it is safe and appropriate for you to try
this topical treatment.
Chronic headaches,
including Cluster headaches (a severe one-sided headache that tends to occur in
clusters, happening repeatedly every day at the same time for possibly several
weeks); for this purpose the capsaicin is placed inside the nose. Pain from
Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage experienced in the feet and/or legs) due to
diabetes; peripheral neuropathy pain from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),
however, does not seemed to be relieved from capsaicin. Low back pain:
Homeopathic gels of capsaicin are available for this purpose. Capsaicin,
however, is not generally considered a first-line homeopathic remedy for low
back pain because other homeopathic remedies have fewer side effects. ToothacheÂ
Psoriasis
Capsaicin cream can reduce
itching and inflammation associated with psoriasis (a chronic skin disease that
generally appears as patches of raised red skin covered by a flaky white
buildup).
Weight loss
Capsaicin is also
considered a thermogenic substance, which means that it allows you to burn more
calories from food, particularly when eating a high fat meal. For this reason,
some weight loss supplements contain capsaicin. There are no studies examining
the safety and effectiveness of capsaicin for helping people lose weight,
however.
Plant Description Cayenne
is a shrub that grows in subtropical and tropical climates. Its fruit grows into
long pods that turn red, orange, or yellow when they ripen. The fruit is eaten
raw or cooked, or is dried and powdered into the spice that has been used for
centuries in certain meals and medicines.
What's It Made Of?
Capsaicin is the most active ingredient in cayenne, but other important
ingredients include carotenoids, vitamins A and C, and flavonoids.
Precautions The use of
herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease.
Herbs, however, contain active substances that can trigger side effects and that
can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons,
herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a practitioner
knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.
Wash hands well after use
and avoid touching the eyes. Cayenne does not dissolve easily in water, so
vinegar should be used to remove this substance from the skin. Capsaicin cream
may cause an itching, burning sensation on the skin, but these symptoms tend to
subside quickly. It is best to test capsaicin cream on a small area of the skin
before extended use. If it causes irritation, or if symptoms do not resolve
after 2 to 4 weeks, discontinue use. Do not to use capsaicin with a heating pad
and do not to apply capsaicin cream immediately before or after hot showers.
Capsaicin capsules may
cause stomach irritation.
People who are allergic to
latex, bananas, kiwi, chestnuts, and avocado may also have an allergy to
peppers.
It is considered safe for
use during pregnancy, but it is not known whether the spicy compounds are
transferred through breastfeeding. For this reason, nursing mothers should be
very cautious about using cayenne.
New Life Health Centers
has no means of independently evaluating the safety or functionality of the
products offered by their suppliers and affiliates and thus can neither endorse
nor recommend products. Information presented is of a general nature for
educational and informational purposes only. Statements about products and
health conditions have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug
Administration. Products and information presented herein are not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. If you have any concerns about your
own health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare
professional.
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