Cayenne is a medicinal and nutritional herb. It is a very high source of Vitamins A & C, has the complete B complexes, and is very rich in organic calcium and potassium, which is one of the reasons it is good for the heart.
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Digestion
Cayenne can rebuild the tissue in the stomach and the peristaltic action in the intestines. It aids elimination and assimilation, and helps the body to create hydrochloric acid, which is so necessary for good digestion and assimilation, especially of proteins. All this becomes very significant when we realize that the digestive system plays the most important role in mental, emotional and physical health, as it is through the digestive system that the brain, glands, muscles and every other part of the body are fed.
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Heart
Cayenne has been known to stop heart attacks within 30 seconds. For example, when a 90-year-old man in Oregon had a severe heart attack, his daughter was able to get Cayenne extract into his mouth. He was pronounced dead by the medics, but within a few minutes, he regained consciousness. On the way to the hospital, he remained in a semi-conscious state, but the daughter kept giving him the Cayenne extract. By the time they got to the hospital, he had fully recovered and wanted to go home and mow the lawn. The doctor asked what she had given him, as he said it was the closest thing to a miracle he had ever seen.
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According to Dr. Richard Anderson, using cayenne and hawthorn berries together has a most incredible effect upon the heart. He believes that a regimen of cayenne and hawthorn berries for several months will greatly strengthen the heart, and possibly prevent heart attacks. He states further that if an attack were to occur in someone who had followed this regimen, chances are very good that no damage would occur. He tells the following story about his mother:
Read original article for more about dyspepsia, pain, skin conditions, and historical uses.
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.
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Possible Interactions
If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use cayenne preparations without first talking to your healthcare provider.
ACE-Inhibitors
Using capsaicin cream on the skin may increase the risk of cough associated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, medications used to regulate blood pressure including captopril, enalapril, and lisinopril. If individuals using capsaicin cream while on these medications develop a cough, use of the cream should be discontinued.
Aspirin
One study found that capsaicin (when taken together with aspirin) reduced irritation and damage to the stomach normally associated with this medication.
Blood-thinning medications and herbs
In theory, capsaicin may increase the risk of bleeding associated with certain blood-thinning medications (such as warfarin and low molecular weight heparin) and herbs (such as ginkgo and garlic). However, this theory has not been tested. Until more information is available, extreme care should be taken if considering use of capsaicin when on a blood thinning medication, in a class known as anticoagulants, or blood thinning herb.
Theophylline
Regular use of cayenne may increase the absorption of theophylline, a medication used to treat asthma, thereby increasing the risk of toxicity associated with this medication
Vitamin E is reported by some to be more effective as a blood thinner than heparin. Avoid any pills containing silica or silicon dioxide, or any other "aka's".
Last edited by madthumbs on Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:18 am; edited 1 time in total
To regenerate the gums, Dr. Bob advised to brush your gums with cayenne powder. I have used cayenne powder to brush my teeth and gums and I can tell it works immediately in improving the gums. Dr. Bob explained that cayenne powder increases circulation to the gums and this is why it is so effective. (Note – you can also add a little vitamin C powder to your toothpaste.)
-I found this statement after I decided to try it as a substitute for toothpaste. I've tried baking soda, but that left my teeth sensitive. I've also heard that over brushing with baking soda will wear the enamel down quick. - (I'm sure your dentist would like that!)
To regenerate the gums, Dr. Bob advised to brush your gums with cayenne powder.
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I found this statement after I decided to try it as a substitute for toothpaste.
Interesting. Do you have any results to share about your experiment?
Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:55 am
madthumbs
Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 8599 Location: Fingerlakes - NY usa
Some thought my mouth would burn horribly, but I don't recall even noticing a burn. I do have a high tolerance for hot pepper though, and the cayenne I have now seems a bit weak. From what I understand, it's the tooth brush that does the actual cleaning. I've been brushing with just water occasionally, and this seemed as good or better. It increased salivation and kept me from having to re-wet the brush constantly. If you're using it to regenerate gums, you may want to get your teeth cleaned by a hygienist beforehand.
Tue Sep 04, 2007 7:56 am
madthumbs
Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 8599 Location: Fingerlakes - NY usa
If you like your chile peppers hot, thank a fungus.
The spicy fruits developed their kick to ward off invading pathogens bent on destroying chile seeds before they could grow into new plants, according to a study published Tuesday. The bigger the threat from microbial invaders, the more pungent the pepper.
"It is a great example of the power of natural selection," said Joshua Tewksbury, the University of Washington biologist who led the study, presented in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Chiles are native to South America, where heat and humidity nurture the toxic fungus Fusarium semitectum. The fungus enters chiles through puncture holes made by hungry insects.
Chile peppers responded by growing built-in pesticides -- capsaicinoids, the chemical compounds that give chiles their distinctive zesty taste.
Scientists had surmised that capsaicinoids evolved as a defense against invading bugs, be they insects or fungi. The recent discovery of wild chiles with varying amounts of capsaicinoids allowed Tewksbury and his team to test that hypothesis.
The researchers collected samples from seven distinct chile populations in a 618-square-mile area of southeastern Bolivia. They counted the scars on the peppers to gauge the extent of the fungal threat in each group and examined the seeds inside. For any given number of scars, the chiles with more capsaicinoids had fewer infected seeds, according to the study.
Then the team exposed pristine peppers to fungus-carrying bugs. Fungal loads in spicy chiles were 45% to 55% lower than in their milder counterparts, the researchers reported. The team also engineered fake fruit with varying degrees of capsaicinoids in lab dishes and found that the chemicals combated the fungus in a dose-dependent way.
Those antifungal properties may have been the reason why people first domesticated chiles more than 6,000 years ago, said Paul W. Sherman, a professor of neurobiology and behavior at Cornell University who has studied the use of spices. Without refrigeration, ancient cooks would have needed a way to keep microbes from spoiling fresh food.
Chile peppers "make us healthier by cleansing what we will eat of food-borne pathogens and parasites," said Sherman, who wasn't involved in the study. "Humans have borrowed the plants' evolutionary recipes for survival and reproduction."
I've never been a fan of spicy foods, but all this info makes me want to start eating cayenne regardless. Is it a good idea to get natural weight loss pills with cayenne in them? I'm looking to lose some weight and I wouldn't mind the other health benefits as well. The reason I want the pills is so I don't have to taste it. It'll just dissolve in my stomach.
Thu Apr 28, 2011 9:07 am
madthumbs
Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 8599 Location: Fingerlakes - NY usa
Be very cautious of the additives in pills. I particularly had a problem with Silicon Dioxide.
Smell and taste could also help our digestion. If you can't handle it going down, it might be too much heat for you, and you shouldn't risk vomiting it up. I can totally understand getting tired of the taste or burn though. I used it for quite a while before recovering from chronic heartburn.
Thu Apr 28, 2011 11:52 am
madthumbs
Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 8599 Location: Fingerlakes - NY usa
After getting my teeth cleaned by a Dental Hygienist, and brushing with cayenne pepper; I was hoping to see my gum line recovering. Sadly after months; it doesn't appear to change. Still brushing with it though as I like the way my teeth feel, and my gums look after it.
Tue Oct 04, 2011 11:51 am
madthumbs
Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 8599 Location: Fingerlakes - NY usa
Oh my. I thought I came back and edited here after finding the cayenne for gum line renewal to be a hoax.
