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Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum) Medicinal Use and Health Benefits

"If you master only one herb in your life, master cayenne pepper. It is more powerful than any other." Dr. Schulze

"In 35 years of practice, and working with the people, and teaching, I have never on house calls lost one heart attack patient, and the reason is, whenever I go in, if they are still breathing, I pour down them a cup of cayenne tea: a teaspoon of cayenne in a cup of hot water,
and within minutes they are up and around." Dr. Christopher

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Cayenne Pepper and Medicinal Qualities

Dr. Patrick Quillin: "Cayenne pepper - prized for thousands of years for its healing power. Folklore from around the world recounts amazing results using cayenne pepper in simple healing and in baffling health problems. But cayenne pepper is not just a healer from ancient history. Recent clinical studies have been conducted on many of the old-time health applications for this miracle herb. Again and again, the therapeutic value of cayenne pepper has been medically validated."

Dyspepsia Symptoms Reduced

In a recent letter to the editors of the New England Journal of Medicine, three Italian doctors describe how they were able to reduce patients' reported dyspepsia symptoms by more than half - by prescribing red pepper powder. In a study of 30 patients with functional dyspepsia, half of the participants received a placebo, while the other half took 2.5 grams of red pepper powder each day (divided into capsules taken before each of three meals). Both groups took their respective treatments for five weeks, and rated their symptoms each day on a scale of zero to three (higher scores indicated more severe symptoms). By the third week, the red pepper group showed a significant advantage over the control group. And by week five, the pepper group's symptoms had declined 60 percent from their baseline scores, while the control group's scores had only decreased about half as much. The symptom scores included ratings for pain, a feeling of fullness, nausea, and an overall score. The red pepper powder produced significant gains in all four areas.

Cayenne is a medicinal and nutritional herb. It is a very high source of Vitamins A and 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.

Cayenne is a Potent herb in benefiting the Digestive system

Native Healer 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.

Cayenne has the extraordinary ability to enhance cardiovascular performance

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.

Capsicum (cayenne pepper) is said to be unequal for its ability to boost circulation and increase heart action. Capsicum exerts a variety of desirable actions on the entire cardiovascular system. It has the extraordinary ability to enhance cardiovascular performance while actually lowering blood pressure. Capsicum has an energizing effect on the entire system. It has traditionally been used for overcoming fatigue and restoring stamina and vigor. It is a natural stimulant without the threatening side effects (palpitations, hyper-activity or rise in blood pressure) of most other stimulating agents.

Curing with Cayenne Because Capsicum boots peripheral circulation and stimulates organ secretion, it expedites the therapeutic delivery and action of nutrients in the body. It will ensure the rapid and even distribution of the active principles of available nutrients to critical function centers, including those involved in cellular respiration, metabolic data transmission and neural-hormonal action. The remarkable ability of Capsicum to stimulate organ secretion and even heart action makes it one of the strongest natural stimulants known. Clearly, Capsicum should be considered nothing less than a wonder herb that has scientifically proven its worth!

If you want to carry something in your first aid kit for a heart attack, carry a cayenne tincture. Even a bottle of Tabasco Sauce® might be good enough. Dr Christopher discovered that a cup of cayenne tea, one tsp of cayenne in a cup of hot water, stopped a heart attack in under three minutes. If you feel one coming on, try a few droppers-full of cayenne tincture and if that doesn't stop it, then nitroglycerin wouldn't work either.

If a heart attack should occur, it is suggested that a teaspoon of extract be given every 15 minutes or a teaspoon of Cayenne in a glass of hot water be taken until the crisis has passed. Dr. Anderson also knew of a doctor who rushed out into the parking lot and put cayenne tincture into the mouth of a man who had died of a heart attack while he was parking his car. Within a few minutes, the mans heart starting beating again.

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.

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Have Cayenne Extract available for Emergencies

It is a good idea to always have some Cayenne extract on hand for emergencies. Dr. Anderson carries capsules of cayenne with him in the car and whenever he goes hiking, backpacking or mountain climbing. He says, “You never know when you may find someone having a heart attack or some other emergency.”

The following stories demonstrate only a few of the remarkable emergency uses of cayenne:

If a hemorrhage occurs in the lungs, stomach, uterus or nose, it is suggested that a teaspoon of extract (or a teaspoon of cayenne powder in a cup of hot water) be given every 15 minutes until the crisis has passed. The bleeding should stop in 10-30 seconds. The reason for this is that rather than the blood pressure being centralized, it is equalized by the Cayenne, and the clotting action of the blood becomes more rapid. For external bleeding, take cayenne internally and pour cayenne directly on the wound.

Dr. Richard Anderson tells this story about his mother

Home base business opportunity "I had her taking hawthorn berries and cayenne when she had a heart attack at the age of 79. Her diet had not been the best, and she was in an extremely stressful situation. While in the hospital, they found three blocked arteries and wanted to operate immediately. They did not think that she could survive for more than a few weeks if they didn't operate. (How many have heard that story!) The doctors thought it would be very risky to operate, but they had her there, and there was a lot of money to be made. So they decided to take some tests in the hopes that they could find an excuse to operate. In spite of the fact that she had been taking lots of aspirin for her arthritis, smoked like she was the reincarnation of a boiler factory, and had just had a heart attack, they found that her heart was incredibly strong. In fact, they felt that her heart was stronger than most people in their 30s! The good news was that not only did she survive the operation, but also she stopped smoking! Well worth the operation, don't you think? In my opinion, that was the best thing the doctors ever did for her. Well, that is what hawthorn and cayenne can do for the heart, and every good herbalist knows it; every good doctor should also know it, but very few do."

Studies may indicate Dyspepsia relief

Pepper plant growing in container In a double-blind study, 30 individuals with dyspepsia were given either 2.5 grams daily of red pepper powder (divided up and taken prior to meals) or placebo for 5 weeks. By the third week of treatment, individuals taking red pepper were experiencing significant improvements in pain, bloating, and nausea as compared to placebo, and these relative improvement lasted through the end of the study.

A placebo-controlled crossover study failed to find benefit, but it only enrolled 11 participants, far too few to have much chance of identifying a treatment effect.

All double-blind studies of topical capsaicin (or cayenne) suffer from one drawback: it isn't really possible to hide the burning sensation that occurs during initial use of the treatment. For this reason, such studies probably aren't truly double-blind. It has been suggested that instead of an inactive placebo, researchers should use some other substance (such as camphor) that causes at least mild burning. However, such treatments might also have therapeutic benefits; they have a long history of use for pain as well.

Because of these complications, the evidence for topical treatments cited below is less meaningful than it might at first appear.

Capsaicin cream helpful pain-relieving treatment

Capsaicin cream is well established as a modestly helpful pain-relieving treatment for post-herpetic neuropathy, the pain that lingers after an attack of shingles, peripheral neuropathy (nerve pain that occurs most commonly as a side effect of diabetes, but may occur with HIV as well as other conditions), nerve pain after cancer surgery and arthritis.

Capsaicin instilled into the nose may be helpful for cluster headache. (The fact that this has even been considered a viable treatment option shows how painful cluster headaches can be!) Actual cayenne rather than capsaicin has been tested for pain as well. A 3-week, double-blind trial of 154 individuals with back pain found that cayenne applied topically as a plaster improved pain to a greater extent than placebo.

Skin Conditions

The amazing medicinal properties of Cayenne PepperA double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of almost 200 individuals found that use of topical capsaicin can improve itching as well as overall severity of psoriasis. Benefits were also seen in a smaller double-blind study of topical capsaicin for psoriasis. Topical capsaicin is thought to be helpful for various itchy skin conditions, such as prurigo nodularis, but double-blind studies are lacking.

Cancer Research

Researchers found capsaicin exhibited anticancer activity (it induced programmed cell death to human cancer cells without affecting normal cells) against pancreatic cancer, an aggressive form of the disease typified by exceptionally poor outcomes."

Headache Relief

Chronic headache sufferers may soon have some new alternatives. The active ingredient in cayenne peppers, capsaicin, is believed to bring headache relief by depleting Substance P, a neurotransmitter that helps send pain signals.

Bibliography

Grow Your Own Organic Cayenne Peppers in Your Backyard or in Container

Richard Schulze - "If you take cayenne pepper in capsules, you may be wasting your time and never getting the cures I got with my patients."

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Never Lost one Heart Attack Patient

Left for Dead bookDr. Christopher - "In 35 years of practice, and working with the people and teaching, I have never on house calls lost one heart attack patient and the reason is, whenever I go in--if they are still breathing--I pour down them a cup of cayenne tea (a teaspoon of cayenne in a cup of hot water, and within minutes they are up and around). This is one of the fastest acting aids we could ever give for the heart, because it feeds that heart immediately. Most hearts are suffering from malnutrition because of processed food we are eating, but here it gets a good powerful dose of real food and it's something that has brought people in time after time. This is something that everyone should know how great it is, because a  heart attack can come to your friends or loved ones any time. And even yourself. The warm tea is faster working than tablets, capsules, cold tea, because the warm tea opens up the cell structure--makes it expand and accept the cayenne that much faster, and it goes directly to the heart, through the artery system, and feeds it in powerful food."

To show the value of cayenne, and how great it is, and what a wonderful heart food it is, this story has been repeated in a number of publications on doctors in the East who put some live heart tissue into a sterile beaker filled with distilled water, and fed it nothing but cayenne pepper, cleaning off sediments periodically and adding nothing but distilled water from natural evaporation. During the time that they were feeding the heart tissue, they would have to trim it continually every few days because it would grow so rapidly. Having no control glands (pituitary and pineal glands), the tissue just continued to grow rapidly and, because of this, they had to watch it over the years and the doctors and associates kept the heart tissue alive for fifteen years.

After the doctor died, his associates kept it alive for two more years before destroying it so they could do more research work on it. This shows the high food value cayenne gives to heart tissue. This is why so many, many amazing instances have come to light, people who have used cayenne when they had heart attacks because, in most cases, your heart attack is a case of malnutrition. The heart hasn't had a decent meal for so long that it is practically starved, and we give it immediately a good meal instead of whipping it with nitroglycerin or digitalis or some other type of drug to force it to beat rapidly to bring more food values to the heart so that it could find a little help to keep going. Here we give the cayenne directly to the system, and it goes into the heart area acting as a good full meal. Many fast responses come from this."

Left for Dead This book digs up the dirt on the medical establishment saying that heart surgery can nearly kill you and do you no good in the end, all done with a whopping price-tag. Drugs are favored over herbs since they can be patented and sold to patients for great profits. Dick Quinn gives his personal testimony about nearly dying from heart surgery, but finally getting well by taking Cayenne, Garlic, Onion and other herbs, but mainly Cayenne.

He scoured the earth looking for the hottest Cayenne he could find to burn his insides out! But no matter how much it burns, it's all good for you. He started his own herb company servicing mainly heart conditions which had a lot of loyal customers until the FDA... shut him down because his cure was effective and cheap, and the medical establishment did not profit. I ran out and bought some Cayenne and popped several daily. I really didn't get the energy boost he got, but I suppose they're helping.

The book tells his story first, then describes some herbs secondly, and then ends with the disadvantages of heart surgery. There are sage quotes about the medical establishment and goodness of healing herbs throughout the book from distinguished men. The book seems somewhat disjointed as it goes into its different, but inter-related parts written by different authors. Quinn's story is short, skims the surface, and has some drama, but certainly is not a candidate for an Oscar winning movie. The writing style is direct, conversational, and informative and skips all literary flourishes to get the news out that herbs can heal. I found particularly interesting that drugs like aspirin merely synthetically imitate the healing effects of herbs, such as aspirin being derived from Willow Bark.

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Historical or traditional use of cayenne

The potent, hot fruit of cayenne has been used as medicine for centuries. It was considered helpful for various conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, including stomachaches, cramping pains, and gas.


Cayenne was frequently used to improve and strengthen the circulatory system. It is still traditionally used in herbal medicine as a circulatory tonic (a substance believed to improve circulation). Rubbed on the skin, cayenne is a traditional, as well as modern, remedy for rheumatic pains and arthritis due to what is termed a counter-irritant effect. A counter irritant is something which causes irritation to a tissue to which it is applied, thus distracting from the original irritation (such as joint pain in the case of arthritis).

Cayenne has amazing Recuperative powers

"Cayenne has the ability to clear the blood of matter and gases that cause digestive problems and to help people who suffer from cold hands or feet. It alleviates inflammation and can break up the deposits that contribute to the pain of arthritis. It clears sinus congestion, conjunctivitis, and spongy, bleeding gums. Because it also has astringent qualities, it can stop bleeding and prevent swelling. A source of Vitamin C, it rejuvenates the entire body when energy is depleted and is such a powerful stimulant that just a few sips of cayenne water or a few grains of cayenne on the lips may help prevent shock or depression in times of physical or emotional trauma. And it is believed to be a good tonic for strengthening the heart. From my studies and my own experience with cayenne, I consider it to be an important ingredient for anybody interested in taking educated and careful responsibility for his or her own well-being in situations that are not serious enough to require a doctor's care or in circumstances in which medical attention is not immediately available. "

More Nutrients for the Heart - Cardiovascular System

Hypertension, heart disease and strokes are problems that start with the lining of arteries, called the endothelium. When the cell membranes of the endothelium are inflamed, oxidized, toxic and lacking in energy, they go into spasms (blood pressure goes up, and transient lack of circulation in the coronaries is noted, as well as damage to the brain), they become more sticky, and clotting is augmented (cholesterol then sticks to the lining, starting plaque formation, and decreased circulation to the heart and brain). What modern medicine largely ignores is the amazing power of our bodies to heal themselves

Botanical Influences on Cardiovascular Disease

The best-known herb for the heart in western herbalism is Hawthorn (Crataegus). The extract of hawthorn can increase blood flow to the heart muscle itself, helping to counteract one of the most common modern causes of death in industrial countries--heart attack due to lack of blood flow to the heart. In pharmacological tests on both animals and humans, hawthorn has been shown to improve the contractibility of the heart muscle (which can lead to a stronger pumping action of the heart), increase cardiac performance and output, lower the peripheral vascular resistance (reducing the workload of the heart), steady the heartbeat (anti-arrhythmic effect), as well as increasing the heart's tolerance to oxygen deficiency, such as might happen during stress or excitement, or in diseases where the arteries are partially blocked."

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 Making Tinctures -An Example with Cayenne Tincture
by Dr. Schulze
  1. Start to make this and ANY Tincture, if possible, on a NEW Moon.
  2. Take a Quart Canning Jar and fill it 1/4 FULL with DRIED Cayenne Peppers, getting the HOTTEST ones (i.e. - Habanero, African Bird, Serrano, Jalapeño - 90,000+ Heat Units), that you can obtain.
  3. Add enough 50% Grain Alcohol (100 Proof Vodka) to the Cayenne Peppers (powdered, using a Blender or Grinder) to just COVER them.
  4. Use enough FRESH Cayenne Peppers, that you can blend with 50% Grain Alcohol (100 Proof Vodka) to turn the Mixture into an Apple Sauce-Like Consistency.
  5. Add this Mixture to the 1st Mixture, filling up the Canning Jar 3/4 FULL.
  6. Fill up the rest of the Canning Jar with MORE 50% Grain Alcohol (100 Proof Vodka).
  7. Shake it as MANY times as possible, during the Day.
  8. Let this Mixture SIT, until the following FULL Moon (15-16 Days),
    but OPTIMALLY until the following NEW Moon (28-29 Days)!
  9. Strain this Mixture through an UNBLEACHED Coffee Filter.
  10. Bottle the RESULTING Tincture.

NOTE: Part EQUALS Volume, NOT Weight in this Tincture Method. If using 95% Alcohol (190 Proof), then DILUTE in half with Distilled Water. Modify this procedure by using DRIED Herbs ONLY, if FRESH Herbs are NOT AVAILABLE, and when making other Herbal Tinctures also. Also if you want to make a SUPER-POTENT Tincture (i.e. - Cayenne Pepper & Lobelia Seed Pod), then allow the Mixture to sit for a FULL 3 Months!

Surviving a heart attack without hospital intervention
A testimonial by Shirley (author of this website)

My husband had a severe heart attack (MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION - an area of tissue death due to blocking off of its blood supply). I credit his full recovery to the following: hawthorn berries (crataegus) extract--- 10 drops twice a day; kyolic (aged garlic), magnesium citrate, ginseng, flax-oil, selenium, zinc, vitamins A and E as well as other multi vitamins; and 2 tablespoons of flax-oil. Shirley

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Cayenne bibliography

1. McCleane G. Topical application of doxepin hydrochloride, capsaicin and a combination of both produces analgesia in chronic human neuropathic pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2000;49:574-579.

2. Deal CL, Schnitzer TJ, Lipstein E, et al. Treatment of arthritis with topical capsaicin: A double blind trial. Clin Ther. 1991;13:383-395.

3. McCarthy GM, McCarty DJ. Effect of topical capsaicin in the therapy of painful osteoarthritis of the hands. J Rheumatol. 1992;19:604-607.

4. McCarty DJ, Csuka M, McCarthy, et al. Treatment of pain due to fibromyalgia with topical capsaicin: A pilot study. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 1994;23(suppl 3):41-47.

5. Yeoh KG, Kang JY, Yap I, et al. Chili protects against aspirin-induced gastroduodenal mucosal injury in humans. Dig Dis Sci. 1995;40:580-583.

6. Abdel Salam OM, Moszik G, Szolcsanyi J. Studies on the effect of intragastric capsaicin on gastric ulcer and on the prostacyclin-induced cytoprotection in rats. Pharmacol Res. 1995;32:209-215.

7. Holzer P, Pabst MA, Lippe IT. Intragastric capsaicin protects against aspirin-induced lesion formation and bleeding in the rat gastric mucosa. Gastroenterology. 1989;96:1425-1433.

8. Stander S, Luger T, Metze D. Treatment of prurigo nodularis with topical capsaicin. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001;44:471-478.

9. Graham DY, Anderson SY, Lang T. Garlic or jalapeno peppers for treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. Am J Gastroenterol. 1999;94:1200-1202.

10. Rodriguez-Stanley S, Collings KL, Robinson M, et al. The effects of capsaicin on reflux, gastric emptying and dyspepsia. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2000;14:129-134.

11. Graham DY, Smith JL, Opekun AR. Spicy food and the stomach. Evaluation by videoendoscopy. JAMA. 1988;260:3473-3475.

12. Bouraoui A, Toumi A, Mustapha HB, et al. Effects of capsicum fruit on theophylline absorption and bioavailability in rabbits. Drug Nutr Interact. 1998;5:345-350.

13. Bortolotti M, Coccia G, Grossi G, et al. The treatment of functional dyspepsia with red pepper. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2002;16:1075-1082.

14. Watson CP, Evans RJ, Watt VR. Post-herpetic neuralgia and topical capsaicin. Pain.1988;33:333-340.

15. Watson CP, Tyler KL, Bickers DR, et al. A randomized vehicle-controlled trial of topical capsaicin in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. Clin Ther. 1993;15:510-526.

16. Alper BS, Lewis PR. Treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: a systematic review of the literature. J Fam Pract. 2002;51:121-128.

17. Low PA, Opfer-Gehrking TL, Dyck PJ, et al. Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the application of capsaicin cream in chronic distal painful polyneuropathy. Pain. 1995;62:163-168.

18. Biesbroeck R, Bril V, Hollander P, et al. A double-blind comparison of topical capsaicin and oral amitriptyline in painful diabetic neuropathy. Adv Ther. 1995;12:111-120.

19. The Capsaicin Study Group. Effect of treatment with capsaicin on daily activities of patients with painful diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes Care. 1992;15:159-165.

20. Tandan R, Lewis GA, Krusinski PB, Badger GB, Fries TJ. Related Articles Topical capsaicin in painful diabetic neuropathy. Controlled study with long-term follow-up. Diabetes Care. 1992;15:8-14.

21. The Capsaicin Study Group. Treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy with topical capsaicin. A multicenter, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study. Arch Intern Med. 1991;151:2225-2229.

22. Scheffler NM, Sheitel PL, Lipton MN. Related Articles Treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy with capsaicin 0.075%. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 1991; 81:288-293.

23. Jensen PG, Larson JR. Management of painful diabetic neuropathy. Drugs Aging.2 001;18:737-749.

24. Ellison N, Loprinzi CL, Kugler J, et al. Phase III placebo-controlled trial of capsaicin cream in the management of surgical neuropathic pain in cancer patients. J Clin Oncol. 1997;15:2974-2980.

25. Dini D, Bertelli G, Gozza A, et al. Treatment of the post-mastectomy pain syndrome with topical capsaicin. Pain. 1993;54:223-226.

26. Watson CP, Evans RJ. The post-mastectomy pain syndrome and topical capsaicin: a randomized trial. Pain. 1992;51:375-379.

27. Watson CP, Evans RJ, Watt VR. et al. The post-mastectomy pain syndrome and the effect of topical capsaicin. Pain. 1989;38:177-186.

28. Todd C. Meeting the therapeutic challenge of the patient with osteoarthritis. J Am Pharm Assoc (Wash). 2002;42:74-82.

29. Marks DR, Rapoport A, Padla D, et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of intranasal capsaicin for cluster headache. Cephalalgia. 1993;13:114-116.

30. Keitel W, Frerick H, Kuhn U, Schmidt U, Kuhlmann M, Bredehorst A. Capsicum pain plaster in chronic non-specific low back pain. Arzneimittelforschung. 2001;51:896-903.

31. Ellis CN, Berberian B, Sulica VI, et al. A double-blind evaluation of topical capsaicin in pruritic psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993;29:438-442.

32. Bernstein JE, Parish LC, Rapaport M, et al. Effects of topically applied capsaicin on moderate and severe psoriasis vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1986;15:504-507.

33. Reimann S, Luger T, Metze D. Topical administration of capsaicin in dermatology for treatment of itching and pain. Hautarzt. 2000;51:164-172.