Your kitchen spice rack is full of remedies, but most people don't know how to use them. Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens) or better known as Red Pepper is an amazing healing herb. Cayenne comes from a Caribbean word "Kian". The fruit of the plant is the part used. Ironically most of the supply in the United States does not come from the Caribbean, it comes from India and Africa. Cayenne has many medical uses.
· Aids Digestion
· Chronic Pain
· Cluster headaches
· Reduces Cholesterol and Triglyceride levels
· Respiratory Problems
· Motion Sickness
· Weight Loss
Cayenne aids digestion by stimulating both the saliva and stomach secretions. Saliva begins the breakdown of carbohydrates and the stomach secretions digest your food. Both work better with a little help from cayenne. A lot of people believe that cayenne causes ulcers, but studies show that it doesn't. You may have a burning sensation in your stomach but this is just superficial and harmless. If you eat to much and have a burning mouth, the best cure is a glass of milk.
Cayenne has a chemical, capsaicin, which is the active ingredient in HEET, and over-the-counter creams for muscle pain Zostrix and Axsain. Capsaicin interferes with the action of Substance P, a nerve chemical that sends messages to the brain. As an anti-inflammatory to heal bruises and sore muscles use an ointment made of 1 part cayenne to 5 parts petroleum jelly and rub on affected area. You can also use ¼ to ½ teaspoon per cup of warm vegetable oil to rub into painful areas.
For cluster headaches, it is recommended that you rub the above oil mixture into your nose and around the nose daily. It has been found to greatly reduce the pain and frequency of headaches after as little as 5 days. Cayenne helps your heart by increasing blood circulation, by reducing Cholesterol and Triglyceride levels in your blood and reduces risk of blood clots which can trigger heart attacks. For respiratory problems, drink ¼ teaspoon of Cayenne dissolved in ¼ cup of warm water. It will help release mucus and clear up nasal passages. This is a good home remedy to help bronchitis, colds, coughs and hay fever.
Cayenne is a proven remedy for motion sickness. As soon as you feel the symptoms, take 1 teaspoon cayenne dissolved in 1 teaspoon of olive oil. As a weight loss aid, cayenne may help burn more calories and make you feel less hungry. 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons per meal is suggested. Cayenne stimulates the body's natural defense systems and has long been used as a tonic, using ¼ teaspoon 3 times daily.
Sensitivity to Cayenne varies from person to person, so start with a little and move up. Just putting Cayenne in your food as a seasoning provides therapeutic effects, but for some people, who really don't like the flavor but want the help with their cholesterol or the help with their digestion capsules may be the preferred method. You can get these at most health food stores. Another method of getting these benefits is to drink an infusion of ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne per cup of boiling water after each meal.
Some of the foods that Cayenne is really great in are soups, stir fry, as a flavoring on meats and a zesty addition to a cup of hot chocolate. Cayenne is very hard to wash off of your hands, so if you are using fresh cayenne please wear rubber gloves when handling or cutting. If you do get it on your hands, washing them in vinegar is the best way to clean them.
Caution: Do not give Cayenne to children under the age of 2. Pregnant or nursing mothers should also not use cayenne.
For more information on using kitchen herbs visit me at http://ezherbalhealing.com.
