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Information About The Herb Cayenne
Botanical Name: Capsicum minimum, Capsicum spp
Plant Family: Solanaceae
Common Names: African Pepper, Bird's Eye Chilli, Bird Pepper, Cocksbur Pepper, Guinea Pepper, Spanish Pepper, Zanzibar Pepper
Origin: Sierra Leone, Zanzibar, Madagascar and other parts of Africa, Japan, and now grown in the tropics
History: The name means 'to bite' in Greek. It was introduced into Britain from India in 1548.
Tradition:
- added to love powders will ensure that your love will be spicy
- can inflame the loved one with passion
- scattered around your house will break bad spells
Contains:
- Capsaicin, a red coloring matter
- oleic acid
- palmitic acid
- stearic acids
- Vitamin C
Medicinal Parts Used: The fruits. For herbal use, the peppers are usually ground into a powder and mixed with other powdered herbs in capsules or made into a tincture.
Internally Cayenne is used for:
Blood Conditions
- stops internal bleeding making it excellent for use with ulcers
Brain and Nervous System Conditions
- depression
Cardiovascular Conditions
- benefits the heart and circulation when taken alone or added to other remedies
- circulation problems worsened by cold weather
- equalizes the circulation
- normalizes blood pressure
- used as part of treatment in alcoholism in relieving chronic congestion by reducing dilated blood vessels
- warming and stimulating actions on the circulation
- weakness or deficiency of the circulatory system
Female Conditions
- menstrual cramps
Gastrointestinal Conditions
- atony of the intestines and stomach
- flatulence (gas/wind)
- loss of appetite
- sluggish dyspepsia
- stimulates digestion
- stomach and bowel cramps
- stomach and bowel pains cramps
- warming and stimulating actions on the digestion and circulation
- weakness or deficiency of the digestive system
Immune System Conditions
- general stimulant
- helps prevent disease in people exposed to cold and damp for any length of time
- preventative to keep away disease
- builds up resistance at the beginning of a cold
Respiratory Tract Conditions
- used for chills generally
- respiratory problems associated with cold, damp weather
Other
- produces natural warmth
- stimulates the action of other herbs
- used in antibiotic combinations
Externally Cayenne:
- is used for poor circulation (footbath)
- is very effective added to liniments for all sorts of arthritis and muscle aches
- will stop external bleeding
- can be sprinkled [a small amount] into socks or shoes to warm the feet during the winter months
It is used in plasters and liniments or tincture directly applied to increase blood flow to areas affected by:
- arthritis
- pericarditis
- pleuritis
- rheumatism
Other Uses:
- used extensively as a condiment and in hot curry powders
Action:
- appetizer [an agent that excites the appetite]
- carminative [an agent for easing griping pains, colic and expelling gas from the intestines]
- digestive [aids the digestive system]
- irritant [an agent that causes inflammation or irritation of the skin or internal tissue]
- local stimulant without any narcotic effect [an agent that excites or quickens the functional activity of the tissues giving more energy]
- rubefacient [a gentle local irritant that produces blisters, inflammation and reddening of the skin]
- sialagogue [an agent that stimulates the secretion of saliva]
- tonic [an agent that tones, strengthens and invigorates organs or the entire organism giving a feeling of well-being]
Caution:
- Do not use on broken skin
Excessive consumption can cause:
- gastroenteritis
- kidney damage
- stomach irritation
Prolonged use can cause:
- dermatitis
- raised blisters
Global Herbal Supplies has Cayenne available in the following forms:
Information given by our website is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by a physician or other medical professionals. You should not use the information given for diagnosing a health problem or disease. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. The above information is just a guide to general circumstances and in no way should it contradict the advice that you have been given by your naturopath, medical doctor or specialist.
