How Is Cayenne Pepper Used in Alternative Medicine?

Cayenne pepper is a shrubby tropical perennial herb with hardwood branches. The flowers are drooping blooms. The fruit of the cayenne pepper plant is actually a berry. It turns from red to orange to yellow as the plant matures.

Active Ingredient

• Capsaicin is the active ingredient in cayenne pepper. It is a powerful stimulant that causes the eyes to water and the tongue to burn on contact.

External

• Cayenne pepper can be made into a poultice to warm up chilled skin and painful joints. It acts to irritate the skin that causes an increase of blood flow to the area. Compresses are used as a treatment for rheumatism, inflammation, sores and wounds.

Internal

• Cayenne pepper aids the digestive system by stimulating the production of saliva and gastric juices. It is also a treatment for gas, diarrhea and asthma.

Sore Throat

• Mix 1 tsp. cayenne pepper with 1 cup of warm water and gargle to help a sore throat.

Toothache

• Soak a cotton ball in cayenne pepper oil and place on a cavity to relieve pain. This treatment causes a burning sensation at first, but then quickly goes away.

Warning

• High oral doses of cayenne pepper may cause severe stomach upset and possible kidney damage. Excessive external use can cause dermatitis and skin blistering.