Cayenne Pepper

Botanical Illustration by Sasha Abiaad. If you like this art, you can purchase a print here!

These spicy pepper fruits were originally cultivated in Mexico 7,000 years ago and in Peru 4,000 years ago. Since then this herb has been used by Native American, Chinese, and Aruvedic herbalists for their warming and stimulating properties. These beautiful red fruits are by far the hottest spiciest members of the nightshade family and should be treated with caution and respect.

The first time I met Cayenne was while visiting my family in the mountains of Lebanon. It’s rare occasion that the whole family gets together in our small village so, naturally- as is the Lebanese way - there was a huge feast with a seemingly endless array of colorful dishes, dips, salads, meats, fruits, nuts, and bread. This spread was being set up outdoors under a beautiful balcony of grape vines and set in the middle of the table was this beautiful striking plant I would soon come to know as Capsicum annum. The fruiting peppers glimmered in the sunlight and the leaves had an immaculate shine that both intrigued and intimidated me. The most beautiful part was the plant's delicate white flowers that speckled the herb like ornaments on a holiday tree. I gently plucked one of these fresh fruits from the plant and could almost feel the warmth immediately. I still remember my aunt laughing at me when I foolishly rubbed my eyes after handling the Cayenne pepper telling me that I should be more careful with beautiful but powerful fruits. Later that day, my pepper provided me with an amazingly intense hot flavor as I mixed a small portion of the fruit into my rice. The taste of fresh cayenne is reminiscent of a red bell pepper with a lot of attitude. 

That Capsicum plant will always be one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.  

Botanical Names: Capsicum annum 

Parts Used: The Fruit

Therapeutic Category: Mild remedy with minimal chronic toxicity. 

Constituents: Phenols (capsaicin 0.1- 0.22%), vanillyl amides, flavonoids, steroidal saponins (capsicidins), sapogenins, glucose, galactose, xylose, spicy oil (anuin), solanin, oleoresin, proteins, acids, carotenoids, pigment capsanthin, capsorubin, carotene, essential oils, lecithin, calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, traces alkaloid, vitamins A

Taste: Spicy, hot, earthy pepper tones 

Energetics: Very pungent, aromatic, hot with potential secondary cooling effect, dry, stimulating, dispersing, restoring, relaxing

Actions: Arterial stimulant, gastrointestinal stimulant, diaphoretic, rubefacient, counterirritant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory. spasmolytic, carminative, diaphoretic, thermogenic.

Tropism: Arterial circulation, heart, stomach, intestines, lungs

Preparations and Dosage: 
Cayenne is best used both internally and externally as a powder, tincture, and infusion. Cayenne is often used as an infusion in broths for the onset of a cold or flu, or used as a gargle for a sore throat or chronic laryngitis. It’s main action is warming, stimulating and pain relieving. Cayenne has also been used intranasally for allergic and perennial rhinitis, migraine headache, cluster headache and sinusitis although this preparation is rarely recommended. 

Dosages

Note: Small dosages are inefficient for cold GI conditions. A standard dose is generally needed.
**This herb is strong and used in drop doses. Do not use in higher than the recommended dose**

Infusion:
When infusion, use 1 tsp per cup of ground herb and 2-4 tsp of the finished diluted in your drink or soup.
Tinctures:
5-10 drops at 1:5 strength in 60% ethanol
Powder:
In acute conditions: between 4-10 grains (0.3-1g)
In chronic conditions: between 1-4 grains (up to 0.5g)
Topical Liniment:
1:8 or 1:6 in a carrier oil or a 10-15% dilution. 

Cautions and Contraindications: Cayenne is a HOT stimulant and is contraindicated with all heat conditions and all acute conditions with active blood congestion. Avoid during pregnancy and in peptic ulcers. When working with Cayenne, avoid touching the eyes and other mucus membranes. Topical applications should not be used on open or injured, or inflamed skin and may cause blisters and ulceration if left on a painful site too long. Products very high in Capsicum should be limited to a few days. 

Topical use:
Externally, Cayenne can be used as a cream, ointment, lotion, gel, or plaster for pain generally by applying the recommended amounts 3-4 times a day for 4-8 weeks at a time. It promotes tissue repair, reduces contusions to relieve pain. Pain relieving effects happen when the active constituent capsaicin binds to nociceptors in the skin causing stimulation in the nerves and heightened sensitivity. This is usually manifested as pricking, pins, itching or burning.

Nutrition: Cayenne is high in vitamins A, B, E, C, B6, and K, manganese, potassium, riboflavin, dietary fiber and is a powerful antioxidant.

Cayenne’s Relationship to Hot Conditions

As indicated in the cautions and contraindications. Cayenne is a hot hot herb and should be avoided in hot conditions as it will only increase heat and may worsen inflammation. 

What is a hot condition?  
A hot condition in the body is associated with inflammation, redness, and swelling. A physical manifestation of a hot condition can be an inflamed itchy rash, swollen glands, redness, boils, or abscesses. Internally, we can characterize this condition by fevers, thirst, irritability, or hot flashes.  

Cayenne’s Relationship to Cold Conditions

Cayenne is best used in cold conditions and cold weather. It’s an emblematic herb for promoting sweat and stimulation which makes it a classic remedy for internal cold conditions. It’s actions are commonly described as warming the interior and exterior, promoting digestion, relieving bloating,

What is a cold condition?
Cold conditions in the body are associated with stagnation and the weakening of vitality. Physically, cold conditions can present as loss of appetite, stiffness, stagnant mucus build up, loss of motivation, cold extremities, chills, slow pulse, impotence, frigidity, delayed scanty, or absent menstruation, and mental dullness.

Cayenne for Gastrointestinal protection

Over the past decade, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the overconsumption of alcohol have both been prevalent problems among the American people. These both are well known to damage the stomach and gut lining. Recently, there’s been preliminary evidence to suggest that Cayenne’s active ingredient capsicum protects against damage to the GI mucosa from NSAIDS and alcoholism. When taken 30 minutes before taking NSAIDs or alcohol. (Mózsik 2014)

Cayenne used Intranasally

I was very curious about the mention of this spicy herb being taken through the nostrils. After some research and digging I found a materia medica called Dr. Clare’s Materia Medica that describes the internal mechanisms like this. 

“For migraine and other headaches, capsaicin is thought to cause a desensitizing effect by relieving...pain by decreasing release of neuropeptides... from nerve terminals. When applied intranasally, capsaicin is also thought to decrease intranasal and central blood vessel neurotransmitters, cause vasodilation, and histamine or serotonin release. In animal models, intranasal capsaicin also seems to deplete nerve fibers that are immunoreactiv2wd ity to the neuropeptides substance P or calcitonin gene-related peptide.”