The Spicy Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper...Continued
As promised, here is the second part of the story of the benefits of cayenne pepper - with a list of another 10 ways to improve your health with the help of this red spicy powder made from the dried pods of chili peppers.
Cayenne pepper is certainly not new on the scene
It has been used for medicinal purposes for the past 9 000 years! It is the natural chemical found in the stem of the chili pepper (called capsicum or capsaicin) that has all these amazing properties to help you in your quest for good natural health.Cayenne pepper will even boost your immune system
We should all know by now that a strong immune system is the basis of all good health. Here is the next list:
- Teeth care – cayenne pepper preserves the teeth from tooth decay. When rubbed on the gums, cayenne pepper stimulates them to prevent pyorrhea. The signs of pyorrhea are discolored gums which become a dark red instead of pink. Best to catch this condition early because as the disease progresses, gums recede and bleed and the advanced form of the pyorrhea can affect the whole body in a very unhealthy way.
- If you have a really sore throat or irritating cough – gargle with 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a cup of warm water and add some honey. Don't swallow this gargle. As you get used to the gargle, you can gradually increase the cayenne pepper to a maximum of a teaspoon.
- Inflammation - cayenne pepper is very soothing and effective as a poultice for rheumatism, pleurisy and other types of inflammation. And it does not stop there, make a tea (recipe at the foot of the page) for an internal remedy for inflammation too.
- Circulation – cayenne pepper produces natural warmth in your body but it also dilates, helps with varicose veins and equalizes the blood pressure in the arterial and venous systems - all helping to achieve good circulation.
- Energy - increased energy is logical as the heart is literally immediately strengthened by the introduction of cayenne pepper into the system. Having a healthy heart - a heart that pumps less but the same amount of blood, means you have more energy.
- Heartburn - the burning sensation caused by heartburn is due to a back up of of acid to the esophagus. While certain foods cause heartburn, especially if you like eating spicy foods, ironically cayenne pepper can actually cure heartburn.
- Migraine headaches – cayenne pepper is well known for stimulating a pain response in a different area of the body so that the brain's attention turns to that new area instead of the migraine headache. The pepper literally “takes the heat off” the migraine so the perception of the pain of the migraine is lessened.
- Weight loss – having some cayenne pepper at breakfast time can lead to less calories being taken throughout the day. The capsaicin in cayenne pepper can burn extra calories in your body in a way similar to exercise.
- Tea - as a daily tea for your general health and to stimulate and boost the immune system, add 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to a cup of hot water and stir. For a sweeter flavor, add a teaspoonful of honey. If the heat of the cayenne pepper bothers you, then eat a slice of bread straight afterwards to lessen the heat.
- Cooking – include cayenne pepper in your meals for daily health benefits. Remember that the redder the pepper, the hotter and spicier the flavor! World renowned for its use in Mexican dishes, you can also use cayenne pepper in marinades, soups, stews and curries or sprinkle on to egg dishes. You can replace black pepper with cayenne pepper.
How much cayenne pepper to take?
When buying cayenne pepper in powdered form, it comes in different strengths so check the label for this information. Cayenne pepper is rated by the Scoville Heat Unit or SHU and most will have between 30 000 and 50 000 SHUs. A very hot version is the African Birdseye cayenne pepper powder which weighs in from 90 000 to as high as 140 000 SHUs.Two ways to take cayenne pepper...
As a supplement - you can take a capsule every day. This come in doses of 100 mg to 500 mg so it would depend on your need. Available from Wall-mart or your local health store. As a gargle for clogged sinuses, mucus associated with allergies or to relieve the pain and inflammation of a sore throat – add 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to a glass of warm water and gargle several times a day. Any burning feeling should subside within a few minutes.Written by Jane Chitty
Jane writes for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions as well as a range of beauty products. Apart from writing about those various conditions, she also covers general health, environmental and other subjects of interest. She has lived in Kenya as well as Cape Town, South Africa and spent time in San Diego, USA. She now lives in Somerset, England with regular visits from her far-flung children and grandchildren. She is a keen gardener and enjoys growing fresh fruit and vegetables with her husband on their joint allotment. As a result, there is something available to use in the kitchen virtually all year round. Her regular posts can be found on our blog.