I don't have anything to quote just mainly because there is a vast amount of information out there, but I have read over the years a lot about health benefits from cayenne peppers. I was curious if there was something in the actual cayenne pepper itself or is it all peppers? I know there is also benefits from capsacum but i'm more curious on some of the benefits that say "cayenne pepper".
-
Do you need help identifying a 🌶?
Is your plant suffering from an unknown issue? 🤧
Then ask in Identification and Diagnosis.
Cayenne Pepper benefits?
- Thread starter spicy_echo
- Start date
It`s a common and easy to get pepper, so it`s easy to study any potential medical effects it may have. All Capsicums have a ton of beta-carotene, vitamin C etc etc. Most research is focused on Capsaicin, not the specific peppers, so the superhots are getting all the kudos right now. There are preliminary reports of effects in cancer cells in the lab, reducing inflammation, treating infections, controlling weight. The list goes on and on, but for the vast majority the hard scientific evidence is just not there. For instance, I find that eating very hot and super hot peppers suppresses my appetite a lot. That doesn`t mean it will for anyone else and maybe it doesn`t really in me, I just think it does. Until someone does a double blind study, it is purely heresay.Â
yep look for info on Capcaisin.
supoosed to be good against cancer and help boost metabolism, help cure stomach problems and other things...
google it you will have plenty of info.
supoosed to be good against cancer and help boost metabolism, help cure stomach problems and other things...
google it you will have plenty of info.
As far as I understand, Nigel is quite right that the scientific evidence is VERY preliminary. Some of it is from lab studies, some from epidemiology in cultures with different patterns of pepper consumption, some is kind of in the "folk medicine that might turn out to be right" category.
Â
Personally, I tend to think that the health benefits of getting outside and gardening, cooking more of your own food, and eating stuff that makes you happy, are probably the really big medical payoff here. It's what a friend of mine once described as "the Don't Eat Crap, Get Off The Couch Diet".
Â
-NT
Â
Personally, I tend to think that the health benefits of getting outside and gardening, cooking more of your own food, and eating stuff that makes you happy, are probably the really big medical payoff here. It's what a friend of mine once described as "the Don't Eat Crap, Get Off The Couch Diet".
Â
-NT
ÂNigel said:
common and easy to get pepper? Sounds kind of vague... I mean I would think a jalepeno or serrano would be more common than that? Yes I've read the studies on capsacin. I was talking about the specifics of Cayenne only benefits.
Â
Sorry I'm not bashing. Probably easier to show.
Â
Here is a few books on what I'm talking about:
Â
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B4283AC/ref=oh_d__o01_details_o01__i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Â
http://www.amazon.com/Lower-Pressure-Cayenne-Pepper-ebook/dp/B00B1RFNYE/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1372214753&sr=1-3&keywords=cayenne+pepper
Â
http://www.amazon.com/Cayenne-Miracle-Healers-Kitchen-ebook/dp/B0082PXMVY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1372214753&sr=1-1&keywords=cayenne+pepper
Â
I'm a prime member so they are "free" for me on my kindle. Pretty sweet but I haven't read them yet :/
Â
You are probably right all that aside about just the fact that it points out the cayenne in particular just had me curious.
Â
Â
Â
ÂChewi said:
Yeah Rob, I've read some crazy detox plans with using cayenne, water, lemon juice, and milk from a goats ass? I'm sure that's right.
By common and easy to get, I meant that ground cayenne is available almost everywhere around the world in almost every market. And has been for decades, unlike all fresh chili peppers. The books you reference are what I would call pseudoscience. Along the lines of my uncle told my cousin who told my brother who told me that cayenne pepper helps reduce blood pressure because my uncle knows someone who was told it did at a party.spicy_echo said:
Â
I`m not bashing anyone, just trying to put my point of view forward, as a trained academic ex-scientist of 20 years.
Â
From a scientific standpoint, much of what is online is heresay at best. The following is from the University of Maryland web site, including scientific references. Bear in mind that a single scientific study does not prove anything until it has been reproduced by 4 or 5 others, independently.
Â
Â
Pain relief
Capsaicin has very powerful pain-relieving properties when applied to the skin. It reduces the amount of substance P, a chemical that carries pain messages to the brain, in your body. When there is less substance P, the pain messages no longer reach the brain, and you feel relief. Capsaicin is often recommended for the following conditions:
- Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as joint or muscle pain from fibromyalgia or other causes
- Nerve pain from shingles and other painful skin conditions (postherpetic neuralgia) that happens even after the skin blisters have gone away. Research is mixed, and it may be that it works for some people and not others. Check with your doctor to see if trying capsaicin ointment is right for you.
- Pain after surgery, such as a mastectomy or an amputation
- Pain from nerve damage in the feet or legs from diabetes, called diabetic peripheral neuropathy. However, capsaicin doesn’t seem to work for peripheral neuropathy from HIV.
- Low back pain. Several studies suggest capsaicin cream can reduce lower back pain.
Capsaicin cream can reduce itching and inflammation from psoriasis, a long-lasting skin disease that generally appears as patches of raised red skin covered by a flaky white buildup.
Weight loss
A few studies suggest that cayenne supplements may help suppress appetite and help people fell full. But not all studies agree, and they have either looked at cayenne or capsaicin combined with other ingredients, making it impossible to tell whether capsaicin itself was responsible for any weight loss. More studies are needed.
Other uses
- In extremely diluted homeopathic formulations, capsaicin may help treat ear infections (otitis media).
- One well-designed study found that capsaicin may help treat heartburn, but more research is needed.
- Capsaicin is being investigated for treating circulatory problems (for example, heart disease from atherosclerosis or plaque blocking the arteries to the heart) and reducing risk of an irregular heart rhythm.
Plant Description
Â
Cayenne is a shrub that originated in Central and South America and now grows in subtropical and tropical climates. Its hollow fruit grows into long pods that turn red, orange, or yellow when they ripen. The fruit is eaten raw or cooked, or is dried and powdered into a spice that has been used for centuries in meals and medicines.
Â
What's It Made Of?
Â
Capsaicin is the most active ingredient in cayenne. Other important ingredients include vitamins A and C, and flavonoids and carotenoids, pigments that give red, yellow, and orange plants their color and have antioxidant properties.
Â
Available Forms
Â
As a spice, cayenne may be eaten raw or cooked. Dried cayenne pepper is available in powdered form, and you can add it to food, or stir it into juice, tea, or milk. It is also available in capsule form or in creams for external use. Creams should contain at least 0.075% capsaicin.
Â
How to Take It
Â
Don’t apply capsaicin cream to cracked skin or open wounds.
Pediatric
Don’t give cayenne to children under 2. However, capsaicin ointment may be used on the skin with caution in older children. Don’t use topical cayenne ointments for more than 2 days in a row in children.
Adult
For shingles, psoriasis, arthritis, or muscle pain: Capsaicin cream (0.025 - 0.075% capsaicin) may be applied directly to the affected area up to 4 times a day. Pain may get slightly worse at first, but then may get better over the next few days. Capsaicin should be applied regularly several times a day. It usually takes 3 - 7 days before you notice substantial pain relief.
For digestive problems: Capsaicin may be taken in capsules (30 - 120 mg, 3 times daily).
Â
Precautions
Â
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider.
Cayenne does not dissolve easily in water, so it’s hard to wash off. Use vinegar to get it off the skin. Capsaicin cream may cause an itching, burning sensation on the skin, but these symptoms tend to go away quickly. Test capsaicin cream on a small area of the skin before extended use. If it causes irritation, or if symptoms do not get better after 2 - 4 weeks, stop using it.
Do not use capsaicin with a heating pad, and do not apply capsaicin cream immediately before or after hot showers. After using capsaicin, wash your hands well and avoid touching your eyes. If you're using cayenne around children, make sure they wash their hands thoroughly after handling cayenne and do not touch their eyes or nose.
Capsaicin capsules may cause stomach irritation. People with ulcers or heartburn should talk to their health care provider before using capsaicin. Eating too much capsaicin could cause stomach pain.
People who are allergic to latex, bananas, kiwi, chestnuts, and avocado may also have an allergy to cayenne.
Eating cayenne in food is considered safe during pregnancy, but pregnant women should not take cayenne as a supplement. Cayenne does pass into breast milk, so nursing mothers should avoid cayenne both as a spice and a supplement.
Â
Possible Interactions
Â
If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use cayenne supplements without first talking to your health care provider.
ACE inhibitors -- Using capsaicin cream may raise the risk of developing a cough, one of the side effects of ACE inhibitors. These medications are used to treat high blood pressure. People who take ACE inhibitors should talk to their doctor before taking cayenne. ACE inhibitors include:
Captopril (Capoten)
Elaropril (Vasotec)
Fosinopril (Monopril)
Lisinopril (Zestril)
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Esomeprazole (Nexium)
Famotidine (Pepcid)
Omeprazole (Prilosec)
Ranitidine (Zantac)
Over-the-counter drugs such as Maalox, Rolaids, Tums
Nonprescription versions of Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, and Prilosec
Blood-thinning medications and herbs -- Capsaicin may increase the risk of bleeding associated with certain blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin) and clopidogrel (Plavix) and herbs such as ginkgo, ginger, ginseng, and garlic.
Medications for diabetes -- Capsaicin lowers blood sugar levels, raising the risk of low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Ask your doctor before using capsaicin if you have diabetes.
Theophylline -- Regular use of cayenne may cause your body to absorb too much theophylline, a medication used to treat asthma. This could be dangerous.
Â
Supporting Research
Â
Ahuja KD, Robertson IK, Geraghty DP, Ball MJ. Effects of chilli consumption on postprandial glucose, insulin, and energy metabolism. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;84(1):63-9.
Ahuja KD, Ball MJ. Effects of daily ingestion of chilli on serum lipoprotein oxidation in adult men and women. Br J Nutr. 2006;96(2):239-42.
Ahuja KD, Robertson IK, Geraghty DP, Ball MJ. The effect of 4-week chilli supplementation on metabolic and arterial function in humans. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007;61(3):326-33.
Allison DB, Fontaine KR, Heshka S, Mentore JL, Heymsfield SB. Alternative treatments for weight loss: a critical review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2001;41(1):1-28; discussion 39-40.
Attal N. Chronic neuropathic pain: mechanisms and treatment [Review]. Clin J Pain 2000;16(3 Suppl):S118-30.
Bouraoui A, Toumi A, Mustapha HB, et al. Effects of capsicum fruit on theophylline absorption and bioavailability in rabbits. Drug-Nutrient Interact. 1988;5:345-350.
Chrubasik S, Weiser T, Beime B. Effectiveness and safety of topical capsaicin cream in the treatment of chronic soft tissue pain. Phytother Res. 2010 Dec;24(12):1877-85.
D'Alonzo AJ, Grover GJ, Darbenzio RB, et al. In vitro effects of capsaicin: antiarrhythmic and antiischemic activity. Eur J Pharmacol. 1995;272(2-3):269-278.
Deal CL, Schnitzer TJ, Lipstein E, et al. Treatment of arthritis with topical capsaicin: a double-blind trial. Clin Ther. 1991;13(3):383-395.
Ellison N, Loprinzi CL, Kugler J, et al. Phase III placebo-controlled trial of capsaicin cream in the management of surgical neuropathic pain in cancer patients. J Clin Oncol. 1997;15(8):2974-2980.
Friese KH. Acute otitis media in children: a comparison of conventional and homeopathic treatment. Biomedical Therapy. 1997;15(4):462-466.
Fusco BM, Marabini S, Maggi CA, Fiore G, Geppetti P. Preventative effect of repeated nasal applications of capsaicin in cluster headache. Pain. 1994;59(3):321-325.
Gagnier JJ, van Tulder M, Berman B, Bombardier C. Herbal medicine for low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. [Review]. 2006 Apr 19;(2):CD004504.
Hakas JF Jr. Topical capsaicin induces cough in patient receiving ACE inhibitor. Ann Allergy. 1990;65:322.
Hautkappe M, Roizen MF, Toledano A, Roth S, Jeffries JA, Ostermeier AM. Review of the effectiveness of capsaicin for painful cutaneous disorders and neural dysfunction. [Review]. Clin J Pain. 1998;14(2):97-106.
Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL. Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin. [Review]. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2000;57(13):1221-1227.
Jensen PG, Larson JR. Management of painful diabetic neuropathy [Review]. Drugs Aging. 2001;18(10):737-749.
Kang JH, Goto T, Han IS, Kawada T, Kim YM, Yu R. Dietary capsaicin reduces obesity-induced insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in obese mice fed a high-fat diet. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2010 Apr;18(4):780-7.
Kenney JK, Jamjian C, Wheeler MM. Prevention and management of pain associated with Herpes zoster. Journal of Pharmaceutical Care in Pain and Symptom Control. 1999;7(3):7-26.
Nicholas JJ. Physical modalities in rheumatological rehabilitation. Archives of Physical and Medical Rehabilitation. 1994;75(9):994-1001.
Paice JA, Ferrens CE, Lashley FR, Shott S, Vizgirda V, Pitrak D. Topical capsaicin in the management of HIV-associated peripheral neuropathy. J Pain Symtom Manage. 2000;19(1):45-52.
Petersen KL, Fields HL, Brennum J, Sandroni P, Rowbotham MC. Capsaicin evoked pain and allodynia in post-herpetic neuralgia. Pain. 2000;88:125-133.
Rains C, Bryson HM. Topical Capsaicin. A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic potential in post-herpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy and osteoarthritis. Drugs and Aging. 1998;7(4):317-328.
Reinbach HC, Smeets A, Martinussen T, Møller P, Westerterp-Plantenga MS. Effects of capsaicin, green tea and CH-19 sweet pepper on appetite and energy intake in humans in negative and positive energy balance. Clin Nutr. 2009 Jun;28(3):260-5.
Robbins W. Clinical applications of capsaicinoids [Review]. Clin J Pain. 2000;16(2 Suppl):S86-89.
Stam C, Bonnet MS, van Haselen RA. The efficacy and safety of a homeopathic gel in the treatment of acute low back pain: a multi-centre, randomised, double-blind comparative clinical trial. Br Homeopath J. 2001;90(1):21-28.
Stander S, Luger T, Metze D. Treatment of prurigo nodularis with topical capsaicin. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001;44(3):471-478.
Stankus SJ, Dlugopolski M, Packer D. Management of herpes zoster (shingles) and postherpetic neuralgia. [Review]. Am Fam Physician. 2000;61(8):2437-44, 2447-2448.
Volmink J, Lancaster T, Gray S, Silagy C. Treatments for postherpetic neuralgia--a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Fam Pract. 1996;13(1):84-91.
Yeoh KG, Kang JY, Yap I, et al. Chili protects against aspirin-induced gastroduodenal mucosal injury in humans. Dig Dis Sci. 1995;40:580-583.
Yoshioka M, St-Pierre S, Suzuki M, Tremblay A. Effects of red pepper added to high-fat and high-carbohydrate meals on energy metabolism and substrate utilization in Japanese women. Br J Nutr. 1998;80(6):503-510.
Zhang WY, Li Wan Po A. The effectiveness of topically applied capsaicin. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1994;46:517-522.
Source: Cayenne | University of Maryland Medical Center http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/cayenne#ixzz2XLnN98MYÂ
University of Maryland Medical CenterÂ
Follow us: @UMMC on Twitter | MedCenter on Facebook
Awesome stuff there Nigel. It's hard to know/say what is true and what is hearsay now days for sure with the net. Appreciate the info!