Holistic Health and Alternative Medicine - EARTHCLINIC.COM

Cayenne Pepper Cures: Q&A

CAN CAYENNE BE USED IF THERE IS A LIVER OR GALLBLADDER PROBLEM?
04/29/2012: Maggie from Patterson, Ca: "What about if someone has liver or gallblader problem, is the cayenne do any harm if swallowed?"

ANY INFORMATION ON "COOL" CAYENNE?
04/06/2012: Alice from Oro Valley, Az: "I got the cool cayenne but it still was hot hot hot. It was capsules which I swallowed. I don't see any difference between the normal cayenne capsules I would take and the so-called cool cayenne. Is there some other reason it is called cool? Does anyone know anything about the cool cayenne?"

IS CAYENNE A HEALTHIER CHOICE OVER BLACK PEPPER?
02/22/2012: Kw from Naples, Fl: "I am told that for my blood type and prostate issues I have I should not use black pepper nor tomatoes because there both prostate irritants... I'm told that cayenne pepper is perfectly fine and actually beneficial. I'm wondering if this info is accurate any suggestions are welcome.

Thank you in advance for your response.

KW"

WOULD CAYENNE BE SAFE TO USE SINCE I HAVE LUMPS IN MY BREASTS?
02/01/2012: Shifra from Brookline, Ma: "Hi, How do you do the cayenne cure and would it be ok for me to use it. I am super sensitive to hot spices/ also I have lumps in my breast that may be cancerous- could they be causing pain in my neck and shoulders."

BEST WAY TO TAKE CAYENNE?
07/02/2008: Janet from St. Andrews, FL: "What is the best way to take cayenne? I am VERY sensitive to spicy hot stuff on my tongue. Are capsules okay?"

07/10/2008: Joyce from Joelton, Tn replies: "answer to the question about cayenne capsules: Yes, much of cayennes good things are done systemically, therefore putting it in capsules should work fine. The only thing you'll be missing is the sting of the taste."

BLOOD IN THE STOOLS
09/05/2007: Sonny from Subang Jaya, Malaysia: "Dear sir, I took some cayenne pepper yesterday and found blood in the toilet bowl. Is it normal for such occurrences? I have hemorrhoid but it is under control, could you let me know whether this could be due to the cayenne pepper. Thank you."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "If a person has already a record of hemorrhoid, a cayenne pepper might cause some blood stools as cayenne pepper increases circulation, and with a sensitive bowel where it has not properly healed, cayenne pepper is contraindicated. Hence, I would preferably use baking soda 1/2 teaspoon x 2 times a day in 1/2 glass of water, on an empty stomach. The baking soda will reduce the constipation, stopping the hemorrohoid problems as the baking soda is a laxative,thus reducing the friction in the intestines when ridding of solid wastes. It is the friction from dry wastes which causes hemorrhoids and more alkalizing foods will stop that problem. At least it stopped me permanently of that problem if I control my urine pH to be in the alkaline region."

CAYENNE USAGE TIPS
03/20/2007: Anna from Malma, Sweden: "Hi! I have a couple of questions about cayenne pepper. When you're writing about it do you mean powdered cayenne? And how do you get it down? I tried less then 1/5 of a teaspoon in a glass of water and it really burned in my throat It almost felt a bit dangerous. Thanks for a very interesting site! Anna"

Ted from Bangkok replies: "Dear Anna: Usually most cayenne peppers are consumed where the body reacts the strongest, which is the mouth. It seems to work best that way. However, if you have to take it down to the stomach that have the least irritations, then it should be taken with food. Some people don't have the stomach irritations, but those who do should be taken along with food.

In most cases, taking along with food provide the least irritations. I prefer to use fresh peppers, the small very hot kinds then the dried up powder because it has flavonoids. Believe me even for a pepper lover like me it is quite hot. However I think most of therapeutic effects is felt when it is eaten or chewed in the mouth, which can really get your face red. If you have a low tolerance, which appears to be likely, a milder powdered cayenne peppers taken along with food appears to be a milder route. Cinnamon oils are helpful too, and I think this is more convenient to take. When I was a student, I used to take toothpicks dipped in cinnamon oils and suck on it in the mouth. Both cinnamon and cayenne pepper have the similar therapeutic effects in reactivating the body's immune and hormone process to synchronize. It is the hot or shock value which does the synchronizing, much like you waking up in the morning with the sunlight in your room recharging the system. Because the hotness in peppers is similar to recharging the system, it should be good for seasonal affective disorders and depression too.

Therefore if you can consume in the mouth it is best this way, but you may need to reduce the dose as being ideal. But if it can't be tolerated, than you should find other less irritating ways.

In the case of cinnamon/cayenne peppers, I would expect the same be done in the morning. At least it beats addictive coffee and tea! In fact I prefer to use this to keep me awake in offices than I do taking coffee. Try it sometimes! A good eye opener! Ted"

CAYENNE VS JALAPENO OR HABANERO
02/16/2007: Sandra from Las Cruces, NM: "I lucked out and found the Earth Clinic site. I would like to know if fresh Jalapeno peppers or Habanero peppers have the same healing effects as Cayenne peppers?"

Ted from Bangkok replies: "The therapeutic effects of peppers is based on heating units. So in other words the hotness is the indicator for the therapeutic quality of peppers. If your face is red or as hot as cayenne peppers, then its ability to vasodilate the vessels is good and hence the therapeutic value is the same. The problem about such use is peppers should be fresh, not dried or capsules."

06/24/2011: Diamond from Salisbury, Usa replies: "I used to eat/love hot, hot chilly peppers , but ever since I got a little older I have inflamation and the hot peppers seem to trigger this disorder. The pain is unbearable.TY"

IS CHILI PEPPER THE SAME THING?
12/25/2006: Usman from Islamabad, Pakistan: "I want to ask question about Cayenne pepper. I have searched all the departmental stores here including harold' etc but I wasn't able to find "Cayenne Pepper". The only pepper that was there was labeled as "Chili Pepper". Is this the same one as cayenne pepper or something different Thanks"

Ted from Bangkok replies: "Anything hot tasting pepper would do. The hotter, the stronger is the heating value from the peppers. Chili peppers are often close enough. Generally they are the same."

CAYENNE FOR CROHN'S
10/05/2006: Shannon from Kansas City, MO: "I have suffered from chronic diarrhea for sixteen years due to having Crohn's disease. I read on your site about using cayenne pepper for this. I went to GNC and bought cayenne pepper capsules and it is working great. I am concerned though that this may cause ulcers? Also, I have a colonoscopy scheduled soon and the bottle says to stop taking two weeks before surgery. I am wondering if that would apply to my procedure as well. I also wonder why I should stop taking it before surgery."

Ted from Bangkok replies: "Red peppers often prevents ulcers because it kills the helicobacter pylori. While it is true that peppers may worsen the pain of ulcers during eating, it also kills or weaken the helicobacter pylori that causes the ulcers. Of course a weaker form of simple herbs that can also kill helicobacter pylori is eating orange peels, but then the point is to stop diarrhea.

Also, I have a colonoscopy scheduled soon and the bottle says to stop taking two weeks before surgery. I am wondering if that would apply to my procedure as well. I also wonder why I should stop taking it before surgery.'

I cannot say, but the reason why the bottle ask you to stop before surgery is that peppers causes dilation of capillaries and when eating large amounts might also cause inflammation. So if a surgery is performed when the skin gets inflamed easily from the peppers, it makes recovery more difficult.

Most important reason is cayenne peppers is also well known for clearing blood clots. So therefore in event of surgery, they are afraid of hemorrhage as the issue that might occur during surgery due to cayenne peppers. Ted"

06/27/2011: Ladyliza from Los Angeles, Ca replies: "For people who suffer from IBS or Crohn's disease, try peppermint oil. It works like a charm! In England it is called Colpermin, and Boots has it. In the US I think it is called Peptogest. My daugter suffered for a couple of years before we found it. Not sure if it works for the diarrhea but for the cramping and pain, it does."