The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Cayenne Contraindications
Posted by Jeanne (Westlock Alberta) on 03/27/2014
Can a person do natural treatments such as cayenne and molasses if they are being treated by a doctor for blood clot in the right lung and the right leg with warfarin or other anticoagulant drugs? Is it too risky?
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by Alla (Chicago, Il) on 02/20/2014
Hi Ted and all! I usually have low BP, but after I take a quarter of powdered cayenne papper diluted in warm water my BP goes up and my heart rate becomes stronger and faster than usual. I also noticed that if I take it in the evening I dream very scary dreams and wake up in the middle of the night with high BP and fast heart rate. Can someone please help me to understand the reason and recommend if I need to keep trying or stop using it?
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by Priscilla (Birmingham, Al) on 04/11/2018
Have you been tested for Mitral Valve Prolapse? I had similar symptoms when I was 21. Rapid heart beat at night, low normal blood pressure, as well as dizziness when I got up too fast. The cardiologist did many heart tests, including a holter monitor. He diagnosed me withe ( totally benign ) MVP, and put me on Beta blocker ( for a short period. ). Once I knew it was harmless, I learned how to do biofeedback for the rare times it bothered me, went of Beta blocker. The key was a correct diagnosis. I slept better, also. My BP naturally runs low normal.
So, I suggest stopping the cayenne, and consulting an MD if these issues continue. It may just be the cayenne.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Becky (San Diego, CA) on 04/21/2015
I just read this marvelous remedy for cayenne. .For those interested put "cayenne remedies" in the EC search box. You'll be amazed and maybe find a cure.
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Gavin (Manganui, Northland, New Zealand) on 05/06/2013
★★★★★
Cayenne I always use the stuff from the spice isle at the supermarket. Otherwise you could grow some in pots.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Nan (OR) on 02/07/2021
Your post was so encouraging. I've had eczema in my ears for over 20 years - constant awful itching and scaling. You mentioned cayenne for eczema. Is that helped by ingesting it? Surely not applying it topically (ouch). Would appreciate knowing, if possible. Thank you.
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by Try2help (Louisville, Kentucky) on 10/03/2011
It could be that you are exercising too late and your body is still reved up... However you can go the alternative way and take a sleep supplement like melatonin or you could go to bed an hour early to relax your mind so you can dose off naturaly I would take a hot bath with Lavendar before I went to bed...
Or another simple thing you could drink tart cherry juice it has natural melatonin in it I would add a little water and 1/4 tsp of vanilla... I hope this helps...!!!
Cayenne Tips
Posted by William (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) on 02/27/2011
Hi Kelly,
Don't use cayenne pepper from a grocery store. Odds are it has been irradiated to kill bacteria, etc. Then it is useless... Except as a spice. All the nutrition has been destroyed, like when you microwave food... Most of the value in the food is destroyed. You need to buy organic cayenne pepper. Check out this site, it will be very helpful:
www.cayennepepper.info
Good Luck, William
Sinus Infections
Posted by Vania (Clarksville, Tn) on 08/29/2010
★★★★★
I live in Middle Tennessee, so I suffer from chronic sinusitis and sinus infections, which trigger asthma attacks and Acute Asthmatic Bronchitis. This spring (2010), I was desperate for relief (I never want to get Acute Asthmatic Bronchitis again! ), so I tried a nasal spray which contains Capsaicin pepper. It is found in the Nasal Spray section in drugstores. The label warns that you will feel a "strong sensation" on initial use. This is true. I have put off using it at times, for fear of the strong burning sensation in my sinus cavities. So then I will get a mild infection. But when I use it, it is amazing. Sweet relief! The price is off-putting, at nearly $15.00, but it lasts me several months. And I have not had a severe sinus infection since I started using it.
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Teelight (Toronto) on 10/31/2012
Cristy I got the same exact reaction also after swallowing the cayenne capsules. 15min after taking, I started sweating buckets (yay! That part's ok) and debilitating stomach pain (not ok -- at all). But the episode passed after about 10 min. I came on here looking for answers and it makes sense that digestion begins in the mouth and our stomachs need a warning signal for spicy substances. No more hiding the cayenne in capsules, I shall open them up and dissolve in water. This makes much more sense, and seems to be the solution, thanks a bunch.
Arrhythmia
Posted by sana (Germany) on 09/05/2025
★★★★★
I have cerberal Applexia if I do not drink cayenn drink in a stressed situation I go to coma, it saves my life every day.
Inner Ear Infection
Posted by T (Brooklyn, NY) on 03/09/2009
★★★★☆
Cayenne Tamed Symptoms from Inner Ear Infection:
I have been suffering with an inner ear infection/disorder for the past six months - vestibular neuritis - and if you've ever had to deal with this or viral labyrinthitis then u know it is incredibly debilitating. I have brain fog, vertigo (my sense of movement/motion feels like I'm walking on a rocking boat all day), joint/muscle/nerve pain, weakened vision....and the list goes on. About 3 months ago, I started noticing how my heart was racing and that sometimes I'd experience this incredible head pressure (it felt like someone put a vice on my head!) - when I took my BP - my reading was 145/96! I'm only 30 and my pressure has never been this high. Well, I happened upon earthclinic one night and was amazed by all the testimonies from people praising how cayenne helped lower their pressure. Seeing as I've been trying everything under the clear blue sky to not only get rid of this devilish infection but bring my pressure back to normal - I tried the recommendation of 1 teaspoon to a cup of hot water. Not knowing if it'd work - I was floored when I realized how immediate it did!! The head pressure went away almost instantly and my heart rate normalized! Before cayenne - BPM was 91 - after: BPM 73!! I will never stop this remedy!
Other benefits from drinking it initially at 2x/day - regular bowel movements, reduction in joint/muscle pain, ear congestion went away, vision got better (only slightly) and lymph node under my right jaw (right ear is infected) began to slowly shrink. Granted I take a lot of antioxidants so I don't know if the synergistic effect plays a role. Only thing now is - the infection is still there - I still suffer w/ the vertigo and am mainly managing my symptoms until I can get more conclusive answers. Last Ear doc I went to told me there was nothing he could do for me. How depressing.....any advice on how to get rid of this "thing"? A co-worker recommended colloidal silver. If I could just get my balance back........I'd be ecstatic!! Your thoughts are appreciated! Great site this is! :0)
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Anna (Philadelphia, PA, us) on 03/25/2009
★★★★★
Twice a day I drink oj with pulp with 1 tbsp of acv and 1 tsp of powdered ginger (makes me feel and look great!)- I use straw so my mouth is not burnt at all - I feel it only at the back of it. Yesterday I got cayenne pepper (to increase my circulation) and came here to find hows and how much. Thanks to your post I decided just to add it to my drink! Half teaspoon, in the begining anyway.
Broad Benefits
Posted by John Bayne (New Zealand) on 03/03/2008
★★★★★
Hello Deirdre.
My name is John Bayne and I have been interested in cayenne pepper ever since 1991 when I was discharged from Auckland Hospital, after my third and final episode, in about March 1991, of duodenal hemorrhages, after 8 days and 4 transfusions later, and still losing about a pint of blood a day in passing Melina stools, without any reason given, but I knew that it had to do with my refusal to have an operation (no operation no transfusions).
The very day I arrived home, on a Sunday, wondering what I would do, a friend gave me two capsules of the hottest cayenne pepper that I have ever seen to date (they advertised them as African Bird Pepper) and I never have seen a Melina since.
About six weeks later the surgeon, who had kept me waiting about an hour and a half to soften me up, nearly choked when he saw that my blood pressure was normal, and of course had no desire to know how I had overcome me slow bleeding to death that their cimetidine had been unable to stop.
Charcoal is definitely prolife as is shown by the fact that it can take the hottest tincture or powder without any apparent diminishing in its power to kill flu viruses. Usually take only 20 minutes with a cayenne 150,000 or over, to get rid of headache symptoms 100% of the time over 12 years with quite a few people as we have spread the word.
I have been getting my powdered charcoal from within NZ, but considering that I now use the Internet I am looking for other sources in case this one dries up.
So you sell powdered charcoal and in 1KG lots, and if so how much, and what is the range of sizes. Is the charcoal, only the right kinds of wood, no non vegetarian products such as bones. I would think that the right kind of wood, from a tree, is what I am looking for, for consumption of course.
My main use if to take the sting out of the cayenne, tincture or powder, when dealing with flu, especially, it works every time (for the last 12 years since I discovered the use of charcoal with it). Just as important I am finding it exceedingly difficult to find sources for genuine full strength African Bird's eye pepper, in powder or tincture, as near to 300,000 British Thermal Units. Unlike Dr Richard Schultz, my preference in cayenne is for the Bird's Eye pepper over the Habanera.
Can you get hold of this pepper in a bulk like quantity or in industrial strength tincture (with the water removed without heat), and in a larger amounts than usual but not at a price that would cause me to mortgage my house. If so could you give me data on the amounts, hopefully strengths in BTU's if you can, and prices.
Much appreciated.
PS: For nearly 15 years I had a wonderful supply from a local herbalist who used to import this industrial strength dehydrated cayenne tincture, and I found that there is containers full of full strength Bird's Eye pepper for sale in internationally, @about US$70.000 a container load about $4.00/kilo and on the other end much weaker cayenne at anything up to $100/kilo on the consumer's level and I am looking to intercept this special cayenne, if I can before it goes exponential or gets watered down, and charged more for.
We can save lives with this and certainly not with anything under 150,000 BTU's so I would much appreciate it if you can be of any assistance.
Circulation
Posted by John (Panama City, FL) on 01/20/2008
★★★★★
Anyone looking to keep their feet warm - sprinkle cayenne in your socks. It DOES work. However, DIABETICS BE WARNED: you should be careful using any topical treatment which provides heat, be it medicinal or homeopathic (this includes cayenne, IcyHot or similar items, electric heating pads, etc.).
Because diabetics often suffer from poor circulation and skin issues, using such items can produce burning, and since diabetics often do not heal as quickly, this can become a serious medical issue.
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by Curt (Leesburg, Va) on 11/11/2010
The other night almost the same thing happen to me. I ate my dinner and then took my cayenne pills (2 of them). Minutes later I started to feel this pain in my stomach. It got worse and worse.... I thought maybe I had to throw up but I really don't like to so I tried not to. I walked into the living room and almost passed out. I laid down on the couch and went into a heavy sweat. Slowly the pain went away and I came back to reality.
Since then I have taken my cayenne pills before I eat. This has not happen again BUT... I can't help but want it to happen again. Even though the pain was really bad at first..... I felt great after the episode was over.
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by Whisperingsage (N California) on 03/31/2018 45 posts
I read an article for that saying it has to go through the mouth first. Yeah, I wasn't thrilled, but if it helps me, I take my burning medicine, so far no cramps, but burning in mouth.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Ewan (EU) on 04/27/2007
★★★★★
I tried cayenne pepper remedy and I would have to say I'm very satisfied with the result that I got. It cleared of my sinus and open my passageways and helped with my ear infection. Try see if works.
Infections
Posted by Gary (Altamont, TN, USA) on 01/07/2009
★★★★★
Cayenne: I just found your site and am responding to a message from 2006 about cayenne for the sinus. I have chronic sinus problems, it got so bad once that I was desperate. I usually put 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a large glass of warm water and snuff it up my nose. Well, I added a pinch of cayenne to the saline. I snuffed it up my nose, and it burned for about two seconds, then the burning quickly subsided. Yes, it stopped what I suppose was a sinus infection. Any way I felt better for a long time. Gary
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by DaveG (Broadstairs ) on 04/09/2025
Started taking cayenne pepper on the advice of Barbara O'neal.
Side effects are heart burn, and feeling cold. Not sure if that's common, hopefully the benefit outweighs this minor issue.
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by Freda (Canada) on 04/11/2025
I was using cayenne in capsule and it caused the exact same symptoms. Now I drink it in distilled water or and put it on food and it didn't cause the symptoms!
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 12/10/2016
Dear Winnie,
Perhaps the cayenne is cleaning something out, thus the mucous. Or perhaps the remedy doesn't agree with you personally.
I would take a few days off and see if the symptoms stop. If you resume the remedy, you might want to take less.
~Mama to Many~
General Feedback
Posted by Joy (Thailand) on 10/18/2014
Hi Brendan re. Cayenne pepper.This is available all over Thailand and I buy mine dried in the markets or in Makro Tesco and most stores; hope this helps as chilli is ok but not quite the same as the lovely red large cayenne.
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by Kelly (Cambridge, Ma) on 12/28/2015
While it has many benefits, I wasn't able to use cayenne either. It made my BP skyrocket.
I've read the same from others who post here. It aids some in controlling their BP, but for me (and others), it has the opposite effect and causes BP to go through the roof! It scared me to death.
I started 'low and slow', too. I took just a little, then slowly increased my intake, but once I got to the recommended therapeutic dose (actually, even before I got there), my BP was so jacked-up that it scared me and I stopped.
It's definitely not for everyone.
Hypnic Jerks
Posted by Alex (Australia) on 07/09/2014
★★★★★
I find drinking cayenne pepper tea (a teaspoon of cayenne pepper in hot water) helps to relieve hypnic jerks. Info on Cayenne pepper and all its benefits is just a google search away but it helps regulate blood pressure and is awesome for heart health. I had hypnic jerks last night for the first time in months and tried cayenne pepper tea (which you can also have with green tea and a dash of cinnamon or lemon etc - see many online recipes) - and I was DELIGHTED to see it eased my hypnic jerking when drifting off to sleep almost immediately after getting back to bed and tying to fall asleep!
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by Caitlin (Austin Texas) on 02/21/2014
Perhaps you are allergic to capsicum. I can take cayenne but my sister cannot, and, it does raise her BP too; not so me. Everyone is blessed differently, so, taking cayenne might not be your body's thing. Cat
Cayenne Recipes
Posted by dave (uk) on 04/26/2024
★★★★★
Yes I take cayenne with raw/unroasted cocoa . its amazing!!
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 04/11/2013
Mario: 1. Maybe you don't need it anymore. 2. Maybe you need smaller doses now. 3. If none of the above, you can put it in capsules.
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by Zark (Emerald City) on 04/16/2015
Yes, I agree with Liz. Get a capsule machine! I bought mine online and it wasn't expensive. Likewise I bought 1000 capsules online on the cheap too.
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by Wanda (Spring, Texas) on 10/04/2021 53 posts
You can buy cayenne in capsules at most health food stores.
Ulcers
Posted by Sam (Portland, Oregon) on 07/03/2012
★★★★★
Absolutly true! Cayenne pepper does heal ulcers. As does Manuka honey and sea- buckthorn oil (the real one).
Cayenne Side Effects
Posted by Walter (Beeville, Texas) on 10/17/2011
The last 4 times I took 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a cup of warm water I vomited 3 times and one time I did not vomit. Why? Walter
Take Capsules With Food
Posted by Michelle (Las Vegas, Nevada) on 08/20/2011
★★★★★BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I know that the cayanne can be upsetting to those who first take it.... But read the book
Left for Dead by Dick Quinn and it is amazing the results.....
I've taken it as a supplement for years and once I took 2 pills 180 heat units and it dilated every thing so much that I had to lie on the bed and felt sick. So that's not what I ever did again...
Take a pill with food and you will feel a warmth come over you but not any discomfort.
Take Capsules With Food
Posted by Cayenne1 (Fl) on 02/22/2016
HI Michelle.
I highly recommend taking the Cayenne Pepper in Water rather than the pills, as the pills dissolve in your stomach, causing stomach upset. If you take it with warm water, it goes right to the heart with NO stomach upset.
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Kelly (Cinti , Ohio) on 02/16/2011
Hello everyone,
I would like to hear some feedback concerning using reg cayenne from the grocery store for medicine . I tried some of what I had and it was as hot as a firecracker! So, has anyone used the grocery store kind in the large container like chefs use, with a good outcome. THANKS!
Broad Benefits
Posted by Ben (Portmahomack, Scotland) on 05/26/2025
If you over do it with the cayenne sugar will neutralise it, stop the burning that is.
Stops Excessive Menstrual Bleeding
Posted by Victoria (Charleston, West Virginia) on 11/26/2008
★★★★★
I was on the depo shot for a while and it messed me up bad, I was having my periods for 6 months straight no days off, then it went to having them every 2 weeks after i stopped and no doctor could help me, so my aunt told me to try Cayenne Pepper because she does the whole herb thing, and it worked...it completly stopped my period and after I took it 4 days later I got pregnant which was what I wanted because I couldnt stay off my period long enough to get pregnant...I love that stuff now it stopped it within 2 days
Cayenne Tips
Posted by Muddythewater (Vancouver, Canada) on 04/01/2008
★★★★★
I have been experimenting with the ingestion of cayenne pepper. So far I have found that the easiest way is to have a drink shaker and a to ounce shot glass.
Add 1 Tbl spoon of Cayenne (maybe slightly less if just starting)
Add 1 Tbl spoon Liquid honey
Lemon juice to taste
4 - 5 ounces water
Shake for at least a minute.
This makes 2, 2 ounce shots.
you can have a glass of water or juice for a kicker, but the honey and lemon really kill the initial taste and shaking it up turns it into'more of a juice floaty spice in water that looks strange. I havent been doing this for long but I feel that the supposed health benefits outweigh the flavor factor.
Good luck! Tips and feedback would be nice.
