Cayenne Pepper
Health Benefits

Cayenne Pepper Health: Immune Boost, Pain Relief, and More

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.
Painful Feet
Posted by Richard (Winston Salem, North Carolina) on 06/23/2008
★★★★★

cayenne pepper rememdies: cayenne pepper foot baths will completely cure painful feet, although if you continue to work on hard floors the cure might need to be repeated every so often.

Also, cayenne pepper does wonders on hemorrhoids when mixed with an otc ointment (not vaseline). go very light on this one and be ready to wash it off yourself if you cant stand the burning. i've also tried cayenne pepper in a vaseline salve that i made on the cookstove that completely cured the bursitis in my shoulder.


Heart Issues
Posted by Jenny (Atlanta) on 01/25/2008
★★★★★

My husband used to take cayenne every morning and never got colds flu or any sicknesses. Cayenne is good for the heart, circulation etc and he got it from the Native Americans who take the extra strength (heat) powder and have a lot less heart problems. We used to make a shake every morning with cayenne, carrot ,celery, garlic and ginger. I can't say it tasted very good but he downed about a pint. Paradoxically he then stopped off at 711 for a flavored coffee -- ugh!

Chest Pain
Posted by Nashirah (Mahboula, Kuwait) on 04/27/2007
★★★★★

Cayenne Pepper is a real cure for pains on the chest. Each time I get the tired pains that spread across my chest into my neck, jaw and shoulders I immediately head for the Cayenne Pepper, take 1 teaspoon in any liquid preferably in juice or milk. It instantly feeds the heart muscle of Vit C. I would honestly recommend this to heart sufferers. It works for me and should for you! Thanks to Earth Clinic for all their advice and remedies. God bless you all!


Frostbite
Posted by Kyle (kyle32085/@/yahoo.com) on 03/26/2007
★★★★★

Hi I just wanted to tell people two great ways to avoid frostbite in such cold conditions. I have found that putting cayenne powder or pepper in your shoes or socks can help prevent frostbite and warm up your feet. Also I have found that aloe heals the burning faster.


Muscle Strains and Pains
Posted by Vince (Phila, PA) on 09/21/2006
★★★★★

I make up a plaster with cayenne and salt to cure muscle strains and pains.

I wet a paper towel and sprinkle just a little of both on it, and apply.

The salt is rough being crystals, and irritates the skin a bit, so I make a saline solution and wet the paper towel with that. The cayenne may irritate some people's skin, but it is used for irritated skin, so isn't a big problem.

I even heard of using it on sunburn.) It usually takes 20min to cure pains or strains. I once had a really strained back and leg. The back came from working under a car, laying on concrete, and the leg was sciatica from sitting on a wooden bench after it.

My back hurt from my neck to my foot, and my thigh would hurt SO bad I could only walk about 75' before I had to sit down. I decided to do the cayenne plaster, and I was SO bad I felt I had to really heat it up. I used a piece of paper/plastic drop cloth, since I was going to add a heating pad, and didn't want it to dry out or wet the pad. I cut a piece to reach from my neck to my butt, applied it and heated it up. The regular plaster usually only needs to stay in place till the heat of the cayenne dissipates.

I kept this on a while longer, and after I removed it the pain was gone.


Circulation
Posted by Ted (Bangkok) 391 posts
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

While ginger seems to restore energy in most cases, however I find capsicum powder (cayenne peppers) mixed with fresh ginger works the best as it helps with circulation. Especially works well if you are drowsy and raises oxygen level to those tiny capillaries which receives little or no blood flow. If you can find them, fresh ginger and fresh cayenne peppers (fine chopped) work the best due to higher bioflavanoid, vitamin P content, as well as vitamin C, etc.

When I need a good good circulation, I just eat the ginger, then the fresh cayenne peppers. The ratio is 50:50.

Of course, I don't expect anyone will do that, so just try getting a mortar and pestle and mix the fresh cayenne peppers and ginger. Try 1/4-1/2 teaspoon for each. Then either mix them in lemon and honey. I can't be too specific about the recipes. It depends on how well you can tolerate the hot taste of peppers. Fresh peppers worked the best.

If you find this too hard for the stomach, just take Vitamin B3, Niacin. That will get you on skin flushing and it works also, but differently. Cayenne peppers are more powerful and for the heart. While Niacin seems to be active on small capillary circulation on the skin. Niacin seems to reduce cholesterol and helps repair damage tissues (such as gum disease and heart circulation also).


Cayenne vs Water
Posted by Cindy (Illinois, USA) on 09/18/2024 563 posts
★★★★★

I've been rereading all of my reference material on cayenne and was going through the earthclinic material when it finally stuck me - cayenne is more often than not, being used to overcome critical issues that arise from chronic dehydration by interrupting the body's attempts to ration water to where it is needed most. Which makes sense because it increases blood circulation, system-wide, whether you are hydrated or not BUT..

...if you're chronically dehydrated - as most people are - then your body is constantly in "emergency mode" and continuously rationing water to protect critical functions.

Cayenne is a Godsend BUT if you keep using it to overrule your body in its attempts to properly ration what little water it is able to extract and distill from the foods you eat and the non-water crap you're drinking in order to protect your critical systems and keep you alive in the face of your refusal to drink plain water...what do you think is going to happen?

If you have indigestion? Then you are well and truly dehydrated - and have been for quite some time - and you're almost certainly malnourished due to the foods caked on and blocking the inside of your digestive tract due to the body having to suck the water out of it just to get enough to keep you conscious and your heart, liver and kidneys functioning for as long as possible.

Drink your damn water, people! Get your phone, open your clock, click on timer", set it for 1 hour and start it. Every time it goes off during your waking hours, drink a half cup of water and restart the timer. Or start with even just a quarter cup of water. Not juice, not tea, not so-called "Smart" water - Just plain, cold water.

Or don't - it's up to you - 100% your choice - but understand that under such circumstances, cayenne can only function as a stopgap by taking down your body's defense of rationing what little water it can steal from your gut - probably by sucking it out through the holes in the caked on matter in your gut - holes that are almost certainly created by parasites that are almost certainly drilling those holes and, thereby, keeping you upright and conscious - I.e. alive and conscious enough to get you to a watering hole.


Wounds
Posted by LJ (Virginia) on 05/03/2024
★★★★★

Cayenne pepper is amazing for wounds (and other health benefits, too)! While living on a remote mountain, I constantly utilized natural healing.

One of my pet-like chickens somehow became injured in the upper leg with extreme bleeding. I knew I had to get it stopped quickly and grabbed a seasoning bottle of organic CP. I shook it over the wound while holding the chicken over a sink. After I heavily covered the area, it only took about twenty seconds for it to stop! The chicken lived and was fine.

Sometime later I was moving an old toilet and my hand was cut by a hidden crack on the underside. It was one of the worse cuts I've ever had and the way it was bleeding scared me. There was no stopping it, and I remembered how CP worked on my chicken. So, I again grabbed the bottle and poured it over the cut until the bleeding stopped within about 20 to 30 seconds. Then I put a drip or two of peroxide on it and covered with a bandaid. The cut healed up quickly and cleanly and today I can't even find a scar!

I always have CP on hand for myself, pets and friends and I take some daily as well as mixing it into my 17 year old dog's juice for a healthy heart.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Donna (Santa Monica, CA) on 04/23/2015

Becky, I checked out your recommendation for cayenne on Earth Clinic's remedies. Amazing! Who knew there were so many applications for cayenne and it was so good for ones heart.The testimonial by Dr. Christopher is eye opening. Thank you.


Cayenne Tips
Posted by Pat (Florida) on 09/20/2020

If you find your stomach upset, quickly take a charcoal capsule (or two) and it will probably subside very quickly. I ate way too much curry one day, my stomach went berserk - I took 2 charcoal tablets - discomfort gone in minutes!


Migraines
Posted by Deb (Melbourne , Australia) on 12/29/2010
★★★★★

I take a tspn of cayenne twice a day in hot water with my green tea, ACV and bicarb soda. You can't taste the ACV. I can feel the cayenne moving through my body and feel wonderful afterwards. I am trying to get rid of some varicous veins. Recently the cayenne stopped a migraine which I normally get for days in its tracks. Stop Bleeding Fast! One of natures best remedies for cuts (even deep punctures) is believe it or not: Cayenne Pepper! This wonderful plant can be grown and therefore no "factory" will be necessary. To use - apply liberally on wound. The wound will form a scab and heal much quicker than with even sutures and with no scarring.

From the book: Cayenne Pepper medicinal uses:

Major benefits - Stops Bleeding (internal or external), Heart attack, stroke, or Shock, Dissolves clots.

Minor Benefits - Reviving, Fainting, Dizziness, Weakness, Confusion.

PROPERTIES & ACTIONS: Stimulant (improves blood circulation), diaphoretic (increases perspiration), carminative (improves digestion), tonic (strengthens and energizes a particular body organ or the entire body system), sialogue (stimulates secretion of saliva), rubefacient (increases superficial circulation, which often lessens localized pain from arthritis, inflammation, etc. , antiseptic (kills or controls the growth of bacteria).

Here is an excerpt from the book for an internal use:
Cayenne can be applied to open wounds or taken orally to stop bleeding. Nosebleeds, deep cuts, even arterial gushing will stop within seconds. Blood pressure is equalised throughout the body so there is no excessive pressure on the haemorrhage area and it can clot naturally.


Heart Issues
Posted by Doris (Santa Ana, CA USA) on 04/08/2008
★★★★★

Had 2 slight heart attacks age 28 and 32. Scary one at age 34. Always felt so frail, tho ok health but high stress work and poor diet-sooo much coffee. At 38 yrs was electrocuted by faulty computer eqpmt, lost left-side arm use 1 and half to 2 yrs. During that 1 and half, at about 1 yr, strain from the injury caused a 30-second stroke. I watch clock, fully mentally ok, but was physically immobile entire time, couldn't breath, no heartbeat, nothing. Then it just stopped. I was SO weak always from then on. 3 yrs later married, had child, was always terribly tired. Read in heart surgery book about cayenne being able to stop even a heart attack while in progress. I take a pinch (1/4 tsp) cayenne in 4oz water 2 times wkly. Feel better with 5 minutes - energy stamina breathing is easier, circulation feels ramped up to normal. Still tire, not not as without cayenne. Never regained full strength or mobility from electr. injury but dexterity in fingers did return. Strength is still 3lbs., Best, not nearly so drag-out tired. Cayenne is great - in tomato juice or water. Only a pinch is needed. In V8 or regular tomato juice, cayenne goes easy. I put cayenne on hard boiled eggs, hot flavor hides well in grape or orange juice too. Has improved my cholesterol too.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Rani (Brookville, Ohio) on 11/29/2007
★★★★★

I will have to try the ACV, but I have found cayenne to be fantastic for many things. Energy definitely. And also good for colds and sinus. For really bad colds and sinus, I like to mix, garlic, cayenne, lemon juice, a little honey and a little orange juice with some boiling water and it does miracles!!


Sore Throat
Posted by Patrick (Conowingo, Maryland) on 07/17/2007
★★★★★

Hello, I've been visiting your site for a while, but I would like to be added to the "YEA'S" on a few home remedies.

Cayenne Pepper for Sore Throat. This is how I first found your site. Nothing is worse than a sore throat, last year I had a killer sore throat with no other symptoms. After reading about cayenne pepper I decided to gargle it. Gargling a teaspoon of cayenne pepper in about 6 oz of warm water every couple of hours did a great job of healing my sore throat really quickly. However it was really nasty and made me dry heave a couple times. I just discovered a new sore throat yesterday. This time I am simply warming up about a cup of water in the microwave, adding some honey for taste, and dashing in a good amount of cayenne pepper (3-4 dashes). I am not gargling with it, because I'm just not good at gargling, So I let each sip sit in the back of my mouth a bit and then I swallow it. It actually taste pretty good. It's like tea with a little kick!

Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne. My wife has always had trouble spots for acne right on her cheek next to her ears. Apple Cider Vinegar is the only thing that has had a real effect. She applies it once or twice a day, with a cotton ball. Great results. We also just received Apple Cider Vinegar capsule that we can take to avoid drinking it. They are available at GNC, but we order them online for cheaper.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Sunburn. I recently went boating and got sunburn on both my ankles from sitting funny. When I got home both ankles seemed to have about the same amount of burn, however the right ankle was hurting me slightly more at the time. I decided to try an experiment. I applied Apple Cider Vinegar to only my right ankle and left the left ankle untreated. I simply applied Apple cider vinegar with a Cotton ball 2 or 3 times a day. After the first night, my right ankle was in a great deal less pain than my left ankle. I kept applying it to my right ankle and by the second day there was no pain at all, while my left ankle was severely painful and sensitive to touch. I stopped applying apple cider vinegar to my right ankle after about 3 days because it just didn't hurt. My left ankle continued to hurt until day 7 when it the skin started peeling. The skin on my right ankle did not start peeling until day 9. Everyone should try this to convince themselves that Apple Cider Vinegar really works!


Weight Loss
Posted by Carol (OKC, U. S. A.) on 04/15/2007
★★★★★

...Cayenne pepper is awesome! My husband used it to reduce his weight. 1 tspn cayenne pepper in a 1/2 cup of hot water, 3 times a day. It speeds up the metabolism.

High Blood Pressure
Posted by Tameka (Glen Burnie, MD) on 01/23/2006
★★★★★

For High Blood Pressure, I have tried the Cayenne Pepper and Golden Seal capsules. I would generally take two in the morning and 2 in the evening. Worked pretty good. I also have tried the apple cider vinegar and that works well too. 2 to 3 tsp 3 times a day did it for me.


Colds and Flu
Posted by Violet (Cerrillos, NM) on 03/28/2022
★★★★★

I was about a month and a half after my initial infection and still having trouble breathing, constantly needing to clear my throat, brain fog, low energy, and coughing fits. I would make an occasional Hot Toddy, because it really helped with the breathing, and I always added a dash of cayenne pepper. Last week, the cayenne pepper was not coming out of the shaker, so I opened it up to get a little out, and probably a tablespoon's worth, maybe a little more, fell into my drink. I thought "what the hey" and added a bit more honey to make it more palatable. It was not the best tasting, but I drank the whole cup. The next day, and ever since, I felt better. I drank one more this week, just to be sure I killed everything off, but I am back to my usual self.



NEXT