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

Cayenne Tips

Posted by Cristy (Dallas, Tx) on 07/07/2010
★★★★★

I have had much success with taking two teaspoons of cayenne pepper in a small cup of juice or beer (beer works really well--just about 3 ounces of it! ) but I have had unbearably bad side effects with cayenne *capsules*.

About 15-20 minutes after taking the capsules I get terrible, sharp stomach pains, cramps, and gas that last for a good 30 minutes and have me doubled over in pain. It feels like I swallowed a bomb!

I have read that cayenne should always be taken straight because digestion begins in the mouth, and the sharp spicy taste prepares the stomach to receive the pepper. For those fearful of the spicy taste, I vouch that I have a low "spicy-tolerance" and that when shooting the cayenne in a couple of ounces of liquid, the spiciness only lasts for 20-30 seconds and disappears completely. Not at all that lingering, intolerable burning we all know from eating Mexican food! Plus, drinking it straight gives you a pleasant head-rush and wave of energy. Cheers!

Broad Benefits

Posted by Dustin (Niigata, Japan) on 06/24/2010
★★★★★

Thank you for posting the recipee..I felt very invigorated after drinking it. I plan to do it once a month.I added some freshly squeezed lemons(2) also..very powerful..

Thanks again.

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!

High Blood Pressure

Posted by Lisa (Egg Harbor Twp, NJ)
★★★★★

I luv to share this. I was told as a 40-something African Amer woman, that I was borderline hypertensive and put on meds. Not good. I was falling asleep. Also no good to cut the dose -- comatose.

A friend told me about a folk remedy - cayenne pepper. She said it needed to be organic cayenne- it's stronger, I guess. I am now over 50 and my pressure is usually in the range of 110/70.

I do take a 12mg. water pill to keep me from retaining water also. I started with @1/4 tsp (of cayenne) in any liquid you want 2x a day. If needed, you can up this to 1/2 tsp but do this slowly so your body can adjust to the increase.

Now I do watch my salt intake but I only use the cayenne when I have had a particularly salty dish.

Sinus Congestion

Posted by Ray (VA)
★★★★★

Any time I am stuffed up, I add a little cayenne powder to my food and instantly my sinuses clear up! I also add cayenne to apple cider vinegar and water... that too is another good remedy for sinus congestion.

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.

Broad Benefits

Posted by Rena (Georgia) on 11/20/2022
★★★★★

Thank you Frank, this helps with my boyfriend's ED. He is on several medications that contribute to Erectile Dysfunction. He has been taking one capsule in the morning, and one capsule at night. Ever since, you would never know he had a problem in that area. Cayenne pepper is the fountain of youth for men.

Best Type of Cayenne

Posted by Chris (Greenville) on 11/03/2016

Dave,

Are you extracting the cayenne in alcohol or glycerine or what? Could you explain what you mean by extracting with measurements? Thanks!

Cayenne Side Effects

Posted by Mr. Ree (Usa) on 02/21/2014

Try a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda with a squirt of lemon twice a day...It will alkalize you and lower your BP..You may even do it three times a day if you feel you need it...

Cayenne Tips

Posted by Amy (Southbury, Ct) on 08/10/2013
★★★★★

I found that drinking cayenne pepper using a straw makes it go down faster with less burn and it keeps the lips from burning afterwards. I also bite down on a lemon wedge right after. I suck the juices and eat the pulp of the lemon. This helps a ton if you have heat issues.

Cayenne Side Effects

Posted by Liz (Boston, Massachusetts) on 04/11/2013

Pick up some empty gelatin capsules (very easy to find both online or at your local Vitamin Shoppe), fill them with the cayenne powder, then take the capsule(s) with water after a meal.

There are companies that sell cayenne capsules but I have always preferred making my own so that I know what's in them.

Concussions

Posted by Cayenne619 (San Diego, Ca, San Diego) on 05/25/2012
★★★★★

I been using the cayenne brand from Smart & Final. Which is a deep dark red cayenne 2 to 3 times a day for 4 years.

My goals is not only for health benefits but to block the sciatic pain used to have from (shoulder & hip) old dislocations.

The reason writing this is April 17, 2012 was involved in an electric skateboard accident. I am 48 years old and was not wearing a helmet. I hit my head at 24 mph. I hit my head 2 more times while trying to stabilize myself before EMT arrived. Yes, I know not very bright without a helmet.

The hospital did a CT Scan there was no blood on the brain. I received 5 stitches in eyebrow, sprain my wrist and took a layer skin off my shoulder underneath my shirt.

My shoulder healed in 2 weeks complete with a new tan, my wrist healed in 5 weeks, you can't even see the stitches in my eyebrow. I didn't even get a black eye at all. I had a little dizziness for about my last 3 weeks with nausea and feeling of wanting to vomit.

I upped my dosage of cayenne along with 2 plain aspirin twice a day. Today, 5 weeks later had a severe headache located on the lower back part of my head that lasted 2 to 3 minutes. Afterwards my dizziness had completely vanished.

I feel 99% healed from my post concussion accident in 5 weeks. I believe it was cayenne powder for my speedy recovery for my traumatic state.

Cayenne Side Effects

Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 02/06/2012

Cameron: pls take MUCH less! I take only a few grains and it's still helpful.

Broad Benefits

Posted by Wanda (Spring, TX) on 10/04/2021 53 posts

I believe the man who started the Nature's Sunshine herbal company way back in early 70's is the one who gave his wife capsulated cayenne pepper because she was dying of some heart disease that the doctors told her she had no time left. You might Google that story.

Fresh Cayenne Tips

Posted by Blanche (Iberia Parish, Louisiana, Usa) on 02/16/2011
★★★★★

This pepper is easily grown from seed where the weather is warm. I grow my own.

When it is a bright red color, I pick it from the plant, then, wearing gloves, I cut it open to scrape out the seeds. Then slice the pepper in thin slices and dry on paper towels. In less than a week, they are completely dry and can be stored in a jar. Then whenever I want to add it to whatever hot drink I am making, I just add a half teaspoon or so and let it steep a few minutes. You may like to use more or less. I like this better because I get the essence of the pepper without choking on the dried grounds.

Hemorrhoids, Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Posted by Evangeline (San Jose, Ca) on 12/16/2010
★★★★★

Hemorrhoids:

I bought a book about the coconut cures, it tells in the book that coconut oil and cayenne powder mix equal parts to make a poultice. and apply to the affected area followed a coat of coconut oil several times throughout the day to speed healing it stop itching and it truly works. then take 100 mg of grape seed extract and a capsule of cayenne pepper with each meal till the hemorrhoids regress.

I didnt know about cayenne pepper capsule thought it comes only in powder so i went online and found out about the healing cures of cayenne, my hemorrhoids was so severe that I was almost make an appt with my doctor but scared of surgery, i am healed, no ibs or itchy butt syndrome, it works and i believed cayenne, i am taking a capsule of cayenne after breakfast meal everyday i feel good.

Cayenne Tips

Posted by Kim (Houston, Tx) on 05/16/2012

Cristy, you crack me up with your 3 oz of beer! From one Texas chick to another - YOU GO GIRL!!!

Nose Bleeds

Posted by Matt (Millbrook, Ny) on 10/30/2009
★★★★★

Every winter for several years now, I would get awful nosebleeds, and they were very difficult to stop. Sometimes they would stop only to start again within a few minutes. After reading about cayenne on this site, I began to take it in a capsule, maybe three times a day. After the very first capsule, the nosebleeds never returned. These days I use 1/2 tsp of cayenne in warm water to make a tea. It's easier on my stomach and I feel its effects faster.

Wounds

Posted by Bee (Mo, Usa) on 09/28/2009
★★★★★

Last nite I cut my foot on a nail sticking out of my carpet and came straight to this website. The cayenne had lots of Yeas so it caught my attention. I cleaned the wound which was bleeding profusely with some ACV, but it still bled. So I figured why not? Stuck some cayenne and it worked like styptic powder to stop the bleeding. It was impressive to watch and I was surprised that it did not hurt/burn like I expected. It stings a bit, but very tolerable. My only mistake was removing it too early. I would say make sure you keep it on even after the bleeding stops and bandage it.

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.

Sore Throat

Posted by Dan Rodriguez (Clarksville, TN) on 04/16/2009
★★★★★

Cayenne Pepper is the man!!!!!!!!! I love it. I drink it as a tea on a daily basis. When I have sore throat, I mixed it with H2O2 and salt and gargle with it. It kills anything that is not supposed to be there. I've got so used to it that I can actually placed it on my tongue and swallow it like candy powder. ( Don't try this with large amounts at first, you'll get a good burn) It is awesome.

Inner Ear Infection

Posted by Karen (Los Angeles, CA, USA) on 05/10/2009

To: Better But Not Cured (and I'll add...yet!)

I'm not sure if this will help but I notice that when I use a Netti Pot with Sea Salt (must be sea salt, not regular salt) for my sinuses it opens up my ears as well. Also, at this site for cancer: http://www.curenaturalicancro.com/ one person wrote: "I've got a lump about the size of a quarter in the back of my neck. It's been there 2 years. It seems to be located at the bottom of my ear canal. I've been putting sodium bicarbonate mixed with water down my ear canal for a few days and the lump is shrinking. The doctors I went to wanted to cut it out and biopsy it. I said no thank you, I don't want it to spread. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your work. S. M." I've learned that are bodies need to be the proper pH. Perhaps this will help you. Good luck. Thank you to everyone for all the wonderful benefits of cayenne that I'm just learning about. :)

Coughs

Posted by Denise (Atlanta, GA) on 09/20/2008
★★★★★

I was up night with a horrible cough. So my throat was on fire this morning. I mixed a little cayenne with ACV and warm water. And what can I say it works its a beautiful day out side and I am on my way to enjoy it.

Broad Benefits

Posted by Pat (Coos Bay, OR) on 07/22/2007
★★★★★

thanks to this site i started cayenne pepper as a treatment for my hypothyroid issue. its been a few weeks and my metabolism has improved, my acid reflux and more energy. so glad i found you. thanks

Numb Finger

Posted by Ly (Penticton, Canada) on 01/12/2024
★★★★★

Cayenne pills fix numb finger

Many years ago, I was bitten on my baby finger. It went numb for several days so I took 1-2 cayenne gel caps and the finger was normal by the second day. Likely the pills I took were from Now, but I don't think it matters about the company. I have tried to take a tsp of the cayenne. That is a terrible way to take it. Best to take it with food. Also great to treat any cold or flu.