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.
Heart Issues
Posted by Tiger Dunn (Jandowae Qld, Australia) on 12/02/2008
★★★★★

Heart attack relief with Cayenne Pepper:

The thirty second cure from the symptoms of a heart attack coming on: One level teaspoon full of cayenne pepper into a glass of hot water and stir well. when cool enough drink down and wait for some relief if symptions persist have another glass of cayenne pepper the gap should be 15 minutes. If you are not near a doctor or help this will help stimulate the system.

Heart Issues
Posted by Mark (Newton Abbot, Devon, Uk) on 03/14/2013

Just a quick update with regards my father in law who had the stroke after starting on cayenne pepper (originally the ambulance staff suggested a stroke)

A week or so after my first warning post my father in law had another stroke/funny turn!, but according to the attending Dr he only fainted (on both occasions) and did not have a stroke, it makes me think the pepper lowered his already normal blood pressure even more or at the very least caused some form of extreme light headedness, this happened upon waking in the morning on both occasions. Anyhow he is recovering pretty well all things considered, he still takes a little pepper daily and he can now walk again, albeit a little wobbly.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Alice (New Fairfield, Connecticut) on 09/11/2008
★★★★★

Cayenne pepper really does work for sore throats! I have been using this remedy for quite a few months now and it works everytime. It does require doses throughout the day but stick with it. My suggestion is to put 1/8 teaspoon of it into a shot glass (2tbsp) of water and down the hatch...it is not going to taste great so get it down as quickly as possible and be done with it is my motto. My 8 year old daughter can down it like a pro and after a few times could even gargle a little in the throat. Have a glass of something (gingerale takes the heat right off for us) to chase it with and be amazed. Cayenne is also a miracle for cuts that won't stop bleeding. It had worked several times for us. Just wash the cut out in water and put a thick paste of it over the wound and cover with a bandage. It does not burn the cut!!! In fact the first time I tried it the wound hurt after I washed it off too soon. Back to sore throats...Apple Cider vinegar works also but my daughter can't tolerate that so we stick to this one...I do both for good meaasure.


Hemorrhaging
Posted by Andrew (Williams Lake, Bc, Canada) on 02/22/2011

Although Cayenne does thin the blood, I have read in several places that it greatly aids in blood coagulation, so that would indicate that it is a good thing prior to surgery, and it is often used to help people stop bleeding when wounded. So, with a little more reading Amy maybe should retract her misleading statement. Thanks. A.


Hemorrhaging
Posted by Cate (Sacramento, California) on 12/18/2012
★★★★★

Deeper research yet would show that Cayenne is a blood thinner UNTIL oxygen comes into the equation. Once that happens coagulation is the opposing result. I could get very scientific in my explanation but for those of you confused as to how it can accomplish both, study harder yet...


Infections
Posted by Vince (Philadelphia) on 12/13/2006
★★★★★

Cayenne pepper has cured all the infections I have tried it on, even sinus or intestinal ones. Some people seem to be more sensitive whether on their skin or internally. I saw a guy on a travel show and ate hot peppers in Mexico, and 2 hrs later he said he was still burning.

Only problem that hot pepper gives me is that I will hiccup if it is too hot, or I eat too much at once. It must send my esophagus into spasms, but they don't last long and eating bread will stop them or the burning in my mouth. I was really concerned when I wanted to try it up my nose for completely blocked sinuses, but I was desperate, so I diluted it a Lot more than I would gargle with, and had the phone handy to call 911, to call the fire dept, to have them put a hose up my nose.)) I thought hard about the risks, but never heard any warnings, even for putting in the eyes for eye problems. It will burn, and I have gotten some in my eyes, but the burn doesn't last. Inhaling the dry, powdered pepper will make you sneeze like Never before.

Anyone worried about using hot pepper should do a search. There is a lot of info and products for sale, even for the sinuses. I even cured a urinary tract infection in 2 days. There I boiled the cayenne and salt which I always add to the mix, and think it helps, and it Tastes better.) I boiled the mix to get whatever does the curing, capsaicin, oils, or what, into solution, since I didn't think the pepper particles would get to or go through my bladder.

Whenever there is a problem whether infection or pain, just try to figure how to get the cayenne to the site, or even like the bronchial tubes. It will draw heat to the site, increasing blood flow and blood and the lymph fluid in us carries white cells, that does healing. They sell Mustard plasters that do the same things, and they have been around for ages. Vince F

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) 392 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).


Broad Benefits
Posted by Frank (Maryland) on 03/02/2019
★★★★★

I have taken cayenne for over 10 years. Great for energy, ED and overall health. Used in my mouth for bleeding after getting a tooth pulled. Put cayenne powder right on the hole and the bleeding stopped. Also used it on cuts many times. Burns for a few minutes but works.

Best Type of Cayenne
Posted by Dave G (Florida) on 11/02/2016
★★★★★

I get a pure organic Cayenne from amazon in powder form and extract from the powder pure form it takes 45 to 60 days to extract the the pure form with no additives and put it in a eye dropper bottle and add about 20 drops to a glass of infused citrus water and drink it with breakfast and have no side effects basically because alot of the companies mix crap with it as fillers even in their Tinctures as well. The formula was from a Herbologist who recieved her PHd and wrote a study and thesis about all the benifits using it. Would suggest you start out with 10 drops and work up to 20 once a day.

Cayenne Tips
Posted by Wanda (Spring, Texas) on 10/04/2021 42 posts

Hawthorn is so good for the heart. When I studied herbology, when hawthorn was looked at under a microscope, the cells look just like human hearts!


Broad Benefits
Posted by Robert (Ontario) on 08/25/2013
★★★★★

I took a big teaspoon of ceyenne pepper in water once daily for two days for heart palpitations. It cured my acid problem. I can now enjoy green onions again. I must have picked up a parasite in Central or South America or Dominican Republic.

Broad Benefits
Posted by Helpyourself (Houston, Texas, Usa) on 08/09/2011
★★★★★

This stuff is amazing, Cayenne pepper. I have recommended this recipe to people with sinus, headaches, depression, empysema, sore throat, nausea, bacteria, coughing, toothache, and more... Try 20 drops of cayenne pepper (only use the Original Tabasco brand) in 4 oz. of water a couple times per week. Taper off, then take as needed.

Also, have a friend that took this for asbestosis and he swears by it.

Another friend takes this to sleep and quit taking his meds, say he doesn't need them. Cayenne is also an anti-inflammatory agent and is also an expectorant, good for the lungs and the blood.

Broad Benefits
Posted by Helpyourself (Houston, Texas, Usa) on 08/11/2011
★★★★★

I will try to clear up the confusion about Tabasco or cayenne pepper drops. Tabasco only has three ingredients: distilled vinegar, red pepper and salt. Other brands have many things added, don't like preservatives etc. Tabasco website lists cayenne pepper as the red pepper. I have tried others and the effect is not the same.

Again, the recipe is 20 drops of Tabasco in 4 oz. of water, a couple times a week, taper off and use as needed. Benefits are numerous.


Sore Throat
Posted by Peggy (Blairsville, GA) on 05/29/2009
★★★★★

I had a horrible sore throat and read on EC about using cayenne pepper. I actually had some of the full peppers. I got of cup of water, 3 chicken boullion cubes, and a couple of the peppers and heated it up in the microwave and drank this. It gave me immediate relief. Tasted like chicken soup (HOT!!) It did burn a little but a soothing kind of burn. I have told everybody about this. I know you can use Hot sauce, but I wanted to use the pepper pods. Thanks to EC and everyone that is trying to use herbal, natural remedies.


Neutropenia
Posted by Mak (Perth, Australia) on 01/11/2009
★★★★★

Dear All,

Most of us only believe something if it's happened to us or we 'saw' it with our own eyes. Cayenne Pepper helps me with my neutropenia condition (low white cell count) in that, it doesn't raise the count but keeps bacteria away and stops food bacteria from making me sick. I got those empty gel capsules from most health shops and shake a small amount in a dish and then fill about 1/2 the capsule with it and then close capsule and swallow with juice. Always after eating a meal, and it never burns and stops your food bacteria in it's tracks if you have been out for a meal and come home and your tummy is churning and you know whats going to happen!! Take a capsule as above and it won't get to the vomit stage if you take within 1/2 hour of feeling unwell. Only make as you need not storing them. Keep cayenne in it's packet till you need to make up a capsule.(Caps size vary, get small ones).

Also my husband cut himself deep on his hand and was bleeding bad, I said "at last we can see if that cayenne works"!

Wow we covered it and it was all red and like a crust, left it on for about 1/2 hour then cleaned and re-applied then covered with bandaid and within a few weeks he just has a thin line like a faint scratch. I swear by cayenne but even that amazed me, he said it didn't hurt but just felt warm.

Famous saying: Above many graves grow the herbs that could have cured those that lay below them.

How true.
Mak

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.


Prevents Colds and Flu
Posted by Barbara (Baltimore, MD) on 12/26/2007
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

From infancy through childhood, teenage years, young and middle adulthood I have always been blessed with excellent health -- with one exception: I suffered from one cold and sore throat after another.

While none ever progressed to pneumonia, I would recover from one and then two weeks later feel the start of the next cold. Yet I have never smoked and have had excellent health habits.

For whatever reason, about 15 years ago I started to take 2-4 cayenne pepper capsules a day. A miracle occurred. Since then, I rarely contract a cold -- maybe one a year and not as severe as the ones I used to experience.

I can't laud the properties of cayenne enough. Be sure to swallow the capsule with enough liquid and you'll have no uncomfortable effect.


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.


Sore Throat
Posted by Stacee (Rexburg, ID) on 01/17/2007
★★★★★

Wow! This works so well! I have spent the last 4 days in be with strep that even antibiotics hadn't seemed to help. I was taking everything I could think of to make it go away. My throat remained swollen and painful. After not being able to crawl out of bed for 4 days I drug myself to the computer and found this site.I tried your cayenne pepper remedy and it was instant relief! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! I can actually swallow now with out feeling like my head will explode. After not getting any sleep because of the pain I am looking forward to getting a full night of sleep. Thanks again for the great cure! PS the cayenne also worked on the migraine that I have had along with the strep, so I had 2 cures for the price of one!



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