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.
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!


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!


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.


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.


Cayenne Contraindications
Posted by Unsure (Northridge, Ca.) on 03/31/2017

Has anyone mixed cayenne pepper capsules with butcher's broom capsules? About a month ago, I started taking herbal supplements to not only improve my poor circulation, but also help with my 9 year edema issues. I have been on prescription diuretics from various doctors. None of them were getting to the root of the matter so I started taking at first Dandelion leaf capsules. No difference, then the parsley leaf with the cayenne capsules. (only one in the a.m. & then one in the p.m.) I am on heartburn medication also. I did notice some differences with the swelling of my ankles with the parsley. But I finished the bottle & started yesterday on the butchers broom.

Now I'm having chest pain like squeezing/sharp only on the left side of chest. But it comes & goes. When I take the cayenne & butchers broom capsules in the a.m. I don't have the chest pain.? Why only at night? I'm also on high blood pressure Prescription meds, also on high cholresterol, lasix, one for joint pain, one for thyroid, I just read an article that says don't take butchers broom if you have high blood pressure! I also am experiencing back of head pain but it to subsided. I'm done with the butchers broom! Will order the apple cider vinegar capsules next.

Will let you know how that goes!

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

Winnie, You want mucous to come out - that's a very good thing. Sounds like the cayenne is working to me.


Ulcers
Posted by Gareth Arthur (Northampton, United Kingdom) on 07/02/2012
★★★★★

Great site EarthClinic, what about a must have box of basics that every house should have and a list of wholesome foods to compliment them, when required they would hopefully be at hand, ie. Cayenne pepper, acv, garlic, manuka etc. Nb. My own yea! Was cayenne pepper sorting a tummy ulcer in3 weeks, no antibiotics needed, wow! Thanks to your goodselves and reader input. Gareth, northants uk

Cayenne Pepper Side Effects
Posted by Maria (Gippsland, Australia) on 02/06/2012

Hi Cameron, I got a fright the first time I took my bp (20mins) after taking cayenne as it was already raised and I had expected it to start to go down but found it was higher than before taking it. In about 2 hrs it was ok. I have tested it on 2 other occasions when my bp was normal before taking the cayenne and it rose a bit both times but within approx hour it was back to normal. I never had the dizzy feeling that you've had.

Make sure you have a good quality cayenne as some time back there were reports of colouring being added to some cayenne batches. If you have some tabasco sauce add a few drops to water and see how you go with that.


Cayenne Pepper 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.


Cayenne Recipes
Posted by Kenny (Paducah Ky, Kentucky Usa) on 01/04/2012

I agree with the one comment just take it like you're supposed to. I take a teaspoon 90.000 units with water or v8... Hot sauce in a bottle has sodium. (as does v8) anyway as the saying goes, don't be sissy, take it like a man.


Cayenne Recipes
Posted by Belady (Somewhere In, Or) on 05/14/2012
★★★★★

Adding another tsp of turmeric makes for additional wellness..


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

Well, yes, cayenne IS very hot. The grocery store cayenne is fine. In fact, I find it is sometimes fresher than the prepacked capsules. A bright red color is good. Just don't get it into your eyes or even under your fingernails. And you may want to try a very small amount at first. Hope it works for you.


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. :)


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

Cayenne Tips
Posted by Nina (San Diego, CA) on 03/07/2008

Cayenne pepper works, but in order to ease the hotness, I just use orange juice. Put an 1/8 of a teaspoon in a glass of orange juice, and drink it. Make sure the oj has pulp in it, the cayenne will bond to the pulp, and it won't burn your mouth at all! I have been using this method for years. And DON'T use milk to "ease the hotness" when you're sick- avoid dairy products.

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


Wounds
Posted by Jane (Poulsbo)
★★★★★

Applying powdered cayenne to a wound stops the bleeding within minutes! I've read that you can also take it to treat internal bleeding. I think the recipe is 1/4 teaspoon in a glass of tomato juice.


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.


Cayenne vs Water
Posted by Cindy (Illinois, USA) on 09/18/2024 523 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.


Erectile Dysfunction, Energy, Cuts
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!


Best Type of Cayenne
Posted by Jan B. (Netherlands) on 09/28/2022

Do you make an extract with alcohol? What are the ratios?
Do you have a link to the PhD thesis?
Regards Jan


Cayenne Tips
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 10/04/2021

Dear Wanda,

That is really cool!

~Mama to Many~


Broad Benefits
Posted by Ed2010 (Oakville, Canada) on 08/26/2013

You don't have to go to South America to pickup a parasite. Salmonella, E-coli, c-difficile are very common and prevalent in Ontario, Canada. If you just walking inside the kitchen of any restaurant or food court you can see how they maintain. Also, foods are cooked and served for more than 4 days.

Hope you heard the news about epic burger contamination in Toronto: http://o.canada.com/2013/08/23/cronut-burger-toronto-public-health

Parasites are everywhere.

Good Health


Concussions
Posted by Blwalk75 (Dallas, Tx) on 09/30/2016

Hello and thanks for that remarkable story, glad for your recovery results. Please tell me how you took the cayenne 2 to 3 times a day. Thanks!


Cayenne Recipes
Posted by Rejjie (Derry, Nh) on 11/22/2011
★★★★★

Thank you for this wonderful recipe. This drink is really great and effective. It tastes very good with spinach and bananas. Has brought my inflammation down and has a cleansing effect too. Love it.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Wanda (Spring, TX) on 10/04/2021 33 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.


Cayenne Tips
Posted by Kelly (Cinti, Ohio) on 02/16/2011
★★★★★

Thanks for the suggestion of using a straw! I mixed a tsp. of lemon juice(bottle), a tsp of honey, in 2tbsp of yogurt, w/ a pinch of cayenne(1/4 tsp. on a small plate to keep track of tolerance). Using a straw did the trick. The way I tried it before felt like getting punched in the chest. This way it is just warm going down and I can feel clearer breathing after 5 min. I also started burping quite a bit ( had a meal about 1-1/2 hrs. ago. I'll keep upping my dose and keep you posted. God Bless!


Cayenne Tips
Posted by Amelia (Limerick, Ireland) on 02/06/2011
★★★★★

I take Cayenne pepper in a small amount of cold water then drink warm water. I then take a spoonful of Honey. The burning is gone in half a minute.



NEXT