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| Cayenne is a hot pepper which has had a long history of use in herbology. When taken internally it can warm the body, raise metabolism, improve weak digestion and increase circulation. Source Capsicum fruits are a rich source of both vitamin A and C. The external use of capsicum fruit powder is "Approved" by the German Commission E for reducing pain. It is thought to work by a combination of desensitizing the nerves, mild analgesic effects and anti-inflammatory processes. Oral doses of capsicum have been used to stimulate energy, relieve inflammation, and for various digestive complaints (although it is not recommended for ulcers). When using cayenne, wash your hands before touching your eyes. Use cayenne only on unbroken skin; if irritation occurs, discontinue use. It sometimes takes more than a day or two for the benefit to kick in, which is when the burning sensation stops. Therefore, spending a little more time building up a tolerance to the burning sensation might be one way to make the discomfort a bit more bearable. It takes something with true detergent action to get this material off your skin - a mild baby shampoo or dish liquid is your best bet - and a wipe-down with rubbing alcohol won't hurt either. If you can tolerate it on your skin for at least 15 minutes you will get some benefit even if you have to wash it off later. Cayenne often contains 40,000 heat units per capsule of 450mg. A typical dose for internal use is 1-2 capsules (tincture 5-15 drops) 2 or 3 times daily before meals. Side-Effects; Counter-Indicators and Warnings Besides causing a mild burning for the first few applications (or severe burning if accidentally placed in sensitive areas, such as the eyes), there are no side-effects from use of the capsaicin cream. People with ulcers, heartburn or gastritis should use any cayenne-containing product cautiously as it may worsen their condition. It is interesting to note that ulcers have been treated with cayenne. |