Cayenne pepper is a popular herb that has many health benefits. It supports the body’s innate ability to heal itself, and boosts metabolism. Effectiveness of cayenne is backed by several scientific studies. According to one study, people who used cayenne pepper up to four times a day had slower disease progression and even more, their risk of death due to cancer was lower.
Cayenne pepper is a perennial plant of the capsicum species. The fruit of cayenne pepper is used as spice and also has many medicinal properties. Cayenne pepper is used in traditional medicine in combination with other herbs like garlic, ginger, basil, camphor and other spices. Cayenne contains capsaicin which gives it its fiery hotness.
In ancient times, cayenne pepper was used to ward off evil spirits. It is still used today as a protection against negativity and harmful intentions.
Cayenne Pepper in the Bible
While cayenne pepper is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, references to spices and herbs can be found throughout biblical texts. Spices were highly valued in biblical times and were often associated with special occasions, religious ceremonies, and healing practices.
In the book of Exodus, God provides Moses with detailed instructions for creating a sacred anointing oil, which includes several spices and herbs. These include cinnamon, myrrh, and sweet-smelling spices, which were believed to have both physical and spiritual healing properties.
Additionally, in the book of Ezekiel, spices and herbs are mentioned in the context of offerings and sacrifices. They were used to make pleasant aromas and were seen as a way to honor God and bring forth blessings.
While cayenne pepper itself may not have direct biblical references, its association with spices, herbs, and their spiritual significance can be applied in a symbolic sense. The fiery nature of cayenne pepper can be seen as a representation of passion, energy, and inner fire, which aligns with spiritual teachings found in the Bible.
Salt and Pepper Spiritual Meaning
In spiritual symbolism, salt and pepper together can represent the balance of opposites and the harmonious blending of energies. Salt is often associated with purification, protection, and grounding, while pepper represents passion, stimulation, and transformation.
The combination of salt and pepper can symbolize the integration of masculine and feminine energies, yin and yang, or other dualities present in the spiritual journey. It represents the union of opposites and the quest for balance and wholeness.
Furthermore, salt and pepper together can signify the interplay between the physical and spiritual realms. Salt, being an earthly element, is associated with the material world, while pepper’s fiery nature connects it to higher energies and spiritual transformation. When combined, they represent the connection between the physical and spiritual aspects of existence.
Overall, the spiritual meaning of salt and pepper encourages individuals to embrace the full spectrum of their being, to find harmony in the balance of opposites, and to recognize the power of transformation and integration on their spiritual path.
Spiritual Meaning of Cayenne Pepper Seeds
Pepper is symbolic of protection, cleansing, and the expulsion of harmful energies.
It is employed in a number of spiritual rites and activities to protect against evil energy and purge the surroundings or person of negativity.
Throughout history, pepper—especially black pepper—has been widely prized for its culinary and therapeutic qualities.
Apart from its utilitarian applications, pepper has been connected to spiritual attributes throughout diverse societies and ideologies.
Pepper’s powerful flavor and pungent perfume represent its spiritual significance, especially in relation to protection, purification, and warding off negativity.
Pepper has protective properties and can be utilized to fortify oneself spiritually from evil forces or energy.
Another spiritual connotation of pepper is purification, as it aids in clearing the body and surroundings of undesired bad influences.
Pepper is a potent instrument for spiritual cleaning and space clearing rituals since it can also be utilized to expel negative energies.
Pepper is said to help drive away emotional or mental obstacles and to bolster bravery and willpower in certain cultures.
Pepper is frequently used in rituals and ceremonies in a variety of spiritual traditions to aid in erecting a protective barrier around a person or area.
In many magical traditions, red pepper is used to energize spells and encourage loyalty in partnerships. Hoodoo uses it to protect against negative spells and hexes and incorporates it into spells intended for adversaries.
Spiritual Meaning Of Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is also used to clear negativity from your life. It can be sprinkled around your home or office to keep out any unwanted visitors and it can be used in rituals to cleanse yourself and your surroundings of negative energies.
Cayenne pepper can also be used in healing rituals and spells because of its ability to purify the body’s energy systems of negative attachments.
Cayenne pepper is a powerful spice that has been used for centuries in spiritual practices. It is known to be an aid in meditation, as well as a way to raise the vibration of your energy.
Because it possesses such a strong flavor, cayenne pepper can be used to stimulate your senses and heighten your awareness. This will help you enter into a meditative state more easily and quickly.
Cayenne pepper is also believed to have curative properties, especially when it comes to digestive problems. If you are experiencing stomach issues or bloating, try adding some cayenne pepper to your food or drink—it may just do the trick!
In this second and last part I will specifically cover the health benefits of cayenne pepper as understood by herbalists.
Traditional Indian beliefs about the benefits of chili pepper
On Saturday mornings throughout India, Hindu families perform a ritual that is meant to bring good fortune by stringing together seven green chili peppers and a lemon.
The little vegetable ornament is then hung in a secure location, under the table is common, and left there until the following Saturday, when it is burned and a new one is substituted.
Many Hindus will use this gadget to ensure that no evil spirits are lingering in their home. Businesses also hang this lucky garlands of chili peppers and lemons to attract customers.
Chilli pepper’s non-traditional Italian applications: a case of superstition
Southern Italians call chili peppers “demon’s spice” because of their fiery flavor. On the other hand, some locals rely on it as a shield against the evil eye and gossipers, whether for themselves or their vehicles and homes.
A simple string of fresh chilies hung at the front door or over the balcony can bring good fortune, as can a plastic “horn” made to look like a chili. Good luck is said to be brought by using fresh chilies rather than dry ones.
Whether or not these advantages convince you, there is no denying that chili peppers, whether fresh, flaked, or powdered, add a delicious heat to your cooking. As a bonus, they are a good source of nutrients like vitamin C, B6, K1, and A, plus minerals like potassium and copper, and are widely believed to have positive health effects.
You can increase the heat by trying new recipes that call for chili peppers, which are used in dishes from all over the world. Can I interest you in a hearty beef and cheese casserole with a dash of finely chopped red chili pepper? This article features six different recipes involving chili peppers that span the globe, from South American to Southeast Asian cuisines. Some of the recipes include banana chilli soup and chilli jam.
What is an Herbal Stimulant?
When you hear the word stimulant it is easy for thoughts of caffeine or methamphetamines to come to mind. These drug-like constituents are indeed stimulants.
But in the herbal world stimulants have a broader, more energetic meaning. Simply defined, a stimulant is something that increases the energy output of a system or organ.
Caffeine and meth are nervous system stimulants. They increase the energy output of the nervous system, leaving the consumer feeling hyped-up or wired.
Exercise can be thought of as a stimulant too. Rapid movement increases the energy output of the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, nervous system, etc.
Cayenne is also a stimulant. It specifically effects the cardiovascular system, mucous membranes and digestion.
Cayenne Pepper Boost Metabolism
People with cold and stagnant digestion have a difficult time transforming food into nutrients. They are often experiencing fatigue due to the exhaustive energy being used to attempt digestion. They are further disadvantaged because their poor digestion leaves them lacking the nutrients needed to feel vibrant.
Symptoms of stagnant and cold digestion include:
- bloating
- belching
- sour regurgitation
- nausea
- foul breath
- gas
- lack of appetite
- loose stools
- undigested food in stools
- heartburn
- feeling of coldness in the limbs or in the stomach
- tongue is swollen, wet, with possible heavy white coating
- abdominal pain that is relieved with pressure
Cayenne is a premier herb for warming and stimulating digestion. It can be added to foods, taken as tea or a capsule (careful not to take too much!) or used in a tincture.
Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper for the Heart
Cayenne is a powerful ally for the heart and cardiovascular system. It can regulate cholesterol levels and reduce platelet aggregation, thus lessening a chance of forming a blood clot.
Cayenne is also packed full of antioxidants. A diet high in antioxidants has been shown to decrease free radical damage to the arteries and support the healthy functioning of the whole cardiovascular system.
[Cayenne] is the most powerful and persistent heart stimulant known. It increases arterial force, enlarges its calibre, and slightly increases its frequency. Its influence is permanent and reaches every organ through its primary influence upon the circulation-the heart first, then the arteries, the capillaries and the nerves.
– T.J. Lyle, 1897, Physio-Medical Therapeutics
Dr. Christopher famously used cayenne to stop people from having heart attacks. His preferred method of administration was a hot cayenne tea made with one teaspoon of cayenne pepper to one cup of water.
In heart attack, Dr. Christopher always considered cayenne pepper to be a specific. He said he never lost a case. I have had three cases where the symptoms looked like heart attack and Capsicum (homeopathic 6x potency) relieved in all cases. This remedy works because it opens the peripheral capillaries, increases circulation to the periphery and decreases the pressure on the heart from pooling of blood in the interior.
– Matt Wood in Plant Healer Magazine #6
Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper for Pain Relief
Capsaicin, a major constituent of cayenne peppers, blocks substance P which relays pain sensations in your body. Cayenne is used topically to relieve many different types of pain, including diabetic neuropathy, shingles, migraine headaches, back aches, arthritis, menstrual cramps and other aches and pains.
Tincture of Capsicum is an important topical stimulant, rubefacient and counter-irritant. By its revulsive action it often relieves local pain. Painted upon chilblains it quickly gives relief.
– Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., 1922
The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper for Colds and the Flu
Cayenne peppers can help prevent a cold or flu as well as shorten the duration of a cold or flu. They bring heat to the body, which can help to dispel coldness (in Traditional Chinese Medicine some colds and the flu are brought on by a cold invasion). Sweating therapies, using saunas or hot baths as well as internal medicines like cayenne are a long-celebrated way to stop a cold in its tracks.
Cayenne also promotes secretions from the mucous membranes. Mucus is loaded with antibodies and is a powerful immune system response to an invading pathogen. If the cold or the flu has progressed and the person has stuffed up sinuses, cayenne peppers will quickly drain them! Moving congested mucus lessens the possibility of a secondary infection in the sinuses.
Cayenne peppers are high in Vitamin A, which is essential to mucus membrane health. Your mucus membranes are an important part of your immune system and keeping them healthy helps to prevent infections.
You can treat a cold very effectively with nothing but chilies if you can get enough down.
-Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa and Robin Landis
Herbal Defense
Cayenne Pepper Benefits to Stop Bleeding
Have you ever cut yourself while chopping food in the kitchen? Next time, reach for cayenne powder to quickly and effectively stop the bleeding. Cayenne’s antimicrobial properties can also prevent infections.
Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper for Digestive Ulcers
Cayenne and other spicy peppers were once blamed for causing ulcers, but now are accepted as a natural treatment for ulcers. Cayenne supports the health of the lining of the stomach, promotes tissue healing by bringing blood to the area, and addresses secondary infections like the H. pylori bacterial infection that are often seen concurrently with ulcers. It also blocks substance P which transmits pain, thus relieving pain associated with ulcers.
Cayenne Pepper Benefits for Aging Gracefully
Cayenne peppers increase our vitality, which is helpful for people with any symptoms of deficiency and stagnation! Cayenne also increases digestive function, is full of antioxidants and is a strong general anti-inflammatory. It supports a healthy heart and helps to regulate blood sugar levels.
Capsicum is of value in many functional nervous troubles with debility and repressed secretions, and for the aged it is one of the few medicines that should be widely heralded for its power to stimulate and preserve gastric tone and prolong life. In the debility of the young or old, but particularly in old persons, when the body-heat is low, vitality depressed, and reaction sluggish, it is an agent of power for good. Tired, painful muscles, stiffened joints, and relaxation of tissue are common conditions in the elderly that are, in a measure at least, helped by capsicum.
– Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., 1922
The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Cayenne Pepper for Weight Loss and Blood Sugar Control
Cayenne peppers consumed in even small amounts have been shown to lower blood sugar. Caution: if you are taking insulin you may need to have your levels adjusted if you consume cayenne regularly.
Cayenne has also been studied extensively for its ability to facilitate weight loss. Scientists hypothesize that cayenne prolongs satiety, resulting in fewer calories consumed, and increases a person’s internal heat, thus helping them burn more calories.
Cayenne Herb Preparations
The highest amount of capsaicin is located in the lining of the seeds and the membrane from which the seeds hang. You can decrease the heat of whole cayenne by first removing the seeds.
Cayenne is a great spice for many culinary dishes. If you buy cayenne powder, buy it in small amounts because it does lose its zing fairly quickly. I bought a pound of cayenne powder two years ago and am just about to finish it up. I’ve noticed that I use at least twice the amount I would normally use with a freshly powdered plant.
Cayenne is often added in minute amounts to tincture formulas. It can warm up a formula and, because it stimulates cardiovascular function, can disperse the herbal medicine more quickly throughout the body.
It can be infused into oils and made into salves for topical treatments of aches and pains. When applying the oils and salves, be sure to take measures to avoid later touching your cayenne-infused fingers to your eyes. (See special considerations below).
Samuel Thompson used cayenne in tea blends and it is an ingredient in many composition powder recipes. Here’s an example of one of those recipes by Harold Ward in his Herbal Manual.
Composition Powder
- Bayberry Bark (powdered) 1 ounce
- Wild Ginger 1/2 ounce*
- Cayenne 1 drachm
A teaspoonful of the mixture to a teacupful of boiling water is taken warm at bed-time to ward off the effects of chill, and as a general stimulant.
*We now know not to consume wild ginger because of toxicity concerns; substitute store-bought ginger
Some dosage suggestions for cayenne: Always start low and slowly increase the amount to avoid unwanted effects.
- cayenne tea: one tsp of cayenne powder per cup of water, 2 – 4 teaspoons a day
- cayenne tincture: 5 – 15 drops
- cayenne pepper capsules: 2 – 4 grams a day
- cayenne liniment: 1:8 dilution
Special Considerations
Cayenne is very irritating to the eyes. If you have contacts or if you are preparing a lot of cayenne peppers you may want to wear gloves. I’ve heard many stories of people burning their eyes even many hours after contact and many hand washings later.
Cayenne is commonly used in pepper spray devices. In the past five years more than 60 deaths have been attributed to law enforcement use of pepper spray in the United States.
Cayenne shouldn’t be taken in large amounts during pregnancy. People on warfarin or other blood-thinning pharmaceuticals should talk to their doctor before using cayenne.
Summary
Reading the preceding monograph you would think that cayenne is good for anything under the sun. I didn’t even mention the use of cayenne pepper for hair growth on the scalp. That’s right, it does all the above and addresses hair loss as well!