Above: Cayenne peppers on my cutting board, waiting to be sliced and dehydrated.
This blog post is part of my 2021 Herbal Oil Blog Series and addresses Cayenne, including how to make a Cayenne-infused oil.
Cayenne (Capsicum annum)
A beloved spice important in many cultures and cuisines, Cayenne’s benefits extend well past its culinary uses. Surprisingly to some, Cayenne is an important herb in my herbal dispensary. I grow at least 10 plants every year and dehydrate pounds of cayenne peppers that I harvest. Some is ground into chili flakes and powder for cooking, others are powdered and encapsulated or tinctured, but most are either infused into oil that is used topically on trauma injuries or into vinegar to make a cold remedy called Fire Cider.
Cayenne is incredibly easy to grow and each plant yields a tremendous amount! In addition to growing it in the garden, I grow it in large 15-gallon pots on my patio.
Interesting fact: Cayenne’s Latin name Capsicum means “to bite”!
Internal Use
Preparations: Culinary, capsules, tincture, vinegar (Fire Cider)
Energetics: Hot/Dry
Capsaicin, one of Cayenne’s well-known constituents, gives Cayenne its spicy kick. Lesser known but equally important anti-inflammatory constituents are carotenoids such as carotene and lutein, and flavonoids such as quercetin. This, along with its Vitamin A and C content, makes this spicy pepper highly nutritive if you can stand the heat.
Did You Know?
The heat of peppers is ranked with the Scoville Scale using Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Cayenne has 30,000-50,000 SHU. Jalapenos are much milder at 2,500-8,000 SHU, while Habaneros rank around 100,000 SHU. And the Carolina Reaper— the world’s hottest pepper— tops them all with over 2 million SHU!
Cayenne, like most other culinary spices, is a carminative, relieving gas, bloating, and other digestive discomforts, and is gastroprotective. Despite its heat, Cayenne actually inhibits secretion of stomach acid and can be used in small amounts with other “antacid” herbs to relieve burning caused by hyperchlorhydria. First, be sure rule out hypochlorhydria, a lack of stomach HCL, which has almost the same symptoms as hyperchlorhydria. Doctors can easily test the pH of stomach acid in-office and can also rule out hiatal hernias and stomach ulcers. You can also test for hypochlorhydria at home: if you have persistent acid reflux, drink 1 ounce of a 1:1 solution of apple cider vinegar and water next time you feel the burning. This raises the acidity level in your stomach. If the burning improves or disappears within 30 minutes, it can be deduced that low stomach acid was causing the burning. In the case of too much stomach acid, this will cause some discomfort, which can be remedied by drinking 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of water. It is important for a doctor to rule out a hiatal hernia or stomach ulcer first.
Cayenne also has an affinity for the circulatory system can increase peripheral circulation and vascular integrity. It increases circulation to the hands, feet, and skin, helpful for those who are constitutionally cold, or with Raynaud’s Syndrome or peripheral neuropathy. It also mildly stimulates metabolism and assists with symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome—high LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar levels, arteriosclerosis, insulin-resistance, obesity, and high blood pressure.
In Ayurvedic medicine, Cayenne and spicy herbs in general are used to expel mucus from the lungs.
Those with digestive issues such as gastric ulcers, gastritis, hypochlorhydria, IBS, and IBD should avoid internal use of Cayenne.
External Use
Preparations: Infused-oil, salve, cream
Cayenne can be made into an oil, cream, or salve to aid with local pain. It increases circulation to the local area and blocks Substance P, a neurotransmitter responsible for the transmission of pain signals.
Cayenne is helpful for painful strains, sprains, general muscle and joint aches, arthritis, and bruises. It’s also effective for nerve pain from neuropathy and shingles. If the pain is in the hands, apply right before bed and sleep with gloves on. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly when you wake up!
Only use Cayenne on unbroken skin, and never use it on mucus membranes. Wear gloves when massaging into the area or apply with a cotton round.
Cow’s milk will neutralize Cayenne’s heat internally or externally.
Once you have your Cayenne peppers, visit my herbal oil post to learn how to make your own Cayenne-infused oil, or watch the video below:
Free Cayenne Info Card Download
Do you have a notebook or binder dedicated to herbs? Or a grimoire that you collect recipes and potions?
This free Cayenne card sums up the information from this post onto a beautiful 5.5″ x 8.5″ card.
Sign up for my email list below and receive a Cayenne info card as a high resolution PDF in your email instantly!