Herbs ~ Cayenne (Capsicum species)

• Cayenne can be used safely with nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other arthritis medications. Such a combination may allow you to cut back on your medications dosage, reducing the likelihood of side effects. Check with your doctor before changing your dosage.
• Hot peppers are measured in Scoville units (SU). Cayenne peppers ring in at 30,000 TO 50,000 SU, Jalapeno peppers at just 2,500 TO 5,000 SU, and New Mexico hot peppers at 500 to 1,000 SU.

• Never apply cayenne cream to raw or open skin. And avoid your eyes and contact lenses: The burning can be intense.
• Reminder: If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.

Regular application on the skin of a cream or ointment containing capsaicin can be very effective for relieving the pain of arthritis. It also helps ease lingering post shingles pain, as well as painful nerve damage from diabetes and from surgery (such as a mastectomy or an amputation).

Preliminary studies indicate cayenne cream may have other beneficial uses. It may reduce the itching of psoriasis (the itching sensation follows the same nerve pathways as pain). The cream has also shown promise in relieving the aches and pains of fibromyalgia and the coldness in the extremities caused by Raynaud's disease.

Cayenne can also cause intense pain and burning- though no lasting damage - it it gets in your eyes (or other moist mucous membranes). If this occurs, flush the affected area with water or milk. To remove cayenne from the skin, wash with warm, soapy water. Vinegar may also work, but don't use it in or near your eyes.

Taken internally, cayenne may cause stomach pain or diarrhea. Capsaicin passing in the stool can also produce a burning sensation during bowel movements. Cayenne can sometimes trigger coughing, sneezing, tearing, or an irritated throat. These may be a result of using to much cream or inhaling the powder.

Fresh peppers, tinctures, teas, tablets and capsules are said to stimulate digestion and help relieve gas and ulcers by increasing blood circulation in the stomach and bowel and by promoting the secretion of digestive juices. Liquid forms mixed with water can by used as a gargle to soothe a sore throat. Special nasal preparations have been studied that may relieve congestion, fight colds, and alleviate the piercing pain of cluster headaches (try these only under a doctor's supervision). Claims that cayenne may reduce heart disease risk (by lowering blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels) or help prevent cancer (by providing vitamin C and other antioxidants) are unfounded.

Because sensitivity to cayenne varies, test it first on a small, particularly painful area. If it works - which may take a week or more - and causes no lasting discomfort, you can enlarge the coverage area. To avoid getting cayenne in the eyes, wash your hands afterward with warm, soapy water or wear latex gloves during application and promptly discard them; you can also cover the area with a loose bandage. (If you're using capsaicin to relieve pain in the fingers or hands, wait 30 minutes before washing it off to allow the cream to penetrate the skin. In the meantime, avoid touching contact lenses and sensitive areas, such as your eyes and nose.) Store cayenne cream away from light and extreme heat or cold, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Cayenne can be taken with or without food. No adverse effects have been reported in pregnant or breast feeding women who use it internally or externally, but discontinue cayenne if a nursing baby becomes irritable.