Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper

By adr.ian

Reviewed: dr. vanta

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. 'Cayenne.' Mount Sinai Health System, www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/cayenne
• 2. 'Spicy Foods and Your Health.' Health Hive, hive.rochesterregional.org/2020/02/spicy-food-health
• 3. Kubala, Jillian. 'The 14 Best Foods to Increase Blood Flow and Circulation.' Healthline, www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-that-increase-blood-flow#TOC/TITLE/HDR/2
• 4. 'Different Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper.' EMediHealth, 10 Nov. 2020, www.emedihealth.com/cayenne-pepper.html
• 5. 28, Nancy Auyeung on Jul, et al. Helix Magazine. 'This Is Your Brain on Capsaicin.' Helix Magazine, helix.northwestern.edu/blog/2014/07/your-brain-capsaicin
• 6. 'Cancer Fighting Herbs and Spices.' Memorial Healthcare System, 22 Sept. 2016, [www.mhs.net/news/2016/09/cancer-fighting-herbs-and-spices.](http://www.mhs.net/news/2016/09/cancer-fighting-herbs-and-spices.)
• 7. Karthik Kumar, MBBS. 'What Cayenne Pepper Does to Your Body?' MedicineNet, www.medicinenet.com/what/cayenne/pepper/does/to/your/body/article.htm

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Anyone who uses spices when they're cooking is likely to have cayenne pepper among their collection. The chili-type pepper is a popular spice used in many regional dishes, such as curries, chillies and spicy marinades. Originally grown in South America, the spicy pepper is a popular ingredient in cooking and has been used medicinally for thousands of years.

The possible health benefits of cayenne pepper may lie in one of its active components, capsaicin. The chemical irritant is what produces the burning sensation in the mouth and on the tongue, and it may also positively contribute to a person's health.

Possible Pain Reliever

Many people may not realize that the ointments they buy over the counter to relieve pain symptoms may contain capsaicin, the main medicinal characteristic of cayenne pepper. This active component may have the capacity to provide pain relief.

There are various recipes for homemade capsaicin available online, which are mostly made by combining peppers with oils, such as olive or coconut oil. People feel pain when a chemical called substance P delivers pain messages to the brain. It's thought that capsaicin could reduce the amount of this substance, resulting in the reduction of pain.¹‘Cayenne.’ Mount Sinai Health System, www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/cayenne