From the September 1999 Idaho Observer:

Cayenne: a stimulant herb

by Ingri Cassel

Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum Anum)

Disclaimer: If you believe that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is the authority on how you should or should not take care of yourself then there is no reason to continue reading this article.

Cayenne is possibly the single most wonderful, beneficial plant to grow and have on hand (the granulated form) in case of emergencies. I have witnessed countless experiences of its virtues when I have shared how to use it with my friends. One lady who went to Mexico every winter had complained to me that despite being very careful about only drinking bottled water and restricting her diet, she still experienced “Montezuma's Revenge” on every trip. All her precautions were of no avail. I told her that the natives eat very spicey food and that she should follow their example. If she didn't like hot food, she should take a couple bottles of cayenne pepper capsules with her. I encouraged her to start taking cayenne with every meal before she goes so that she gets used to it. While in Mexico, she ate at restaurants she wouldn't have considered before and did not limit her fluid intake to bottled water only. She took 10-12 cayenne pepper capsules daily and was ecstatic to discover that she had normal stools and boundless energy.

When I lived in Arizona several years ago, my great uncle was scheduled for heart bypass surgery the following week. I told him about cayenne pepper. I also told him the value of feeding the heart muscle with hawthorne berries, a natural form of vitamin E and minerals. He had to eliminate all refined sugars and synthetic sweetners from his diet and add psyllium husks to his regimen since his lifestyle was what had created his heart condition in the first place. He stuck with the program and when he went to see his doctor five days later, he received a clean bill of health and his surgery was cancelled. The cayenne pepper was the most important aspect of his regimen that led to the immediatly positive results he achieved.

Cayenne peper should be in everyone's first aid kit. If you have a severe cut which is bleeding profusely, apply cayenne pepper, a powerful styptic, directly into the wound. The cayenne will equalize the blood pressure and start the coagulating of blood immediately. It is a powerful disinfectant so there is no need to worry about infection setting in. My family has been using cayenne in this manner for years and, as a result, take what others consider miraculous results for granted.

Cayenne can also be used in conjunction with CPR in the event of a heart attack. For this application, mix a teaspoon of cayenne in a small amount of water and pour it down the patient's throat. This is a sure way to revive the person and is much more successful than CPR alone. People with heart and blood pressure conditions should consider incorporating appropriate amounts of cayenne pepper into their dietary regimens.

Cayenne is the remedy of choice for gangrene, frostbite and any condition which calls for increased blood flow and better circulation. Cayenne can even be placed in boots to help keep feet warm.

Cayenne acts as a catalyst, carrying all other herbs and supplements quickly to the place in the body where they are needed and increasing their effectiveness. It is also high in vitamin C and useful in the treatment of colds, sinus problems and respiratory ailments.

When purchasing cayenne, avoid buying it from the spice department in your grocery store. Most herbs and spices are irradiated, rendering them ineffective medicinally. Instead, go to your local health food store and purchase a full pound of 30,000 to 40,000 BTU (British Thermal Units) or HU (heat units) cayenne pepper from Frontier Herbs or some other company which guarantees that their products are not irradiated. As you get used to taking it regularly, you may want to increase to 60,000 or 90,000 HU cayenne pepper. Start out by taking a quarter teaspoon in a glass of pure water three times a day. After a week, increase the amount of cayenne pepper to half a teaspoon three times a day. The optimal therapeutic dose is one teaspoon in water three times a day. If this is rough for you, try taking capsules with your meals.

A formula that we take at the first sign of a sore throat is called the Master Cleanser. This consists of the juice of a fresh lemon, cayenne pepper and pure water. Unrefined, grade B maple syrup is added to taste. The resulting mixture tastes like a hot, spicey form of lemonade. Even our editor appreciates the results he experiences from drinking this concoction which performs the all important function of alkalinizing the body.

Last month we discussed the merits of comfrey, an herb that has been called “people putty.” This month we discussed cayenne pepper. Both of these plants are essential to the health and well being of your family should a state of emergency arise. Make sure that you have access to both of them. Next month we will present part two of this two part series on this most beneficial herb by reprinting an article written by one of the world's most respected herbalists, the late Dr. John Christopher.