Cayenne is classified as a hot, spicy, pungent herb. It is said to promote digestion, absorption of food, purify blood, and cleanse the body. (1) Cayenne peppers contain a large amount of capsaicin. The bright red pigment is due to vitamin A found in cayenne peppers. It’s known actions are pain reliever and decongestant.
Cayenne can be eaten as an appetizer to ignite one’s digestive fire, called agni in Ayurveda. It can be added to heavy foods like meat, lentils and cheese to make them more light, palatable and easily absorbable.
This pepper enhances circulation, causes sweating, helps to evacuate bowel, and destroys worms and parasites. It is a home remedy for colds, cough and congestion and is known to clear the sinuses. (1) Dr. Vasant Lad wrote that taking two capsules of cayenne two to three times a day helps to break down blood clots.
During a fast, cayenne pepper can be used to help neutralize toxins in the system. While fasting, one’s digestive fire (agni) slowly burns away toxins that have been in the intestines for a while. Cayenne can help this process. (1) You may have heard of the master cleanse which is a mixture of cayenne, apple cider vinegar, lemon, and a sweetner like maple syrup.
Cayenne is said to have the ability to lower risk of heart attack. (2) In general, cayenne does benefit heart health. One can imagine cayenne sweeping through one’s circulatory system and cleaning up blood vessels. It acts as a stimulant that improves circulation and helps your heart to beat more strongly. It also reduces blood-clotting tendencies. It improves vessel elasticity and strengthens vessel walls, all the while helping to break up blockages and plaque. Cayenne modulates blood pressure, either increasing or decreasing as needed. It’s antioxidant content, including vitamin A, and capsaicin trigger mediators to help reduce inflammation. (3)
Cayenne can be used powdered in foods, used fresh or taken in capsule form for those who don’t like spice. One common way to take it alone is to add the powder to warm or hot water and drink.
- Lad, V. (1984). Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing. (2nd ed.). Lotus Press.
- Johnson, J. (2015, April 10). The Uses and Benefits of Cayenne Pepper. Monteray Bay Holistic Alliance. https://montereybayholistic.wordpress.com/2015/04/10/uses-and-benefits-of-cayenne-pepper/
- Beyer, J. (2015, Sept 8). Cayenne Pepper: 5 Ways It Helps Heart Health. Flora Force. https://www.floraforce.co.za/cayenne-heart-health/