What is Cayenne Pepper?

Cayenne pepper comes from red, hot chili peppers. It is also known as the African red pepper, American red pepper, Spanish pepper, bird pepper, or Guinea pepper as it is sometimes called in the United Kingdom.

It is also sometimes called by its Latin derivative capsicum. Cayenne pepper comes from the dried pods of chili peppers and is used as a spice for culinary uses as well as alternative health purposes. The herb is named for the capital city of Cayenne in French Guiana, a country on the northern border of Brazil in South America. The word cayenne comes from the Tupi word "kyinha," which literally means "hot pepper."

Continuing, cayenne is a cultivar of Capsicum annum and is botanically related to jalapeños, habeñeros, bell peppers and many other peppers. The Capsicum genus is in the nightshade or Solanaceae family, which family includes white potatoes, eggplants, bell peppers and tomatoes.

The plant from which cayenne pepper powder is derived is from two related plants.

Specifically, the American variety (Capsicum minimum) is distinguished from its African countepart the African birdseye cayenne (Capsicum fastigiatum) although both are highly useful to man. Another popular derivative is Capsicum annuum.

Of all the cayenne peppers, probably the most pungent is the African birdseye cayenne pepper. It has small, yellowish red pods while the American variety is characterized with its small herb-sized plants and larger pods.

How is cayenne pepper powder made? The peppers or fruit are dried and ground, or pulped and baked into cakes, which are then finely ground and then sifted to make the powdered spice.

This powdered spice is well known to cooks and chefs the world over but its true value lie in its medicinal properties. Indeed, it is one of the best-kept secrets of the modern world.

Cayenne Pepper Nutrition Facts

Cayenne pepper is very high in some key vitamins, namely vitamins A, the B vitamin complex, vitamin C, calcium, vitamin K, niaicin, iron, and the minerals potassium and manganese. It is highly beneficial for the heart and its high concentration of potassium is a key component of that benefit.

Cayenne pepper's bright red color indicates its high content of beta-carotene or specifically pro-vitamin A. Cayenne is highly regarded as "the anti-infection" vitamin as its high concentration of vitamin A is essential for epithelial tissues and mucous membranes. The body's first line of defense against invading pathogens is the health epithelial tissues and the mucous membranes that line the nasal passages, urinary tract, anus, lungs and intestinal tract.

Notwithstanding its calidity or heat, cayenne peppers or cayenne is great for the stomach and intestines. Among herbalists and homeopathics, it is virtually legendary in what it can do to help strengthen the heart.

What about Organic Cayenne Pepper? In today's modern world, almost everything that is truly organic is better for you. Organic cayenne pepper is probably no exception. I say "probably" as almost all cayenne is magnificient. Still, if you can get either home-grown cayenne pepper or organic cayenne pepper from organic farmers, that is best.

What Are Some of The Uses for Cayenne Pepper?

Besides its culinary uses, its medicinal uses are wide and varied. In fact, it's actually a catalyst and accentuator for use in other herbal formulas. By itself, though, it certainly is highly beneficial as well. It's been used for almost everything ill you can imagine. Here's a short list you on some of its benefits and uses:

• Reduces weight by improving metabolism
• Fantastic for the heart and venous structure
• Eliminates plaque from the arteries
• Helps heal ulcers
• It is healing to the entire circulatory system
• Aids the peristaltic action in the intestines
• It actually helps warm the entire body and can rebuild the flesh harmed from frostbite
• Migraines - cayenne pepper is a godsend for those who suffer from migraines. Once cayenne is in the system, it immediately goes to work in your system. (I know this is personally true.)
• It can stop heart attacks. Famed herbalist Dr. John Christopher said if he could get a patient to drink a glass of warm cayenne pepper water (the preferred way to take it actually) it would literally immediately stop the heart attack. Why? Because it immediately equalizes the blood pressure and feeds the heart with the nutrients it needs to function properly. Cayenne pepper and heart health should be something everyone over 40 should know about.

Those are just some of the highlights. It can do a lot more but if it didn't do anything other than drammatically strengthen the heart, its worth would be sufficient. It truly is a king of the herbs for many reasons.

How do you take cayenne pepper? What is recommended? Some understandably take cayenne pepper capsules. Actually, the best way to take it is in a glass of very warm water (distilled water is preferable but bottled or purified water is sufficient).

Start by taking a 1/4th of a teaspoon and put it into a glass of eight ounces and mix. Then, drink it. Yes, it'll be hot and the first few days it will come out of your system as hot as well but your body will acclimate quickly.

You can get the powder at a good health-food store in your area. It's easy to find. Every health-food retailer I have been to in my area has it. Cayenne in powder form is very, very inexpensive. The liquid extract? Not so much.

If you prefer the liquid tincture or extract, look for it online with a Google or Bing search and you'll find it.

Thank you for visiting this page. I hope it's been useful to you.

Yours in health,
CayennePepper.info