Years ago, while living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a friend introduced my husband to cayenne. He was born and raised in the Caribbean; so you can imagine how he felt like living less than an hour from Lake Superior. Since hot peppers are not a part of his culture (that is Central America), he and cayenne did not have a history together; but, sure hit it off right away.
Warm at Last
The first noticeable benefit he saw from taking a few cayenne capsules with meals was how they made him more resistant to the miserably cold winters. After no time at all, it was as if he had grown up in the area. He started wearing fewer layers during outdoor activities. I am not entirely sure how it worked, but it probably had something to do with the improved circulation. He also found that adding the powder into his shoes made a vast difference when rather inactive out in the cold. Yes, it does stain your socks so I would recommend reserving that little weapon for special occasions. But, since he loves experimenting, one day he decided to rub some cayenne and olive oil directly on his feet. Wow! The ground was warm the entire time he was outside but there was one problem. That warmth lasted about 3 days and made it difficult to sleep as his feet felt too warm while the rest of his body was just right.
Wide Awake
It did not take long for others to notice the boy from the Tropics was not freezing anymore; so, his roommate gave the capsules a try as well. They both took some with the evening meal. That was not a good idea. After lying in bed for hours that night without going to sleep, it finally dawned on my husband that the cayenne was the culprit and if so, his roommate was probably in the same predicament. While laying there in the dark, he asked him if he was awake. He responded with a tired and disappointed: “Yeeaaahhh.” Another lesson learned: Do not take cayenne too close to bedtime. They laugh about that now…years later.
That night he confirmed that the cayenne was increasing his energy levels and endurance by strengthening his pulse and thinning his blood. He’s always enjoyed exercise such as long distance running since he was in the 5th grade (God gave him skinny little legs for something). However, the cayenne seemed to put an extra step in his walk. The funny thing is he did not feel much different until he got going with something. Once he engaged in the physical activity, work or play, he felt like there was more in him than usual, although not making him antsy when inactive as with a high from caffeine. I should mention that all this did not happen overnight but over a period of weeks and months (as long as he took the cayenne).
No More Capsules
When we first got married, I tried the cayenne capsules for a little while but it almost always gave me heartburn. After reading on the subject, I found many renowned herbalists encourage the use of cayenne but not in capsules. The books all agreed that cayenne is THE herb of choice if only one is to be had. However, many authors claimed that “digestion begins in the mouth”. My husband had never considered that when taking the cayenne capsules all those years. They upset his stomach occasionally but that was a small price to pay for the many benefits he had enjoyed.
One book I read encouraged taking cayenne powder for medicinal purposes in a small amount of juice (grape, carrot, tomato–you choose), and following with some more liquid. I decided to try it, and found it did not upset my stomach unless I did something too strenuous right after taking it. From our reading we learned to begin taking cayenne in very small amounts, and increase the dose gradually over time. I began by adding less than a 1/4 teaspoon to 3 or 4 ounces of juice (usually Concord grape juice). After a week or more, I increased the dose a little and nowadays, I add 2 teaspoons to the 3 or 4 oz of juice and follow it up with some more juice, water or kombucha and occasionally an ice cube. Yes, it does feel warm, but not unbearably so, and you get used to it. Besides, it’s definitely worth it. The improved circulation has taken care of the varicose veins and improved digestion. Most of all, I am not lacking in energy which benefits the whole family because I can get more done everyday without feeling rundown. That is a definite plus with 2 small children.
After a couple years, my husband decided to try the cayenne powder stirred into a liquid instead of the capsules. He started with a very small amount (the same as I had), and worked his way up over the following weeks and months to where he now takes more than I do sometimes. Well, he had to admit it is truly is better in the liquid instead of the capsules. He had been experiencing numbness in a few toes on his right foot (no clue why). The numbness is gone. Cold feet in the winter are not an issue anymore. Best of all, he has a ton of energy to get through the day and takes every opportunity to run and play outside with our growing boy. He simply had to try it to believe it.
A Hole in your Stomach
Some folks are hard to convince to give the cayenne a try for medicinal purposes. They think something that feels that hot in their mouth will surely make a hole in their stomach. That is simply not so. In fact, cayenne is a very effective digestive aid. What?!! You are kidding, right?!! Nope, I am serious. Cayenne has traditionally been used to increase the absorption capacity of the digestive system by stimulating the production of the needed enzymes to properly break down food. My husband and I read about a man who was plagued with chronic stomach ulcers. In a suicide attempt, he swallowed a handful of cayenne capsules (that is a hot way to go). Cayenne on an empty stomach is NOT a good idea. To make a long story short, as a result of his dumb idea, he was cured of the stomach ulcers. Time and time again, we have read of accounts of folks using cayenne to correct digestive issues.
No-No’s
I already mentioned about not taking medicinal dosages of cayenne too late in the day because it may interfere with your sleep. That is, of course, unless you need to stay awake at night for work or study or driving, etc. What’s too late? That is for you to decide, and will depend on how much you are taking, and the day’s activities. I also mentioned not taking cayenne on an empty stomach. My husband tried this one and it was not good. Be careful not to give younger children too much cayenne. They can consume as much as they like on the food they eat (great way for us all to avoid parasites), but we have read of a number of negatives for younger children when they consume medicinal (large) doses of cayenne. Remember to start with small doses and gradually work your way up. How much is too much? That will vary with each individual, and the day’s physical activity. Basically, your body will answer that for you. Lastly, cayenne does thin the blood. Keep that in mind if you are using any other blood thinners. Cayenne may be a great replacement for drugs that are meant to thin the blood.
Some Like it Hot!
I know of plenty of folks that like putting hot spices on their food (I am not one of them). We have found from our reading that cayenne is the only hot pepper that has the long list of medicinal effects. I believe just about any hot pepper consumed regularly will guard you against intestinal parasites, along with a few other benefits, such as clearing the sinuses. However, cayenne is vastly different from all other hot peppers regarding the benefits to the heart, and the entire circulatory and digestive systems. It regulates the blood pressure and lowers cholesterol along with a host of other things. My husband even gave it to me when I was hemorrhaging after the birth of our 2nd child. It stopped the bleeding almost totally.
My husband and I are not as young as we used to be, so we’re even more grateful for cayenne. We feel the days are over too soon. There is more in us to keep going at the end of the day. Though my husband does not run as much as he used to, his legs are still as skinny as ever, along with the rest of him. Maybe it’s because cayenne speeds up the metabolism. Perhaps it’s just because God likes to humor me as I often smile at the sight of his skinny legs. In any case, we thank and credit the Creator for the manifold blessing of cayenne.
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