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Cayenne
Cayenne is very
closely related to bell peppers, jalapeños, paprika, and other similar
peppers. It contains a large amount of Vitamin C and beta-carotene.
Regulating the flow of blood, cayenne strengthens the heart, arteries,
and nerves. If you feel a cold coming on, take cayenne pepper to ward it
off. The heating properties of cayenne will stimulate circulation
increasing the ability to sweat it out.
The potent, hot fruit of cayenne
has been used as medicine for centuries. Rubbed on the skin, cayenne is
a traditional, as well as modern, remedy for rheumatic pains and
arthritis due to what is termed a counterirritant effect. A
counterirritant is something which causes irritation to a tissue to
which it is applied, thus distracting from the original irritation (such
as joint pain in the case of arthritis).
Cayenne contains a resinous and pungent substance known as capsaicin.
This chemical relieves pain and itching by acting on sensory nerves.
Capsaicin temporarily stimulates release of various neurotransmitters
from these nerves, leading to their depletion. Without the
neurotransmitters, pain signals can no longer be sent.
Next to ginger, cayenne is the next best thing for digestion. The dried,
uncooked and POWDERED herb is always used for purposes of healing.
Drying the cayenne pepper cures the acids thereby eliminating any
caustic effects.
This bright orange red herb is known to heal gum infections and
eliminate the pain of abscesses. Dip your wet toothbrush into some
cayenne pepper or else add a pinch of it atop the toothpaste. Rinsing
with cayenne will also benefit your gums and if you gargle with it you
will have a strong throat. |