Cayenne is a member of perennial and annual shrubs in the potato and tomato family. The pepper has been used medicinally for at least 9,000 years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The Ayurvedic and Asian traditional medicines have a long history of using the plant to treat a myriad of health disorders. The plant's active ingredient, capsaicin, is used both topically and orally for medicinal treatment. Be sure to consult a health care practitioner prior to using cayenne medicinally.
Relieve Pain
Cayenne is well-known as a pain reliever. Its active ingredient capsaicin, while conferring spicy and hot sensations when eating as a culinary spice, actually helps heal pain and inflammation when applied topically to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and other types of joint, muscle and nerve pain, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Cayenne alleviates pain by temporarily reducing the number of neurotransmitters that send pain messages between the body and the brain.
Cardiovascular Support
Cayenne's medicinal compound, capsaicin, reduces platelet stickiness in the blood, which can improve blood flow and prevent heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular disorders. Cayenne also reduces blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, that help prevent atherosclerosis. Cultures that consume abundant quantities of cayenne have reduced cases of cardiovascular disease compared with other groups, according to website Holistic Online.
Alleviate Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches occur in a cycle, or cluster, and are characterized by severe pain, usually located in the eye area. A cluster headache is known as one of the most painful types of headaches. There are very few treatments available to alleviate the pain associated with cluster headaches, however, capsaicin ointment applied to the temple area is thought to help relieve pain in some instances, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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