Cayenne is a red pepper used as both food and medicine. It's scientific name is Capsicum annuum, or Capsicum frutescens, and capsaicin is the component in cayenne that gives it heat and flavor. Cayenne is used as a spice in Cajun and Creole cooking in the United States and is also found in Asian, Italian and Mexican cuisine. It's used in medicine for pain relief and may be beneficial as a weight loss aid and to decrease insulin resistance.
Pain Relief
Capsaicin can relieve pain when it's applied to your skin because it's a counterirritant that reduces substance P, which is a chemical that tells your brain when you feel pain. Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews says studies indicate cayenne pepper paste reduces back pain better than placebo. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, capsaicin cream can be used for relief of pain due to arthritis, nerve pain, post-surgical pain and low back pain.
Weight Loss and Insulin Resistance
Cayenne pepper may temporarily increase your body's heat production, which would cause you to burn more calories. It may help to regulate blood sugar levels by changing the rate at which carbohydrates are broken down in your digestive system. According to a study published in 2006 in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," the consumption of meals containing cayenne peppers may reduce the amount of insulin released after a meal, which may help to treat insulin resistance.
Dosage
According information about cayenne published by the University of Maryland Medical Center, topical creams with 0.035 to 0.075 percent capsaicin may be applied directly to the skin of the affected area. You may need to apply the cream several times throughout the day. Relief may take up to one week. Cayenne can be eaten raw, cooked or as a dried powder that is also available in supplement form, 30 to 120 mg, three times per day. The 2006 study mentioned previously used 30 g of a cayenne blend per day, which contained about 30 mg capsaicin.
Interactions and Precautions
The University of Maryland Medical Center says using capsaicin cream on the skin may interact with blood pressure medications called ACE inhibitors. Using cayenne as a spice is generally safe, but oral capsaicin capsules may interact with stomach acid reducers, aspirin, blood-thinning medications and theophylline. If you're allergic to latex, bananas, kiwi, chestnuts and avocado, you may also be allergic cayenne pepper. Don't take cayenne or capsaicin supplements or creams without speaking to your doctor first.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Cayenne
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Effects of Chili Consumption on Postprandial Glucose, Insulin, and Energy Metabolism; K. Ahuja; July 2006
- "Cochrane Database of System Reviews"; Herbal Medicine for Low Back Pain: A Cochrane Review; J.J. Gagnier; January 2007
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