High blood pressure occurs when the force with which your blood pumps through your arteries is higher than what is healthy. It's imperative to see your doctor regularly for blood pressure testing because you can have high blood pressure, or hypertension, and not have any symptoms. Cayenne pepper might be effective for lowering blood pressure, but clinical studies addressing this effect are limited. High blood pressure is a serious disease, and natural remedies cannot replace the advice of a medical doctor.
Cayenne Properties
Cayenne, or Capsicum frutescens, is a hot red pepper cultivated around the world. Most commonly used as a spicy seasoning, the dried and powdered cayenne fruit contains capsaicinoids, which give the herb its hotness. Cayenne also contains carotenoids, flavonoids, steroid saponins and volatile oils.
Evidence
Studies of cayenne's effect on blood pressure are scarce, but in 2003, the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University issued a report citing a possible link between the degeneration of nerves that are sensitive to capsaicin, which is the active ingredient in cayenne, and an increase in blood pressure. The study did not determine, however, whether the therapeutic use of capsaicin would decrease high blood pressure.
Dosage/Products
Cayenne comes in powdered form in your grocer's spice section or in capsules and tinctures in health food stores. The "Physician's Desk Reference" suggests a daily cayenne tea dosage not to exceed two cups. Prepare the tea by combining 1 tsp. of powdered cayenne pepper with 16 oz. of water. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use. For capsules and tinctures, follow package directions or consult your doctor for specific dosage advice.
Precautions
Although it's a culinary spice, using cayenne therapeutically is not risk-free. The "Physician's Desk Reference" reports that at dosages exceeding the maximum daily recommendation, side effects can occur, which include stomach ulcers, reduction in blood clotting time, gingivitis, respiratory disorders and gastrointestinal distress.
The use of cayenne in small children and infants can lead to severe respiratory distress and even death. Children, pregnant women and nursing mothers should not use cayenne unless directed to do so by their doctors. See your doctor if you think you have high blood pressure and use cayenne only as part of a doctor-recommended treatment program.
References
- Mayo Clinic: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- Mayo Clinic: High Blood Pressure Dangers -- Hypertension's Effects on Your Body
- "Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines (second edition)"; Joerg Gruenwald; 2000
- "Current Medicinal Chemistry"; "Capsaicin Sensitive-sensory Nerves and Blood Pressure Regulation"; P. Vaishnava et al; June 2003
