Cayenne pepper contains a chemical compound called capsaicin that causes a hot sensation on contact. Cayenne has traditionally been used medicinally as a stimulant to improve the circulatory system and digestion. Capsaicin from cayenne peppers can help block pain when applied topically, and can be ingested orally or through nasal applications to help fight migraine headaches.
History
Cayenne or capsicum pepper is a plant native to the tropical regions of Central and South America. Hot peppers are one of the oldest cultivated plant species in the world, and have been used for food and medicine for more than 9,000 years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Traditional medicinal practices throughout the world have long used cayenne's heating power to alleviate a variety of ailments from fighting frostbite to easing muscle and joint pain from overexertion or osteoarthritis, according to the Huntington College of Health Sciences.
Cluster Headaches
Nasal sprays of capsaicin can relieve the debilitating pain of cluster headaches. Cluster headaches are intensely painful, usually short-lived headaches that occur on one side of the head and may be accompanied by a migraine-like aura, nausea and sensitivity to light and sound, according to MayoClinic.com. Cayenne nasal spray, available over the counter, may decrease the frequency and intensity of cluster headaches. Consult a physician before using nasal capsaicin treatment, and be certain to use only cayenne products specifically intended for nasal spray; as anyone who has inadvertently scratched her nose while cutting hot peppers can attest, attempts to self-administer cayenne powder or juice to the sensitive nasal passages can result in intense pain.
Vascular Headaches
Migraines are a form of vascular headache, the result of swelling blood vessels in the tissues around the head. Ingesting cayenne pepper improves circulation and lowers high blood pressure, and can reduce blood clotting, according to the Huntington College of Health Sciences. Cayenne's positive effects on the circulatory system may reduce incidences of vascular headaches. The recommended dosage for cayenne in capsule form is 30 to 120 mg. three times daily.
Considerations and Warnings
While most headaches are temporary conditions with no serious health implications, headache can also be a symptom of a serious negative health condition such as a tumor or aneurysm, according to the University of Utah Health Care. See your doctor immediately for a severe headache accompanied by a fever, headache pain that feels different from headaches you've experienced previously, a headache that wakes you from sleep, or sensations of confusion along with a headache. Consult your doctor before treating headaches with cayenne or any other herbal or food remedy to insure that it does not conflict with any medications or other treatment. Cayenne may interact with ACE inhibitors, stomach acid reducers, aspirin and blood thinning medication, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Cluster Headache; February 2011
- Huntington College of Health Sciences; Cayenne; Art Presser, Pharm.D.
- University of Utah Health Care; Got a Headache? Your Body May Be Telling You Something; December 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Cayenne; Steven Ehrlich, NMD; November 2008
