The Healing Powers Of Hot Red Peppers

It has many names: hot pepper, cayenne, chili pepper, Tabasco, green and red bell, and paprika. Herbally and for healing, it is HOT!!! In the 17th century, and English herbalist wrote that the use of Red Pepper was dangerous, as it inflamed the mouth and throat. However, he stated that when used in moderation, it helped digestion, urination, toothaches, the stomach, kidney stones, and even eyesight. This same herbalist told the females to mix red pepper (and several other spices) with cotton and insert it vaginally to lessen bleeding during menstruation. However, he added, if inserted in the uterus after a delivery, it would make the female sterile. During the 18th century, Red Pepper was mixed with snuff to give it a 'kick.' However, one physician believed this would cause violent sneezing fits that broke the blood vessels in the head. In many countries, it has long been a digestive aid. However, the Europeans believed that hot spices caused stomach ulcers.

During the Civil War, Red Pepper was used to cure anything caused by cold and healed by heat. After the Civil War, it was used as a poultice to treat arthritis and muscle soreness. Ingested, it was used to treat diarrhea, colds, coughs, fevers, constipation, nausea and toothaches. Red Pepper was placed inside socks as a foot warmer. During this same time, the spice was used to treat the delirium tremens associated with alcohol withdrawal. They believed it enabled the advanced alcoholic to digest food, thereby nourishing his/her body. Folk healers use it in a powdered form to stop thumb sucking in children and nail biting. Currently, herbalists use cayenne capsules for colds and stomach and bowel problems. Externally, they use poultices for arthritis and muscle pain.

Pepper is traditionally a digestive aid and pain reliever, because it contains an element called capsaicin. It can be used in aiding digestion, diarrhea, chronic pain, shingles, diabetic foot pain, and cluster headaches. Another possibility for it that is not yet proven scientifically is its use in lowering bad cholesterol, preventing heart disease and increasing metabolism. To aid digestion, Red Pepper stimulates the flow of saliva and stomach secretions. Red Peppers have antibacterial properties to relieve infectious diarrhea. Red Peppers contain analgesic properties to relieve pain, but it is not totally understood why. The 'burning foot' syndrome of diabetics is aided greatly by the use of capsaicin. Cluster headaches, an extreme pain on one side of the head, are alleviated when a Red Pepper preparation is inserted in the nostrils. As I said, for healing purposes, those peppers are HOT!