Cayenne pepper is used externally only for painful muscle tension in the shoulder, arm and spine in adults and school children. Other indications also clinically approved are nerve pain, trigeminal neuralgia (form of facial pain in which the 5th cranial nerve or trigeminal nerve is irritated), phantom limb pain (sensation in limbs that are no longer present, such as amputated limbs), lumbago, itching, and rheumatism.
Pepper is not suitable for internal use from a medical point of view.
Cayenne pepper in folk medicine
Folk medicine uses pepper for local treatment of chilblains, inflammatory joint diseases (arthritis) and as a gargle for hoarseness, chronic laryngitis and general sore throat.
Homeopathic use
In homeopathy, pepper is used for appendicitis, gastroenteritis, inflammation of the mucous membranes around the mouth and throat, suppuration of the middle ear, and inflammation of the urinary bladder and urinary tract.
Cayenne pepper and its ingredients
Cayenne pepper from Capsicum frutescens contains 0.4-0.9% pungent capsaicinoids, the proportion in Capsicum annuum is only 0.1-0.5%. Capsaicin is the main component, accounting for 63-77% of total capsaicinides. The fruits bear the highest content of capsaicinides about 40 days after flowering. Other constituents include vitamin C, saponins, fatty oil, and carotenoids, which are responsible for the coloration of the fruit.
Cayenne pepper: indication
Cayenne pepper is used for the following indications:
- Muscle tension
- Nerve pain
- Lumbago
- Itching
- Rheumatism
- Arthritis
- Hoarseness
- Sore throat