Cayenne pepper (Capsicum annum)

[Matthew Capowski]

This thread will be used to organize information about cayenne.

Todd Caldecott has a great article on the Herbal use of Cayenne:

https://web.archive.org/web/20091227094443/http://www.toddcaldecott.com/cayenne.html

Michael Tierra has an article titled Cayenne: Another Rude, Crude, Unsung Hero:

https://www.planetherbs.com/michaels-blog/cayenne-another-rude-crude-unsung-hero.html

Dr. John Christopher's entry on Cayenne, Capsicum annuum; (Solanaceae):

http://online.snh.cc/files/2100/HTML/100hs_cayenne__capsicum_annuum.htm

CAPSICUM (Cayenne, African Bird Peppers) Not a tonic or immunostimulant, it acts as a peripheral vasodilator, increasing blood supply to the skin and mucosa. It is NOT appropriate for active inflammation. -- Michael Moore (Herbal Medical Contradictions)

CAYENNE. CAPSICUM. This is a medicine of great value in the practice, and may be safely used in all cases of disease to raise and retain the internal vital heat of the system, cause a free perspiration, and keep the determining powers to the surface. The only preparation is to have it reduced to a fine powder. For a dose, take from half to a teaspoonful, in hot water, or a tea of No. 3, sweetened; or the same quantity may be mixed with a dose of either the other numbers when taken. The dose should be repeated every ten or fifteen minutes till the desired object is effected, and continued occasionally till health is restored. When this number is given, the patient should be kept warm by sitting by the fire, covered with a blanket, or in a warm bed. -- Source: The Thomsonian System of Medicine: https://archive.org/details/thomsoniansystem00clymiala