Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne Pepper! It calls forth images of heat; and rightly so for it is indeed hot-very hot, and depending on the grade that you get it can be very, very hot!
Medicinal Power
However, very few people consider cayenne pepper as a medicine. The great herbalist, Jethro Kloss in his classic work, Back To Eden, wrote: “ Red Pepper is one of the most wonderful herb medicines we have .We can do many things with it that we are not able to do with any other known herb.”[1]
Dr. John Christopher N.D. M.H.; one of the most successful healers of modern times explained, “Cayenne is a medicinal and nutritional herb. It is the purest and most certain stimulant.
This herb is a great food for the circulatory system in that it feeds the necessary elements into the cell structure of the arteries, veins and capillaries so that these regain the elasticity of youth again, and the blood pressure adjusts itself to normal. It rebuilds the tissue in the stomach and heals stomach and intestinal ulcers; in equalizing the blood circulation, cayenne produces natural warmth; and in stimulating the peristaltic motion of the intestines, it aids in assimilation and elimination.”[2]
Kloss explains that unlike black pepper, mustard and vinegar, which are irritating, cayenne is soothing. He says, “While red pepper smarts (burns) a little, it can be put in an open wound, either in a fresh wound or an old ulcer, and it is very healing instead of irritating…”[3]
Natural medicine doctors and Herbalist have used cayenne to arrest gangrene treat arthritis, asthma, asthmatic asphyxia, gout, bleeding, bleeding of the lungs, chills, colds, cold extremities, congestion, constipation, cough, cramps, debility, delirium, diphtheria, dyspepsia, functional sluggishness, fatigue, heart trouble and heart attacks, hemorrhage, hemorrhoids, high and low blood pressure, indigestion, inflammation, kidney and related problems, lethargy, low fevers, lumbago, menorrhagia, neuralgia, offensive breath, pains in the stomach and bowels, palpitation, pleurisy, profound shock, rheumatism, scarlet fever, strokes, tonsillitis, toothache (oil), typhoid fever, ulcers, vomiting, wounds, yellow fever etc.
R. Swinburne Clymer in his book, The Medicine of Nature, wrote: “ Capsicum (red pepper) is the most pronounced, natural and ideal stimulant known in the entire material medica. It cannot be equaled by any known agent when a powerful and prolonged stimulant is needed, as in congestive chills, heart failure, and other conditions calling for quick action.”[4]
Cayenne In Heart Attack
Dr. Christopher, having used cayenne numerous times in heart attack cases says, “Prop up the patient and pour hot cayenne tea down, and the attack will stop immediately. We have been called in the middle of the night so many times. A teaspoon of cayenne should bring the patient out of the heart attack.”[5]
“Carrying cayenne in his herbal doctor’s bag, he (Dr. Christopher) never lost a person to a heart attack. He remembered one woman who had suffered from heart problems for eighteen years. She had taken powerful heart medication for more than seven years. After starting cayenne, she was able to stop this medication within months. Her varicose veins also completely cleared.”[6]
Cayenne In Wounds
“Many of the old herbalists claim that in cases of severe cuts, gunshot wounds, etc., cayenne can be taken internally as a tea and the bleeding will stop by the time, in most cases, you can count to ten. Cayenne goes immediately into the blood stream and adjusts the blood pressure from the top of the head, to the bottom of the feet, equalizing pressure over the whole body. This takes the high pressure, which causes rapid bleeding, away from the wound and clotting starts immediately. Cayenne has been accepted by some of the orthodox medical profession, as mentioned in Merck Index, Materia Medica and Pharmacology and other standard volumes.”[8]
I take cayenne personally in liquid form and in powder form mixed in water; and I have personally used cayenne on a family member that had a very deep cut, and almost immediately the blood begin to coagulate. Of course the cayenne burned for a little awhile.
Many people have purchased cayenne from us and returned reports of lowered blood pressure. In fact, I sent some to my mother who has suffered from high blood pressure for years, and she reports that her pressure is lower than it has been in years.
It may take a little longer for some than for others in lowering blood pressure due to differences in blood chemistry affected by diet, exercise, water intake etc., but it will work.
“Once a child was shot in the abdomen; a bullet hit the spine, ricocheted, and made a second wound leaving the body. One of Dr. Christopher’s herbal students, living next door, heard the shot and raced over, as she knew that the parents were not home and that the children, ages eight and four, would not be shooting guns. There was the eight-year-old gushing blood out both sides. She ran to the cabinet and mixed a tablespoonful of cayenne in a glass of water; she poured it down the boy and immediately called the ambulance, which was eighteen miles away. The emergency room attendant said that the boy would probably bleed to death, being that the distance was so great. The ambulance arrived and rushed the child (who had been playing “Cops and Robbers” with his father’s pistol, which he had found under the pillow of the bed, to the Primary Children’s Hospital eighteen miles away. When he arrived, he was the center of attraction, not because his case was so dangerous, but because he was chatting a mile a minute–and there was not bleeding. The bleeding had stopped by the time they arrived at the hospital. The chief doctor said to the parents, “I have seen many accident victims in my life, but this is the first time in such an emergency operation that I have opened an abdomen to find no blood, except for a small amount that was there before the bleeding stopped so quickly. This has saved your boy’s life.”[9]
“In that same year, Dr. Christopher treated four other gunshot victims, and each case responded the same, although sometimes the blood coagulates and comes out in clumps before it stops completely. By the time you count to ten, however, the heavy bleeding should stop completely after administering Cayenne. The Doctor even used tincture of Cayenne on open wounds and, as he put it, “There may be a bit of muttering about it,” referring to the burning feeling of the Cayenne, but the bleeding stops.”[10]
“A person in our audience told how he had cut deeply with a sharp instrument the inside of his hand, fingers and palm. The blood spurted out in streams. He poured a large amount of cayenne pepper into the wound, and within seconds the blood flow slowed down to congealed dripping and the bleeding stopped entirely before many seconds had passed. With a goodly amount of cayenne covering the wound, he then wrapped it. He was so excited about the rapid results he could hardly wait for the regular herb meeting. But, as he said, the “punch line” was lost, because instead of a nasty ragged scar to show how severely he had been hurt, the area was healed and there was no scar.”[11]
Finally, many wonder about the safety of cayenne on the stomach. Kloss, Dr. Christopher, and others declare from years and years of experience with cayenne that there are no safety issues with the stomach.
Dr. Christopher explains, “My first actual experience with knowing a bit about cayenne was when I was in Vancouver, British Columbia, at Dominion Herbal College. I sat in class and Dr. Nowell said, “We will now study today cayenne, which is actually called capsicum.” I raised my hand and said, “Dr. Nowell, “Why are we studying cayenne? It will burn the lining out of our stomach”. Everyone in class laughed except Dr. Nowell. He said, “By the way, where did you get your information?” I said my mother told me and then everybody laughed except Dr. Nowell. He said, “Just what was her herbal degree?” Well, I guess she had none at all. “Well, that’s interesting,” he said. “Could I see you after class?” After class in his car he drove me around Vancouver, British Columbia, and introduced me to at least a dozen people whose lives had been saved with cayenne–some with heart attacks, some with asthmatic conditions and various other things. He didn’t have to do this, but he was a great teacher, and he took the time to show me how great cayenne could be, used properly on the human body. Well, I never forgot this, and as I started in the practice myself, I prescribed cayenne very extensively.”[12]
“The thief cometh cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
Keith Henry, N.D.
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[1] Jethro Kloss, Back To Eden, pg. 106 pub. Back To Eden Publishing Company, 1995
[2] The Complete Writings Dr. John R. Christopher C.D. Rom
[3] opp cite Kloss pg. 106
[4] The Medicine of Nature as quoted by Kloss opp. Cite pg. 110
[5] The Complete Writings of Dr. John R. Christopher Cd Rom
[6] ibid
[7] image copyright © Camera M.D
[8] opp. Cite Christopher
[9] Dr. Christopher Newsletter Volume 6 # 3
[10] ibid.
[11] Dr. Christophers News letters Volume 1 #12
[12] ibid.
Donna’s Corner
CYSTITIS / BLADDER INFECTION
Bladder infections are more common among women. Twenty one percent of all women have urinary tract discomfort at least once per year. Thirty seven percent of women with no history of urinary tract infection will have one within ten years, and two to four percent of apparently healthy women have elevated levels of bacteria in their urine, indicative of an unrecognized urinary tract infection.
Women with a history of this infection will typically have an episode at least once per year. Recurrent bladder infections can be a significant problem for some women since fifty five percent will eventually involve the upper urinary tract (the kidneys). Recurrent kidney infections can cause progressive damage resulting in scarring and, for some, kidney failure.
SYMPTONS OF BLADDER INFECTION:
Burning pain on urination
Frequent need to urinate, excessive urge to urinate at night
Fowl-smelling or dark urine
Lower abdominal pain
Urine is sterile as it is secreted by the kidneys until it reaches the urethra
(urethra transport urine from the bladder to the urethral opening). Bacteria can reach the urinary tract by ascending from the urethra, or less commonly through the bloodstream.
Bacteria is introduced into the urethra from fecal contamination or, in women, vaginal secretions.
The body has many defenses against bacterial growth in the urinary tract; free flow, large urine volume,complete emptying of the bladder and optional immune function are some important antibacterial defenses against this infection. Urine flow tends to wash away bacteria, the surface of the bladder has antimicrobial properties and the PH
(acidity, alkalinity) of the urine inhibits the growth of many bacteria.
Many herbs or botanical medicines have been used through the centuries in the treatment of urinary tract infections, and have been shown to be quite effective.
Cranberries and cranberry juice- have been used to treat bladder infections. Studies have shown that the components in cranberry juice reduce the ability of bacteria to adhere, or stick, to the lining of the bladder and urethra. In order for bacteria to infect they must first stick to the mucosa. By interfering with this, cranberry juice greatly reduces the likelihood of infection and helps the body fight off infection.
Goldenseal- Goldenseal is one of the most effective of the herbal antimicrobial agents. Its long history of use by herbalists and naturopathic physicians for the treatment of infections is well documented in the scientific literature.
Bearberry (uva ursi) has a urinary antiseptic component called arbutin. This is especially active against E.Coli and also has diuretic properties. This must be used in small amounts since over dosage can cause toxicity.
Sandalwood oil- Sandalwood is an effective diuretic and urinary tract antiseptic. However large dosage can also be quite toxic.
Water- Drinking a large quantity of water has many positive effects on the body, such as increasing the urinary flow and flushing away bacteria out of the urinary tract.
Indeed, God has given us many blessings in nature to help us. May God bless and keep you.
Donna G. Henry
