Cayenne Pepper Can Save a Life: No Home Should Be Without It

If I had to choose just one emergency herbal medicine to keep on hand, it would be cayenne pepper, because it stimulates circulation throughout the entire body, from the top of your head to the tips of your toes.

 “If you master only one herb in your life, master Cayenne pepper. It is more powerful than any other.” ~Dr. Richard Schulze (source)

The active main ingredient of cayenne is capsaicin.

Capsaicin regulates blood pressure, lowered cholesterol, improved blood flow, strengthens the pulse, slows (or can stop) hemorrhaging, reduces oxidative stress and endothelial cytokines, cleans the circulatory system, reduces blood glucose, improves insulin sensitivity, actually heals ulcers, eases congestion, relieves GI discomfort, gut inflammation, gastroesophageal reflux, regulates elimination, speeds healing of wounds, relieves surgical pain, fibromyalgia pain, arthritis and rheumatism, and more. (source)

With over 2,000 studies on cayenne pepper and capsaicin, the medicinal benefits are well-researched. 

Dr. Alan Mandell, DC, tells how to unclog your heart’s arteries (dissolve plaque) by drinking a cup a day of a very simple recipe.

5 minutes.

Note: you can take drops of cayenne tincture alone in water, but when combined with another herb(s), the results are worth more than the sum of its parts. Capsaicin helps other herbs (like heart-loving hawthorn) function better because it stimulates the circulation of blood, which delivers beneficial phytochemicals and increases oxygen to the every cell.

This is Dr. Mandell’s basic recipe – just add your preferred strength of cayenne: Anti-inflammatory Lemon-Turmeric Detox Support Drink

How To Use Cayenne Pepper To Stop A Heart Attack Fast When There Is No Doctor

“Did you know that you may actually stop a heart attack in its tracts with the simple but amazing and awesome power of cayenne pepper? It’s true. Cayenne pepper can actually stop a heart attack in about 60 seconds flat!” (source) It may also prevent strokes. It also removes angina pain quickly (cayenne pepper restores blood flow to the heart and relieves angina). 

Classical herbalists like Dr. John Christopher, N.D. and Dr. Richard Schulze, N.D. raised awareness of the power of cayenne pepper. Dr. John Christopher remembered: “In 35 years of practice.., I’ve never on house calls lost one heart attack patient and the reason is, whenever I go in–if they are still conscious–I pour down them a cup of cayenne tea (a teaspoon of cayenne in a cup of hot water), and within minutes they are up and around.” He was speaking from personal experience and not speculation. (source)

So what are the best practices in using Cayenne pepper based upon actual experiences of those that use it (and historical stories including a boy shot in the stomach)?

Heart Attack and Stroke: First the Cayenne pepper must be at least 90,000 heat units (H.U.) to be able to stop a heart attack. If the cayenne is at least 90,000 H.U. and the person is still conscious, the recommendation is to mix 1 (flat) teaspoon of this cayenne powder (or this one) in a glass of warm water (this is essentially a “cayenne tea”), and give it to the person to drink.

“This is something that everyone should know, because a heart attack can come to your friends or loved ones any time. And even yourself. The warm tea is faster working than tablets, capsules, cold tea, because the warm tea opens up the cell structure—makes it accept the cayenne that much faster, and it goes directly to the heart, through the arterial system, and feeds it powerful food.” ~Herbalist Dr. Christopher (source)

If the person is unconscious then the recommendation is to use a cayenne tincture or extract, again of at least 90,000 H.U., and put a couple of full droppers underneath their tongue, full strength. As noted above by Dr. Christopher, in 35 years of practice he never lost even 1 heart attack case if the person was still breathing when he arrived, and he attributed this to the prudent use of the cayenne pepper. (source)

Daily Cayenne for Prevention and Maintenance: For obvious reasons most people will need to build up to this over time. It is hot. That’s part of what makes it so powerful.  If you are taking the tincture, it is okay to build up your tolerance. You will want to start with only 1-2 drops of tincture and slowly increase at your own pace. Other alternatives include mixing the powder into food and drinking cayenne teas.

It is fast and easy to make your own cayenne tincture

This video shows using Simply Organic 35,000 H.U. cayenne powder. By using a more potent cayenne powder such as Starwest Botanicals 90,000 H.U. for your tincture, the less drops you will need to use. This is important because it may not be possible to get a person in the middle of a stroke or a heart attack to drink a full cup of cayenne tea.)

3 minutes:

Dosing Cayenne Pepper & How I Am Starting

Making a tincture between 35,000 and 100,000 H.U. and adding drops to water 2-3/day is the most expedient way to me. I just started with Dr. Christopher’s Cayenne Extract (40,000 H.U.), and today I put 8 drops into my 12 ounce water bottle before leaving home. It was a cloudy, chilly, windy day. Sipping it was pleasant and kept me warm.

My next stage will be growing my own Thai peppers and making my own tincture with a more powerful Thai Dragon pepper (50-100,000 H.U.) and start over with just 1-2 drops and build up again.

Tip: If you feel burning or indigestion, make sure you take it with food as a buffer.

What Type of Cayenne To Use
The spiciness of peppers is measured in Scoville Heat Units (S.H.U). While this article mentions cayenne almost every time it refers to the spicy peppers, any hot pepper with a Scoville heat unit between 40,ooo and 100,000 S. H.U. has the awesome health benefits we’re discussing within the article. For reference, Habanero peppers in most grocery stores are from 200,000- 350,000 S.H.U. (see chart)

“Most culinary cayenne sold in stores is about 35,000 S.H.U. This is not strong enough to get the best results for injury applications, pain relief, or heart and stroke conditions. But it’s fine for daily use to help prevent health issues and promote vitality.” (source)

Many experts believe that the use of cayenne pepper in Mexican, Italian, and Asian cuisines is what caused the countries to have a lower incident of heart disease.

Side Effects and Warnings

“You need to stop taking cayenne (and garlic, and any other foods that thin the blood) 7 days before surgery due to the blood thinning properties. If you are allergic to latex, bananas, kiwi, chestnuts, or avocados, you may also be allergic to cayenne. Anyone taking blood thinner medications should avoid cayenne and other peppers with high levels of capsicum due to increased the risk of blood vessels rupturing, which may lead to uncontrolled hemorrhaging.

“If too large amounts of cayenne are ingested after a heart attack or stroke, there is the possibility of an increased risk of an injury known as reperfusion. When blood supply is cut off from tissues long enough, tissue death can occur due to lack of oxygen. When the blood supply is then restored, this leads to inflammation and tissue destruction in part from oxidative damage from the increase of blood and oxygen back to the tissues. It has not been proven, but in theory one could increase the damage from reperfusion injuries by increasing blood flow to the dead tissues. In our opinion the risks are worth the benefits, but the theory is sound and we would be remiss if we didn’t mention it.” (source)

Here is a list of just some of the capsicum studies:

BLOOD CLOTS: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/35/6/1452.short

PREVENTS DEATH IN ACUTE PULMONARY THROMBOEMBOLISM: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0049384885901963

LOWERS RISK OF MORTALITY DUE TO CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29922422/

PROMOTES VASCULAR HEALTH: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4477151/

STROKE: https://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/early/2011/08/18/STROKEAHA.111.618306.short

SWALLOWING FUNCTION IN STROKE PATIENTS: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30956054/

HYPERTENSION & ALOPCIA: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1271/bbb.80883

CARDIOPROTECTVE: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25675368/

HEART ATTACK: https://www.sott.net/article/225325-Capsaicin-could-stop-a-heart-attack-in-progress-scientists-find

ABILITY TO CONTROL METABOLIC SYNDROME: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6000222/

HARVARD SAYS: Frequent spicy food consumption linked with longer life

REGULATES INSULIN: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261561415000692

LOWERS HYPERTENSION IN DIABETIC MICE: https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/cayenne-pepper-blood-sugar-5763.html

REDUCES GALLSTONES: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531705804312

PANCREATIC TUMOR GROWTH: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24419059

GASTRIC ULCERS: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16621751

PROSTATE CANCER: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16540674

PAIN IN HISTAMINE REACTIONS: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268515427_Cayenne_Capsaicin_and_Substance-P

CLUSTER HEADACHES: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7708405

“Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you..” ~Genesis 1:29

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Medical Disclaimer: I am no longer a practicing medical professional, and I am not doctor. I am a mother. I do seek scientific confirmation of the safety and effectiveness of the herbs and remedies I use. Using remedies is a personal decision. Nothing I say on this blog is intended to treat or prevent disease. Consult your own doctor.

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