by Paul Fassa
(Health Secrets) Cayenne comes from chili peppers, and is most often found in powdered form. But there is nothing to stop you from consuming chili peppers directly for their cayenne. If you want to pay attention to the heat index of the cayenne you consume, it is best determined with powdered cayenne.
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The heat generation index for spices and hot sauces was determined by American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville in 1912. His name has been used for the index known as Scoville Heat Units (SHU), or simply as heat units.
Many herbalists consider cayenne’s medicinal effectiveness to kick in at 40,000 SHU while some think 35,000 SHU is a good start. There are 35K, 40K, 90K and 100K cayenne powder SHU levels in bulk spice sections or herbal outlets. You will probably be OK with 40K.
If you want to give cayenne a try, use organic cayenne or at least ensure what you purchase hasn’t been irradiated to rob it of its medicinal potency.
Cayenne‘s amazing cardiovascular properties
Perhaps the most famous person to promote cayenne was the late master herbalist John Christopher, nicknamed Dr. Cayenne. After using cayenne to cure his peptic ulcer while he was a student, he became consumed with cayenne’s other benefits, which included enhancing other herbs efficacy safely.
He discovered cayenne was a panacea for cardiovascular issues, and it even stopping heart attacks in their tracks. Paradoxically, while reducing blood pressure and naturally thinning thick blood, cayenne powder also stops internal hemorrhaging and external bleeding from wounds.
Dr. Christopher claimed he rescued several patients from the throes of devastating heart attacks with cayenne.
Here’s an exciting anecdote. A 90-year-old man was unconscious from a heart attack. His daughter kept force feeding him a strong cayenne tincture in the ambulance. But the time they arrived at the hospital, he was fully conscious and talking about finishing the lawn he had started mowing. The doctor at the hospital was amazed.
Combining a daily routine of ingesting cayenne powder or tincture and Hawthorne berry is probably the least expensive yet highly effective approach for supporting cardiovascular health.
Benefits of cayenne documented
(1) Dyspepsia relief (upper abdominal discomfort or indigestion): Thirty subjects who commonly experienced symptoms of dyspepsia including bloating and gas were fed 2.5 grams of cayenne daily with meals for five weeks.
After three weeks, their dyspepsia symptoms subsided significantly and remained that way the full five weeks. Cayenne also protects the stomach from aspirin or other over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers.
(2) Reduces serum lipoprotein oxidation: Oxidized lipoproteins are considered major factors for atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) and diabetes. Oxidized lipoproteins usually occur from consuming too many oxidized lipids in processed or hydrolyzed oils and margarine, both ubiquitous in the standard American diet.
A clinical study using chopped cayenne chilli peppers in the daily diet of 27 subjects determined that consuming cayenne for a period of four weeks exerts antioxidant effects, perhaps by increasing serum lipoprotein resistance to oxidation.