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Capsicum
(Cayenne Pepper)
How
many of us give the - chili pepper the respect it deserves? More
often than not, most of us regard red pepper or Capsicum as nothing more
than the spice added to give Cajun and Mexican cuisine its piquant kick.
Technically speaking, cayenne pepper is the strongest red pepper variety
of the Capsicum family, with Paprika being the mildest.
Throughout
this discussion, the terms capsicum, and cayenne pepper will be used interchangeably.
For our purposes, it's important to know that herbalists and botanists
have designated both of these terms for the same botanical agent.
Capsicum
or Cayenne Pepper is one of the few herbs that can be measured by its
BTU or thermal units. In other words, it is a hot and stimulating pepper
plant that can generate heat.
Recently,
new and very valuable medicinal uses for Capsicum have emerged through
scientific discovery among health care practitioners, who have only just
begun to uncover its marvelous therapeutic actions. It has been referred
to as the purest and most effective natural stimulating botanical in the
herbal medicine chest.
Because Capsicum
is fiery and pungent, it is frequently regarded as dangerous and unpalatable.
To the contrary, if it is used properly, Capsicum can be perfectly safe
and impressively effective against a wide variety of physical disorders
ranging from indigestion to ulcers to migraines. Its ability to lower
blood cholesterol, boost circulation and even step up metabolism are worth
serious consideration.
A powerful
compound called capsaicin is what gives Capsicum its bite and is also
responsible for most of its beneficial effects on human physiology. The
hotter the pepper is, the higher its content of capsaicin.
It is important
in evaluating this herb that while it can be used alone, Capsicum is frequently
added to herbal combinations to potentiate their overall action
Capsicum
is ascending in prestige and is regarded as a modern day botanical that
is accruing new and impressive credentials. (1)
1. Capsicum:
Therapeutic Powerhouse and Herbal Catalyst, by Rita Elkins. Woodland Publishing
Co., Pleasant Grove, UT.
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