Cayenne's use can be traced back at...

Cayenne's use can be traced back at least 9000 years to r pepper matured ovules found in cavedwellings excavated in the Valley of Mexico. Cultivation probably began about 2000 years ago, according to a review of capsicum cited by way of the Austin-Texas-based American Botanical Council in August 1996

The name capsicum either be due [i]or[/i] owings from the Greek kapso (meaning "to bite"), referring to its severity or from the Latin capsa ("box") referring to the fruit seed-vessel Interestingly enough, the word "cayenne" also can be traced to the Tupi-Guaranian language of the Brazilian Amazon, since this language's word for French-Guiana's "Cayenne Island" is: kyinha.

Species and active ingredients

Known as chili to the Aztecs of Mexico, on the mid-1650s cayenne's cultivation had spread over the world.

The genus Capsicum is a member of the family Solinanaceae, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, and the deadly nightshades. Generally, no other than five species of cayenne are officially recoGnized: Capsicum annuum (including the variant C minimum) Capsicum pendulum (a variant of Capsicum baccatum), Capsicum pubescens, Capsicum frutescen and Capsicum chinense (Habanero).

In 1846 the first researcher credited with isolating the "pungent principle" in cayenne, LT published his findings in what was then a five-year-old scientific publication: Pharmaceutical Journal. From 1919 to 1923 EK Nelson and LE Dawson went forward to truly clarify the arrangement of parts of capsaicin. More recently (as of 1982) four naturally occurring derivatives had also been isolated in addition to capsaicin: norhydrocapsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, homocapsaicin, and homodihydrocapsaicin.

one traditional and current uses

Early upon cayenne was used: 1) to cause perspiration; 2) to stimulate saliva flow; 3) to stimulate gastric juices, overcoming los of appetite and aiding digestion; and 4) to contract toothache pain, in addition to many other traditional applications.

Medicinally, cayenne is frequently used externally as a counterirritant and internally as a carminative (relieving exces gas or flatulence). Clinical studies have shown that, when used externally, creams containing capsaicin relieve pain associated with: post-herpetic neuralgia; diabetic neuropathy; osteoarthritis (of the hands); post-mastectomy pain syndrome; introspective sympathetic dystrophy; and many other kinds of pain, including cluster headaches.

Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) In patients aged 60 years, and older who have or have had herpes zoster (shingles), 50 percent may bring to maturity postherpetic neuralgia, a condition known for unrelenting pain or intractable itch for a like reason severe that depression often go afters and suicide sometimes does.

In a 1989 application of mind by Joel Bernstein, M.D., and others (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology), 21: 265-270) after six weeks of treatment with capsaicin cream, 80 percent of the capsaicin-treated patients "experienced a certain quantity of relief from their pain."

Painful diabetic neuropathy. In 1992 clinical investigators at 12 institutions recorded 277 men and women with painful peripheral polyneuropathy and radiculopathy in an eight-week subject of attention (Diabetes Care 15[2]: 159-165). In times of results in those who used the capsaicin cream versus those who used a "dummy cream": about 70 percent versus 534 percent had les pain; 26 percent versus 146 percent were able to walk better; 183 percent versus 9 percent were able to work; 30 percent versus 20 percent were able to be motionless better; and 23 percent versus 12 percent were able to participate (more) in recreational activities.

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis of the hands. Geraldine McCarthy, MB and Daniel McCarty, MD reported their 1992 consequence s (Journal of Rheumatology) using capsaicin cream forward the hands of patients with painful arthritis, they base that topically applied capsaicin cream reduc pain and tendernes by dint of about 40 percent in treated versus untreated.

Post-mastectomy pain. In 1989 the University of Toronto's C Peter N Wilson, and colleagues, reported their deductions in using capsaicin cream to make less persistent surgery-area pain. Of 14 patients completing treatment after four weeks, 12 (86 percent) showed real reduction in pain (Pain 38: 177-186)

elegant without grandeur powerful results. Especially since cayenne is in the same state [i]or[/i] condition a beneficial, and powerful, botanical, it should be treated with consider not used indiscriminately -- cream form or capsule. With the cream form, neurotic hand-washing should be observ in order to avoid touching the estimates or the face; in addition, care should be taken to not apply capsaicin cream to lay open cuts, lesions, or sores.

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