If cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum) is not the king of medicinal herbs it is certainly a prince among them due to the incredible health benefits it gives.

It may have been presumptuous for me to have first coined it “king of herbs” but I feel it is just that for there is no other medicinal herb or spice that can do what it can.

If you have heard about Capsicum or are interested in its benefits, you’ve come to the right place.

Bold to say yes, but I stand by it.

For I am the one who conducted the primary research, both academic and experimental, that led to the creation of this website and its many articles.

Now, numerous health sites have commissioned many articles on Capsicum and its health benefits by basically rewritting and rehashing the information originally appearing on this site.

So, if you want to get the best, most undistilled information, go to the source. This site is that source. With that said, let’s talk about why it is so amazing.

By the way, cayenne’s botanical classification or genus is Capsicum annuum or Capsicum frutescens sometimes called Capsicum fastigiatum, which is a synonym of Capsicum frutescens.

(Thus you will often see it referred to as “Capsicum.” It’s interchangeable and means the same thing.)

Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum) Overview
Its health benefits are many, varied, and are truly astonishing. They are beyond astonishing; its benefits are almost unbelievable, to be honest.

What about its side effects? They are limited to small inconveniences. Many from around the globe recount amazing results from using Capsicum for simple healing as well in the battling and elimination of challenging health problems.

Don’t believe me? Check out this testimonials page within this website. All of those testimonials are unsolicited and on file. Interested perhaps in some FAQs? Click on the preceding link.

Is Cayenne Pepper “The King of Herbs”?
The powder comes from red hot chili peppers that are not only good to eat but are great for your health.

Taking it in powder form, however, is especially potent and powerful. (Some prefer in in capsule form. For an article that discusses the pros and cons capsules and drinking it, go to this capsules vs. tea.)

Where does it come from? The fruit or body of the peppers are dried then ground down, pulped and baked into cakes, which are then sifted to make the spice.

Continuing, the pepper has been used for centuries as a medicinal and culinary herb and undoubtedly most just think of them as “those hot red peppers” to be used for spicing up food or to be used primarily in cooking ethnic cuisine, but it is so much more.

(For more info on why I call it a medicinal herb instead of its proper classification as a spice, go to the Herb or Spice page.)

Capsicum is said to have originated within French Guiana and is now produced or farmed in many parts of the world. It was one of the major foods of the Hunzas who are reported by many to have extraordinarily long lifespans, although this is debatable.

cayenne pepper bowl It was also used quite extensively by the Aztecs and Mayans. In fact, historians assert it was a staple of the Aztec diet.

Capsicum is also revered in the alternative health community and chiefly by medicinal herbalists for its remarkable array of health benefits.

Is Cayenne Pepper Good for The Heart?
So, why is Capsicum so great for your heart health? What are its great health benefits? The health benefits of Capsicum are far reaching and astounding. So much so that many think its benefits are exaggerated.

Consider this: Capsicum, through the instrumentality of its secondary metabolite capsaicin (pronounced cap-say-sin), is scientifically proven to kill prostrate cancer cells, among other fantastic health benefits, and that is just the beginning as to the benefits of this humble, nondescript herb.

Much scientific research has been initiated to validate what naturopathic practitioners have known for years: It can stop heart attacks, nourish the heart with vital nutrients, remove plaque from the arteries, help rebuild flesh destroyed or harmed by frostbite, heal hemorrhoids, re-build stomach tissue, heal stomach ulcers, fortify your overall health, and mitigate the most wrenching of diseases.

Continuing, it improves circulation, rebuilds blood cells, lowers cholesterol, emulsifies triglycerides, removes toxins from the bloodstream and improves overall heart health. It’s even a great insect repellent.

As mentioned, it can also heal ulcers, which seems contradictory considering its native calidity or heat. It immediately equalizes blood pressure in your system, shrinks hemorrhoids, and heals the gall bladder, too.

It can be used as a diuretic as well helping in elimination both with urine and with built-up fecal matter in the intestines. It has wonderful, scientifically-proven antifungal properties as well.

This is by no means a comprehensive list. So, why haven’t you heard of it? Because of money. I’m convinced Big Pharma knows about the remarkable healing properties of medicinal herbs and spices like Capsicum but they are not in the business of healing people but in making money.

According to my research, in 2008, within the U.S. alone, Big Pharma sold $160 billion dollars of drugs — $160 billion!!!

So, why sell a cholesterol-reducing drug when you can just take Capsicum and it will do the same while also removing plaque from your arterial walls without nasty side effects?

Needless to say, it’s clearly because cholesterol drugs like Lipitor make billions of dollars for their makers. (Lipitor makes on average $8 to $12 billion a year for Pfizer.)

That’s billions with a “b” my friends. Now you know why. I’d love to be wrong but I don’t think I am.

A little while ago, I was in a local supermarket where the spice was selling for $1.67 a pound! “This incredible medicinal spice is probably the greatest medicinal agent known to man and is readily affordable to all but many pass it by because of ignorance. How sad that almost no one knows about it,” I thought.

Just the heart health linkage is enough to make this a truly remarkable medicinal herb, but its uses and benefits go far beyond that remedy.

Capsicum truly is a king among the herbal family and is one of the greatest health secrets of all time.

It is hot, yes, and tough to swallow, but that inconvenience is most tolerable when one considers that you can literally save your life and a bundle of money by taking it religiously.

This site is packed with information on the incredible health benefits of Capsicum, health benefits that can be yours. That said…

I’m not a medical doctor so any sharing of health educational information in this website should be taken as just that — the sharing of educational information. Please see the disclaimer link on the navbar to your left for more information. If you have any concerns about taking it, consult your doctor. …

Just remember, if laughter is the best medicine, then perhaps Capsicum is the second best.

Written by Glenn Reschke for Cayenne Pepper Guide.

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