Moments with Marilyn, Warm up with Cayenne
By Marilyn Zink
Since it was cold here yesterday (cold by West Coast standards) I made some chili to warm everyone up. I like to add garlic, cumin and of course, cayenne to the chili.
It’s important to use a small amount (about 1/2 tsp) to a pot of chili. If you overdo it, the heat of the cayenne surpasses the flavour of the chili, and everyone complains it’s too spicy. Did you know that cayenne (aka Capsicum) is one of the strongest natural stimulants available?
Cayenne can be used topically in ointments for sore muscles, arthritis, liniments, back plasters and in many others ways. Most people are familiar with taking it internally and know it as a warming agent.
Cayenne works by stimulating blood flow throughout the body. It influences the heart immediately, than gradually extends throughout the arteries and nerves of the body. Cayenne also helps rebuild the tissue in the stomach and heals stomach and intestinal ulcers. Cayenne aids in assimilation and elimination.
I have used cayenne capsules to help heal from a cold or flu. The extreme spicy heat from cayenne is avoided when you bypass tasting it and the capsule goes directly into the stomach, where it goes to work on increasing blood flow and healing the body. You can likely purchase cayenne capsules from a health food store or online.
Next time you think about warming and healing the body, consider cayenne.
Marilyn Zink is the publisher/editor of The Herbal Collective magazine, www.herbalcollective.ca
