* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
Name
Capsicum frutescens L. (Solanaceae). Also Capsicum annuum L., commonly called Capsicum, Chilies, Chillies, Tabasco pepper, and Paprika. In French, the herb is called Piment and Paprika; in German, Paprika, and Spanischer Pfeffer. The fleshy, bell shaped, green, red, and yellow peppers sold in supermarkets, are a related, but different, variety known as C. annum var. Annum.
Source
Originally native to South America, these plants are now grown in many temperate and tropical zones, especially in Africa, China and India. At least 50 different closely related cultivars are recognized. Paprika is made from the dried fruits of various Capsicum species. Cayenne pepper is made only from the fruits of Capsicum frutescens. Capsaicin is the main pungent (hot) principle of hot pepper, which is consumed in enormous quantities by people all around the world. The capsaicin content of some chili varieties ranges up to 0.53 percent. The bright red color of chilies comes from a carotenoid pigment called capsanthine.
History
The ancient Mayans used extracts of chilies as antibiotics, and modern studies confirm that, in fact, cayenne does have some antibiotic properties.
Traditional Claims
Poultices and liniments made from the dried fruits have been used to treat arthritis and muscle sprains. European herbalists recommend cayenne-containing formulations for "dyspepsia," a general term used to describe upset stomach. Within the last few years, there has been a tendency to include cayenne in formulations designed to prevent heart disease, improve memory, and enhance male sexual function.
Commission E Recommendations
Low dose capsaicin-cayenne produds are used internally to treat digestive, stomach and gastrointestinal problems. External usage includes treatment for muscle spasms.
Proven Effects
In addition to containing substantial amounts of Vitamin C, chilies also contain a chemical called capsaicin (trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) which is what makes them taste hot. Capsaicin is currently used to treat various painful conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic neuropathy. Initially, when capsaicin-containing creams are applied to the skin there is a burning feeling. But shortly afterwards there is pain relief. The relief is a result of interactions between the capsaicin molecule and nerves in the skin and muscles that transmit painful sensations. Capsaicin prevents these nerves from transmitting pain messages back to the brain (It does so by causing the nerves to deplete their supply of a neurotransmitter called "substance p.").
Because capsaicin is so irritating to the skin and mucous membranes, extracts are used by police as chemical crowd control agents ("pepper spray," also called oleoresin capsicum spray). When the spray comes in contact with mucous membranes, such as the insides of the eye lids, there is temporary, but very intense pain and swelling. The same sort of thing can happen if the eyes are inadvertently touched when cutting fresh chilies, or when handling capsaicin creams or herbal products. Claims that internal use of cayenne can aid digestion, or external use of cayenne can improve arthritis (as opposed to just relieving arthritis pain), have never been proven.
Capsaicin applied to the skin will cause blood vessels in the skin to dilate (which is why the skin gets red where the capsaicin has been applied), but capsaicin does not cause any changes in the blood vessels controlling blood pressure. Claims that capsaicin can be used to treat high blood pressure are spurious. Additional claims that cayenne, alone, or in combination with other herbs can improve memory and sex life, or lower cholesterol, have never been tested, let alone proven.
Dosage
According to Commission E, liquid preparations should be standardized to contain no more than .005 to .01 percent capsaicinoids. Poultices should deliver no more than 40 grams of capsaicinoids per square centimeter and should not be used for more than two consecutive days.
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Directions
Stir 1/4 of a teaspoon into a glass of water and consume 3 times daily, with meals.
Cautions
Excessive internal use can inflame membranes that line the stomach and intestines; harm to the kidneys is also possible.
If you have any digestive disorders, seek professional medical advice before use.
Concerns
Because so many people use so much cayenne, and because it appears to be such a potent agent, questions have been repeatedly raised about possible links between cancer and chili peppers. The results have been conflicting, and clear evidence, one way or the other, is lacking.
Warnings
When using these products, great care must be taken not to get them in the eyes, or in open cuts on the hands or elsewhere.
Drug Testing
Peppers are not known to contain any materials that will interfere with standard workplace drug screening tests.
Additional Information
TerraVita is an exclusive line of premium-quality, natural source products that use only the finest, purest and most potent ingredients found around the world. TerraVita is hallmarked by the highest possible standards of purity, potency, stability and freshness. All of our products are prepared with the highest elements of quality control, from raw materials through the entire manufacturing process, up to and including the moment that the bottles or bags are sealed for freshness and shipped out to you. Our highest possible standards are certified by independent laboratories and backed by our personal guarantee.
TerraVita exists to meet and ensure your family's health and wellness without the harmful effects or chemicals and prescription medications. We strive to make all of our products affordable and reliable and are constantly searching the market to maintain our affordability and to look for new ways to serve you and the ones you love. TerraVita has become a trusted household name for many families and can bring you and yours the very best herbal supplements, blends, teas and spices that are on the market today.
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
