Cayenne, Dried (Capsicum annuum)
Medicinal Profile of
Cayenne, Dried (Capsicum annuum)
Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) – Dried, made from the dried fruits of Capsicum annuum, is one of the most stimulating herbs in Western materia medica. Revered as a circulatory activator and digestive stimulant, it brings warmth, movement, and intensity wherever stagnation or coldness dominate. Traditional herbalists, including Samuel Thomson and Dr. John Christopher, considered it indispensable for reviving sluggish vitality and moving blood and energy quickly through the body. Its fiery nature means it must be used with care, but in the right context it awakens, invigorates, and clears congestion both internally and topically.
-
👉 Tastes describe the initial impression a food or herb leaves on the tongue, and they reveal its deeper actions in the body, shaping digestion, circulation, and tissue response.
Pungent (hot, fiery) – Strongly stimulating, moving, dispersing; awakens circulation, clears stagnation, enlivens sluggish systems.
-
👉Qualities describe the felt nature of a substance or practice, and how it acts in the body beyond nutrients or chemistry.
Hot (Circulating/Stimulant) – Intensely raises heat, activity, and circulation.
Light – Quick-acting, penetrates deeply without heaviness.
Drying – Reduces dampness and mucus, may aggravate dryness if overused.
Mobile – Promotes movement of blood, fluids, and energy through the system.
-
👉 Affinities describe which organ systems or tissues a food most directly influences, showing where its actions are felt most strongly.
Primary Affinities
Circulatory System – Rapidly increases blood flow and distribution.
Digestive System – Stimulates gastric secretions and motility.
Secondary Affinities (Organs or systems that the remedy influences indirectly, or to a lesser degree than its primary targets.)
Musculoskeletal System – Relieves pain and stiffness via topical counterirritant action.
Immune System – Enhances immune responsiveness by stimulating circulation and warming tissues.
-
Terrain indications describe the patterns inside the body where a remedy or practice is most useful.
👉 To learn more about these patterns in depth, read this blog.
Primary Indication
Hypofunction (Cold/Sluggish circulation or digestion) – When energy, metabolism, or circulation are underactive.
Form & Application: Taken as powder or tincture to spark digestion, circulation, and warmth.
Dose: ¼–½ tsp powder in warm water or food; tincture 5–15 drops, up to 3x daily.Secondary Indication (Patterns a remedy can alleviate indirectly and over time.)
Fluid Congestion (Damp/Stagnation) – When fluids, mucus, or wastes build up, creating heaviness or boggy tissues.
Form & Application: Small amounts of cayenne powder added to formulas or food to dry dampness and disperse stagnation.
Dose: Pinch of powder in tea or food, as tolerated. -
👉 Constituents are the natural compounds in a food that give rise to its actions in the body.
Capsaicinoids (capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin) – Pungent, circulatory stimulant, analgesic.
Carotenoids (beta-carotene, lutein, capsanthin) – Antioxidant, tissue-protective.
Flavonoids (quercetin, luteolin, apigenin) – Anti-inflammatory, vascular-protective.
Vitamins – Vitamin C, Vitamin A (as carotenoids), Vitamin E.
Minerals – Potassium, magnesium, manganese.
-
👉 Nutritional values give the measurable nutrients that a food contributes to the diet.
(per 1 tsp dried cayenne powder, ~1.8 g)
Calories: ~6, Carbohydrates: ~1.1 g, Protein: ~0.2 g, Fat: ~0.3 g, Vitamin A: ~1385 IU (~28% DV), Vitamin C: ~2 mg (~3% DV)., Vitamin E: ~0.3 mg (~2% DV), Potassium: ~55 mg (~2% DV)
-
👉 Medicinal actions describe the specific ways a food influences organ systems and body functions.
Circulatory System
Circulatory stimulant – Rapidly increases blood flow, distribution of warmth, and delivery of nutrients.
Vasodilator – Expands blood vessels, lowering peripheral resistance and improving circulation.
Hemostatic (high dose topical) – Can help stop minor bleeding when applied directly to wounds.
Digestive System
Stomachic – Stimulates gastric secretions and motility, aiding sluggish digestion.
Carminative – Reduces gas and bloating by dispersing stagnation.
Sialagogue – Increases salivation, initiating digestive processes.
Musculoskeletal System (Topical)
Counterirritant – Applied externally, produces a warming sensation that relieves pain by distracting nerves from deeper discomfort.
Analgesic – Capsaicin desensitizes nerve endings, reducing chronic pain when used consistently in creams or patches.
Immune System
Immune stimulant – Enhances responsiveness by warming tissues and improving circulation.
Antimicrobial – Capsaicin and carotenoids resist microbial overgrowth.
-
Third Degree – Strong, rapid, and noticeable systemic effects. Demands respect and careful dosing to avoid aggravation, but invaluable when strong stimulation is needed.
-
Antihypertensives – May enhance blood-pressure-lowering effects.
Anticoagulants – Theoretically may increase bleeding risk due to circulatory stimulation.
ACE inhibitors – May worsen cough when combined (rare but reported).
General – Avoid combining in large doses with other strong stimulants.
-
Powder – Added to food, taken in warm water, or encapsulated for internal use.
Tincture – Alcohol extract, rapid delivery of stimulating compounds.
Topical creams/oils – Used for pain relief in arthritis, muscle soreness, or neuropathy.
Poultice – Powder mixed with oil or water and applied externally for circulation or pain.
-
Hyperreactivity – May aggravate burning, irritation, or inflamed tissues.
Pregnancy – Small food amounts are safe; avoid high medicinal doses.
Children – Not recommended internally; topical use should be carefully diluted.
Gastrointestinal sensitivity – May cause burning, nausea, or diarrhea in sensitive individuals or if overused.
Topical overuse – Can cause skin irritation or burning; avoid contact with eyes or mucous membranes.
-
Traditional Sources
Culpeper, N. (1653). The Complete Herbal. (Cayenne noted for stimulating circulation and digestion.)
Thomson, S. (1841). New Guide to Health. (Cayenne central to Thomsonian medicine as a universal stimulant.)
Grieve, M. (1931). A Modern Herbal. Penguin. (Describes cayenne’s pungent and circulatory stimulating qualities.)
Modern Sources
Govindarajan, V. S. (1986). “Capsicum—production, technology, chemistry, and quality. Part II: Processed products, standards, world production and trade.” CRC Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 23(3), 207–288.
Surh, Y. J., & Lee, S. S. (1996). “Capsaicin, a double-edged sword: Toxicity, metabolism, and chemopreventive potential.” Life Sciences, 56(22), 1845–1855.
Srinivasan, K. (2016). “Biological activities of red pepper (Capsicum annuum) and its pungent principle capsaicin: A review.” Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 56(9), 1488–1500.
USDA FoodData Central. (2024). Nutrient data for cayenne pepper, dried. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
