[CH] Capsicum and health
Doug Irvine (dirvin@bc.sympatico.ca)
Thu, 19 Mar 1998 13:21:44 -0800
There is an article in the magazine Alive, a health food store giveaway
mag, on Cayenne, the cardiovascular fruit...it is too long to go into in
its entirety, however a couple of salient points to use as ammunition when
misguided people tell you that chiles are harmful(to stomachs, skin, or
whatever). In part, it claims that chiles, and they specifically say
cayenne peppers, capsicum annum, are helpful in regulating blood pressure,
feeds the heart, lowers cholesterol, heals ulcers,aids digestion,regulates
elimination, relieves arthritis, prevents the spread of infection and numbs
pain. (I am sure that some would dispute that)And then it goes on to state
that cayenne is reputed to be one of the most effective cures for
hemorroids, but dont use too much!! Mexican folklore refers to the use of
cayenne as a pain-killer, as it stimulates and then inhibits the
transmission of pain from the skin and membranes. It is further claimed to
be an anti-biotic and analgesic when applied to wounds.
There is a lot more of this, in the article, and when I noticed on the list
about the gal whose skin care person told her that load of hooey, I just
had to dig this out. It is issue # 184 of Alive Magazine, published in
Burnaby BC Canada, if you want more info, email me off list. Doug in BC