Like most people, the first thing that comes to your mind the moment you find yourself sick or physically unhealthy, is to rush to the nearest drug store and buy medication. That’s perhaps the best move you have to take at this point. Or maybe not? Like most people too, you may not have heard of healthy alternatives to treat your cough and colds. But it does exist! And it works. Not to mention that you need not take in all those chemical substances anymore. One of the most popular alternative medicine herbs is capsicum.

Capsicum is a natural healing herb that is found in cayenne peppers. Aside from adding spice to the food you cook, these types of peppers have great health benefits that most people don’t know of. They originally came from Central and South America and has been popularly used for their therapeutic and medicinal qualities ever since.

As Pain Reliever

Studies show that the topical application of cayenne pepper cream can be used to relieve arthritis, fibromyalgia as well as other skin disorders. Capsicum stimulates your brain and salivary glands and releases endorphins, known as natural pain killers. When you apply it to your skin, you’ll feel a temporary burning sensation once in a while. This is normal and it goes to show that it does work. Remember that cayenne peppers are one of the hottest peppers in the world which makes them the best ingredient in the manufacture of pepper sprays for personal protection. This burning and stinging sensation on your skin is quite insignificant as compared to being sprayed with one so you need not fret. You can also use capsaicin to relieve toothache by soaking a cotton ball in cayenne pepper oil and applying it afterward on your cavity.

As Treatment for Cough and Colds

Because of the hot smell and taste of cayenne peppers, they provide great relief for colds by draining your stuffy sinuses and helping you breath freely. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper to your chicken soup, which is considered to be the best remedy for flu aches and pains. Capsicum also contains Vitamins A and C which is great for your body’s immune system. Vitamin A keeps your eyes and skin healthy while killing the free radicals that enter your body at the same time. Vitamin C fights colds, eliminates blood clots, and heals wounds faster.

Increases Metabolism

Cayenne pepper is perfect if you want to lose weight naturally. There are several weight loss programs which incorporates the use of cayenne pepper in their clients’ diets. One popular diet is called the Master Cleanse Diet which uses lemons, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper as its main ingredients. It lowers your cholesterol level and increases your metabolic rate. You can also put it in your tomato juice and drink it after eating greasy foods.

Cayenne pepper indeed has a lot of uses. They can spice up any food, are great ingredients for a self defense product like pepper spray, and can be helpful to your health. You may not even have to look farther than your backyard to treat your ailment. It has several medicinal purposes than you can ever think of. You might just need a little researching.

Author Bio: Annabelle Lehoux is martial arts instructor and the co-founder of Self Defense Products Depot which offers high quality of products such as taser, hidden safe, personal alarm and stun gun for your personal safety. To learn more on how these products can protect you, please visit http://www.self-defense-products-depot.com/

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Capsaicin, capsicum, cayenne pepper, alternative medicine, pepper spray, self defense product