adding cayenne pepper to your medicine cabinet
Many cooks have cayenne pepper in the kitchen to turn their food’s flavor up
a notch. Cayenne pepper can be used to spice up chili, eggs, or just about
anything that could use some kick. However, what most people don’t know is
that cayenne pepper can also be used to treat many medical issues.
For years, people have sworn by the affects of cayenne pepper on a cold or
sore throat. The pepper is thought to help boost immunity and keep you
going when a virus tries to get you down. That could be because it’s high
in vitamin C and antioxidants that help to keep infection under control.
You can make a drink using cayenne pepper, lemon juice, water, and maple syrup.
This can actually help to treat a sore throat keeping it at bay. And it doesn’t
taste too bad either—like spicy lemonade.
Cayenne pepper also works to keep the blood circulating efficiently
in the body. It can be applied to frostbite and gangrene to help draw blood
to the affected areas. Some people have even been known to put cayenne
pepper in the bottom of their shoes in order to keep feet warm on an icy day.
If you have problems with your blood or heart, you may want to consider
making cayenne pepper a part of your daily consumption. It can work as a
tonic generally improving your circulation. Just make sure to talk with
your doctor to make sure it won’t interfere with any medications you’ve been
prescribed.
If you’re taking other herbs, you may want to add a little cayenne pepper to
your formula. That’s because cayenne will actually help your blood absorb other
herbs more efficiently and help them to deliver their own punch.
For first aid, cayenne pepper is also helpful. If you have a minor wound that’s
bleeding, applying cayenne pepper directly will help to stop the bleeding
quickly. It also works as a disinfectant to prevent infections from germs.
You can take cayenne pepper daily, but you don’t need much. Adding about
¼ of a teaspoon to tall glass of water or juice is enough for a start.
Gradually you can add more to your routine. You should also be aware that
cayenne pepper comes in differing degrees of heat. Start with 30,000 HU and
work your way up from there.
What does the '(90M HU)' mean?
This stands for heat units which is an indicator of how hot this pepper is.
Learn more Scoville Heat Units.
Formulas & recipes
Cayenne pepper powder recipes
Cayenne powder is quite a universal spice, commonly used in Chinese, Japanese, Caribbean, and Indian cuisines. But, cayenne’s importance in recipes doesn’t stop there. Cayenne is used almost worldwide, being a key ingredient in buffalo sauce and other well-known foods that have a kick of spice. Like many spicy foods, cayenne powder benefits the body in a variety of ways. Cayenne powder is a source of Vitamin A and C, and also promotes gut health. The pepper can be used for digestive health and helps with congestion.
How to store cayenne pepper powder?
Since cayenne’s potency can be affected by exposure to oxygen, it’s important to keep in an airtight container. If you purchase bulk cayenne pepper powder, it can be frozen to keep the spice concentrated and used later.
Buffalo Chicken Sauce Recipe
Ingredients:
-1 cup hot pepper sauce (like Frank’s)
-½ cup butter
-2 tablespoons white vinegar
-½ teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
-1 garlic clove, minced
Heat all ingredients in a medium saucepan until the mixture comes to a boil. Bring the sauce down to a simmer for 5-7 minutes, or until it is the desired thickness. Take the sauce off the heat and let it rest until it’s room temperature. Use the sauce on chicken wings, cauliflower wings, or anything that would taste better with a little buffalo spice.