Chili pepper: the spicy medicine in the pantry

Among all the spices, the chilli either Cayenne pepper perhaps it is the one that teaches us the most to dose and to be prudent when it comes to spice up a dish. From her we learn that small actions produce big changes. Going over the amount has its consequences!

In its right dose, chilli enhances the flavor of many dishes.. But it is enough to add a little more cayenne to a recipe to see how diners breathe deeply, perspire and search in haste for some liquid or food that soothes their burning mouth. If that happens, you have to remember that the capsaicin, the substance responsible for that burn, is barely soluble in water, so drinking water immediately afterwards is of little use. But it dissolves well in fats (a fatty milk, oil…) or alcohol…

Capsaicin is found in hot pepper varieties of the genus capsicum. He chili either chili pepper (capsicum frutescens) is of all of them the richest in capsaicin. Other peppers contain other capsaicinoids (14 are known), and are also responsible for the spiciness of the different varieties.

In fact, red pepper, cayenne pepper, chili or chili is the powder resulting from grinding the fruits of one or more species of capsicumpreviously dried. The chili or cayenne pepper owes its name to the city of Cayenne, in French Guiana. Columbus already found that its flavor differed from the peppercorn he was looking for, but the new spice soon gained adherents. It has been all the rage in the cuisine of India and Southeast Asia since it was brought there by Europeans in the 17th century.

The benefits of spicy

Capsaicin not only gives chili peppers that we use in cooking a spicy flavor; It is also the most important active ingredient in these peppers, responsible for their health properties. Is considered:

digestive. the cayenne stimulates the production of saliva and gastric juices, so it is indicated in case of slow digestions. At an experimental level it has been verified that small amounts of its juice produce a notable contraction of the gallbladder and activate the secretion of bile.Mildly laxative. Also increases intestinal motility and can relieve constipation.mucolytic It has mucolytic action and is therefore used in cases of colds with abundant mucus in the bronchi and productive cough.A cleansing aid. A pinch of spice is part of the formula for purifying cure based on sap syrup and lemon juice, thanks to its ability to dissolve mucus and regenerate blood.antibiotic. Capsaicin is an effective antibiotic agent: foods made with cayenne keep longer, one of the reasons this spice is popular in tropical regions.Antiulcer. It seems paradoxical, but spicy foods do not aggravate ulcersand chilli can even cure them. If you suffer from a gastroduodenal ulcer, in addition to eliminating coffee, tobacco and alcohol, you can experiment with cayenne. has a good anesthetic effect, and also draws blood to the surface of the damaged tissue. You can take a few sips of chilli infusion (or a capsule of the powder if the taste of the infusion is very strong) two or three times a day, for a while.Protector of the heart and arteries. Protects the heart and arteries, and lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Although the exact mechanism of action of this effect is unknown at the moment, it is known that it benefits the internal structure of the cells that make up the blood vessels.

Prepare something good to eat It also takes care of the mind and spirit after a tiring day. That may be another of the virtues of the chilli pepper.

Of course, it is convenient to know that capsaicin is found above all next to the peduncle of the fruit, and is concentrated in the incomplete partitions inside and in the seeds. The grindings that include the seeds They are, therefore, stronger than those made only from the pulp.

Capsaicin ointment or cream

Topically, cayenne can also be used for medicinal purposes. It is usually applied in the form of capsaicin cream, due to its action:

analgesic The cayenne is considered a good topical pain reliever, thanks to its ability to block skin receptors to the action of a neuropeptide (substance P), which is the main transmitter of pain. This action is carried out at the nerve endings of the unmyelinated C fibers. This decreases the sensitivity of the cutaneous sensory neurons and blocks the transmission of pain. In addition, its topical application produces a slight secretion of endogenous endorphins, that reduce the intensity of pain and improve mood.calorific. The stimulation exerted on the heat receptors of the epidermis and the increase in greater blood supply also contribute to alleviate pain.hemostatic. Another virtue of the cayenne is that stop the bleeding, although this quality is little known in the West. In the emergency department, doctors are amazed when people from the East turn up who have cut themselves in the kitchen, with the cut completely wrapped in cayenne powder and bandaged, in order to stop the bleeding until the stitches are applied. antiulcer.

Due to its analgesic effect, the topical application of cayenne-based preparations is indicated for the relieve different types of pain:

Muscle and joint painsuch as in the treatment of lumbago, muscle pain from sprains or joint pain from rheumatoid arthritis.neuralgia, as the residual pain that remains after a shingles.Pain that appears in advanced stages of diabetesFor example, on the feet.

How spicy do you have to take?

As we have seen, it can be included in the dishes that we cook as applied to the skin:

Orally. for therapeutic purposes it is taken two or three times a day for a minimum of three weeks.Topical route. The cream is applied to the affected area and spread with a gentle massage until completely absorbed. 3-4 times a day. If it is applied to the hands, wait half an hour before washing them.

Precautions:

Extreme care must be taken so that it does not come into contact with the eyes and mucous membranes! In case of accidental eye contact it is preferable to wash the eye with milk instead of water.

It is also not recommended use the cream for a long time, for months, in very large areas, or in children. Between the adverse reactionsthe most common is skin burning sensation when used topically for a long time or in excessive doses.

Its application is discouraged on the irritated or burned skinand combine it with heat or occlusive dressings.

Despite the fact that no study advises against its use in pregnancy, and although the amount of capsaicin present in breast milk is minimal, as a precautionary measure it is also recommended. do not breastfeed during treatment.