I challenged myself for one year to see how many things I could use Cayenne Pepper in. My family was my test subjects, and they all said they felt better after we started using Cayenne Pepper in our diets regularly. For example, when I make spaghetti sauce, hot dogs, or sausages (we are a meat and potato family) I will add Cayenne Pepper to taste. I find if you put too much in it, the kids won't eat it, but when cayenne pepper is added to spaghetti sauce, the whole family loves it! The same goes for hot dogs and sausages. Most kids don't like them because of the overload of salt and spices. So I add Cayenne Pepper and everyone wants more!
I found that drinking a glass (8 oz.) of warm water with 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper and 1 Tbl. spn Honey first thing every morning gets your metabolism going for the day ahead!!! This recipe was shared by Dr. Richard Schulze (author of "Curing Diabetes" and many others) along with David Wolfe (author of "Superfoods Health style" along with many other superfood books).
Here are some of the useful applications for Cayenne Pepper:
1) Decongest from clogged sinuses
Cayenne pepper is a great decongestant. It's also very good at getting the mucus to loosen up, so you can cough it out better and not feel it "stuck" inside your sinuses.
Alternatively, grind 8 cloves of garlic to a paste (or chop finely if you don't have a mortar & pestle), add 2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric. Mix well. Apply this mixture onto the bottom rim of your nostrils using a wet cotton swab or clean finger, cover with gauze or medical tape overnight and remove in the morning after wiping excess off with a paper tissue. This will relieve your clogged nose symptoms instantly!
Cayenne pepper is very good at thinning out mucus in your respiratory system. If you have asthma, simply add some cayenne pepper to one of your favourite soups or stews and slowly sip it over time. Drink plenty of freshwater along with it too… Cayenne raises metabolism, so drink lots of fluids!
2) Prevent other Animals from eating from the bird feeder
Cayenne pepper is a natural deterrent for animals. Sprinkle some (not too much) on your bird feeder to keep them at bay!
3) Flea Repellent
This is also a great natural Flea Repellent. In fact, you can make your own home made flea repellent for your pets using organic Cayenne pepper (or any other ground red pepper) and some water in your own spray bottle! Here's how:
Mix 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder with 2 Tbl spn of warm distilled or purified water, then shake well before each use! Spray on animals and their bedding as a general flea repellent. The scent will discourage stray pests from approaching. This stuff works well!!! Try it on yourself first if you are a little sceptical! Keep away from your eyes & mouth & do not swallow this stuff because it is EXTREMELY HOT!! I learned
4) Use Cayenne Pepper as a Bee and Wasp Repellent.
Cayenne Pepper can be used as a repellent from bees, wasps.
The cayenne pepper works by irritating their sensitive facial membranes (eyes) and causes them to "fly" somewhere else! Just mix 8 oz. of water with 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, spray-on clothing, skin, and/or hair. Reapply every few hours if needed, or at least once more days until the threat of pests is gone.
5) Relief from Insect Bites
If you get bit by a mosquito or a spider, squeeze some fresh garlic on the bite. It stops the itching and it will heal faster than if you don't do anything. Many people swear by this remedy!
Cayenne pepper is even more effective for bites because if applied to a bug bite as soon as possible (within 30 seconds), it helps to temporarily "numb" the area so that you can hardly feel any pain at all! The sooner you apply it, the better. If possible, take out the stingers with tweezers before applying cayenne pepper. Rub in well and let it air dry. Do not get in your eyes, though! Cayenne Pepper is also good for detoxifying your blood. Just add 1 teaspoon of high-quality cayenne powder to a small glass of water and drink it down.
6) Supercharge your Shampoo
To use in liquid form: Cayenne pepper is also an excellent spice for adding to your home-made shampoo (always make sure you do a test patch first). Many people notice that their dandruff improves substantially after just one week of using cayenne pepper hair wash! Cayenne pepper can be added to your bath water too, as long as you're not allergic to it.
Cayenne Pepper Benefits for the Scalp and Hair
Cayenne pepper is a hair growth stimulant; it helps make your hair thicker and stronger and controls dandruff. You can add cayenne to shampoo when making it, or you use cayenne pepper as an all-natural hair conditioner. The capsicum stimulates blood flow to the scalp by warming up your head. This promotes faster hair growth! Many people have reported significant and noticeable improvements in the thickening of their hair after using 2 tablespoons of cayenne per cup of water before washing their hair once every 1-2 weeks.
7) Athletes Foot
It's also very good if you suffer from an athlete's foot because the pepper thins out the fungus so it can be rubbed off easily with a pumice stone or antifungal cream.
8) Massage Oil for Pain Relief & Sore Muscles
Cayenne pepper has wonderful pain-relieving properties when used as a topical heat rub. If you have stiff, sore, or tight muscles, simply reach for the cayenne!
Mix 1-2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper powder with enough hot water to dissolve it completely and mix well until you have a thick paste texture. Massage into areas of pain for 10 minutes or so, then wash off thoroughly. You can keep repeating this process to make sure that there is plenty of it in your bloodstream to work on alleviating any pain symptoms that you may be experiencing at the moment. Soak an ice pack in cold water (or just add some ice cubes if you don't have an ice pack), put it over the muscle area where you've been massaging it with
9) Use Cayenne Pepper To Help With Warts
Cayenne has been used for many years to help rid of warts. It only works if you use it consistently, though! To use, apply cayenne pepper powder to a cotton bud and place on the wart as best you can (you could try tape or medical tape too!). Cover with an adhesive bandage for a couple of days and then remove. Repeat this procedure daily until your wart is completely gone!
10) Keep your feet warm during Winter
You can keep your feet nice and toasty when it's freezing outside by rubbing some cayenne pepper on them. You'll be surprised at how well this works!
11) Natural Deodorant
Cayenne pepper is also great for deodorizing your skin and getting rid of body odor! The best thing is, you don't even have to apply the cayenne directly to your underarm - you can mix a few sprinkles into some cornstarch and spread that on instead if you prefer (a teaspoon of cayenne powder per 4 tablespoons of cornstarch should do). 12)Natural Exfoliant If you want a natural exfoliator for dry and dead skin, add 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to your bath water. Be sure to do a small patch test first if you're not sure how sensitive your skin is, however! Cayenne Pepper for Wound Care
If you've got an open wound and want it healed as soon as possible, just add a little cayenne powder to some warm water and soak the wound area in it every day until it is completely healed! You'll notice that there will be significant progress with just one week of using this method (it's nearly miraculous)!
12) To Get Rid of a Stye
Cayenne’s innate properties of being anti-fungal also make it a great remedy for styes because it helps rid the body of such infections at their core. Just mix some cayenne powder in some warm water and soak a cotton ball in it. Apply the cotton-ball to your stye and hold there for at least a few minutes to help relieve the pain. Do not get into your eyes!
Cayenne pepper is a wonderful spice that has many different uses! The most important thing to remember about cayenne pepper is that it can be used in so many ways… so use it responsibly. Experiment with the recipes above and come up with your own variations!
As Always, Stay Healthy & Happy!