The Cayenne is a hot red chili pepper used to flavor dishes. Its name comes from the city of Cayenne in French Guiana. Native Americans have used cayenne (Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens) as both food and therapeutic agent for at least 9,000 years. The hot and spicy taste of cayenne pepper is primarily due to a resin-like substance known as capsaicin, which has pain-relieving qualities.

Appearance

Cayenne is a shrub that originated in Central and South America. It now grows worldwide in subtropical and tropical climates. Cayenne’s hollow fruit grows into long pods that turn red, orange, or yellow when they ripen. The fruit is eaten raw or cooked, or is dried and powdered into the popular spice that has been used for centuries in meals and in traditional remedies.

History

Cayenne has been cultivated for thousands of years in tropical Americas, Africa, and India, but legend says that Columbus was the first European to discover this pungent herb and that it was he who introduced it to Europe upon his return from the New World. Archaeologists have found remains of chilies in Mexican sites dating from 7000 B.C., and cayenne peppers played an important role in Aztec and Mayan mythology. They are still a mainstay in Latin American and American Southwestern cuisine, but have also been adopted into cuisines around the globe. 

Cayenne’s therapeutic history is long.  Cayenne has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Cherokee Indians in North America used cayenne as a stimulant, and the Navajo people used it for weaning children.

The use of this herbal supplement is a traditional nutritional use that is not intended to be prescribed for, or to treat any disease, and does not claim to cure any disease, including diseases involving fevers, colds, flu or invading organisms.

Caution: As with any dietary or herbal supplement, you should advise your health care practitioner of the use of this product. If you have ulcers, gallstones or are nursing, pregnant, or considering pregnancy, you should consult your health care provider prior to taking this product.