HERBAL practitioners are claiming that the Cayenne Pepper is effective in stopping heart attacks. These and other claims concerning the health benefits of Bird Pepper are being seriously investigated by researchers. Guyanese in rural areas have been using the Bird Pepper for generations. And so have the bush doctors. Bird Pepper, known scientifically as Capsicum annuum, was reputed to be excellent against mucus.  Around the world, however, the pepper is used in many more cases than in this country.

Reuters article
In a Reuters article published on March 16, 2006, researchers reported the findings of experiments which show that the main ingredient in Cayenne Pepper, capsaicin, destroyed prostate cancer cells.
According to them, capsaicin killed 80 per cent of human prostate cancer cells growing in mice. During the research, the scientists studied two sets of mice implanted with human prostate cancer cells. The first set was treated with capsaicin, and the second set was not.  The result was that by the end of the experiment, the cancerous tumors in mice treated with capsaicin were about one-fifth the size of tumors in untreated mice.
Referring to the findings of the research, Dr. Soren Lehmann of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, said:     “Capsaicin had a profound anti-proliferative effect on human prostate cancer cells in culture.” 

Research
Research is continuing into the effectiveness of the active ingredient on other forms of cancer, including lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.
In addition to experiments in the West, researchers in Asia have been hard at work to uncover other benefits of the Bird Pepper.  Several studies in Japan and China show that capsaicin directly inhibits the growth of leukemic cells, making it a possible leukemia treatment.
Apart from these more dramatic benefits, experts say that capsicum (Bird Pepper) supports the natural rhythm of the viscera and interior actions of the glandular, circulatory, lymphatic, and digestive systems.
Cayenne (pepper), they say, cleans the arteries as well, helping to rid the body of the bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. It can also be helpful in the fight against diabetes, because it regulates blood sugar levels essential in treating diabetic conditions.  

Other uses
Among traditional healers, Cayenne is used to cure stomach aches, cramping, gas, varicose veins, allergies, and constipation. Nutritionists also say that the pepper is high in Vitamins A, C, B complex, calcium and potassium.
Bird Pepper is also said to be a natural painkiller.  Once in the body, capsaicin binds to a protein known as TRPV1 that resides on the membranes of pain and heat-sensing neurons. The neurons are, in turn, overwhelmed by the heat of the capsaicin. As a result, the neurons become depleted of the key neurotransmitter responsible for the detection of pain.
Cayenne pepper is also known to increase circulation throughout the body, thereby allowing for more blood flowing to injuries, resulting in faster healing. It is an important ingredient in skin ointments for muscle aches and pains, and in topical creams for psoriasis and other skin inflammation.
The most dramatic claims concerning the benefits of Bird Pepper have come from American herbal practitioner, Dr. John Christopher.
Dr. Christopher was constantly in trouble with the United States Government during his long career.  He claimed that by administering a warm glass of Bird Pepper tea to a heart attack patient immediately following the attack, the patient experiences instant relief.
The information now being uncovered concerning this hot spice is enough to make us want to clear out a plot in the yard and put down a few plants.