Capsicum

What are other names for this remedy?

Scientific and common names: capsicum frutescens, capsicum annum, capsicum, cayenne pepper, capsaicin, red pepper, African chili, Tabasco pepper, paprika, Mexican chili, pimento, Garden Pepper

What is capsicum?

Capsicum is a small, spreading, annual shrub that grows wild in tropical America and is now cultivated around the world. It produces an oblong, pungent fruit (peppers). The fruit of the plant is used to make medicine.

What is it used for?

Besides being used in food as a pepper or spice, capsicum has been used in medicines. The active, medicinal ingredient used from the pepper is called capsaicin.

Capsaicin is used in skin creams to treat pain from shingles, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and nerve pain in people with diabetes.

Capsaicin is also taken by mouth to treat cramps, diarrhea, toothache, blood clots, fever, nausea, high cholesterol, and heart disease. It is also used to stimulate digestion.

Capsaicin is the ingredient used in pepper spray for self-defense.

How is it taken?

Capsicum is available as peppers, capsules, seasoning, and as a tincture for use by mouth. It is also available in creams, ointments, and lotions for use on the skin.

Follow the directions printed on the product label or given by your health care provider.

What should I watch out for?

Do not use creams or ointments containing capsaicin if you have:

• an allergy to pepper
• broken or irritated skin.

Do not take capsicum by mouth if you have:

• an allergy to pepper
• stomach problems such as ulcers or irritable bowel syndrome.

Keep ointments or creams containing capsaicin away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. If some gets into your eyes, nose, or mouth, flush them with a dilute vinegar solution or lots of cool water.

Do not use tight bandages over skin that has been treated with capsicum because it will make the burning sensation worse. Do not use with a heating pad or apply right before or after a hot shower.

Eating too much capsicum could cause stomach pain and kidney and liver damage. Do not take capsicum by mouth in large doses or for long periods of time.

If you take an ACE inhibitor such as captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), or lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) for your blood pressure, using capsaicin cream on the skin may cause you to develop a cough. If you develop a cough while using the cream, stop taking it and contact your health care provider.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the health care provider or dentist that you are taking this remedy. It may cause you to bleed more.

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this remedy by mouth if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Remember when taking any natural remedy:

• "Natural" does not always mean safe.
• Natural remedies affect your body and may interact with prescription medicines. Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist about any natural remedies that you are using or considering.
• Natural products are not standardized. They may have different strengths and effects. Some remedies may be contaminated. Be careful which products you use.
• If your health care provider has not given you specific instructions, follow the directions that come with the package. Do not take more or take it longer than recommended. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist about anything you do not understand.
• If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, get the approval of your health care provider before you take any natural remedy.
• Do not give natural remedies to infants, children, or the elderly without advice from your health care provider.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its desirable effects, this remedy may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the remedy. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

When you eat the hot peppers you may have an intense burning feeling in your mouth and stomach. It may cause you to sweat and feel flushed. This burning feeling can be reduced by removing the seeds from the pepper pod before you eat the pepper or by eating bananas with the peppers.

Side effects from putting capsicum products on your skin may include a burning sensation, minor redness, or swelling on the area where you put the cream or powder, especially if the area is bandaged tightly.

Side effects from taking capsicum by mouth may include stomach upset, sweating, flushing, or runny nose.

What products might interact with this remedy?

When you take this remedy with prescription medicines, it can change the way this remedy or any of the medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, other natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects.

• blood thinning medicines such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, enoxaparin (Lovenox), dalteparin (Fragmin), and clopidogrel (Plavix)
• herbs with blood thinning effects such as angelica, anise, arnica, asafoetida, celery, chamomile, clove, fenugreek, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, horse chestnut, horseradish, licorice, onion, papain, passionflower, red clover, turmeric, and willow
• high blood pressure medicines such as lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil), atenolol (Tenormin), and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and isocarboxazid (Marplan)
• sedatives such as phenobarbital, butalbital, secobarbital (Seconal), alprazolam (Xanax), amitriptyline (Elavil), and triazolam (Halcion)
• medicines to treat lung disease such as theophylline.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

Keep all natural remedies and medicines out of the reach of children.

The information included here is based on information found in scientific journals, study reports, news releases, and other publications. The author and publisher make no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy and complete nature of the information. Nothing herein should be interpreted as a recommendation by the author or publisher for the use of any natural remedy.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this remedy or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.