Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne Pepper

Chili is very hot and pungent! It is a pure pungent – with lots of heat and little flavor. Be cautious, as chili is very intense.

As a member of the nightshade family (solanaceae), cayenne too aggravates Vata and Pitta, due to the weak liver of these two body types. All peppers aggravate Pitta due to heat. Note that black pepper has no relationship with chili and bell peppers.

Properties

Taste: Pungent

Natural Attributes: light, dry, sharp, mobile, clear

Tissue impact (Vipak): pungent (reducing)

Thermal impact (Virya): hot

Dosha impact: Increases Vata and Pitta, decreases Kapha

Digestive impact (Agni): easy to digest, stimulates digestive fire

Channels (Srotas): opens

Feces: moves

Urine: 

Strength (Bala): decreases

Mind (Manas): Rajasic

Effect: antiemetic, antispasmodic, digestive, spleen tonic, detoxicant, cardiac stimulant, hemostatic, vasodilator, anti-inflammatory decongestant, diaphoretic 

Chinese five element impact: Fire, Earth,strengthens yang and stimulates Qi.

Chinese medicine syndromes: Spleen Qi stimulating, Phlegm in lungs or Liver

Medicinal properties 

• Nourishment (rasa): parasites, improves appetite
• Blood-circulation-liver: hypertension, blood stagnation, liver excesses, edema, arterial plaque
• Fat: obesity
• Respiratory system: common cold, mucus
• Digestive system: overeating, maldigestion, strengthens digestion, stomach ache, nausea and diarrhea caused by cold 
• Cleansing: Phlegm digester

Harmful for: heat conditions, dry, windy, nervous or thin persons, deficient yin conditions.