Properties

• The primary beneficial ingredient in cayenne pepper is capsicum, an oil found in the seeds, stem and veins of peppers. Most peppers are rated for hotness based on the amount of capsicum that they contain. Physicians of traditional medicine favor capsicum as a topical remedy for arthritis pain. However, herbalists and naturopathic doctors believe that capsicum has internal benefits, as well.
  
  

Benefits

• According to Shirley's Wellness Café, many herbalists believe that cayenne pepper is the most useful and valuable of the herbs, helping not only the digestive system but also the circulatory system. Using cayenne pepper to cleanse is said to help detoxify the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, as well as the circulatory system. Additionally, cayenne is said to have anti-fungal properties and can boost the immune system against fungal infections.
  
  

Recipe for Detoxifying

• Proponents of cayenne pepper suggest consuming 1/4 tsp. dissolved in 10 oz. water daily for an overall detoxifier. In this amount, the pepper gets into all of the body's systems and helps to purge them of toxins.
  
  

The Master Cleanse

• One of the prime components in the lemonade diet and cleanse is a lemon drink made with maple syrup, organic lemons and cayenne pepper. The cayenne serves as a natural solvent to break down the plaque and mucous lining the gastrointestinal tract. Cayenne's benefits as a detoxifier are why it was chosen by the diet's creator as a component in the cleanse.