We all want to add some distinguishing flavor to our favorite dishes, and cayenne pepper is probably one of your favorite spices. People have been using this spice for both culinary and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Cayenne pepper not only gives heat and flavor to your dishes, it also provides a variety of health benefits.

It is part of the Capsicum family of vegetables, commonly known as chili peppers, and it was originally cultivated in South and Central America. Its spicy heat comes because of the high concentration of capsaicin.

We have listed the top 10 health benefits provided by cayenne pepper, including some of the reasons why you should be careful when it comes to including this spice in your diet.

1. Cayenne Pepper Reduces Muscle And Joint Pain, as Well as Inflammation

Applying cayenne pepper can be really effective in reducing muscle and joint pain, or even inflammation. This comes due to its counter-irritant effect: when applying cayenne on the affected area, it usually causes a mild irritation to the tissue, distracting you from the original pain. Cayenne contains an active ingredient called capsaicin, which relieves pain by affecting the sensory nerves. Actually, it hinders the transmission of the neurotransmitter which is responsible for transmitting pain signals to the brain.

2. Relieves Migraine

Once cayenne pepper hits your stomach, your brains starts releasing endorphins, known as natural painkillers. If you have no problems consuming this spice, add 1 to 3 teaspoons of cayenne pepper to a glass of water and there you have your instant remedy for migraine headache.

Read the full article here: http://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/top-10-uses-cayenne-pepper-medicine/