Oral preparations. Be very cautious when using capsicum in capsules. The benefits of oral capsicum supplementation (beyond normal use as a spice) are questionable.252 The danger to liver and digestion are, however, well documented. The main problem with capsicum in capsules is that your mouth will not be able to give you feedback about the amount of irritation your stomach and liver will have to endure. It is safe to say that making and consuming your own capsicum capsules contains more risk than reward. If, however, you insist on making your own oral preparations, use no more than 30–120 mg of dried Capsicum frutescens per day, taken with a cup of water.253
What should you be aware of before using it?
Be very cautious using any preparation that isn’t standardized. Too much capsaicin can cause blistering, burns, hypersensitivity, skin ulcers, dermatitis, and temporary and permanent nerve damage.254
Don’t use topical preparations for longer than 2 days; 14 days must pass before a new application can be used in the same location.255
Don’t use capsicum on or near open wounds.256
Be very careful if you are taking capsicum as a capsule. Too much is hard on the liver and the lining of the gastrointestinal system. If you eat the peppers, the heat is self limiting, but if you take them as a capsule, you don’t have that feedback. Too much can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, and a burning sensation during bowel movements.257 It is possible to die from too much capsicum.258
If you have high blood pressure, check with a doctor before using capsicum medicinally.259
Don’t take capsicum orally if you have inflammation of mucous membranes or excessive mucus, because it can aggravate these conditions. Don’t use it without consulting a doctor first if you are prone to gastrointestinal problems.260
Too much capsicum can cause gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms.261 Contrary to popular belief, capsicum does not aggravate hemorrhoid symptoms.262 It may even help protect the lining of the stomach against aspirin.263
Don’t leave a capsicum compress on for a long time, and don’t use it if you are likely to fall asleep while it’s on. Too much exposure can cause irritation and even blistering. If you have fair or sensitive skin, try a little of the infusion or oil on a small area before using. Keep it out of your eyes and mucous membranes. Don’t apply to broken skin.
Handle capsicum with respect. If you’re grinding dried capsicum, wear a mask. If working with fresh peppers, either avoid touching the pepper directly or wear gloves. After handling peppers, never touch your eyes, nose, ears, or groin without washing your hands thoroughly. Don’t use the seeds because they tend to be stronger.
Be careful training with your muscles and joints under the influence of capsicum. When you use capsicum you are masking pain signals that may be your body’s way of trying to tell you something. Masking pain can lead to further injury.
Capsicum can be used topically on adults, and on school-aged children if appropriate caution is observed. It shouldn’t be used on children younger than school-aged.
Capsicum may interfere with MAO inhibitors and antihypertensive therapy, and may increase hepatic metabolism of drugs.264
If you tend to be anemic, be careful about taking capsicum internally because it can interfere with iron absorption.265
Caraway
Scientific name: Carum carvi
Also known as Apium carvi, Persian cumin
Caraway “seeds,” Carum carvi
Caraway is a member of the carrot family; the relationship is best seen in the shape of its feathery leaves. It is native to Europe and Asia Minor, but is now cultivated throughout the world. In some parts of the United States, wild caraway is now considered a noxious weed. The part of the plant that’s used medicinally is commonly called the “seed,” though it is actually a small ribbed fruit. When dried, this fruit looks like a small, crescent-shaped seed.
The smell, similar to anise, comes from carvone and limonene, essential oils in the seeds. Carvone is an antiseptic. Limonene is an antiseptic and antispasmodic.
What is it good for?
Digestion. Caraway is best known as an aid to help expel trapped gas in the intestines. It is also good for a jumpy stomach. The 1918 U.S. Dispensatory cites its use as a stomachic and carminative. The Eclectic School also cites its use as a carminative. Commission E recommends it for flatulence. Its use as a digestive aid, however, is largely untested and a matter of some dispute.266 Only one preliminary, less than rigorous study has been done on caraway’s value in treating dyspepsia. It showed that caraway appeared to help mild non-ulcer dyspepsia, but the effect may have been attributable to nothing more than time.267 A combination study—caraway and peppermint taken together—showed that the combination worked as well at treating dyspepsia as Cisapride® (a prescription medication for dyspepsia, subsequently taken off the market due to troubling side effects).268
Kills bacteria. In an in vitro study, caraway’s essential oils worked well against several bacteria.269 The implications of these results for human use, however, are not clear.
How do you use it?
Store caraway seeds between 40 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (2–35 degrees Centigrade). Temperatures above 75 will degrade the essential oils.
Essential Oil. The seeds are dried before being used medicinally. The essential oil is derived from the seed by commercial steam distillation. Caraway oil is one of the few essential oils that can be taken internally in small doses. The traditional way to take it is to put a couple drops on a sugar cube.
Infusion. A tea can be made from the seeds to drink after meals. One traditional remedy involves one ounce of seed cold infused in a pint of water.270 “Bruise” or slightly crush the seeds before making the infusion. Alternatively, the seeds can be chewed and swallowed.
Tincture. Scandinavians have a traditional “digestive” liquor made by adding the essential oil of caraway to a vodka-like distillation. Tradition says it helps digestion of rich meals. Evidence for this property is not found outside of tradition, however.
Dosage: How much do you use?
No upper dose has been set, as caraway seems relatively safe at most sane doses. A typical dose is 1–2 cups of the infusion daily for an adult.271 Or 2–3 drops of the essential oil on a sugar cube for no more than six drops per day.272
What should you be aware of before using it?
Caraway is on the FDA’s list of substances generally recognized as safe.273 However, long-term intake of larger doses of the essential oil can cause kidney and liver damage.274
The essential oil of caraway is an irritant. It especially irritates mucous membranes and can cause contact dermatitis.
Some herbalists recommend that women avoid medicinal doses of caraway while pregnant, though this recommendation is based on conjecture from caraway’s antispasmodic properties, not from any reports of miscarriage.275
If you are allergic to dong quai, anise, carrot, celery, dill, or parsley you have an increased chance of being allergic to caraway.
Catnip
Scientific