Cayenne

Latin: Capsicum minimum, Capsicum frutescens

 “[It] is used for a long list of ailments [and can used] as a catalyst for speeding other ingredients quickly throughout the body … to promote and continue the internal combustive heat produced by lobelia, and its always recommended to take the two together… one of the most powerful stimulants known among herbs.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

 “A general vaso-stimulant to the heart, arteries and capillaries, [a] cardio-vascular stimulant” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“A stimulant, carminative, tonic, sialagogue, rubefacient, antiseptic. Cayenne is the most useful of the systemic stimulants.  It regulates the blood flow, equalising and strengthening the heart, arteries, capillaries and nerves.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).