TESTIMONIALS
A HISTORY OF THE HEALING CHILI
MOST CERTAIN STIMULANT—AND NEARLY A CURE-ALL
FROM THE MEDICAL WORLD
FOOD AS MEDICINE
CULTIVATION AND COLLECTION
PREPARATION
PREPARATION AND USAGE
DESCRIPTION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DR. CHRISTOPHER'S COMBINATIONS CONTAINING CAYENNE
CURRENT FINDINGS
BIBLIOGRAPHY

VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Ca .26%
p .09
K .17
Na tr
CI tr
Mg .31
Fe .0006
Mn tr
Cu tr
Zn tr
Carotene-various carotenoid pigment. no carotene
A 12,137 Mg/Ib
B-1 78
B-2 12
C (ascorbic acid) 493

OTHER
albumen 2.4%
pectin 2.33
gums 1.3
starch 2.0
capsicaine .43
capsacutin oil 16.35
pentosans totaling 8.59 solaine
xanthenes .82
oleic acid
palmitic acid 1.85
steanc acid
fatty acids

In addition, the reader may be interested in the following research analyzing Capsicum:

Constituents. In 1876 Thresh extracted the drug with petroleum, treated the extract with aqueous alkali, and by passing carbon dioxide through the alkaline liquid precipitated crystals of an intensely pungent compound, capsaicin. As may be inferred from the method of preparation, capsaicin is of phenolic nature.

Capsaicin (Vanillyl amide of isodecenoic acid)

The pungent phenolic fraction of capsicum also contains a proportion of 6,7 - dihydrocapsaicin. The capsaicin content of fruits varies appreciably in a range up to 1.5 per cent and is much influenced by environmental conditions and age of the fruit. It occurs principally in the dissepiment of the fruits, for example, entire fruit 0.49; pericarp O. 1 O; dissepiment 1.79; seed 0.07. The pungency of capsicum is not destroyed by treatment with alkalis (distinction from gingerol, which also contains the vanillyl group) but is destroyed by oxidation with potassium dichromate of permanganate. Chilies also contain ascorbic acid (0.1-0.5 per cent), thiamine, red carotenoid such as capsanthin and capsorubin and fixed oil (about 4-16 percent). They yield about 20-25 per cent of alcoholic extract (capsicin) and about 5 percent (official limit 8 percent) of ash. Hungarian capsicums or ‘Paprika’ are derived from a mild race of C annuum and are a convenient source of ascorbic acid. According to Bennett and Kirby the pungent principle of C annuum is composed of capsaicin 69 percent, dihydrocapsaicin 22 per nordihydrocapsaicin 7 percent, homo-capsaicin 1 percent and homodihydrocapsaicin 1 percent. The presence of the three minor components was established by mass spectroscopy.

A number of colorimetric assays can be used the quantitative determination of capsaicin (see p. 213); The B.P.C. utilizes ultra-violet absorption at 248 and 296 nm.

Biogenesis of Capsaicin. Work by Leete and Louden on C frutescens and by Bennett and Kirby on C annuum has shown that phenylalanine is incorporated into the C6-C 1 vanillyl unit of capsaicin, the C-3 of phenylalanine giving the methylene group of the vanillylamine residues; the incorporation probably proceeds via cinnamic, p-coumaric, caffeic and protocatechuic acids. Tyrosine did not appear to be a probable precursor. Leete’s feeding experiments with baline-U 14 C have given incorporation consistent with the hypothesis that the C 10 isodecanoic acid is formed from isobutyryl coenzyme A and three acetate units. (Treaxardevans).
 

The United States Department of Agriculture analyzed a raw chili pepper for nutritional content; their results follow.

 —(U.S. Handbook No. 8, 1975)
 

DR. CHRISTOPHER’S COMBINATIONS CONTAINING CAYENNE

Prospallate, the combination used to heal and tone the prostrate and related organs, features Cayenne.

Nu-Fem, the female tonic, contains Cayenne,

Fen  LB, the formula to heal and tone the bowel, contains Cayenne.

Panc Tea, the formula which heals the pancreas and helps in blood-sugar related diseases, contains Cayenne.

BPE, the formula which regulates blood pressure features Cayenne.

Herbal Composition Powder, as we mentioned before, which is used for colds, flu, and many other ailments, features Cayenne.

Adrenetone, the formula to strengthen the adrenal glands and improve stamina, contains Cayenne.

Herbal Eyebright, the toning eyewash, contains Cayenne.

AR-1, the arthritis and rheumatism formula, contains Cayenne.

Mem, the formula to improve memory and strengthen brain functions, contains Cayenne.

Relax-eze, the formula to rebuild frayed nerves, contains Cayenne.

Professor Cayenne Penetrating Deep Heating Balm features Cayenne.

X-Ceptic, the best herbal antiseptic available, features Cayenne.

The Antispasmodic Tincture contains Cayenne.

Cayenne Extract, a potent fourteen-day extract, is made of Japanese, African, and American peppers.

Smoke Outan aid to stop smoking contains Cayenne.

Metaburna dieting formula contains Cayenne.

Vitalerbs  the whole food vitamin & mineral formula contains Cayenne.

Cayenne is in Bilbrite, used to improve healthy circulation to the eye.

Mascutone a male tonic contains Cayenne.

Sha Tea and Ephedrateannot only work well together for colds, sinus,and allergies but both also contain Cayenne.
 

CURRENT FINDINGS

Of most interest medicinally, Frischkorn and Frischkorn researched the debilitating tropical disease, schistosomiasis, or snail fever, which is contracted through the skin by contact with snail larvae in fresh water. They estimate that up to half of the people in the third world are afflicted with this disease. Aside from chemotherapeutic treatment and water treatment, they discovered that the oil of Capsicum annuum, which is high in capsaicin, kills the larvae, and that frequent ingestion of Capsicum can help treat the disease (Naturwissenschaften, September, 1978)

Of particular interest to herbalists who are interested in the reasons why Capsicum is so valuable in heart disease, Kanner et. al. analyzed Capsicum annuum for tocopherol content. They found that of all the edible plants, Capsicum annuum contained the most natural Vitamin E, which is in a peculiarly stable form. In fresh, ripe pepper fruits, they found 3-10 mg./100 grams, which shows that the vegetable could become a significant source of Vitamin E in the diet. Vitamin E is often used to treat heart conditions. Because there is also a goodly amount of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) in the peppers, the two vitamins are well balanced naturally, which the authors considered a fact of great importance in nutritional and technological considerations (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, November-December, 1979, pp. 1316-8).
 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hutchens, Alma R. Indian Herbology of North America. Kumbakonam, S. India: Homeo House Press, 1970.

Grieve, M., Mrs. A Modern Herbal. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1980.

Herbalist Magazine, Vol. I #1, March, 1979.

Johnson, Fredrick, Ed. Water Control Systems of the Telruacor Valley, Vol. 4. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1972.

Common Herbs For Natural Health. New York: Sctoken: 1976. Christopher, John R. School of Natural Healing. Provo, Utah, 1975.

Trease, G.E. and Evans, Charles, Pharmacognosy, London: Baillerie Tirdal, 1978.