Is Cayenne Pepper Good for Sore Throats?

Cayenne pepper may soothe a sore throat, providing pain relief for a temporary period. There is no proven science to define why cayenne pepper relieves a sore throat. However, in theory, the oils within cayenne pepper block substance P, which is a peptide that transmits pain signals to your brain.

Sore Throat

A sore throat is scratchiness, pain and irritation that is often agitated by the act of swallowing. The most common cause of sore throats is the common cold or a viral infection. If you have a sore throat, you can temporarily alleviate the pain by inhibiting bacterial growth and calming the inflamed tissue. Both store-bought and home remedies can provide temporary relief. If a sore throat persists or worsens after three days of home treatment, you should consult with your physician.

  • A sore throat is scratchiness, pain, and irritation that is often agitated by the act of swallowing.
  • If a sore throat persists or worsens after three days of home treatment, you should consult with your physician.

Pros

If you use cayenne pepper to remedy pain, you might save yourself the time and money required to purchase a commercial remedy. Aside from time and money, a cayenne pepper gargle is claimed by some to be more effective than commercial sore throat medications. Additionally, cayenne pepper often provides instant pain relief that lasts for up to two hours.

Cons

There is no proven evidence that cayenne pepper consistently works as a sore throat remedy. It does not treat the bacterial infection that causes the ailment, and therefore, it truly cures nothing. Additionally, the heat of cayenne pepper can cause more discomfort on your tongue and lips than the pain from the sore throat.

Gargle Recipe

You can make a cayenne pepper gargle to alleviate sore throat pain with only a mug, 1/4 cup of hot water, and 2 tbsp. of cayenne pepper. Stir the cayenne pepper into the water for 60 seconds and gargle with a mouthful of the mixture. Gargle for 10 seconds and spit the cayenne mixture out. Stir the cayenne pepper mixture before gargling with more as it does not fully dissolve into the water. Adding 1 tbsp. of salt to the mixture may increase its effectiveness as salt inhibits bacterial growth, further calming a sore throat.

  • You can make a cayenne pepper gargle to alleviate sore throat pain with only a mug, 1/4 cup of hot water, and 2 tbsp.
  • Stir the cayenne pepper into the water for 60 seconds and gargle with a mouthful of the mixture.

References:

  1. “SuperFoods HealthStyle”; Steven G. Pratt and Kathy Matthews; 2006
  2. “Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs”; Claire Kowalchik and William H. Hylton; 1998
  3.  University of Rochester Medical Center, Health Encyclopedia: Cayenne
  4. Harvard Medical School, Harvard Women’s Health Watch, “The dubious practice of detox.” May 2008
  5. Reinbach HC, Smeets A, Martinussen T, Møller P, Westerterp-plantenga MS. Effects of capsaicin, green tea and CH-19 sweet pepper on appetite and energy intake in humans in negative and positive energy balance. Clin Nutr. 2009;28(3):260-5. DOI:10.1016/j.clnu.2009.01.010
  6. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, “Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss, Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.”
  7. Esmaillzadeh A, Keshteli AH, Hajishafiee M, Feizi A, Feinle-bisset C, Adibi P. Consumption of spicy foods and the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome. World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19(38):6465-71. DOI:10.3748/wjg.v19.i38.6465
  8. Gagnier JJ, van Tulder M, Berman B, Bombardier C. Herbal medicine for low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Apr 19;(2):CD004504.
  9. McCarty MF, DiNicolantonio JJ, O’Keefe JH. Capsaicin may have important potential for promoting vascular and metabolic health. Open Heart. 2015 Jun 17;2(1):e000262.
  10. Kim CS, Kawada T, Kim BS, et al. Capsaicin exhibits anti-inflammatory property by inhibiting IkB-a degradation in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. Cell Signal. 2003 Mar;15(3):299-306.
  11. Laslett LL, Jones G. Capsaicin for osteoarthritis pain. Prog Drug Res. 2014;68:277-91.
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Important Notice: This article was originally published at https://healthfully.com by Serena Styles where all credits are due.

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