Botanical Description:
A perennial plant in its native tropical America, but is annual when cultivated outside tropical zones.
Growing to a height of 3 feet or more, its glabrous stem is woody at the bottom and branched near the top.
The leaves are ovate to lanceolate, entire and petioled.
The drooping, white to yellow flowers grow alone or in pairs or threes between April and September.
The ripe fruit, or pepper, is a many-seeded pod with a leathery outside in various shades of red or yellow.
Part of Plant Used:
Fruit
Main Uses:
An enzyme active herbal food supplement regarded as warming and stimulating.
Beneficial for the symptoms of chills, digestive problems, cholesterol control, and debility.
 
 
 
Contra-Indications:
Allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients.
In cases of asthma this herb should be restricted, due to its bronchial striction with initial exposure episodes may be aggravated by single use.
Avoid external use where there is broken skin and near to the eyes, due to its local irritant properties.
Avoid with stomach ulcers/inflammation due to the increase in gastric acid production, which may cause mucosal exfoliation and haemorrhage. Note: This advice conflicts with traditional use and emphirical understanding of this herb, where it has been u8sed to stem internal bleeding and to protect mucous membranes.
Avoid with chronic irritable bowel due to this herb?s irritant and intestinal contractile properties (capsaicin).
Avoid when using Theophylline as the absorption rate is increased when administered before or with capsicum fruit.
Avoid with Hexobarbital as this increases sleeping time and plasma concentration when used with extract of capsicum.
Avoid with ACE inhibitors, which may predispose coughing when capsicum cream is applied.
Caution is advised with the use of preparations of this herb during pregnancy, and low doses should be considered.
If you are allergic to peppers (green, red, orange, yellow, chilli, peppercorns, etc.). You may also be allergic to capsicum.