A friend mentioned this to me and having never heard of it, couldn't find any research on it in PubMed or Canada StrokEngine. If it was this simple it would be widely known and disseminated.
Cayenne for Heart Attacks and Strokes
Dr. Weeks’ Comment: I have spoken with people who
claims their lives were saved by cayenne pepper administered during
heart attacks or strokes. Below you can read of similar experiences.
How to Stop a Heart Attack in 30 Seconds
by Madison Cavanaugh
Can an ordinary cooking condiment used in cooking spicy, hot dishes
really stop a heart attack or stroke? These doctors say it can.
Cayenne pepper (also called capsicum frutescens) is a red, hot
chili pepper used primarily for flavoring dishes, but it has also been
used for medical purposes for centuries. This stimulating herb has been
widely used all over the world to treat a variety of health conditions,
including heart disease, poor circulation, weak digestion, chronic pain,
sore throat, headaches and toothache, among others.
Cayenne pepper derives its medicinal properties from a resin-like
substance known as capsaicin. Capsaicin is an ingredient that has
thermogenic properties, that is, it increases body temperature and is
the greatest blood circulation stimulant known. It doesn’t cause
palpitations, hyperactivity or an increase in blood pressure that most
other stimulants cause. It also provides temporary relief of pain, which
is why it is used in pain-reducing topical preparations such as
Capsazin-P, Zostrix-HP, Dolorac, R-Gel and others.
Cayenne has steadily gained the reputation of being a wonder herb over the past few decades.
Dr. Richard Schulze, a notable medical herbalist and naturopath,
stated, “If you master only one herb in your life, master cayenne
pepper. It is more powerful than any other.”
Perhaps the most important recognition that cayenne has gained in
recent years has been its ability to stop a heart attack or stroke. Dr.
Richard Anderson, author of “Cleanse & Purify Thyself,” reported
that one of his fellow doctors rushed out into the parking lot to attend
to a man who had died of a heart attack while parking his car. The
doctor put cayenne tincture into the mouth of the man, and within a few
minutes, the man’s heart started beating again.
According to Dr. John Christopher, pioneer of herbal medicine, “In
35 years of practice, and working with the people and teaching, I have
never on house calls lost one heart attack patient and the reason is,
whenever I go in–if they are still breathing–I pour down them a cup of
cayenne tea (a teaspoon of cayenne in a cup of hot water), and within
minutes they are up and around.”
Cayenne has been shown to stop heart attacks in as little as 30
seconds. Perhaps the most well-known anecdotal evidence of this involved
a 90-year-old man in Oregon who had a massive heart attack. When the
medics arrived at his home, he was pronounced dead. His daughter was
able to administer cayenne extract into his mouth, and within a few
minutes, he regained consciousness. Thereafter, he was rushed to the
hospital, and while he was in a semi-conscious state, his daughter
continued giving him the cayenne extract. By the time they arrived at
the hospital, he had fully recovered and insisted that he be taken home
so that he could mow his lawn! When the doctor asked the daughter what
she had given him, and she told him it was cayenne, the doctor declared
it was the closest thing to a miracle he had ever seen.
The capsaicin in cayenne pepper is unrivalled in its ability to
boost circulation and increase heart action. It has a mechanism of
action that has the extraordinary ability to enhance cardiovascular
performance while actually lowering blood pressure. Capsaicin has an
energizing effect on the entire cardiovascular system.
Dr. Anderson believes that cayenne greatly strengthens the heart
and could possibly even prevent heart attacks. He routinely carries
capsules of cayenne with him in the car and whenever he goes hiking,
mountain climbing or backpacking. “You never know when you may find
someone having a heart attack,” he says.
Other doctors, however, insist that cayenne capsules are not as
effective as cayenne tinctures or cayenne powder in emergency
situations, such as in the event of a heart attack or stroke. If a heart
attack or stroke should occur and the person is conscious, it is
suggested that 5 to 10 droppersfull of cayenne pepper tincture (or 1
teaspoon of cayenne powder in a glass of hot water) be administered into
the mouth, and repeated every 15 minutes until the crisis has passed.
