Cayenne Pepper for High Blood Pressure & Hypertension Control

Consumption of cayenne pepper is purported to have blood pressure-lowering effects by decreasing the production of an enzyme called angiotensin II.

When angiotensin II levels are reduced, blood vessels are able to relax and dilate; allowing more blood to pass through without increasing blood pressure.

There have not been any double-blind placebo controlled human clinical trials to validate if and how cayenne extract affects blood pressure. However, studies involving animals suggest certain benefits.

Researchers are trying to determine if certain bioactive chemicals in chili peppers can be used as safe alternatives for commonly prescribed antihypertensive medications; most notably ACE Inhibitors.

Capsaicin

Pepper Extract

Joints

Appetite Control

Vitality

How It Works:

• Supports healthy digestion & blood flow
• Promotes joint function & pain relief
• Promotes appetite control & weight loss

Dosage:

Between 1000 - 2000 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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How does Cayenne Pepper affect Blood Pressure?

Cayenne pepper contains a class of phytonutrients (plant chemicals) called capsaicinoids.

The most studied and understood of these is called capsaicin. Capsaicin is the chemical in chili peppers that makes them taste hot when you eat them.

There is a lot of research examining the physiological effects of capsaicin and other capsaicinoids found in cayenne extract.

In one study, rats with genetically high blood pressure saw a decrease in blood pressure with long-term dietary consumption of capsaicin.

Research showed that consuming this highly concentrated cayenne pepper extract resulted in an increased production of nitric oxide within the lining of the blood vessels.

Nitric Oxide is a gaseous molecule that promotes vasodilation, or the widening of blood vessels. The result is that the hypertensive rats saw their blood pressure decrease without any impairment in circulatory function.

This was the first study to examine the effects of long-term consumption of a capsaicin extract supplement. In other studies, only short-term or acute treatments were used, which resulted in contradictory findings.

The conclusion is that capsaicin from cayenne pepper may help to improve nitric oxide synthesis and promote better blood pressure regulation.

Epidemiological studies have also demonstrated that in populations that tend to eat spicier food, there are lower rates of high blood pressure.

However, these preliminary findings need to be validated in human clinical studies in order to definitively say whether cayenne pepper can be used to reduce elevated blood pressure.

Additional Effects of Cayenne Pepper Supplements

According to research from India, “A beneficial role of capsaicin has been reported in obesity, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal conditions, various cancers, neurogenic bladder, and dermatologic conditions.”. [1]

Most of the benefits of capsaicinoids seem to stem from activation of a protein cation channel called TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1) receptors

TRPV1 receptors are located throughout the brain, gut, muscles, bladder, sensory nerves, and blood vessels. [2]

Research has established that TRPV1 activation by capsaicin can affect the sensation of pain, oxidative stress and inflammation.

TRPV1 has also been found to play a role in maintaining healthy metabolic equilibrium and cardiovascular functioning. [2]

A 2016 research paper from China states that experimental studies have “demonstrated that activation of TRPV1 by capsaicin could ameliorate obesity, diabetes, and hypertension”. [2] More research in large-scale, randomized, controlled human studies are needed in these and other areas.

How to Use Cayenne Pepper for High Blood Pressure

There is no typical dosage recommendation for cayenne pepper. Chili peppers like cayennes, jalapenos, habaneros, serranos and numerous others all contain capsaicin, and may therefore activate TRPV1 throughout the body.

Cayenne pepper extracts are available in creams, ointments, capsules, tablets, liquid extracts, sauces and powders.

The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD) states that there are more than 1700 dietary supplements available that contain cayenne pepper.

Some of the uses for cayenne that NMCD states include poor circulation, excessive blood clotting, hyperlipidemia and preventing heart disease.

Note again that significantly more research is needed to determine the efficacy of cayenne for any of these conditions in humans.

There are various other conditions that capsaicinoids may be helpful for, but there is currently no clinical data available for most of them. Capsaicin has been approved by the US FDA as a medicine for treating pain.

Some studies have shown that capsaicin creams temporarily relieve pain when applied topically.

Creams containing between .25% and .75% pure capsaicin are prescribed for chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis, RA (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, shingles and diabetic neuralgia. [3]

ACE Inhibitors and Cayenne Pepper for Hypertension

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are a class of drugs commonly prescribed for treating hypertension (high blood pressure).

In the body, a chemical called angiotensin I with ACE to form angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is known to cause blood vessels and muscle tissue to contract. When a blood vessel contracts (narrows), it takes more pressure to move blood through it.

When too much angiotensin II is circulating in the blood, high blood pressure can result. ACE inhibitors are pharmaceuticals that help to lower the amount of ACE in order to slow the production of angiotensin II, thereby helping to modulate blood pressure.

While ACE inhibitor drugs are considered relatively safe, they are associated with unproductive coughing and other adverse effects of the airways of some users.

Again via TRPV1 activation, it seems likely that capsaicin in cayenne and other chili peppers induces similar effects on inhibiting the angiotensin converting enzyme as do ACE inhibitor drugs. And it may be able to do this without any associated side effects.

Cayenne Pepper Side Effects

According to the University of Maryland Medical School, cayenne and other chili peppers have been used in traditional medicine and cooking for at least 9000 years.

There are no serious or lasting adverse effects associated with their use in healthy adults, except for the typical reactions experienced by people who are sensitive to spicy foods.

However, there are some side effects to be mindful of. NMCD states that, taken orally, capsaicin can cause “upper abdominal discomfort including fullness, gas, bloating, nausea, epigastric pain and burning, diarrhea, and belching”.

Oral capsaicin can also cause tearing (lacrimation), sweating, runny nose (rhinorrhea), flushing and faintness. Topical capsaicin can cause burning, stinging and/or redness at application sites.

Excessive amounts of cayenne pepper extract can cause more serious side effects – including death in liver cells (hepatic necrosis), decreased blood coagulation and gastroenteritis. [4]

You should ask your doctor about using cayenne pepper supplements for the blood pressure benefits as they pertain to your unique health state. Be sure to discuss the medicines you are using, especially if you currently take ACE inhibitors, stomach acid reducers and/or blood thinners.

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