Natural Thinner: How to Treat Blood Clots with Cayenne Pepper
Blood clots are blockages in your arteries and blood vessels that restrict blood flow through your circulatory system. They prevent organs and muscle tissues from receiving oxygen and nutrients your body needs for optimal health. Some blood clots, such as those that prevent blood supply to your heart and brain, can be potentially fatal. Cayenne pepper contains a chemical, called capsaicin, which might help clear away artery-narrowing lipid deposits, and might help dilate arteries and blood vessels to clear away clots.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Take cayenne supplements, which are widely available in health food stores in the United States, as well as in some large supermarkets. They are also available through online vitamin and supplement retailers. Cayenne supplements are appropriate if you do not enjoy spicy foods, or if you have a gastrointestinal sensitivity to peppers.
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Add fresh, chopped cayenne peppers to Asian stir fry dishes and Indian curries. The intense heat of cayenne complements other ingredients in these dishes, such as legumes, vegetables and meats.
Include fresh or ground cayenne pepper in soups and stews to give these dishes a spicy flavor while enjoying the circulatory benefits of capsaicin. Cayenne is appropriate for chili, beef stew, lentil soup and hearty vegetable soups.
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Sprinkle ground cayenne pepper on omelets, frittatas and other breakfast dishes. Add other capsaicin-containing peppers, such as jalapenos or habaneros, to create spicier dishes.
Make a cayenne infusion by steeping 1/4 tsp. of freshly minced cayenne pepper in 1 cup of boiling water for 10 minutes 1. strain the liquid through a tea strainer and drink after meals, up to three times per day.
Tips
Wear food-grade gloves when handling cayenne peppers to avoid skin rashes and burns.
Warnings
Talk to your doctor before treating blood clots with cayenne. Blood clots can be serious and life threatening, and require the attention of a medical specialist.
Consuming cayenne peppers might cause diarrhea and stomach upset.
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References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis Balch; 2010
- "The New Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 2010
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Health Encyclopedia: Cayenne
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard Women's Health Watch, "The dubious practice of detox." May 2008
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- National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, "Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss, Fact Sheet for Health Professionals."
- 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
- Gagnier JJ, van Tulder M, Berman B, Bombardier C. Herbal medicine for low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Apr 19;(2):CD004504.
- 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.
- 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.
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Writer Bio
Owen Pearson is a freelance writer who began writing professionally in 2001, focusing on nutritional and health topics. After selling abstract art online for five years, Pearson published a nonfiction book detailing the process of building a successful online art business. Pearson obtained a bachelor's degree in art from the University of Rio Grande in 1997.