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Spice of the Month-Cayenne/capsicum
Botanical name: Capsicum frutenscens
Family name: solanaceae or Nightshade
Active component: capsaicin, plant oil
Cayenne is a small shrub with alternate and oval to lanceolate leaves; this plant is native to tropical America.
Cayenne has been used for thousands of years for both culinary and medicinal purposes in the American Tropics.
Cayenne is native to tropical America but is also now being cultivated in other parts of the world, in locations including Mexico, Italy, China and Southeast Asia.
Cayenne is known for its high vitamins A, C, iron, potassium and calcium. In addition it also contains some B complex, magnesium, phosphorus and sulfur.
The amount of hotness in a pepper is determined by the amount of capsaicin (the chemical compound which stimulates the nerve endings in the skin). The Scoville scale is used to measure the amount of capsaicin in various peppers. The more capsaicin, the hotter the pepper is. Please see the attached link for more information on the Scoville scale.
http://www.chilipepper.com/TheScovilleScale/tabid/59/Default.aspx
So how can we use cayenne with our birds? Cayenne has been used for birds in shock due to an injury and has stabilized them immediately. Cayenne has also been used for birds that have had a stroke and pulled them out of it within ten minutes. After being administered daily the bird in this example never had a stroke again. Please see the attached link for case studies for illustrations http://www.holisticbirds.com/pages/cayenne0801.htm
Cayenne is also known for its blood cleansing properties, fending off disease and to also equalize blood circulation. It also strengthens the heart action but at the same time it does not increase blood pressure. It is known to prevent heart attacks and stroke. Cayenne also has antibacterial properties.
Cayenne must be used raw or in powder form to be effective. When cooked, it can become an irritant to the digestive tract.
In summary Cayenne can be used for the following:
-To stop bleeding
-For a bird in shock due to an injury
-As a nutritional supplement for vitamins A, C, iron, potassium and calcium
-First Aid, internally and externally
-Digestive Tract, known to have antibiotic effect on bacteria
-Respiratory, known to reduce inflammation in lung tissues
-Pain, applied externally can desensitize nerve endings, thus reducing sensations of pain.
Always consult your Avian Veterinarian before using any of these remedies. The above information is a resource for you to research and speak to your avian veterinarian. Please see the following links that were used for resources in writing this article
http://www.holisticbirds.com/pages/cayenne0801.htm
Natural Avian Nutrition by Gudrun Maybaum