PlainPill

Cayenne

People mainly take Cayenne for digestion. Based on 3 first-hand reports and 16 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #1561 of 1,974 overall.

6
User score
Not enough data
0% positive0% mixed0% negative100% unclear

Of reports that state an outcome, 0% are positive.

Clinical research
BModerate research base
16
meta-analyses
6
RCTs
491
papers

What Cayenne does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

betterno changeworse

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

BModerate research base

At least one meta-analysis, or 5+ randomized controlled trials. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2014 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Herbal medicine for low-back pain

Conclusion: C. frutescens (Cayenne) reduces pain more than placebo. Although H. procumbens, S. alba, S. officinale L., S. chilensis, and lavender essential oil also seem to reduce pain more than placebo, evidence for these substances was of moderate quality at best. Additional well-designed large trials are needed to test these herbal medicines against standard treatments. In general, the completeness of reporting in these trials was poor. Trialists should refer to the CONSORT statement extension for reporting trials of herbal medicine interventions.

PubMed 25536022 ↗
PLoS Negl Trop Dis · 2016 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Plasmodium falciparum Infection Status among Children with Schistosoma in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Conclusion: The current review suggests S. mansoni or S. haematobium co-infection may be associated with increased prevalence of asymptomatic/uncomplicated P. falciparum infection in children, but may protect against high density P. falciparum infection and related reduction in haemoglobin level.

PubMed 27926919 ↗
Parasit Vectors · 2016 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Plasmodium falciparum and soil-transmitted helminth co-infections among children in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Conclusion: The findings suggest that STH infection may increase susceptibility to asymptomatic/uncomplicated P. falciparum infection but may protect malaria-related anaemia in children. Future studies should investigate the effect of STH infection upon the incidence of severe P. falciparum infection among children in SSA.

PubMed 27306987 ↗
Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2006 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Herbal medicine for low back pain

Conclusion: Harpagophytum Procumbens, Salix Alba and Capsicum Frutescens seem to reduce pain more than placebo. Additional trials testing these herbal medicines against standard treatments are needed. The quality of reporting in these trials was generally poor. Trialists should refer to the CONSORT statement extension for reporting trials of herbal medicine interventions.

PubMed 16625605 ↗

Dosage people report

As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.

500 mg1-2x daily
dailyas reported

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

heavy sweating ×1

What users say

Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.

“I took 500mg Cayenne once or twice per day for a few months. Made me sweat heavily during normal temp.”
Source discussion ↗
“Cayene”
Source discussion ↗
“I see things like green tea, cinnamon, mineral sea salt, turmeric, and cayenne as part of my daily stack”
Source discussion ↗
Top discussions (3)

Other options for digestion

User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate