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caused
his knees to ache. A well-known liniment that contained hot pepper was a
highly recommended topical pain reliever. He applied it to his knees. It
worked wonders! Boy, that was good stuff. Good until he had no hesitation
in trying it on his feet when they were aching one morning.
Well, he
rubbed his feet well, put on his brogans, hitched up the mule and started
plowing. Up one row and down the other they went. All the while the sun
was getting higher and hotter. After a while I saw him head toward the
house leading the mule. He kind of walked like he was barefoot on hot
coals. When he reached the house you could almost see smoke coming out of
his ears. His feet were practically on fire. We tried any remedy anyone
could think of but to no avail—we could not remove the liniment.
Finally, after about three days, it had worn off.
This served
a good purpose though. In all these years, I’ve never again heard him
say, "My feet hurt."
The above
words were written about midnight sometime in 1981. It was my first column
published in a newspaper. At the time I was not aware of my interest in
herbs. Accidentally, I had picked one of the most beneficial herbs –
peppers – as the topic of my first column.
Cayenne (capsicum)
is a truly American herb. According to legend, Columbus found this herb on
his trips to America and took it back to Europe with him. Now its use has
spread to the four corners of the Earth.
Practically
any southern garden will contain at least one variety of pepper;
therefore, I’ll not waste space on growing instructions. You already
know that. I’ll bet your ice boxes contain condiments that are made from
pepper. Mine does too.
When I was
a child my mother used a large sewing needle and a coarse thread to make a
long string of dried hot pepper that she hung in the kitchen. These
peppers were later used along with garden sage to season delicious
homemade pork sausage. This is just one of the many ways we use pepper in
our diets. The list is endless.
This is
good because pepper is very beneficial health wise. One reference book
states that it is high in vitamins A, C, iron and calcium. It also
contains vitamin G, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, B-complex and
potassium.
In addition
to making an excellent topical liniment, pepper aids in the treatment of
many ailments. My reference states that it is a good treatment for ulcers
because it stimulates the protective mucus membranes of the stomach.
Following a
heart attack an acquaintance was told to make capsicum a regular part of
his diet. His doctor agreed with the folk remedy that capsicum helps to
regulate the heart functions, strengthen the pulse rate and cleanse the
circulatory system. Since this herb reportedly speeds up the metabolism
and circulation, probably it would aid in keeping us warmer if taken on a
regular schedule. I know that a small amount sprinkled in the shoes will
keep a person’s feet warmer in winter.
Once I cut
a triangular gash on my finger with scissors. After proper cleansing, I
applied a generous portion of powdered cayenne and a bandage. My wound
stopped bleeding and healed rapidly.
As stated,
my first published article is quoted at the beginning of this column. My
first editor (with whom I have lost contact) begged me to have those first
stories combined into book form. I might, if ever I find an agent.
As always,
I warn you to check with your physician before taking any herbal remedy.
However, cayenne pepper is a common foodstuff and should receive your
doctor’s okay.
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