Medical Uses and/or Benefits
Relieving the congestion of a cold. Hot spices, including hot pepper, irritate the mucous mem-
branes lining your nose and throat and the bronchi in your lungs, making the tissues “weep.”
The water secretions may make it easier for you to cough up mucus or blow your nose, thus
helping to relieve your congestion for a while.
Adverse Effects Associated with This Food
Irritant dermatitis. See Preparing this food (Hot peppers), above.
Painful urination. The irritating oils in peppers are eliminated through urination. They may
cause temporary irritation of the urinary tract.
Food/Drug Interactions
Peppers