Suzy Cohen, R. Ph., is a licensed pharmacist with nearly 20 years of clinical experience. The author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist (HarperCollins, July '07), she is "America's Most Trusted Pharmacist," and has helped millions of patients in various clinical settings, such as retail, hospital, nursing home pharmacies, and through her nationally syndicated column, "Dear Pharmacist."  A former spokesperson for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Suzy Cohen is a member of the Institute of Functional Medicine, The Association of Natural Medicine Pharmacists and The American Pharmacists Association.  You can subscribe to Suzy's free weekly newsletter or ask her a question at her DearPharmacist website.

Guest Blogger Suzy Cohen--

ANSWER: I often mention cayenne pepper at talks because it’s cool! Chili peppers and jalapenos create a little 'heat' in the body, and this medicinal effect is fantastic for some people, especially those with circulation problems, like Reynaud's Syndrome (cold hands and feet). Peppers contain "capsaicin," which soothes digestive disorders. Go figure. But it's true. Naturopaths traditionally use cayenne to relieve indigestion, gas, nausea and promote gastric secretions. Here's an easy way to make a spicy tea. Try a cup of hot water with a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and some honey once a day.

Think of hot peppers when you have a cold. It will very quickly open up a stuffy nose for obvious reasons. Drink it as tea, don't snort it please! Some holistic practitioners prize the pepper for its ability to fend off cardiovascular disease. Remember, it improves blood flow to the arteries so this isn't so farfetched. Some docs even claim that cayenne pepper tea should be used in heart attack victims. As wild as that sounds, I can't deny the fact that cayenne pepper is a blood thinner and works similar to anti-coagulant drugs like Coumadin (warfarin), heparin, aspirin, Plavix and so forth. I'm not saying to substitute it for medicine; by all means, stick to your regimens. But it's certainly food for thought.

When chili pepper cream (Zostrix, Capzasin) is applied to the skin, it can numb the sensation of pain one feels with conditions such as psoriasis, or diabetic and shingles-related neuropathy. These creams, which can be purchased at pharmacies, should be fine to use along with prescribed Lyrica, Cymbalta, Neurontin (gabapentin) and other oral medications. Please don't ever apply pepper cream to open lesions and wash your hands well after application.

As for other spices that help heal the body? Yes, indeed, here are a few more of my favorites:

Oregano: Acts as an antibiotic and anti-fungal

Cilantro: Grabs heavy metals like mercury and aluminum and clears them from the body

Rosemary: Acts like a COX 2 inhibitor similar to Celebrex so it may ease arthritis. Also confers protection against breast cancer

Cardamom: Hello cardamom, goodbye Cialis. The Middle Eastern spice is an aphrodisiac and increases circulation to important parts, eh hem. You find it in Chai-spiced teas and coffee

Saffron: Very pricy because the center (or stigma) of the saffron flower is handpicked, that’s why it looks wiry. Saffron helps relieve asthma, promote sleep and enhance memory

Cinnamon: Helps balance blood sugar

Ginger: Nausea and morning sickness

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                Rosemary Kills Childhood Cancer Cells