Imagine for a moment your worst nightmare. You’ve had a sudden, serious heart event. The ambulance arrives, and the paramedics load you on a gurney.

You’re hoisted into the ambulance. It roars off to the hospital, sirens blaring. Inside, a paramedic opens your shirt and rubs salve on your belly.

The next morning, your cardiologist stops by your hospital bed. “Good news,” she tells you. “Your heart will be fine.”

The reason? It was the salve the paramedics used. Or, rather, something extraordinary in the salve.

That “something extraordinary” is capsaicin. It’s the chemical that makes cayenne pepper hot. But it does a lot more than spice up your food.

We’ve known for years that capsaicin has heart-health benefits. Oxidation of cholesterol is a major cause of clogged arteries. Capsaicin helps your body keep this oxidation under control.(1) It supports healthy levels of cholesterol and fats in your blood, too.(2)

But capsaicin may also support the survival of your heart’s muscle cells. And it works when those cells are under the worst stress – after a major cardiac event. That’s great news, because these events can do a lot of damage.

Here’s the story in a nutshell:

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati had already discovered that making a small cut in the belly of mice – immediately after a serious cardiac event – reduced damage to the heart muscle. In fact, damage to the heart dropped by an incredible 81%.

You see, the incision stimulates certain nerve pathways. The body’s response to this stimulation is to protect the heart… exactly what you need when your heart’s in trouble.

Taking their study a step further, the researchers tested a cream containing capsaicin. The results were amazing. Capsaicin worked even better than their previous technique. Damage to heart tissue plummeted by 85%! Just by applying capsaicin cream to the mouse’s belly.(3)

According to the lead author, Keith Jones, “These are the most powerful cardioprotective effects recorded to date.”

As a doctor, I agree. The numbers are astounding.

If the results are even close in human trials, it will be a major breakthrough. I can’t imagine how many people could be spared extensive heart damage. Or how many lives could be saved.

Plus capsaicin is safe, inexpensive and easy to find in topical form.

Besides running human trials, Jones and his team have plans to look at how this technique may apply to other serious health problems. If it does, it will be a major step forward for natural health.

I’ll be watching for developments… and I’ll fill you in when they happen.

References:

1 Ahuja KD and Ball MJ. Effects of daily ingestion of chilli on serum lipoprotein oxidation in adult men and women. Br J Nutr. 2006 Aug;96(2):239-42.

2 “Common Spices Work Better than Aspirin to Stop Blood Clots”, NaturalNews.com, June 16, 2009

“Common Spices Work Better than Aspirin to Stop Blood Clots”, NaturalNews.com, June 16, 2009

3 Jones WK, et al. Peripheral Nociception Associated With Surgical Incision Elicits Remote Nonischemic Cardioprotection Via Neurogenic Activation of Protein Kinase C Signaling. Circulation. 2009;120:S1-S9.

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