City Cottage | Page 23

Five More Plants For Health

I love it when the medical profession develop a medication that is made from natural sources. After many years of suffering from intensely painful neuropathy in his feet, the doctor prescribed capsaicin cream for Paul. It has made a remarkable difference to the levels of pain he experiences and has proven to be a godsend for him.

Chilli

Chili or cayenne is a very useful plant and well loved for many reasons. Cooking wise it can add heat, piquancy and flavour to a dish and can even used to enhance the flavour of chocolate.

The ingredient capsaicin found in chillis is a remarkable analgesic, it helps relieve muscle, joint and nerve pain.

It can increase blood flow to improve circulation, particularly when applied to limbs , fingers and toes. It is an excellent remedy for unbroken chilblains.

A pinch of cayenne pepper in 20 ml lemon juice and equal amount of hot water, soothes and helps heal a sore throat.

Chillis help fight infection of the digestive system and though one doesn't necessarily associate chilli helping a stomach upset, it

does aid with healing diarrhoea and settling your bowels.

Growing chillies

In many ways the chilli is easier to grow than the tomato, being more tolerant to neglect ( but please don't neglect them) than their often grown greenhouse partners. They are started off in Spring and usually at high temperature, figures of more than 22oC for germination is not uncommon.

Once germinated they need to be potted on like tomatoes until placed into their final growing position, where they should be in full sun, frost free and have a high potash fertiliser.

Some varieties need their tops pinching out to make a bushy plant, but all will grow and fruit well into September.

Usually they start out green and mature to red, and it is this stage where they also increase in their heat. You will find chillies fun and very rewarding to grow! The sweet cayennes above are the second crop from this plant!