It can be used topically as well and is often added to creams to help with join pain caused by osteo or rheumatoid arthritis. Surprisingly, in terms of topical pain management, it does have a known physiological effect that temporarily interferes with the passage of the neurotransmitters that transmit pain signals to the brain. It is also a metabolic stimulant and could help with weight loss. Tincture of chilli is very strong and really should only be used medicinally by professional herbalists - too much can blow your hat off and for some people it can cause stomach irritation, also it should not be applied to broken skin or sensitive areas of the body
Nevertheless, if you do like to add chillies to your food, did you know that they are easy plants to grow on a frost-free, sunny window-sill? I once kept a plant for three years, harvesting a number of chillies over that time. You could try saving some seed from a supermarket chilli. Germinate them in a fairly high heat - a small flower pot filled with moist potting compost, covered with cling-film and left in a consistently warm place like an airing cupboard should be OK. Surface sow and only lightly cover the seed with compost. They can be slow to germinate - so be patient, you should be rewarded after about three weeks with small green shoots. When the seedlings are big enough to handle, pot them on into slightly bigger pots using a good quality potting compost. You will only need one plant (they do not need a cross-pollinator) unless you are a serious chilli addict. Give the others away to friends with the instruction to keep them warm in the winter, not to over-water them and to pot them on into gradually bigger pots as the plant grows and feed them occasionally with a plant fertiliser.
They are pretty plants, their white flowers appearing freely and the fruits ripening at the same time.
How's that for a wonderful plant? Ornamental, culinary and medicinal - all in one little plant - marvelous!!
This information is meant for educational purposes only and not as a guide to self-treatment. Remember that herbs can interact with other drugs and may be contra-indicated if you have certain medical conditions, are pregnant or lactating. Take care when using wild plants or herbs, that you have the correct species from a reliable source.