Does cayenne pepper stop bleeding?

Marjory Wildcraft

Yes! it does.

I know it looks terrible, but really it wasn't that bad.

All that blood came from a small nick on my thumb I got while sharpening my machete. 

Finger wounds bleed profusely. 

I was in the middle of weeding a row and didn't want to stop just for a finger cut. So I let it bleed until I was done working. And I wanted to see if it would stop on its own. 

It did not. 

But the cayenne pepper stopped the bleeding immediately.

Cayenne is not offically a staple in my home med kit.

Michelle D

@Marjory Wildcraft what made you think to use cayenne pepper? That wouldn't have occurred to me. Did it burn in the cut?

judsoncarroll4

Yep, and pine pitch works well too. One of the best is the spores from puffball mushrooms... but as a friend found out the hard way, if you use puffball it will turn the wounds very black.... and if you pass out and can't tell the EMTs you used puffball they freak out!

vickeym

@Marjory Wildcraft you sound like me. Both of the serious cuts (including severing the tendon in my finger) I have gotten were while sharpening knives not while using them. I have used cayenne for cuts and was surprised it did not hurt much. Did stop the bleeding quickly. Have also used Yarrow leaves, just kinda crushed up with my fingers then held in place. Both worked great. Just had to be very careful when cleaning it out afterward before adding a bandage.

JodieDownUnder

@Marjory Wildcraft I have one very clear memory as a kid of cayenne stopping a large cut to the inside of my calf, while on holidays. A friends mum got a hook snagged on oysters on a sea swim pool (we were fishing off the pool) & I was lowered down to unhook it. The adult holding me by one arm kinda slipped & my leg went down the pole covered in oysters. Anyway when I was hauled back up I had a 3cm tear to the inside of my calf & it was bleeding profusely. Cayenne pepper came out of the first aid kit from the fishing tackle shop & sprinkled on my calf & bingo, bleeding stopped. Between that & spending lots of time in the salt water, it healed up in no time. And yes, no need to comment on actions taken by “mature adults” wanting to save a little old fishing hook!! I think I realised then that natural medicine had its place, that was around 1971.

nicksamanda11

I haven't tried it but it's in my first aid kit because I believe it will from all other's experiences I have heard.

annbeck62

I have heard cayenne pepper stops bleeding but haven't tried it. Did it sting? I know it can be used as a nose spray to stop a migraine but there is an initial sting - totally worth it if the headache is bad enough.