Capsaicin (cap-SAY-sin) is what makes cayenne peppers spicy-hot. Along with being very spicy, capsaicin also helps to relieve pain. It has anti-inflammatory effects, much like aspirin or ibuprofen.
You may wonder why you would want to put something spicy into your mouth if it is sore from cancer treatment. You should never put regular cayenne pepper into your sore mouth. This would be very painful. The following recipe, however, was developed by nurses and uses just enough of the cayenne pepper to get the anti-inflammatory pain relief, without the spicy-hot burning.
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup light corn syrup
- 2/3 cup water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 to 1 and 1/2 teaspoons powdered cayenne pepper (red pepper)*
Preparation:
- Combine all ingredients except vanilla and cayenne pepper in a stove-top pot.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 256°F (use a candy thermometer).
- Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and cayenne pepper.
- When cool enough to handle, pull taffy until firm.
- Lay out in a thin layer and let cool on waxed paper.
- When taffy is stiff, cut into strips, then small pieces.
- Wrap taffy in waxed paper and store in a cool place.
*Start by using only 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper in the first batch. You can add more cayenne pepper to the next batch if this gives you better pain relief and does not cause any burning sensation. You can add up to 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper per batch of taffy.
Sources
Berger A, Henderson M, Nadoolman W, Duffy V, Cooper D, Saberski L, Bartoshuk L. "Oral capsaicin provides temporary relief for oral mucositis pain secondary to chemotherapy/radiation therapy." Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 1995 10:243-48.
