Keeping your feet warm is important for healthy foot in the long run. Cayenne pepper is one inexpensive and easy way to keep them dry.
I’m sure you saw cayenne salve, also called capsaicin salt or ointment, in your local pharmacy or supermarket shelves. It is used by heating the muscles and loosening them up to alleviate back and neck pain. It is functioning the same way on the feet. You don’t have to pay pharmacy prices, though, you can use these homemade pepper remedies to warm your feet all winter for just pennies.
Will Any Pepper Work?
It will work with any peppers that contain capsaicin. You should be careful about using peppers that are too high on the Scoville-scale, they could burn your skin. On the other hand, peppers may not be hot enough at low end.
We can even use their homegrown peppers. To remove all the water, first dry them on a dehydrator or in the oven, then use a grinder to turn them to powder.
Sprinkle Cayenne Powder on Your Feet to Keep Them Warm
The cheapest and easiest way to warm your feet with hot pepper is to sprinkle a bit of it on your foot or in your socks. You have to be careful not to use too much and to have it spread evenly over the feet. Next, try out a small amount, certain people are more sensitive to peppers. Depending on the reaction, use more or less cayenne.
One good way of limiting the amount of pepper and helping to get it evenly distributed is to add a small amount of pepper. Perhaps 1/2 teaspoon, into 1/4 cup of cornstarch or foot powder. Mix it well and use a teaspoon in each sock. Shift the sock a bit around to get the powder evenly distributed. Of course, you could also shake the powder evenly onto your feet from a sifter or shaker jar. This method keeps your feet warm and dry. It’s great to use on cold days, wet days, or when working in snow.
Eat Hot Peppers to Keep Your Hands and Feet Warm
When you heat hot peppers, it heats up the entire body. The active ingredient in hot peppers like cayenne is capsaicin. Capsaicin causes dilation of the blood vessels, causes extra blood flow and gives warmth to the hands and feet. Many people immediately feel the effect, while others feel the heat progressively increasing over time.
Eating hot peppers has the benefit of adding essential nutrients to your diet too. Peppers are rich in beneficial vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory agents. Peppers can keep you healthy and warm through the winter.
Related: Medical Preparedness with Alternative Methods
Make a Cayenne Pepper Salve
You have also seen salves made from cayenne pepper, which are commercially available. Some also contain, depending on their use, ginger or essential oils. Those salves will warm your feet throughout the day while remaining in place. They often help to heal the skin, depending on what sort of oils you apply.
Such cayenne salves don’t have to be paid a fortune. With this easy recipe, you can make your own. Most recipes need a double boiler. However, I take a shortcut and use my crock pot and a mason jar to infuse the oil and melt the beeswax. Follow my instructions below.
Cayenne Pepper Salve
- 2 Tablespoons cayenne powder
- 1/2 cup olive oil or other carrier oil
- 1/2-ounce beeswax
1. Put one to two inches of warm water in the bottom of your crock pot and set it on medium.
2. Place the beeswax into a small heatproof jar and the olive oil into a second small jar. I use 8-ounce mason jars.
3. Add the cayenne powder to the oil and mix it thoroughly. Place the oil and pepper jar into the crock pot. I put the lid on loosely to keep condensation out of the jar. Place the lid on the crock pot and allow it to heat gently for 4 hours. (Or infuse it on low overnight)
4. Remove the lid and place the jar with the beeswax into the crock pot and allow it to warm until the wax is melted.
5. Remove the jars from the crock pot, dry off the outsides, and pour the oil through a cheesecloth or a strainer, if desired, to remove the pepper. (optional)
6. Stir the infused oil into the wax slowly. Stir the wax and oil are until completely mixed.
7. Pour the salve into small jars or tins and allow it to cool.
8. Label the salve and store in a cool, dark place for future use.
Warnings When Using Cayenne
- Wash your hands thoroughly after touching hot peppers. A tiny speck left on your finger will cause a burning in your eye like you’ve never felt before. Trust me on this one! (I thought I was going blind.)
- Cayenne pepper can stain your socks and your feet.
- Pepper can burn if it gets into cuts or open wounds, so use with care.
- Use sparingly at first, it can warm more than expected. Gradually increase the amount until you find the right amount for you.
