Cayenne

The capital of French Guiana, on Cayenne Island at the mouth of the Cayenne River. Founded by the French in 1643, it was the center of a penal colony from the 1850s until the 1940s. Population: 61,600.

Description

Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens, C. annum) is a stimulating herb that is well known for its pungent taste and smell. Cayenne is a popular spice used in many different regional styles of cooking, but it has also been used medicinally for thousands of years.

The name cayenne is derived from a Tupi word, "kyinha." The cayenne plant produces long red peppers and grows to a height of 2–6 ft (0.5–2 m). The plant is native to tropical areas of America and is cultivated throughout the world in tropic and subtropic climate zones. Most of the United States' cayenne supply is imported from India and Africa.

Cayenne is a member of the genus Capsicum. Other species of this genus include Tabasco peppers, African peppers, Mexican chili peppers, bell peppers, pimentoes, paprikas, and bird peppers. Cayenne is often referred to as chili, which is the Aztec name for cayenne pepper.

The main medicinal properties of cayenne are derived from a chemical called capsaicin. Capsaicin is the ingredient that gives peppers their heat. A pepper's capsaicin content ranges from 0–1.5%. Peppers are measured according to heat units. The degree of heat determines the peppers' value and usage. Generally, the hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains. In addition to adding heat to the pepper, capsaicin acts to relieve pain and reduce platelet stickiness. Other constituents of cayenne are vitamins C and E and carotenoids.

Cayenne has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-septic, diuretic, analgesic, expectorant, and diaphoretic properties. The dried ripe fruit and seeds of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. Cayenne is available in many forms, including capsules, ointments, liniments, tinctures, creams, oils, and dried powders.

Origin

Cayenne was originally grown in Central and South America in pre-Columbian times. It was cultivated in Mexico 7,000 years ago and in Peru 4,000 years ago. Native Americans have used cayenne as a food and as a medicine for stomach aches, cramping pains, gas, and disorders of the circulatory system for 9,000 years. Cayenne was brought to Europe in the fifteenth century by Christopher Columbus. From Europe, cayenne was transported to tropical regions around the world, where it is now grown.

General Use

Today cayenne is used worldwide to treat a variety of health conditions, including weak digestion, chronic pain, shingles, heart disease, sore throats, headaches, high cholesterol levels, poor circulation, and toothache.

Indian Ayurvedic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean medicines use cayenne to treat many different conditions. One Ayurvedic remedy for pain combines cayenne and mustard seeds into a paste to be applied to the affected area. Ayurvedic medicine also utilizes cayenne to treat gas and poor digestion. Chinese medicine employs cayenne for digestive ailments. An ointment or tincture made from cayenne is used in China and Japan to heal frostbite and myalgia (muscle pains). The German Commission E has approved cayenne in the treatment of painful muscle spasms, arthritis, rheumatism, neuralgia, lumbago, and chilblains.

Digestive Aid

Cayenne is used as a digestive aid throughout India, the East Indies, Africa, Mexico, and the Caribbean. When taken internally, cayenne soothes the digestive tract and stimulates the flow of saliva and stomach secretions. These secretions contain substances that help digest food.

Cayenne is also used to relieve constipation as it stimulates gastric secretions, thereby activating a sluggish gastrointestinal tract.

Circulatory Helper

Many people take cayenne internally to treat and prevent heart disease. The intake of cayenne has been found to have a positive effect on the circulatory system. Cayenne may reduce the risk of heart attacks. It has been shown to lower cholesterol levels and the risk of blood clots. Studies have shown cayenne to lower blood pressure. A study in India showed that cayenne prevented a rise in liver and serum cholesterol levels when taken with dietary cholesterol.

Pain Relief

Cayenne is a proven remedy for the temporary relief of pain, both external and internal. Its analgesic effect acts to distract sensory nerves from the irritation or pain, which results in a temporary abatement of pain. The capsaicin in cayenne depletes substance P, a chemical that sends pain signals to the brain from the local nervous system. When there is a lack of substance P, the sensation of pain diminishes because it cannot reach the brain.

Capsaicin has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pain caused by shingles, an adult disease that is caused by the virus that causes chicken pox in children. Such over-the-counter (OTC) creams as Zostrix or Heet contain capsaicin and are applied externally to treat rheumatic and arthritic pains, cluster headaches, diabetic foot pain, fibromyalgia, and post-herpetic nerve pain. These creams usually contain 0.025–0.075% capsaicin.

Research in 2002 helped to quantify capsaicin's pain relieving effects. Creams containing the compound lowered pain in arthritis sufferers' hands by 40 percent when used four times a day and 77 percent of people with pain from long-term shingles had reduced pain after using the cream for four months. The study also said that capsaicin-containing cream is less expensive and safer than other painkillers used for the same conditions.

Other Conditions

Cayenne can be an effective remedy for relieving congestion and coughs. It acts to thin mucus, thus improving the flow of body fluids. It is also used to boost energy and relieve stress-related fatigue and depression. Late in the 1990s, British journals reported that people taking cayenne daily increased their fat metabolism and had decreased appetites. In addition, cayenne can be used as a treatment to prevent thumb sucking and nail biting in children.

Preparations

Internal dosage: Cayenne should be taken internally as directed by an experienced practitioner.

Creams: Use as directed. Generally creams must be applied three or four times per day for two to three weeks before their effects are felt.

Oil: Cayenne oil may be rubbed on sprains, swelling, and sore muscles and joints to relieve pain. It should not, however, be applied to open cuts or broken skin.

Tea: To ease gas and stomach cramps or to help promote digestion, a tea may be made by adding 0.25 tsp of cayenne to 1 cup of hot water. When taken as a hot tea, cayenne will induce sweating. Taken as a cold tea, cayenne works as a diuretic, increasing urination. Cayenne teas, however, should not be given to children.

Toothache: Chewing on a hot pepper may provide temporary relief from toothache.

Cold feet: Ground cayenne added to talcum powder or cornstarch can be placed inside a pair of socks. The cayenne causes the blood vessels under the skin of the feet to dilate, thus stimulating extra blood flow and providing warmth to the feet.

Sore throat: To treat a sore throat, combine cayenne with myrrh and gargle as needed. This mixture can also be used as an antiseptic mouthwash. Again, this treatment should not be given to children.

Precautions

To avoid irritating sensitive tissues, do not apply heating pads or hot compresses to areas of the skin where cayenne has been applied.

Do not apply cayenne to an area for longer than two days since the heat may cause nerve damage. Allow four days to pass before applying cayenne in the same location.

Avoid contact with mucous membranes, eyes, open wounds, and sensitive areas.

Wash hands after using cayenne or wear gloves when applying it externally.

Persons with an active gastrointestinal ulcer should not use cayenne internally without consulting a physician.

Side Effects

Cayenne may irritate the mouth, throat, eyes, and open wounds. Drinking a glass of milk may relieve burning in the mouth and throat caused by consumption of cayenne. The protein in the milk helps to counteract the capsaicin.

Large internal doses of cayenne may produce vomiting and/or stomach pain.

Interactions

Asthma patients who are taking theophylline should consult a physician before taking cayenne. Cayenne may increase the amount of theophylline absorbed by the patient's system, thus possibly leading to toxicity.

Resources

Books

Lininger, D.C., Skye. The Natural Pharmacy. Rocklin, CA: Prima Health, 1998.

Periodicals

Ackerson, Amber. "Scaling Down: Lose that Pear Shape with These Safe Supplements." Better Nutrition (August 2002): 40–42.

"Non-Drug Pain Relief." Women's Health Letter (September 2002): 4.

Tyler, Varro E. "Six Hot Remedies from 1 Red-Hot Pepper." Prevention (February 1999): 76.

[Article by: Jennifer Wurges; Teresa G. Odle]

For more information on Cayenne, visit Britannica.com.

Local Time: Jul 14, 12:02 AM

This article is about the capital of French Guiana. For other uses, see Cayenne (disambiguation).

Coordinates: 4°55′22″N 52°19′37″W / 4.9227°N 52.3269°W / 4.9227; -52.3269

Commune of Cayenne Town hall of Cayenne
Location
Location of the commune (in red) within French Guiana
Administration
Country	France
Region	Guyane (préfecture)
Department	Guyane
Arrondissement	Cayenne
Canton	Chief town of 6 cantons
Intercommunality	Communauté de communes du Centre Littoral
Mayor	Rodolphe Alexandre (PSG)
Statistics
Land area1	23.60 km2 (9.11 sq mi)
Population2	50,594  (1999 census)
- Density	2,144 /km² (5,550 /sq mi)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	97302/ 97300
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Cayenne's coat of arms on a municipal sign.

Cayenne is the capital of French Guiana, an overseas région and département of France located in South America. The city stands on a former island at the mouth of the Cayenne River on the Atlantic coast.

At the 2006 census, there were 100,323 inhabitants in the urban area of Cayenne (as defined by INSEE), 50,594 of whom lived in the city (commune) of Cayenne proper, and the remainder in the neighbouring commune of Remire-Montjoly. The commune of Matoury (18,032 inhabitants in 1999), where the Cayenne-Rochambeau Airport is located, is also a suburb of Cayenne, but it was not included in the official definition of the urban area by INSEE in 1999.

Contents 1 History 2 Economy 3 Culture 4 Points of interest 5 Travel 6 Climate 7 Administration 8 Cayenne in popular culture 9 References 10 External links

History

See also: History of French Guiana

Ignored by Spanish explorers, who found the region too hot and poor to be claimed, the region was not colonized until 1604, when a French settlement was founded. However, it was soon destroyed by the Portuguese, who were determined to enforce the provisions of the Treaty of Tordesillas. French colonists returned in 1643 and founded Cayenne, but were forced to leave once more following Amerindian attacks. In 1664, France finally succeeded at establishing a permanent settlement at Cayenne. Over the next decade the colony changed hands between the French, Dutch and English, before being restored to France. It was captured by an Anglo-Portuguese force at the invasion of Cayenne in 1809 and administered from Brazil until 1814, when it was returned to French control. It was used as a French penal settlement from 1854 to 1938.

The city's population has recently grown dramatically, owing to high levels of immigration (chiefly from the West Indies and Brazil) as well as a high birthrate.

Economy

Cayenne is an important industrial centre for the shrimp industry. The city formerly also contained sugar refineries.

Culture

Cayenne is very ethnically diverse, with Creole, Haitian, Brazilian, European, and Hmong and other Asian communities. It is famous for its annual carnival which starts with the arrival of Vaval (the Carnival King) on the first Sunday after New Year's Day and continues with very popular all-night costume balls and Sunday afternoon parades every weekend until Mardi Gras.

Points of interest

Cayenne centres on its main commercial street, the Avenue Général de Gaulle. At the east end of the avenue near the coast is the Place de Palmistes and the Place de Grenoble (also known as the Place Léopold Héder). Most of the official buildings are located in this area: the Hôtel de Ville (the town hall) built by Jesuits in the 1890s, the Post Office, the Préfecture, residence of French Guiana's Préfect, and the Musée Départmental Franconie. To the west of this area lies Fort Cépérou, built in the 17th century, though now mostly in ruins. To the south lie the Place du Coq and Place Victor Schoelcher (named in honour of the anti-slavery activist) and a market.

To the south of this compact region is the Village Chinois (known as Chicago), separated from the rest of Cayenne by the Canal Laussat. It has a reputation for being a dangerous area.

Other buildings in the city include the Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur de Cayenne, municipal library, the municipal museum and a museum of French Guianese Culture (Musée des Cultures Guyanaise) and a scientific research institute (IRD or Institut de recherche pour le développement, formerly Orstom). The Jardin botanique de Cayenne is the city's botanical garden.

There are some beaches along the coast, like Montjoly and Montabo, and several promontories, though the waters contain sharks.

Travel

Cayenne is served by the Cayenne-Rochambeau Airport, which is located in the neighbouring commune of Matoury.

There are many hotels in the city: Central Hotel, La Bodéga, Hôtel Ajoupa, Hôtel Amazonia, Hôtel les Amandiers, Hôtel Neptima, Hôtel Novotel and Ket-Tai.

Climate

Weather averages for Cayenne
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	27 (81)	28 (82)	28 (82)	28 (82)	28 (82)	28 (82)	29 (84)	30 (86)	31 (88)	30 (86)	30 (86)	28 (82)	29 (84)
Daily Mean °C (°F)	26 (79)	26 (79)	26 (79)	26 (79)	26 (79)	26 (79)	26 (79)	26 (79)	27 (81)	27 (81)	26 (79)	26 (79)	26 (79)
Average low °C (°F)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	22 (72)	22 (72)	22 (72)	22 (72)	23 (73)	23 (73)
Precipitation cm (inches)	38 (15)	32 (12.6)	38 (15)	38 (15)	51 (20.1)	39 (15.4)	20 (7.9)	10 (3.9)	4 (1.6)	5 (2)	12 (4.7)	29 (11.4)	320 (126)
Source: Weatherbase[1]

Administration

Cayenne is the chief town of six cantons:

• The first canton (North West) has 3,935 inhabitants;
• The second canton (North East) has 5,730 inhabitants;
• The third canton (South West) has 8,017 inhabitants;
• The fourth canton (Centre) has 5,955 inhabitants;
• The fifth canton (South) has 9,750 inhabitants;
• The sixth canton (South East) has 17,207 inhabitants

Cayenne in popular culture

The French folk song Cayenne (named after the main city of French Guiana) tells the story of a pimp who shoots a well-to-do client who grossly disrespected a prostitute, and is then convicted and transferred to the infamous penitentiary. The song has been covered in recent years by rock/punk groups such as Parabellum.

In The Hardy Boys #12: Footprints under the Window, The Hardys' investigations take them to Cayenne.

Porsche called its first SUV the Porsche Cayenne.

Cayenne pepper is a popular cooking spice and pepper cultivar in the Western world.

References

1. ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Cayenne". http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=50418&refer=&units=metric. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cayenne

• Préfecture de Guyane Official website
• Images of Cayenne and French Guiana
• Cayenne photo gallery
• Clickable map

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - cayennepeber

idioms:

• cayenne pepper    cayennepeber

n. - Cayenne

Français (French)
n. - Cayenne, poivre de Cayenne

idioms:

• cayenne pepper    poivre de Cayenne

n. - Cayenne

Deutsch (German)
n. - Cayennepfeffer

idioms:

• cayenne pepper    Cayennepfeffer

n. - Cayenne

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - καγιέν, κοκκινοπίπερο

idioms:

• cayenne pepper    (φυτολ.) καψικόν το κοινόν, κόκκινο πιπέρι

Italiano (Italian)
Caienna

idioms:

• cayenne pepper    pepe di Caienna

Português (Portuguese)
n. - pimenta-de-caiena (f) (Bot.)

idioms:

• cayenne pepper    pimenta-de-caiena (f) (Bot.)

n. - Cayenne

Русский (Russian)
кайенский перец

idioms:

• cayenne pepper    кайенский перец

Español (Spanish)
n. - Cayena

idioms:

• cayenne pepper    pimienta de cayena, pimienta sacada del chile

n. - Cayena

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - kajennpeppar

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
卡宴

辣椒

idioms:

• cayenne pepper    辣椒末

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 卡宴

n. - 辣椒

idioms:

• cayenne pepper    辣椒末

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 고추, 고추가루

캐이엔 (프랑스령 가이아나의 주요한 항구이자 수도)

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 唐辛子

idioms:

• cayenne pepper    唐辛子, トウガラシ

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮פלפל אדום‬
n. - ‮קאיין‬

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