Botanical Name: Capsicum frutescens/Capsicum spp. Common Names: Capsaicin, Chili Pepper, Red Pepper Overview Native Americans have used cayenne (or red pepper) as both food and medicine for at least 9,000 years. The hot and spicy taste of cayenne pepper is primarily due to an ingredient known as capsaicin. Although it tastes hot, capsaicin actually stimulates a region of the brain…