Developed a sensitivity/allergy to cayenne?

Hello everyone,

I've been taking cayenne and eating hot peppers pretty regularly the past few months, and it has been definitely benefiting me. I've gained a pretty strong tolerance for the heat as well.

However, lately I've been getting a lot of head and neck pressure, even feeling it in my eyes at times. In my neck it feels strongly like my jugular veins or carotid arteries are clogged and closed up during that pressure, even though they're obviously not (I'd be stroking if that was the case). It's pretty disabling, especially considering that it's on top of all the other health issues I'm dealing with. It takes several hours to pass, and the other day it lasted all day and I woke up with it still lingering a little.

I began wondering what it could be or what could be causing it. At first I thought it could be blood Sugar spikes. I'm not diabetic, however I've been drinking more raw juice and eating fruits more than I ever have in my life, so it seemed plausible. I started drinking olive oil again regularly to counter that possibility, and it gave me some relief for a day or two.

Then on easter the other day I had that head pressure a little, so I took some cayenne thinking that perhaps it was high blood pressure causing that neck/head pressure. The pressure got stronger over the next two hours and I quickly went back home to measure my blood pressure to see if that was really the culprit. And no, it wasn't. My blood pressure was normal despite the pressure sensations. I checked it again several times the next few days when I felt pretty bad and each time my BP was fine.

I didn't take any cayenne on Tuesday or Wednesday, and I didn't really experience those sensations much. However, on Wednesday afternoon I ate some spicy cocktail and I immediately got that pressure again, in my neck. I went home to check my blood pressure one last time to see, and again it was normal, so I think the peppers are the cause.

I ate some spicy snack earlier today and I developed that pressure again, with a headache, so I'm pretty sure.

It seems like I've developed an allergy or sensitivity to peppers. Someone even suggested that to me on Easter but I dismissed it, even though that little voice inside ("the doctor within") agreed.

I've heard of people developing allergies suddenly when they eat a lot of one kind of food, including cayenne and peppers. Perhaps that is what is going on with me.

I was reading this article (http://www.southsidepride.com/0201/herbal.html) that suggested that food allergies are actually nutritional deficiencies, with pepper allergies being a niacin deficiency for example. I think I'm going to give this theory a try because I feel vulnerable without the option of cayenne, plus I really enjoy spicy foods.

Any ideas, advice, suggestions, or similar experiences? Tweet