Starting tomorrow and allergic to pepper HELP!

I am going to start the fast tomorrow, i very first one ever, im nervous, but excited too. The thing is im allergic to pepper, do i have to use it, will it work without it?

Also, the salt water flush sounds a little scary, does it work? do you have to be fasting to do it? Does it get out the placque ive read about?

Any help would be welcome Thanks!

Julie