Cayenne Pepper Also known as Guinea spice, Cow-horn pepper, Aleva, Bird pepper Culinary: To add heat, use sparingly. Medicinal: This is the herbalist's best-kept secret! Cayenne pepper is known to increase metabolism by immediately influencing the venous structure. It is nothing short of amazing with its effects on the circulatory system, as it feeds the vital elements into the cell structure of capillaries, veins, and arteries and helps adjust blood pressure to normal levels. Yes, cayenne pepper for high blood pressure is certainly one of its core uses, but cayenne cleans the arteries as well, helping to rid the body of the bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.