Hot peppers, renowned for the fiery taste they bring to many cousines, cayenne and chilly have been an important ingredient in traditional Indian Ayurvedic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean medicine as a remedy for digestive problems and muscle and joint aches for many years. Their healing properties come from oily compounds called capsinoids – particularly capsaicin. Modern research shows that when taken orally, capsaicin relieves excess gas, helps curb appetite, and may increase metabolism of dietary fats, thus helping to maintain a healthy weight.