To most of us the fiery chilli is no more than a herb or condiment used in cooking, and which is usually extremely hot to the palate.
It is this hot, or burning, characteristic of the plant which makes it very useful around the home for a myriad of safe, natural products, from deterring dogs or cats making a mess of your garden to helping to alleviate the miseries of cold and flu.
You can grow your own chillies, and there are hundreds of different varieties suitable to most climatic conditions, or simply buy them from your favorite greengrocer.
Chillies are very successful in deterring cats and dogs from digging in and around your favorite plants, and in also keeping cats from staking territorial claims. Dogs hate chilli powder - just sprinkle it on plants and places you don't want the animal to go. To keep cats from staking claims in your yard, grind up a whole bulb of garlic and mix with one teaspoon of cayenne chilli pepper and one litre of tepid water. Cover, steep for two hours, then strain through muslin cloth into a watering can or pump-spray bottle. Use whenever necessary.
An all-purpose insecticide, which will control wireworm, caterpillars, weevils, blackfly and aphids and leaf-sucking insects, can be made by bringing to the boil in one litre of water three chopped chillies, half a sliced onion and one clove of chopped garlic. Remove from the stove, cover and steep for two days and strain. This spray can be used on both indoor and outdoor plants and can be frozen for future use. Before using the insecticide mix in a little soft soap, or soapy water, so that it adheres to the plants. Chillies can also be ground up into a powder, using a pestle and mortar, and dusted on cabbages, cauliflowers, tomatoes, etc., to kill caterpillars. Store in a container with holes in its lid, and use as required.
At the onset of a cold or flu the addition of cayenne chilli to the following remedy will quickly give relief. Put two cloves of crushed garlic, half a teaspoon of ground ginger, one tablespoon of honey, the juice of one lemon and a pinch of cayenne pepper in a pre-warmed ceramic cup. Add the boiling water, cover and allow to steep for 10 minutes. Strain, reheat and drink immediately. A split chilli left to soak in warm vinegar for a few hours is reputed to aid in reducing the aches of rheumatism. Soak a cloth in the liquid and apply to the ache until it has gone.
When handling or grinding up chillies wear rubber cloves, and be careful not to touch your face, mouth or eyes - it burns and irritates for quite a long time. If you get chilli in your eyes, wash with milk or olive oil as it does not dissolve readily in water.