Ingredient
Bird pepper (capsicum) in ZenCortex: What the Label and the Research Say
Bird pepper (capsicum) in ZenCortex is a fruit extract of Capsicum annuum, a hot chili, listed tenth in the 200 mg Proprietary Herbal Blend. By label order it can weigh at most 20 mg per 1 mL serving, and the label prints no real amount. Its research is on appetite and weight, not on hearing.
Written by the ZenCortex label deskUpdated
The basics01
What is bird pepper (capsicum) in ZenCortex?
Bird pepper (capsicum) in ZenCortex is a fruit extract of Capsicum annuum, a hot chili. The label calls it "Bird Pepper (fruit) extract" and lists it tenth.
Capsaicin is the compound that makes chilies hot, and it is the part researchers study. The label does not say how much capsaicin the extract holds, so the heat level of a dropper is unknown.
The info page markets the line for circulation and "healthy inflammation". Capsicum is marketed more widely for digestion, circulation, type 2 diabetes and weight loss (MSK, Cayenne (Capsicum)). Hearing is not on that list.
The best page we found is the Memorial Sloan Kettering profile of cayenne, a close relative in the Capsicum family. We cite it for the chili family, not for the exact extract on the label.
Label position02
Where does bird pepper sit on the ZenCortex label?
Bird pepper is line 10 of 22, after forskolin and before grapefruit seed extract. The blend totals 200 mg per 1 mL serving.
Blend lines are listed from most to least by weight, with only the total printed (eCFR, 21 CFR 101.36 Supplement Facts). Bird pepper weighs no more than the nine lines above it and no less than the twelve below it.
Tenth of 22 is just inside the top half. It is a middle line, and the label gives no gram figure for any middle line.
Label math03
How much bird pepper is in ZenCortex?
The label does not say. By label order, bird pepper can weigh at most 20 mg per serving, a tenth of the blend.
The calculation: 200 mg divided by 10 is 20 mg. An even split of 22 lines gives about 9.1 mg. So the ceiling is a little over double the even share.
Two droppers a day put the daily ceiling at 40 mg of extract. How much of that is capsaicin is also unprinted. The cited page gives no standard dose.
The bar splits the 200 mg blend 22 ways. See the ZenCortex ingredients page for all lines.
Research04
What does research say about capsicum?
Research on capsicum is small in effect and unclear in meaning. The Memorial Sloan Kettering page says capsaicin's heat-making and appetite effects are small, and its role in weight management is unclear (MSK, Cayenne (Capsicum)).
A systematic review it cites found no effect on blood pressure or heart rate. Evidence for cancer is conflicting. We found no study of capsicum and hearing, ringing in the ears or memory.
That matters because "circulation" is the info page's reason for including it. A claim about blood flow to the ears needs a measurement of blood flow to the ears, and none is cited.
What the label order adds
A ceiling of 20 mg, nothing more. Findings on capsaicin at known amounts cannot be carried over to an unstated slice of a 200 mg blend.
At a glance05
What are the bird pepper facts in one table?
The table sets the label wording beside the ceiling, the research and the main caution.
The amount row is arithmetic. The evidence row is about chili research in general.
| Name on the label | Bird Pepper (fruit) extract (Capsicum annuum) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Hot chili pepper fruit; capsaicin is its active part |
| Place on the label | Line 10 of 22 in the 200 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per serving (1 mL) | At most 20 mg per 1 mL serving (label order); 9.1 mg if the 22 lines were split evenly |
| What research used | No standard dose on the cited page |
| Strength of evidence | Capsaicin's effects on appetite are small and its role in weight is unclear; no effect on blood pressure in a review. Nothing on hearing |
| Marketed or traditional use | Marketed for circulation and 'healthy inflammation' (info page) |
| Main caution | Sweating, stomach irritation and pain are common; avoid with cyclosporine; people with high blood pressure or heart conditions should ask a professional. |
ZenCortex: from $49 a bottle60 mL drops · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 and 6 · 60-day guarantee
See packsCautions06
Is bird pepper safe, and who should be careful?
Common effects of capsicum are sweating, eye or nose irritation, and stomach irritation and pain (MSK, Cayenne (Capsicum)). Case reports mention high blood pressure after large intakes and stomach bleeding.
The page says to avoid it with cyclosporine. It may affect blood pressure medicines, increase the cough from ACE inhibitors, and has possible antiplatelet effects whose relevance is unknown. People with high blood pressure or heart conditions should ask a provider first.
The label asks adults to consult a physician before use, especially with a medication or a medical condition. It is not for anyone under 18 or pregnant or nursing, which matches the advice to avoid capsicum in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Never stop or change a dose because you started a supplement. Ask a pharmacist to check every product you use (NCCIH, Using Dietary Supplements Wisely).
Claims vs evidence07
Does bird pepper improve circulation to the ears?
No study shows that bird pepper improves circulation to the ears. The bottle claims only "Supports Healthy Hearing†" for the whole product.
NIDCD says supplements are often advertised for tinnitus but none has been proven (NIDCD, Tinnitus). If your hearing has changed, book a hearing test (NIDCD, Who Can I Turn to for Help with Hearing Loss). Sudden hearing loss in one ear needs same-day care (NIDCD, Sudden Deafness).
A fair read: a chili extract at an unstated size, with small effects on appetite in other research.
Before you order08
Should bird pepper affect your decision to buy ZenCortex?
It should if you have a sensitive stomach, take cyclosporine or blood pressure medicine, or have a heart condition. Otherwise it is one line among 22.
A bottle lasts 30 days at two droppers a day. Packs cost $79, $69 or $49 a bottle on the seller's info page (ZenCortex info page). See ZenCortex price and the guarantee.
Keep reading09
Which ZenCortex ingredient page comes next?
The next page covers forskolin, grapefruit seed and raspberry ketones, and the one before is gymnema sylvestre. All 14 ingredient pages share one layout.
Read the ZenCortex supplement facts and ZenCortex side effects next.
FAQ10
ZenCortex questions people ask
Is bird pepper the same as cayenne?
Both are Capsicum chilies. The label names Capsicum annuum as bird pepper, and the best page we found is about cayenne. We use it for the chili family and cannot say the extracts match.
How much bird pepper is in a ZenCortex dropper?
The label does not say. Tenth in a 200 mg blend, bird pepper can weigh at most 20 mg per 1 mL dropper, which is 200 divided by 10. An even split of 22 lines would give about 9.1 mg.
Does the bird pepper in ZenCortex make it spicy or burn?
The label does not state a capsaicin amount, and the drops also hold citrus extract, flavors, stevia and xylitol. Common effects of capsicum are sweating and stomach irritation (MSK, Cayenne (Capsicum)), so stop if the drops upset you.
Can capsicum cause stomach problems?
Yes. Stomach irritation and pain are common effects, and case reports describe stomach bleeding (MSK, Cayenne (Capsicum)). If you have ulcers or reflux, ask a clinician before using ZenCortex.
Does capsicum interact with cyclosporine?
The Memorial Sloan Kettering page says to avoid capsicum with cyclosporine (MSK, Cayenne (Capsicum)). If you take it, ask your transplant team about ZenCortex first, and keep taking cyclosporine as prescribed.
Can capsicum raise or lower blood pressure?
A systematic review found no effect on blood pressure, yet case reports mention hypertension after large intakes (MSK, Cayenne (Capsicum)). People with high blood pressure should ask a provider before using ZenCortex.
Does capsicum help with weight loss?
Its effect is small and its role in weight management is unclear (MSK, Cayenne (Capsicum)). ZenCortex makes no weight claim, and the amount of bird pepper in a dropper is not printed.
Why does the info page mention healthy inflammation for bird pepper?
It is seller wording, and we found no cited study that backs it for this extract. The bottle itself claims only "Supports Healthy Hearing†", so treat the phrase as marketing.
Who wrote this11
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Thezencortex, a retailer of ZenCortex, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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