christy,
You might want to try it just spooned into COLD water rather than a tea made with what I'm assuming is hot water. Gulp it down, don't sip. Believe it or not, this bypasses your tastebuds.
Not everyone can tolerate it, but there are a few ways to lessen the potential "pain" associated with chile consumption. Don't take it with any oils. It is soluble in both oil and alcohol. MIlk products may make it easier to take, but on the other end, well maybe not so much.
I don't know if it will help you convert to NSR, but this should help you in taking and "releasing" it. ;-P
As for it upsetting your stomach, not everyone is a chile-head. Sometimes, it may be a matter or "building up" over time in order to be able to tolerate it. Just as magnesium is built up over time, so may be a person's tolerance to chiles. Yes, different reasons for it, but still true. Sometimes it still won't help, but starting out small and building up may make a difference if you really want to consume it for the health benefits.
lisa
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So much of medicine is looking solely down the wrong end of the gun barrel, and that is really a pity for all of us---Shannon