Most of us don’t really think about pain relief when it comes to hot peppers. They’re usually the cause of our discomfort, not the cure for it. However, the fact remains that capsaicin, the active ingredient that gives peppers their hotness, is actually a pain reliever. Yes, capsaicin is an analgesic. This means that it has an important role that goes well beyond adding a little kick to your queso.
How Is Capsaicin an Analgesic?
To really understand the role of capsaicin as an analgesic, you need to know a bit more about how it works in the body. While the method of action is not completely understood, we do know a little bit about it.
Basically, capsaicin locks into the same receptors that are responsible for noting dangerously high ambient temperatures and telling your body to start the cooling process (sweating). This is why you sweat when you eat lots of hot food. However, eventually, capsaicin has a desensitizing effect. It also reduces the amount of substance P in the body, which is responsible for helping to transmit pain signals to the brain.
When this desensitization occurs, the receptors in the affected area are no longer as able to react, and pain signals are at least dampened. This results in pain relief.
How Is Capsaicin Used to Treat Pain?
You’ll find capsaicin as an analgesic in many different products. For instance, both creams and ointments use it as an active ingredient to achieve pain relief. These products are particularly useful for treating things like muscle pain, pulled or strained muscles, and the like. However, they can also be used to treat cluster headaches, lower back pain, and even many types of arthritis.
There are other uses for capsaicin as an analgesic. For instance, while patches with .075% to .25% concentration can be used to treat back pain and muscle soreness, patches with up to 8% concentration can be used to treat neuropathy in patients with diabetes and even HIV. It is also being experimented with in many other areas, as it has shown promise for boosting the metabolism and reducing appetite, as well as for use in battling many forms of cancer.
Is Capsaicin as an Analgesic Safe to Use?
For most people, capsaicin is safe, although it can have some side effects. However, there are some who have a sensitivity to it, and some people are allergic, so it’s good to check with your doctor before using capsaicin products.
You should also avoid getting capsaicin-based medicines in your eyes or mouth, as it will cause serious burning. It should also not be taken orally. It is also important to understand that capsaicin does create a tingling or burning sensation at first, although this will subside as you use the product and eventual go away. You should use creams and ointments at least four times per day, for about two weeks, and it may take that long to notice maximum pain relief.