Maybe you’re already savvy to the fact that capsaicin is the active chemical ingredient in chili peppers, that magical thing that gives them their distinctive spice. You may even know that it’s what gives pepper spray its debilitating kick. What you may not know, though, is that it can also be helpful for sufferers of chronic migraines. That’s right: capsaicin spray for cluster headaches is a real thing, and it’s helping a lot of people who put up with uncomfortable levels of pain.
A Strange Remedy
If you suffer from migraines, chronic headaches and cluster headaches, you’ve probably gone to the moon and back trying to find relief: taken everything a doctor suggests, gone to acupuncture, regular massage therapy, etc. Maybe you’ve taken some really strange herbal remedies, and a whole lot of other things. We won’t judge. You might not have ever considered using capsaicin spray for cluster headaches, though – not all that surprising, really, when you consider what it is. Capsaicin, being so devilishly spicy, is the thing in peppers that makes your eyes water, after all.
If we told you it was useful for clearing your sinuses, you’d believe it without a doubt, right? So we’ll say it again because we admit it is a little bit hard to believe: according to no small amount of testimony from a variety of people, you can use capsaicin spray for cluster headaches.
A Bit of Science
According to some studies that have analyzed the effects of using capsaicin spray for cluster headaches, the remedy actually has a good amount of medical validity. Extracts of capsaicin administered nasally desensitize what’s called the trigeminal nerve, which in turn reduces CGRP. Don’t worry if that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. What you need to know is that CGRP is thought to be one of the main causes of pain you experience while having a migraine headache. By using capsaicin spray for cluster headaches, you are effectively lessening the trigeminal nerve’s ability to register pain. That, in turn, lessens the pain you experience.
When attempting to use capsaicin spray for cluster headaches, once applied nasally, you will most likely experience a tingling or stinging sensation. That’s the capsaicin working, letting you know the treatment is taking effect.
You may still be a bit on the leery side, and not wholly convinced of the benefits of using capsaicin spray for cluster headaches. That’s okay; we’ve got science and math on our side.
In a recent study, 18 patients who suffered from frequent migraines were given capsaicin spray for cluster headaches. Out of those 18, an amazing 72% actually experienced almost immediate, total relief from their pain. The remaining 28%, for the most part, experienced a lessening of pain and headache symptoms, and only one of the patients in the test experienced no change at all.
Of all the patients involved in the test who used capsaicin spray for cluster headaches, all of them experienced some degree of stinging in their nose, which lasted anywhere between 2 and 10 minutes. Some of the patients reported sneezing, and a bit of tearing up in the eyes. That’s kind of to be expected, though, when you’re effectively shooting pepper spray up your nose.
One of the most amazing parts of the entire study, though, is that those who used capsaicin spray for their headaches experienced a high level of relief for 30 minutes or longer, with some reporting total relief from their pain.
That’s pretty impressive, right?
More Hard Evidence
If that’s not enough to get you to consider pumping pepper spray up your nose, that’s okay; there’s more info for you to consider. One study conducted in 1994 to validate the effectiveness of using capsaicin spray for cluster headaches used a pool of more than 50 patients. Of those patients, an overwhelming 70% showed an improvement in condition and lessening in pain after using capsaicin spray, applied nasally. The study showed similar evidence from previous studies, that the capsaicin spray has an effect on the nerve believed to be a root cause of cluster headaches and migraine pain. When applied nasally, the capsaicin spray acted as a selective analgesia and quickly worked to lessen pain symptoms.
In many of the patients of the study, continued use of capsaicin spray for cluster headaches proved effective for a maximum period lasting 40 days. That’s some pretty incredible evidence for the effectiveness of capsaicin spray, even if you’ve got some pretty hard doubts.
It’s Worth a Shot
If you’re one of those unfortunate souls out there who lives, and suffers from migraines, then you’re probably of the belief that it’s worth trying just about anything to get rid of the pain. It can be debilitating, shattering, the kind of thing that just makes you want to run away from the world.
There have even been studies done that involve people telling doctors that cluster headaches produce, quite possibly, some of the worst pain that a human being can even experience. Multiple neurologists are even inclined to agree. That’s just no way for anyone to live; it’s the kind of pain you wouldn’t even wish on your worst enemy.
No doubt you’ve tried everything under the sun to get rid of the pain: expensive drugs, medical treatments, crazy holistic treatments and who knows what else. Given the evidence of recent studies, isn’t it worth it to attempt using capsaicin spray for cluster headaches? There are crazier things you could go shooting up your nose. If it’s got even the smallest chance of helping, relieving even some of the pain, it’s definitely worth a shot.
Hopefully, if you’re suffering from chronic migraines or cluster headaches you’ve gotten a little ray of hope, a little bit of light on an otherwise dark and dreary situation that you thought might not have had a good or effective remedy. Not only has capsaicin proven effective in multiple instances for chronic pain relief, it’s a natural remedy and a much better alternative than some of the other things you could try to get rid of your pain.
Sources:-
http://acapulcos.net/capsaicin-why-do-hot-peppers-burn/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin
http://practicalneurology.com/2014/05/migraine-spray-aims-to-reduce-headache-pain-with-capsaicin