Chili peppers as a remedy to pain? This may sound odd, but it is exactly what occurs when a medical expert suggests capsaicin cream for nerve pain, or neuropathy. Why is this recommended? It all begins with that capsaicin (pronounced cap-say-sin). It is the active and natural component in hot chili peppers. It is what gives them their fiery kick, and though the intensity of heat varies according to the pepper, they all get this spiciness from the capsaicin.
It is actually described as an “irritant” for animals and humans, and science believes it is a natural defense mechanism for the plants. After all, if you have ever unknowingly bitten down on a hot pepper, it can be a bit of an unpleasant surprise. Interestingly enough, capsaicin is also able to prevent fungi from attacking the plants and fruits, which is yet another natural defense.
So, how can capsaicin cream be a nerve pain remedy? It has to do with what occurs in the human skin whenever it meets capsaicin.
Natural Trickery
One medical expert said this about the use of capsaicin cream for nerve pain: “When applied topically, capsaicin cream is thought to provide pain relief by changing the way your body processes pain.”
Now, that is very encouraging for those with nerve pain. Why? Because neuropathy is the result of damage to the nerves, and they are often sending pain signals when they shouldn’t. Even when nerves are functioning as they should, it can be a great relief to somehow fool them into just stopping the messages and ending the experience of pain.
So, how can a capsaicin cream for nerve pain do this? As we already said – it is a bit of trickery that fools the brain into processing pain differently. Without getting too scientific about it, your nerves communicate with your brain whenever pain occurs. This is actually to protect you. For instance, you slice your finger with a knife. It will bleed and often hurt like a fury. That pain is telling you to withdraw your finger from the area of danger and address the issue that caused the pain.
What if your nerves were to be heavily irritated for a lengthy period of time? What would that do to your pain processing system? Well, interestingly enough, when someone with pain uses a capsaicin cream for nerve pain, it creates a period of initial irritation wherever it is applied. This cues the pain receptors in the skin to begin pumping out a substance that tells the brain that some sort of pain-causing hazard is occurring.
This actually causes the body to use up the chemicals that say “pain, pain, pain” to your brain (oddly enough, this is known as “substance P”). This creates what is known as desensitization and nerves stop acting or responding to the capsaicin. The end result is that you do not feel pain in that area any longer.
Naturally, this is not a permanent scenario, and most people using a capsaicin cream for nerve pain will find themselves re-applying it to the affected area up to four times each day. The good news is that the use of any capsaicin cream for nerve pain has a residual effect, and over time it can serve to greatly reduce the experience of pain in general.
Other Uses for Capsaicin
While using a capsaicin cream for nerve pain may seem limited to its use for neuropathic pain, experts are recommending it for a much wider range of issues. A brief list would have to include using it to treat: gout, joint pain, back ache, headache and migraine, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis pain, shingles, tendonitis and sciatica among other issues. It is also ideal for athletes who wish to reduce soreness and stiffness in the joints and muscles.
Of course, there are a few things to be aware of when beginning to use capsaicin cream for nerve pain or other conditions. We already mentioned that most people should not use it more than four times per day. This means that setting yourself on a pain management regimen is the wisest course of action. Time your applications of any capsaicin cream for nerve pain to occur at regularly spaced intervals, and if you are just beginning to use it, be sure to keep track of its effects.
Another issue is the affect it has on the bare hands. Even if you are applying it to an area of a hand or finger, you still need to be very careful about exposing your skin to it unnecessarily. It may be wise to invest in gloves or cosmetic paddles that allow you to apply and spread the cream without using the fingers to do so. Even if you feel certain you have not touched the cream during application, always wash the hands with a good soap and water mixture. You may even want to invest in an acidic wash – even using vinegar – to be sure none remains on the fingers.
Why? Capsaicin will have a potent effect on the mucous membranes, and you must never touch the eyes, nose, mouth or other sensitive areas if there is a chance of capsaicin being present. You must also avoid any areas of weepy skin, open wounds or broken skin as this will cause intense pain.
Can You Rely on Capsaicin Cream for Pain Relief?
Time and studies have proven that it is very wise to turn to natural ingredients with a proven history of effectiveness. Study after study has demonstrated that capsaicin cream is remarkably effective at addressing many different kinds of pain. As is the case with any medical condition, if you have nerve pain and want to try using natural remedies, be sure to discuss them with your doctor ahead of time. There is no clinical information yet available for its safety when used by pregnant or nursing women, and you will want to always discuss any new treatment with your physician – though capsaicin has a very favorable and positive reputation in general.