Capsaicin has long been hailed as a necessary ingredient for many cultural cuisines, but it is becoming an important tool in the medical industry, as well. The capsaicin chemical structure is such that it can be used as a pain reliever (analgesic) in topical applications, but it may have even more ramifications.
The Capsaicin Chemical Structure
The molecular chemical structure for capsaicin is C18H27NO3, and it is actually an alkylamide. It acts on the TRPV cation channels, which work as the thermostat for the human body, telling it when temperatures become too high, and to start the cooling process. However, this reaction is only to the initial exposure to capsaicin. Repeated or prolonged exposure eventually results in desensitization. It is this that makes the chemical such a useful pain reliever.
What Does Capsaicin Offer?
In addition to spicing up a meal, capsaicin delivers quite a few other benefits. For instance, it can work as a pain reliever, and is used in many different products on the market today. There are ointments, creams and patches that use capsaicin as the active ingredient, and are designed to help treat everything from muscle aches to lower back pain to severe arthritis.
There are also patches designed to help provide pain relief for those dealing with neurological pain, such as patients with diabetic neuropathy and HIV neuropathy. It’s also an important treatment for dealing with herpes zoster outbreaks (shingles).
The use of capsaicin as a pain reliever is relatively well established in the Western world, although its effects are not identical from patient to patient. Some patients will experience almost immediate relieve, while others may need to use a topical application several times before maximum relief is experienced.
The capsaicin chemical structure also means that it has other medical uses, although these have not yet been fully explored by the medical industry. Several studies have found that it is useful in combatting many forms of cancer, and actually resulted in cell death in laboratory testing with prostate cancer, as well as testing in mice with pancreatic cancer. Some studies have shown it to be effective in boosting the metabolism and reducing appetite, which can improve weight loss efforts. Anecdotal evidence shows that it may be useful in improving lung health, as well.
Potential Drawbacks
While the chemical structure of capsaicin means it has a number of beneficial effects, it is not without its drawbacks. Heavy consumption of capsaicin can lead to gastric ulcers and other problems. A study in Mexico also found that individuals who consumed a high amount of capsaicin had a higher risk of gastric cancer than did those who did not consume any capsaicin, although the correlation is not obvious, and the study did not prove that it was the consumption of capsaicin itself that increased the risk.
Ultimately, capsaicin is a highly beneficial chemical that offers a wide range of advantages for those suffering from pain, and potentially for many others.