Many know that food can be as medicinal as actual prescription treatments, and that many of the most familiar medications have their origins in the world of food, flowers and plants. As a simple example, consider the bark of a specific willow tree. The ancient Egyptians used it to help with pain and achiness; it knocked down a fever and reduced inflammation. Today, we call the Egyptian’s remedy aspirin.
There are scores of stories that show how natural compounds can be consumed and then work wonders for our bodies. We’ve also learned, over the ages, how to take natural compounds and produce compounds to apply to the skin. Simple steps like aloe vera for sunburn and mud for a bee sting are just such concepts, but did you know that a more complex issue like psoriasis can be treated with natural compounds, too?
Capsaicin for Psoriasis
The fiery component of all chili peppers, known as capsaicin (pronounced cap-say-sin) is one that has long been known as a sort of folk remedy. In fact, one doctor noted in his history of the compound that “their use can be traced back to the Aztec and Inca civilizations… Native Americans rubbed their gums with peppers to relieve toothaches, a custom quickly adopted by the Europeans. Today, capsaicin is the active ingredient in creams, ointments, and dermal patches used to relieve pain and reduce itching and inflammation.”
Pain, itching and inflammation…these are three key symptoms of the skin condition known as psoriasis. It is caused by changes to the lifecycle of skin cells; causing them to pile up quickly on the surface of the skin. This leads to an unsightly accumulation of dry, red patches that are often ringed with silvery scales of skin, and just as often quite painful.
As a condition that can appear anywhere on the body, and one that can lessen and/or worsen over time, it is obviously one that most would like to address quickly. Unfortunately, most people with psoriasis will experience it as a chronic issue. The goal then becomes to manage the symptoms – the persistently itchy, irritated and red skin – and to attempt to slow or stop the skin cells from reproducing so rapidly. Some people resort to cortisone creams and special sunlight exposure treatment.
While they can help, it is also a very wise idea to consider capsaicin for psoriasis, as it can reduce inflammation, eliminate pain and even help to reduce the scaling and irritated, red skin so often caused by psoriasis. Naturally, some who are familiar with the compound will worry that capsaicin on psoriasis may cause tremendous discomfort. After all, using capsaicin safely means never applying it to weepy or open skin, and psoriasis can put skin on the borderline of this exact condition. Yet, when you use capsaicin for psoriasis at the appropriate concentrations (generally from .025% to .075%) the risk for serious discomfort is reduced and/or entirely eliminated.
One medical report said that the “exact mechanism is not fully understood; however, prolonged application of capsaicin to the skin depletes stores of substance P, an undecapeptide neurotransmitter involved in the pathophysiology of psoriasis and pruritus.” In other words, scientists don’t exactly know how or why capsaicin for psoriasis pain and itching works, they just know that lab studies have consistently proven it does.
Their studies have also shown that capsaicin is responsible for the “inhibition of epidermal growth factor,” which is why it may enable you to reduce the speed of skin cell production that leads to the uncomfortable and unattractive psoriasis lesions.
Of course, you might also wonder if a love of spicy food might help to keep the itching, redness and inflammation of psoriasis at bay, and once again, science has shown it can do just that. Yes, that bowl of salsa or that serving of extra hot pad Thai may be part of your personal solution to psoriasis!
Dietary Capsaicin for Psoriasis
Long recognized as an effective topical treatment for the pain of psoriasis and other issues, the use of dietary capsaicin for psoriasis is currently under study. In one lab experiment, “animals injected with a substance that causes inflammatory arthritis were fed a diet that contained capsaicin, they had delayed onset of arthritis, and also significantly reduced paw inflammation.”
So, if you have a distinct love for fiery Mexican dishes, smoldering Szechuan cuisine, intense Thai or Indian dishes, or any foods that use loads of spicy chili peppers, they might kick in as a useful remedy. The level of capsaicin for psoriasis varies according to the heat of the peppers, but as lab studies are showing, even taken internally, via the diet, capsaicin can work its wonders.
Naturally, just as any food consumed as a means of supplying the body with specific compounds will take time to accumulate, so too will capsaicin for psoriasis. Topical applications can take a week or more to show results, and the use of dietary sources is likely to require this amount of time, or much more. The key is continuous and consistent use.
If you are concerned about effectiveness, you may appreciate these details from an ASCO Post article on the topic of capsaicin for psoriasis and other issues: “topical capsaicin is used to treat pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, mastectomy, postherpetic neuralgia, and diabetic neuropathy and to reduce the severity of psoriasis and pruritus…Capsaicin has been studied in oral and topical forms…Capsaicin is marketed in capsule form and as an ingredient in topical creams, gels, and lotions.”
In other words, Capsaicin as a cream, capsule, gel, lotion or food source has proven itself to be effective in many different ways. If you are curious about its effects on your psoriasis, begin with a mild concentration cream applied to a small lesion or area of skin affected by psoriasis. If you prefer dietary options, consume the same amount of chili pepper or capsaicin via capsule each day. Keep track of the changes in the skin, and give yourself a few weeks to see the results. Like so many natural remedies, it may take time, but evidence shows it is likely to work!