More Info About Capsaicin For Pain Control

Today's short post from thehealthyhavenblog.com (see link below) takes a quick look at capsaicin (either cream or plasters) as a means of controlling neuropathic symptoms. There are many other articles about capsaicin in the alphabetical list to the right of this blog and it has its promoters and its detractors. Used in the right way, many people say that it can definitely help reduce the pain of neuropathy, especially in the feet and legs but you have to be very careful with it, as anyone who has ever got it in their eyes or mouth will know! It's best to talk it over with your doctor or specialist, especially if they recommend the high strength plasters, which should be administered by a qualified professional - the risk of burning and making your symptoms worse, should not be under-estimated.

Peppers for Pain: Topical Capsaicin for Pain Control
iHerb November 15, 2013

Mankind has always searched for the means of controlling, dampening and eliminating pain. Some of the ways are internal, through medications designed to lessen pain or to kill pain’s messager to the brain. Other methods of pain control are topical, creams and salves spread on the skin to alleviate pain for a while.

Derived from hot peppers, capsaicin has been used for centuries. Hot peppers were consumed to cool the body in hot climates — since eating hot peppers will make a person sweat, which is the body’s natural cooling system. Capsaicin can be consumed in its fully natural form, as hot peppers, in powdered form, in hot sauces or in capsules. Capsaicin has also been incorporated into creams and salves so it can be used topically for muscle and joint pain of arthritis, chronic pain and neuropathic pain.

Capsaicin, the active ingredient in hot peppers, work by triggering heat sensation, and then decreasing the intensity of pain signals to the brain. Patients feel heat from the capsaicin cream, but this pain gradually decreases when the cream takes effect. Capsaicin stimulates a compound used by the body to communicate pain between spinal cord nerves and other parts of the body, including the brain. Capsaicin creams can be used for a variety of pain such as the pain you feel after surgery, for diabetic neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia and postherpetic neuralgia (shingles). These creams can be used for muscle and joint pains in those afflicted with arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Psoriasis benefits from capsaicin treatment, as do mouth sores from chemotherapy or radiation. Even cluster headaches may be relieved by capsaicin ointments.

At first, patients will feel heat, a burning or itching sensation when they apply capsaicin cream, but that decreases over use. Wear disposable gloves when applying capsaicin cream or wash thoroughly after applying it with your bare hands. To get the most benefit, apply the cream four times a day and use it regularly for prolonged pain relief.

It is advisable to try capsaicin therapy with lower doses first, such as a 0.025 percent cream. If this dose is not effective, apply a higher dose 0.075 percent cream. Apply the cream directly over the muscle, joint or itchy spot, right where you feel the pain or itch. Most studies on the efficacy of capsaicin creams find them to be far superior in effect than placebos.

References
WebMD, eds.; Capsaicin Topic Overview; WebMD; accessed November 9, 2013

Mason, Lorna, et al.; Systematic Review of Topical Capsaicin for the Treatment of Chronic Pain; British Medical Journal; accessed November 9, 2103

Wong, Cathy; Capsaicin Cream: Health Benefits, Uses, Side Effects, Tips & More; About Alternative Medicine; accessed November 9, 2013

Kenny, Tim; Neuropathic Pain; Patient.co.uk; accessed November 9, 2013 - See more at: http://thehealthyhavenblog.com/2013/11/15/peppers-for-pain-topical-capsaicin-for-pain-control/#sthash.HjYjG6Vt.dpuf

http://thehealthyhavenblog.com/2013/11/15/peppers-for-pain-topical-capsaicin-for-pain-control/

November 15, 2013 · 11:19 am

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Peppers for Pain: Topical Capsaicin for Pain Control

Mankind has always searched for the means of controlling, dampening and eliminating pain. Some of the ways are internal, through medications designed to lessen pain or to kill pain’s messager to the brain. Other methods of pain control are topical, creams and salves spread on the skin to alleviate pain for a while.
Derived from hot peppers, capsaicin has been used for centuries. Hot peppers were consumed to cool the body in hot climates — since eating hot peppers will make a person sweat, which is the body’s natural cooling system. Capsaicin can be consumed in its fully natural form, as hot peppers, in powdered form, in hot sauces or in capsules. Capsaicin has also been incorporated into creams and salves so it can be used topically for muscle and joint pain of arthritis, chronic pain and neuropathic pain.
Capsaicin, the active ingredient in hot peppers, work by triggering heat sensation, and then decreasing the intensity of pain signals to the brain. Patients feel heat from the capsaicin cream, but this pain gradually decreases when the cream takes effect. Capsaicin stimulates a compound used by the body to communicate pain between spinal cord nerves and other parts of the body, including the brain. Capsaicin creams can be used for a variety of pain such as the pain you feel after surgery, for diabetic neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia and postherpetic neuralgia (shingles). These creams can be used for muscle and joint pains in those afflicted with arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Psoriasis benefits from capsaicin treatment, as do mouth sores from chemotherapy or radiation. Even cluster headaches may be relieved by capsaicin ointments.
At first, patients will feel heat, a burning or itching sensation when they apply capsaicin cream, but that decreases over use. Wear disposable gloves when applying capsaicin cream or wash thoroughly after applying it with your bare hands. To get the most benefit, apply the cream four times a day and use it regularly for prolonged pain relief.
It is advisable to try capsaicin therapy with lower doses first, such as a 0.025 percent cream. If this dose is not effective, apply a higher dose 0.075 percent cream. Apply the cream directly over the muscle, joint or itchy spot, right where you feel the pain or itch. Most studies on the efficacy of capsaicin creams find them to be far superior in effect than placebos.
Click here to check out iHerb’s Topical Capsaicin Products!  New to iHerb? Use Coupon Code WOW123 to get  you $10 off any first time order with a $40 minimum purchase.
References
WebMD, eds.; Capsaicin Topic Overview; WebMD; accessed November 9, 2013
Mason, Lorna, et al.; Systematic Review of Topical Capsaicin for the Treatment of Chronic Pain; British Medical Journal; accessed November 9, 2103
Wong, Cathy; Capsaicin Cream: Health Benefits, Uses, Side Effects, Tips & More; About Alternative Medicine; accessed November 9, 2013
Kenny, Tim; Neuropathic Pain; Patient.co.uk; accessed November 9, 2013

- See more at: http://thehealthyhavenblog.com/2013/11/15/peppers-for-pain-topical-capsaicin-for-pain-control/#sthash.HjYjG6Vt.dpuf