The all-natural, one-two punch for soothing arthritis and neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is probably most closely associated with diabetes. But it can also accompany other conditions — like arthritis.
In arthritis, even the slightest swelling of tendons and ligaments can put pressure on nerve pathways, triggering neuropathy pain.
As I recently mentioned, conventional treatments for neuropathy include antidepressants, opioid drugs, and anti-epileptics — all of which either miss the mark completely or overdo pain relief in the extreme (not to mention, they’re often dangerous).
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) — an organic compound that acts as a powerful antioxidant in your body — has powerful anti-inflammatory effects that studies have shown can help ease neuropathy pain. But when just a bit more pain relief is needed, many patients can find it in topical creams containing capsaicin, the active component of chili peppers.
Recently, Oxford University researchers reviewed nine studies with a total of more than 1,600 adult participants, in which capsaicin creams or high-dose capsaicin patches were tested in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.
The results — published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews — included seven studies that tested creams containing 0.075 percent capsaicin. Participants applied the creams to the painful areas three to four times each day.
In the intervention groups, more than 40 percent said they experienced “some degree of pain relief,” with many participants reporting their pain reduced by half or more.
In the other two studies, researchers tested a single dose of capsaicin delivered by a patch which was kept on the pain site for 30 to 90 minutes, versus a placebo patch. Nearly 40 percent of those who used a capsaicin patch said their pain was reduced by at least one third.
And the beauty of using capsaicin to relieve peripheral neuropathy pain in arthritis is that it also offers significant relief for aching joints.
“Mysterious” — but effective — pain relief
In Dr. Marc Micozzi’s Arthritis Relief and Reversal Protocol, he admits that it might seem odd to seek pain relief with a cream that causes a slight burning sensation when applied to your skin. But as he explains, the capsaicin in chili pepper “works on your joints in mysterious ways.”
As the burning feeling subsides, pain at the site also begins to melt away. Exactly how this transformation happens is unknown, but one well-substantiated theory suggests that capsaicin affects a protein in the nerve fibers of your joints called substance P. Substance P relays pain messages to the brain. It’s also associated with the regulation of stress and anxiety.
But whatever its mechanism of action, research shows capsaicin works.
Researchers at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine divided around 700 volunteers with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis into two groups: Half received 0.075 percent capsaicin cream (Civamide), and the other half was given a placebo.
Dr. Micozzi describes the results: “Those getting the real cream had less pain — when walking, climbing stairs, carrying objects, lying down, and during the night. They could move around better, too — for example, when getting up from a chair, putting on socks, going shopping, or doing housework.”
Dr. Micozzi cites another study from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. Researchers report two key results:
- Knee osteoarthritis pain reduced by 33 percent
- Rheumatoid arthritis pain reduced by 57 percent
And in a study that tested four applications of capsaicin cream per day on painful joints in patients with hand osteoarthritis, those using the product reported less tenderness and pain.
Handle with care
You can find capsaicin blended into over-the-counter gels, lotions, patches, and sticks, usually in strengths of 0.025 percent or 0.075 percent.
“Before you try it,” Dr. Micozzi cautions, “test a small amount on a patch of skin to make sure you’re not allergic to it — if the area becomes red, itchy and/or bumpy, this remedy isn’t for you.” And Dr. Micozzi cautions that after using it, it’s important to wash your hands thoroughly so you don’t get any residue on sensitive tissues like your eyes, mouth, or nose.
You can learn about many more non-drug approaches for pain relief by referring to Dr. Micozzi’s Arthritis Relief and Reversal Protocol. For more information about this online learning protocol, or to enroll today, simply click here.
SOURCES
cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007393/full
Topical capsaicin for chronic neuropathic pain in adults
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
July 8, 2009
sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091016162941.htm
Could The Hot Stuff In Chili Peppers Ease Your Tingling Nerve Pain?
Center for Advancing Health
October 18, 2009