The red hot pepper that cools chronic pain

It may not seem like red chili peppers could relieve pain, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Studies have shown that capsaicin, a compound found in spicy chili peppers, can help ease some of the most stubborn pain caused by arthritis and neuropathy.

In fact, researchers at Oxford University recently put capsaicin’s pain-fighting abilities to the test—and the results are nothing short of amazing…

Natural heat douses burning pain

The Oxford team analyzed nine placebo-controlled clinical trials that included more than 1,600 patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy, or nerve pain. The trials tested high-dose capsaicin patches or capsaicin creams.

Among participants who used a capsaicin product, more than 40 percent reported pain relief, and many said their pain was cut by half or more.

And in studies where a capsaicin patch was placed on the pain site for 30 to 90 minutes, almost 40 percent said pain dropped by at least one-third, compared to placebo.

Dr. Marc Micozzi acknowledges that using a cream or patch that causes a mild burning sensation when it’s placed on your skin might seem counterintuitive, but as he puts it, capsaicin “works on  your joints in mysterious ways.”

Reduced pain leads to greater range of movement

In Dr. Micozzi’s Arthritis Relief and Reversal Protocol, he notes that when you first apply topical capsaicin, “the sudden punch of heat” won’t last long. In just a few minutes, the burning sensation begins to melt away—taking pain with it.

Scientists believe that capsaicin works its magic by stimulating Substance P—a protein found in the nerve fibers of your joints that relays pain messages to your brain.

As Dr. Micozzi explains it, “The application of topical capsaicin—say, to an arthritic knee—stimulates the release of Substance P…Substance P is depleted in that area…and the pain stops.”

Admittedly, this is still just a theory, but the fact that capsaicin reduces pain is a scientific fact.

Dr. Micozzi cites a study where nearly 700 people with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis were randomized to use capsaicin cream or a placebo.

He 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.

“After the initial three-month study was over, some of the study participants kept using the cream for nine more months—and the cream kept providing pain relief.”

The researchers also noted that the cream has no potential for serious systemic toxicity, in contrast to many pharmaceutical treatments for osteoarthritis.

Test it before you go all-in

Dr. Micozzi notes that topical capsaicin is available over-the-counter in various forms such as cream, gel, lotion, patch, or stick. And you’ll generally find them in two strengths: 0.025 percent or 0.075 percent.

He adds that a single application of capsaicin provides temporary relief, so you may need to apply it three or four times each day. And he offers these tips:

• Before you try it, 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.
• After you use it, wash your hands so you don’t get any into your eyes, mouth or nose.

And because capsaicin can also reach your joints through your blood, Dr. Micozzi adds this note: “Try cooking dinner tonight with hot peppers. The effect can be immediate and lasting: after the meal, and the next morning, it’s likely you see a real difference in how your joints feel.”

But as effective as it is, capsaicin is just one of several key supplements that Dr. Micozzi recommends for soothing pain.

You can learn more about these pain-relieving supplements in Dr. Micozzi’s Arthritis Relief and Reversal Protocol. Click here to enroll today.

SOURCES

“Topical capsaicin (high concentration) for chronic neuropathic pain in adults” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017; Issue 1, Art.No.:CD007393. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007393.pub4.