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Using Capsaicin for pain relief and management can help to alleviate symptoms when applied topically to the skin or used orally as a dietary supplement.
The FDA has approved capsaicin as an ingredient in topical creams, gels and patches for the relief or neuropathic (nerve) pain as well as musculoskeletal pain, which can include joint pain, inflammation, injury or arthritis pain.
Capsaicin is the main active ingredient found in hot chili peppers (capsicum annuum). This phytochemical is what makes chili peppers taste hot; the more capsaicin in the chili, the spicier its perceived taste will be.
How does capsaicin work for pain relief and what is the best way to use this natural medicine? This article will review the research available on capsaicin extract for pain reduction as well as the potential side effects.
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Using capsaicin for pain relief works by reducing Substance P; a chemical that sends pain messages to the brain.
Capsaicin is one bioactive constituent of chili peppers. Together, all chili peppers make up the botanical species – Capsicum annuum.
Capsaicin can be extracted from chilis, and then used to make topical creams and ointments. It is also used in pain-relieving patches that adhere to the skin.
This ingredient is also used as an oral supplement, which may be given to address certain forms of nerve pain including cluster headaches, trigeminal neuralgia, pain after surgery and joint dysfunction.
The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD) states that capsaicin is Likely Effective for pain.
It states that multiple clinical studies have shown that capsaicin creams between .25% and .75% concentration relieve chronic pain associated with:
- Rheumatoid arthritis;
- Diabetic neuropathy;
- Osteoarthritis;
- Psoriasis;
- Shingles (Postherpetic Neuralgia);
The US FDA has approved capsaicin for use in over-the-counter (non-prescription) topical products for treating neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain.
In one 21-day study, 3X daily applications of a 0.05% capsaicin cream reduced chronic pain by 49% relative to placebo controls. [1]
Pain relief is just one of various therapeutic uses of capsaicin extract.
In addition to the topical uses of capsaicin creams listed above, capsaicin is also used orally for improving health. The University of Maryland (UMM) says that chili peppers have been used as medicine and food for more than 9000 years.
According to NMCD, capsaicin is also used for poor circulation, excessive blood clotting and preventing heart disease. It is also used for a variety of gastrointestinal disorders including diarrhea, colic, flatulence and stomach cramps.
How Capsaicin Works for Pain Relief
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, the nervous system contains “heat-receptor proteins known as TRPV1 receptors”. These receptors are located throughout the body in many different cell types and are sometimes referrer to as capsaicin receptors.
Dr. Mercola says that TRPV1 receptors in the skin and digestive system remain inactive until temperatures exceed 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius).
When you consume capsaicin peppers, TRPV1 receptors are activated. This makes the brain think that the body is being exposed to excessive heat.
As explained in the New York Times, “…in mammals it [capsaicin] stimulates the very same pain receptors that respond to actual heat. Chili pungency is not technically a taste; it is the sensation of burning, mediated by the same mechanism that would let you know that someone had set your tongue on fire.”
Dr. Mercola explains that capsaicin alleviates pain by slowing production of Substance P; a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. Substance P moderates pain by transmitting pain signals to the brain – and by desensitizing skin-based pain-sensing receptors. [2]
When capsaicin is applied topically for pain relief, it causes a sensation of “burning”. That is due to the activation of TRPV1 in skin cells. Chronic activation of these receptors causes them to become desensitized as they develop a higher set tolerance level.
When this happens, the nerve cells are no longer responsive to any stimuli. They are, in effect, temporarily turned off. As a result, chronic exposure to capsaicin creams, or even whole peppers, causes analgesic effects.
According to a 2014 publication of Pain Physician, an 8% capsaicin dermal patch improved posttraumatic and postsurgical neuropathic pain.
Results stated, “…our patient’s pain responded to treatment with capsaicin 8% patch when the initial treatments showed only minimal effectiveness regarding the intensity of pain.” [3]
In a double-blind trial from Case Western Reserve University, capsaicin was found to be an effective, safe treatment for symptoms of arthritis. Their evaluations showed that 8-% of the group treated with capsaicin experience a decrease in pain symptoms after a two-week treatment protocol. [4]
In another study, using capsaicin improved pain associated with the skin condition psoriasis. It is known to diminish and sometimes eliminate redness, stinging, burning and itching in people with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. [5]
Capsaicin for Pain Relief Side Effects
According to WebMD, certain side effects are associated with using capsaicin topically for pain relief. Some of these include:
- Watery eyes, sneezing, throat irritation and/or coughing caused by breathing in dried capsaicin residue;
- Burning, stinging and/or warmth at application sites;
- Unusual or increased pain at application sites;
- Blistering and/or swelling at application sites;
WebMD advises you to stop using capsaicin creams or patches and seek medical advice if you experience any of the above side effects.
Do not apply capsaicin creams to areas where your skin is injured or infected. Do not contact mucous membrane tissues with capsaicin products or peppers.
Capsaicin Drug Interactions
According to UMM, you should not apply capsaicin topically after a hot shower. Capsaicin may also intensify the effects of cocaine. It may also cause stomach irritation to people with gastric ulcers.
If you are allergic to bananas, avocado, chestnut, kiwi or latex, you may also be allergic to this extract from the capsicum plant.
UMM states that capsaicin cream or oral supplementation should not be used in combination with ACE inhibitor drugs like Vasotec, Monopril, Zestril and Capoten. It may also cause antacids like Tagamet, Nexium, Pepcid, Zantac and Prilosec less effective.
Capsaicin may also interact with antidiabetic and antiplatelet drugs. In all cases, it is best to discuss using capsaicin for pain relief, or for any other purpose, with a doctor beforehand.
Be sure to mention any health conditions you have been diagnosed with, as well as any prescription and/or OTC drugs you use.
- Mason L1, Moore RA, Derry S, Edwards JE, McQuay HJ. Systematic review of topical capsaicin for the treatment of chronic pain. BMJ. 2004 Apr 24;328(7446):991. Epub 2004 Mar 19.
- Anand, P., and K. Bley. “Topical Capsaicin for Pain Management: Therapeutic Potential and Mechanisms of Action of the New High-Concentration Capsaicin 8% Patch.” BJA: British Journal of Anaesthesia 107.4 (2011): 490–502. PMC. Web. 26 Aug. 2016.
- Zis P, Apsokardos A1, Isaia C, Sykioti P, Vadalouca A. Posttraumatic and postsurgical neuropathic pain responsive to treatment with capsaicin 8% topical patch. Pain Physician. 2014 Mar-Apr;17(2):E213-8.
- Deal CL1, Schnitzer TJ, Lipstein E, Seibold JR, Stevens RM, Levy MD, Albert D, Renold F. Treatment of arthritis with topical capsaicin: a double-blind trial. Clin Ther. 1991 May-Jun;13(3):383-95.
- Bernstein JE, Parish LC, Rapaport M, Rosenbaum MM, Roenigk HH Jr. Effects of topically applied capsaicin on moderate and severe psoriasis vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1986 Sep;15(3):504-7.
Article last updated on: July 23rd, 2018 by Nootriment