Spicy solution for back pain

Most people struggle with back pain at some point in their lives. According to the National Institutes of Health, back pain is the second most common neurological disorder in the United States only headache is more common. There are many popular natural remedies for this problem such as acupuncture, massages and chiropractic, but one of them specially caught my attention: Creams made from capsaicin (the active ingredient in chili peppers that give peppers their heat) have been used to relieve back pain, muscle pain, nerve pain, and joint pain from arthritis, bursitis, fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, and many others. Many people would find this remedy as ironic, given the fact that when we consume chili peppers what we get immediately is a burning feeling. So how exactly is it that this works to relieve pain? In 1997 scientists from the University of California published an article that might help us to solve this enigma.

In their study they explain how pain is initiated when the peripheral terminals of a subgroup of sensory brain cells called neurons are activated by a harmful chemical or sometimes a hot stimulus. These neurons, called nociceptors, transmit information regarding tissue damage to pain-processing centres in the spinal cord and brain, and then we get the pain sensation. Nociceptors are characterized, in part, by their sensitivity to capsaicin. Exposure of the nociceptor terminals to capsaicin leads initially to excitation of the brain cell. However with prolonged exposure, nociceptor terminals become insensitive to capsaicin, as well as to other harmful stimulus. This means that what capsaicin does is exciting these receptors so much that they would not feel pain anymore, as if they would go numb.

Capsaicin cream, also called capsicum cream, is available in many drug stores, health food stores, and even online. The most common side effect is a stinging or burning sensation in the area, as if you were applying Icy hot. I personally think this is good news. It seems like we have available a low-cost spicy remedy for our back pain issues.