Thread: Chillies and Pain Link

and no this isn't one of these "no shit" studies but an interesting possible find on what creates pain in the human body and supposedly may help to create better pain relievers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8644788.stm

Studying chilli peppers is helping scientists create a new type of painkiller which could stop pain at its source.

A team at the University of Texas says a substance similar to capsaicin, which makes chilli peppers hot, is found in the human body at sites of pain.

And blocking the production of this substance can stop chronic pain, the team found.

They report their findings in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Capsaicin is the primary ingredient in hot chilli peppers which causes a burning sensation.

It does this by binding to receptors present on the cells inside the body.

Similarly, when the body is injured, it releases capsaicin-like substances - fatty acids called oxidized linoleic acid metabolites or OLAMs - and these, via receptors, cause pain, the researchers have found....

Bit off topic but why for every really interesting study like this, you get stupid shit like "these socks make your feet sweat more?"

Originally Posted by deathgodusmc

Why did they do the study? They have had creams with certain chilis in them for years strictly for treating areas in pain.

It is not that they are using the chilis directly.

A neurotransmitter with similar functional groups is involved pain-transduction. They realized, by blocking capsaicin binding the pain caused by the chilis is absent... and carried it over to blocking the neurotransmitter similar to capsaicin. It is an inhibitor for a specific neurotransmitter; but studying chilis helped them figure it out. The chilis are not part of a remedy.

So you're telling me that there is no medical benefit to rubbing my sore neck with jalapeños? Sheeeit...