Cluster headaches produce debilitating pain, sometimes so intense that pharmaceutical remedies are just not enough. When steroids, serotonin receptor agonists, nasal sprays and oxygen therapy fail to do the trick, some patients reach for capsaicin. According to NYU Langone Medical Center, the acceptance of capsaicin as a headache relief remedy by the medical industry is a testament to how desperate sufferers are for relief from cluster headache pain.
What Is It?
In the world of pain relief remedies, capsaicin is hardly a new arrival. This age-old capsaicinoid has a 9,000-year-old history dating back to Native American healers. Derived from the cayenne pepper plant, capsaicin is a member of the alkaloid family. In its natural state, capsaicin has a powdery white crystalline structure. The crystalline structure is hydrophobic, which means it does not dissolve in water. It will, however, succumb to oils and fats.
How Does It Work?
The powerful pain relief that capsaicin provides to cluster headache sufferers is partially attributed to the tingling sensation that the capsaicinoid produces. The University of Maryland Medical Center describes capsaicin as a counterirritant that suppresses substance P. Substance P, or SP, is a neuropeptide that alerts the brain of pain through chemical messages. With substance P suppressed, the tingling sensation of the capsaicin replaces the pain produced by the cluster headache.
Proper Use
Capsaicin is available in a variety of topical forms intended for absorption by the skin. For cluster headache sufferers, capsaicin comes in the form of a nasal spray. Two to three sprays of an over-the-counter capsaicin nasal spray into each nostril begins substance P suppression within three to 20 minutes. Capsaicin nasal sprays may cause a mild to severe burning sensation in the lining of the nose that may last for several minutes. Patients should always seek their physician's advice before using a capsaicin headache remedy, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Warnings
Capsaicin headache remedies are not for everyone. The use of capsaicin in any form can potentially cause an allergic reaction in patients who are sensitive to latex, kiwi, avocado, chestnuts or bananas. Patients taking aspirin, blood thinners, and stomach acid reduction or blood pressure medications should avoid products that contain capsaicin to prevent dangerous interactions. NYU Langone Medical Center explains that taking capsaicin products can affect certain asthma medications. The combination can increase the body's absorption of the asthma medication in toxic levels.
