Cayenne, or capsaicin, has for centuries been taken to manage a variety of conditions including stomach ailments, blood circulation problems, and pain disorders. Today, capsaicin is mainly used on the skin to relieve pain from various conditions such as arthritis. Capsaicin is also being studied for potential benefits in managing headaches, including cluster and migraine headaches. As with any supplement, consult with your physician before using capsaicin medicinally.
Treatment
Common types of headaches include migraine and cluster headaches. Migraines are characterized by pain that is severe and throbbing in one area of the head, with associated light and sound sensitivity and nausea or vomiting. Cluster headaches cause extreme pain, usually on one side of the head, and happen in clusters of several headaches in a short time. Self-care activities that may help to provide relief include relaxation techniques and taking supplements, such as capsaicin.
How It Works
Capsaicin relieves pain by interfering with pain transmission by your nerves. It does this by temporarily depleting a chemical called substance P, which is a compound found in nerves that is involved with the sensation of pain, and may cause some of the symptoms of headaches.
Preparations and Dosage
Capsaicin is usually applied inside the nose, or intranasally, for managing headaches. It can cause problems such as burning and irritation when used intranasally, so it is administered by a health professional. Capsaicin has been taken intranasally, twice a day for seven days in studies of people with cluster headaches. It has been used in both nostrils once a day for seven days in studies of migraine headaches.
Effectiveness
Capsaicin has shown beneficial effects for treating cluster and migraine headaches. A study published in "British Journal of Anaesthesia" in 2003 showed that all people with chronic migraines who were treated with capsaicin had between 50 and 80 percent improvement in their symptoms, which was significantly better compared to the group that took a placebo. According to a study published in "Cephalalgia" in 1993, capsaicin significantly decreased cluster headache pain for up to 15 days after treatment.
References
- PaloAltoMedicalFoundation.org: Cayenne
- National Institutes of Health: Headache
- "British Journal of Anaesthesia"; Repeated Intranasal Capsaicin Applications to Treat Chronic Migraine; BM Fusco,et al.; Jun 2003
- "Cephalalgia"; A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of intranasal capsaicin for cluster headache; DR Marks, et al.; Apr 1993
Member Comments