Diabetic neuropathy is a painful and debilitating condition that affects 60 to 70 percent of all patients with diabetes in the United States, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Cayenne pepper contains an ingredient known as capsaicin that demonstrates the ability to provide relief when applied topically, according to recent research. Speak to your doctor or health-care provider about cayenne pepper if you have diabetic neuropathy.
Causes
The Joslin Diabetes Center categorizes diabetic neuropathy as a complication of chronically elevated levels of blood sugar. Although no single theory explains the exact cause of the condition, one explanation is that surplus sugar molecules in the bloodstream react with the enzymes in the nerve cells and cause swelling, inflammation and irreversible damage over time. The most common form of diabetic neuropathy affects the sensory nerves that service the extremities; this sensory or peripheral neuropathy leads to numbness, tingling, pain and loss of sensation in the hands and feet.
Capsaicin
Capsaicin is the active ingredient in cayenne pepper. This plant compound gives the spice its fiery quality. Traditional medicine uses the capsaicin in cayenne pepper to treat a number of ailments, including arthritis, muscle soreness, digestive problems, impaired circulation and loss of appetite, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Research
In 1995 researchers from Valley Endocrine Associates in Arizona examined the efficacy of the capsaicin in cayenne pepper as a topical treatment for diabetic neuropathy. The researchers found that 76 percent of study participants experienced less pain from diabetic neuropathy after treatment with capsaicin. The results of this study appeared in the March issue of “Advances in Therapy.” More recently, researchers from Lifetree Clinical Research and Pain Clinic in Utah tested a capsaicin patch on 91 patients with diabetic neuropathy for 12 weeks. The subjects recorded a 31 percent decrease in pain symptoms. This research appeared in the August 2011 issue of “Diabetes Research and Practice.”
Recommendations
In 2011, the American Academy of Neurology, the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation issued an evidence-based treatment guideline for diabetic neuropathy. The groups recommended the topical use of the capsaicin in cayenne pepper to decrease pain and augment physical function in patients with diabetic neuropathy. These recommendations appeared the May 2011 issue of “Neurology.”
References
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; Diabetic Neuropathies: The Nerve Damage of Diabetes; February 2009
- Joslin Diabetes Center: Diabetic Neuropathy (Nerve Damage) – An Update
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Capsaicin; September 2010
- "Advances in Therapy"; A Double-Blind Comparison of Topical Capsaicin and Oral Amitriptyline in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy; R. Biesbroeck, et al.; March 1995
- "Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice"; Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of NGX-4010, Capsaicin 8% Patch, in an Open-Label Study of Patients with Peripheral Neuropathic Pain; L.R. Webster, et al.; August 2011
- "Neurology"; Evidence-Based Guideline: Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy; V. Bril, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)., et al.; May 2011
Member Comments