Posted by JB (64.128.176.121) on July 12, 2001 at 18:30:21:
In Reply to: Some relief for some? posted by Joyce on July 12, 2001 at 15:45:58:
For clusters, one researched treatment involves applying a capsaicin cream inside of the nose. Tried it last year, stings and burns like hell, hard to say if it helped or not - I don't think the cream was worth anything to me. Capsules might be a better method.
Cayenne pepper is easy to get in capsules, is cheap, and has been shown to help with things like the incurable itching under a cast. I think the capsules might have helped, but without a double-blind study with lots of people, there is no way to say for sure. Long term use of cayenne or capsaicin can cause kidney problems.
Capsaicin is a powerful drug with wide-reaching influence on nerves.Herbalists use it for heart conditions. Capsaicin blocks substance P, which is involved in pain and some types of smooth muscle contraction.