I read that doctors are dripping capsaicin, the chemical that gives chili peppers their fire, directly into surgical wounds in an attempt to dull the pain for patients with nerve damage. How could something searing possibly soothe? The hope is that bathing surgically exposed nerves in a high enough dose will numb them for weeks, so patients suffer less pain and require fewer painkillers. The surgery experiment is one of a number of studies involving capsaicin along with dental injections that don’t numb the whole mouth, and scientists hope to begin testing it in patients with advanced cancers.
Friday, November 23, 2007
I read that doctors are dripping capsaicin, the chemical that gives chili peppers their fire, directly into surgical wounds in an attempt to dull the pain for patients with nerve damage. How could something searing possibly soothe? The hope is that bathing surgically exposed nerves in a high enough dose will numb them for weeks, so patients suffer less pain and require fewer painkillers. The surgery experiment is one of a number of studies involving capsaicin along with dental injections that don’t numb the whole mouth, and scientists hope to begin testing it in patients with advanced cancers.
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Yes, and all of those de-capsaicinated peppers will give the wimpier among the participating doctors something to nibble on while they work. A little nosh never hurt anybody.
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