If you suffer from recurring jaw pain or headaches and you’re tired of taking pain pills, you might be looking for an alternative treatment option. Some people recommend capsaicin, the active ingredient that makes chili peppers hot. Although like many natural supplements, this may seem completely safe, but over-the-counter medications have risks, even if they’re supposedly all natural.

Capsaicin Creams, Supplements, and in Food

There are many ways to use capsaicin to reduce pain. You can get capsaicin for pain relief using:

  • Capsaicin cream
  • Capsaicin supplements
  • Capsaicin patches
  • Cooking with chilis

Capsaicin cream has been tested in a number of trials for pain relief. The results were described as “poor” in one study, but other studies have shown quality relief. Capsaicin supplements have been recommended as an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen. A capsaicin patch has been approved by the FDA as safe and effective.
This might make these drugs useful for many people looking to avoid pain medications.
The effectiveness of cooking with chilis for pain relief is only anecdotal.

What Can Capsaicin Help with?

Capsaicin may be able to help with treatment of many types of pain, including:

  • Headaches
  • Neuropathy
  • Arthritis and other types of joint and muscle pain

The main problem with these treatments seems to be that not everyone responds equally well to them, and that some people experience more significant adverse events as well.

Potential Dangers of Capsaicin

Capsaicin might seem like it’s perfectly safe, but it’s important to remember that this is actually a poison developed by plants to keep mammals from eating their fruit. It can be dangerous. Capsaicin supplements are a potential concern for people who have elevated blood pressure. Last year, the FDA warned that topical pain relief creams, including capsaicin-based creams, could cause serious burns.
You are encouraged to talk with your doctor before trying any over-the-counter pain medication.

Drug-Free Jaw Pain Relief

If you are looking for a drug-free jaw pain relief option, the Craniofacial Diagnostic Center of Colorado can help. We offer drug-free TMJ treatment that helps many people get lasting relief from jaw pain, headaches, and other types of chronic pain.

To learn whether this treatment might be right for you, please call (303) 691-0267 at the TMJ Therapy & Sleep Center of Colorado in Denver today.