Hot Peppers May Completely Eliminate Pain of Childbirth, Dental Procedures and Surgery

Did you realize that within a very small section of skin, you have various nerve cells. Some cells only ‘light up’ or work when you apply pressure. Some are sensitive to temperature. Some are sensitive only to pain. The nerve cells which are sensitive to pain are called nociceptor cells.

Currently, no drug works directly on nociceptor cells; but on nerve pathways which lead to the nociceptor cells. Or a drug may work on all the different types of cells, not solely nociceptor pain cells. Or a drug may totally anesthetize you, in which case you are paralyzed, unconscious, and pain free.

Now, researchers have found a way to open the ‘pores’ or channels only the pain cells, and allow a substance to pass through the pore to eliminate pain. The pore opener is capsaicin (commonly found in those hot peppers you love so much). The drug which eliminates pain sensation is QX-314 (a type of lidocaine).

If further research indicates this combo is effective in humans, we could effectively eliminate pain in dental procedures, childbirth and surgery. As no general anesthesia or major regional blocks would be needed, complications from surgery would be significantly reduced. Post-operative time in the recovery room or hospital would also be eliminated or reduced. Paralysis would not be a side effect, as only the pain sensors would be targeted, not the major motor nerves. This would allow the patient to theoretically get up from the operating table and walk into the recovery area.

Chronic pain may also be ameliorated. This is open to speculation, however, as chronic pain does not reside in the nociceptor cells, but in the changes which have occurred in the spinal cord and brain itself. However, if acute pain could be treated successfully, perhaps chronic pain would be eliminated.

So, next time you hear that pain is all in your head, you can respond that pain is in the nociceptor cells which reside in your skin or covers of your organs. You can further add that one may be able to eliminate pain completely with habanero sauce, and a little lidocaine. What will a future pain free existence be like? Ah, the future vision is all in your head.

Sources

Binshtok AM, Bean BP, Woolf CJ. "Inhibition of nociceptors by TRPV1-mediated entry of impermeant sodium channel blockers." "Nature", October 4, 2007, Vol. 449, No. 7162, pp. 607-610
http://www.nature.com/news/2007/071004/full/news.2007.140.html

National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke
www.ninds.nih.gov/PressRequest/