Capsaicin, Derived from Hot Peppers, is the Basis of
a New Pain Reducing Patch Approved by FDA
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first prescription strength capsaicin product: Qutenza, a prescription pain patch designed to reduce nerve pain caused by shingles.
What is Capsaicin?
Capsaicin, in its natural form, is the substance in peppers, like chili peppers and cayenne peppers, that gives them their heat. It is also a long used and beloved natural herbal remedy for all sorts of external aches and pains, including nerve pain and arthritis.
The capsaicin used in the Qutenza pain relief patches is a man made synthetic version, however, which allows for greater quality control.
What are the Pain Patches Used For, and How?
The Qutenza pain patches are applied by a doctor directly to the site of pain associated with a nerve complication from shingles call post herpetic neuralgia (PHN). Trials showed that a single one-hour application can reduce pain for up to 12 weeks.
Shingles is a painful viral infection caused by the same virus as the chicken pox, giving sufferers a characteristic and very unpleasant rash. About one in five people who develop shingles will be left with prolonged pain from PHN, which is a chronic condition. The risk of developing PHN from shingles increases with age and the severity of the initial infection.
photo by Genevieve Kiger
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Comments
Loved the article! Why does everything for the FDA have to be man-made??? Answer: Profit control. I prefer natural.
Ric,
I think that has more to do with why medicinal research into alternative/complementary/natural/herbal medicines can never get adequate funding...most such funding comes from big pharma, and they won't pay to research something they can't patent.
However, in the case of FDA approval, I think it has more to do with quality control. It's very, very hard to control the amounts of the medicinal compounds in plants to get a uniform composition, and thus fully reliable results.
It is quite acceptable there are many FDA approved medicines available as i had buy darvocet medicine online from buydarvocet.com to cure moderate main problem and get relief from mild pain.
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