Editing Capsaicin (section)

==Uses==
===Food===
{{Main|Pungency}}
[[Image:Karnatakadishes.jpg|thumb|[[Curry]] dishes]]

Because of the burning sensation caused by capsaicin when it comes in contact with [[mucous membranes]], it is commonly used in food products to provide added spiciness or "heat" (piquancy), usually in the form of [[spices]] such as [[chili powder]] and [[paprika]].<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/science/21peppers.html|title=A Perk of Our Evolution: Pleasure in Pain of Chilies|newspaper=New York Times|date=20 September 2010| vauthors = Gorman J |access-date=16 March 2015}}</ref> In high concentrations, capsaicin will also cause a burning effect on other sensitive areas, such as skin or eyes.<ref name="bio">{{cite journal | vauthors = Rollyson WD, Stover CA, Brown KC, Perry HE, Stevenson CD, McNees CA, Ball JG, Valentovic MA, Dasgupta P | title = Bioavailability of capsaicin and its implications for drug delivery | journal = Journal of Controlled Release | volume = 196 | pages = 96–105 | date = December 2014 | pmid = 25307998 | pmc = 4267963 | doi = 10.1016/j.jconrel.2014.09.027 }}</ref> The degree of heat found within a food is often measured on the [[Scoville scale]].<ref name="nyt"/>

There has long been a demand for capsaicin-spiced products like [[chili pepper]], and [[hot sauce]]s such as [[Tabasco sauce]] and Mexican [[salsa (sauce)|salsa]].<ref name="nyt" /> It is common for people to experience pleasurable and even [[euphoria|euphoric]] effects from ingesting capsaicin.<ref name="nyt"/>  Folklore among self-described "[[wikt:chilihead|chilihead]]s" attribute this to pain-stimulated release of [[endorphins]], a different mechanism from the local receptor overload that makes capsaicin effective as a topical [[analgesic]].<ref name="bio"/>

{{anchor|Medical}}

===Research and pharmaceutical use===
Capsaicin is used as an [[analgesic]] in [[Topical medication|topical ointments]] and [[dermal patch]]es to relieve pain, typically in concentrations between 0.025% and 0.1%.<ref name="fattori">{{cite journal | vauthors = Fattori V, Hohmann MS, Rossaneis AC, Pinho-Ribeiro FA, Verri WA | title = Capsaicin: Current Understanding of Its Mechanisms and Therapy of Pain and Other Pre-Clinical and Clinical Uses | journal = Molecules | volume = 21 | issue = 7 | pages = 844 | date = June 2016 | pmid = 27367653 | pmc = 6273101 | doi = 10.3390/molecules21070844 | title-link = doi | doi-access = free }}</ref> It may be applied in cream form for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains of [[muscle]]s and joints associated with [[arthritis]], backache, strains and [[sprain]]s, often in compounds with other [[rubefacients]].<ref name=fattori/>

It is also used to reduce the symptoms of peripheral [[neuropathy]], such as [[herpes|post-herpetic]] [[neuralgia]] caused by [[shingles]].<ref name=fattori/> A capsaicin [[transdermal]] patch (''Qutenza'') for the management of this particular therapeutic indication (pain due to post-herpetic neuralgia) was approved in 2009, as a [[therapeutic]] by both the U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA)<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm191003.htm|title=FDA Approves New Drug Treatment for Long-Term Pain Relief after Shingles Attacks|publisher=U.S. Food and Drug Administration|date=17 November 2009|access-date=5 January 2016|archive-date=23 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123231205/http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm191003.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Drug Approval Package: Qutenza (capsaicin) NDA #022395 | website=U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) | date=29 June 2010 | url=https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2009/022395_qutenza_toc.cfm | access-date=19 August 2020}}
*{{cite web |date=13 November 2009 |title=Application Number: 22-395: Summary Review |website=FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research |url=https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2009/022395s000Sumr.pdf}}</ref> and the European Union.<ref>{{cite web | title=Qutenza EPAR | website=[[European Medicines Agency]] (EMA) | date=17 September 2018 | url=https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/qutenza | access-date=19 August 2020}}</ref> A subsequent application to the FDA for Qutenza to be used as an analgesic in [[HIV]] neuralgia was refused.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/759986|title=FDA Turns Down Capsaicin Patch for Painful Neuropathy in HIV|publisher=Medscape Medical News, WebMD| vauthors = Hitt E |date=9 March 2012|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> One 2017 review of clinical studies found, with limited quaity, that high-dose topical capsaicin (8%) compared with control (0.4% capsaicin) provided moderate to substantial pain relief from post-herpetic neuralgia, [[HIV]]-neuropathy, and [[diabetic neuropathy]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Derry S, Rice AS, Cole P, Tan T, Moore RA | title = Topical capsaicin (high concentration) for chronic neuropathic pain in adults | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 1 | issue = 1 | pages = CD007393 | date = January 2017 | pmid = 28085183 | pmc = 6464756 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD007393.pub4 | url = https://spiral.imperial.ac.uk:8443/bitstream/10044/1/49554/2/Derry_et_al-2017-.sup-2.pdf | access-date = 27 September 2018 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 15 February 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210215024258/https://spiral.imperial.ac.uk:8443/bitstream/10044/1/49554/2/Derry_et_al-2017-.sup-2.pdf | hdl = 10044/1/49554 }}</ref>

Although capsaicin creams have been used to treat [[psoriasis]] for reduction of itching,<ref name=fattori/><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Glinski W, Glinska-Ferenz M, Pierozynska-Dubowska M | title = Neurogenic inflammation induced by capsaicin in patients with psoriasis | journal = Acta Dermato-Venereologica | volume = 71 | issue = 1 | pages = 51–54 | year = 1991 | doi = 10.2340/00015555715154 | pmid = 1711752 | s2cid = 29307090 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ellis CN, Berberian B, Sulica VI, Dodd WA, Jarratt MT, Katz HI, Prawer S, Krueger G, Rex IH, Wolf JE | title = A double-blind evaluation of topical capsaicin in pruritic psoriasis | journal = Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology | volume = 29 | issue = 3 | pages = 438–442 | date = September 1993 | pmid = 7688774 | doi = 10.1016/0190-9622(93)70208-B }}</ref> a review of six [[clinical trial]]s involving topical capsaicin for treatment of [[pruritus]] concluded there was insufficient evidence of effect.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Gooding SM, Canter PH, Coelho HF, Boddy K, Ernst E | title = Systematic review of topical capsaicin in the treatment of pruritus | journal = International Journal of Dermatology | volume = 49 | issue = 8 | pages = 858–865 | date = August 2010 | pmid = 21128913 | doi = 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2010.04537.x | s2cid = 24484878 }}</ref> Oral capsaicin decreases [[Low-density lipoprotein|LDL cholesterol]] levels moderately.<ref name="pmid33840333">{{cite journal | vauthors = Kelava L, Nemeth D, Hegyi P, Keringer P, Kovacs DK, Balasko M, Solymar M, Pakai E, Rumbus Z, Garami A | title = Dietary supplementation of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 channel agonists reduces serum total cholesterol level: a meta-analysis of controlled human trials | journal = Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition | volume = 62 | issue = 25 | pages = 7025–7035 | date = April 2021 | pmid = 33840333 | doi = 10.1080/10408398.2021.1910138 | title-link = doi | doi-access = free }}</ref>

There is insufficient clinical evidence to determine the role of ingested capsaicin on several human disorders, including obesity, [[diabetes]], [[cancer]] and [[cardiovascular diseases]].<ref name=fattori/>

===Pepper spray and pests===
Capsaicinoids are also an active ingredient in riot control and personal defense [[pepper spray]] agents.<ref name=pubchem/> When the spray comes in contact with skin, especially eyes or [[mucous membrane]]s, it produces pain and breathing difficulty in the affected individual.<ref name=pubchem/>

Capsaicin is also used to deter pests, specifically mammalian pests.  Targets of capsaicin repellants include voles, deer, rabbits, squirrels, [[Bear spray|bears]], insects, and attacking dogs.<ref name="EPA facts capsaicin">{{cite web |title=R.E.D. Facts for Capsaicin |url=http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/4018fact.pdf |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |access-date=13 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024014940/http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/4018fact.pdf |archive-date=24 October 2012  }}</ref>  Ground or crushed dried chili pods may be used in birdseed to deter rodents,<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Jensen PG, Curtis PD, Dunn JA, Austic RE, Richmond ME | title = Field evaluation of capsaicin as a rodent aversion agent for poultry feed | journal = Pest Management Science | volume = 59 | issue = 9 | pages = 1007–1015 | date = September 2003 | pmid = 12974352 | doi = 10.1002/ps.705 }}</ref> taking advantage of the insensitivity of birds to capsaicin.  The Elephant Pepper Development Trust claims that using chili peppers as a barrier crop can be a sustainable means for rural African farmers to deter elephants from eating their crops.<ref>{{cite web |title=Human Elephant Conflict and Chilli Pepper |url=http://www.elephantpepper.org/human-elephant-conflict-chilli.php |publisher=Elephant Pepper |access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref>

An article published in the ''Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B'' in 2006 states that "Although hot chili pepper extract is commonly used as a component of household and garden insect-repellent formulas, it is not clear that the capsaicinoid elements of the extract are responsible for its repellency."<ref name="pmid17090499">{{cite journal | vauthors = Antonious GF, Meyer JE, Snyder JC | title = Toxicity and repellency of hot pepper extracts to spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch | journal = Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B| volume = 41 | issue = 8 | pages = 1383–1391 | year = 2006 | pmid = 17090499 | doi = 10.1080/0360123060096419 | bibcode = 2006JESHB..41.1383A | s2cid = 19121573 }}</ref>

The first pesticide product using solely capsaicin as the active ingredient was registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1962.<ref name="EPA facts capsaicin"/>

===Equestrian sports===
Capsaicin is a banned substance in [[Equestrianism|equestrian sports]] because of its hypersensitizing and pain-relieving properties.<ref name="BBC 20080821" /> At the show jumping events of the [[2008 Summer Olympics]], four horses tested positive for capsaicin, which resulted in disqualification.<ref name="BBC 20080821">{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/equestrian/7574220.stm | publisher=[[BBC News Online]] | title=Olympic horses fail drugs tests | date=21 August 2008 | access-date=1 April 2010}}</ref>