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Adding Capsaicin Improves Anesthetic Treatment

Posted by samzenpus on from the so-hot-it's-numb dept.

eldavojohn writes "It's no secret what capsaicin, the fiery molecule of peppers, does to cell walls. In fact, it's now being used to open cells up to local anesthetics. Combine it with a new drug that works only from the insides of cells and you have a great system for relieving pain. From the article, 'QX-314 is known to reduce the activity of pain-sensing neurons in the nervous system and theoretically heighten pain thresholds. But there's a catch: Researchers found that "it wouldn't work from outside a nerve cell but it would work if you could get it inside," says Bruce Bean, a professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School and co-author of the new study."

11 of 151 comments (clear)

  1. Just a thought... by thatskinnyguy · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...but wouldn't that burn like hell?

    --
    The game.
    1. Re:Just a thought... by CarpetShark · · Score: 2, Funny

      i.e. "I like pepper" means one thing and "I like peppers" means another.


      Ahh, but what if your dog is called peppers? Where does that leave you? Eh? EH?? ;)
  2. We're screwed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Bruce Bean, a professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School and co-author of the new study
    Mr. Bean is a professor of neurobiology? I wonder if he presented his thesis with a turkey stuck on his head.
  3. just turn on primetime by User+956 · · Score: 3, Funny

    From the article, 'QX-314 is known to reduce the activity of pain-sensing neurons in the nervous system and theoretically heighten pain thresholds.

    Ah, yes, much like watching American Idol.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  4. There's a much easier way to get this effect... by anandamide · · Score: 3, Funny

    Thai Food and Beer.

  5. Icy Hot-n-blazin' sauce by jacobcaz · · Score: 3, Funny
    I want to see an anethetic/capiscum hot sauce. So you get a brief busrt of fiery goodness, then soothing numbness follows.

    "Why yes, I will have my buffalo wings in the Icy Hot-n-blazin' sauce please!"

  6. Re:Cell walls? by sam_handelman · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's-a-spicy pain-a-pill.

      Seriously, mod parent up.

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    The good and new comes from no quarter where it is looked for, and is always something different from what is expected.
  7. Re:Terrible Write Up by ScrewMaster · · Score: 2, Funny

    Any way you slice it, this is bad news for masochists.

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    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  8. Ok by xx01dk · · Score: 5, Funny

    I promise I'll RTFA, but the first thought that came to mind was "Oh boy! Modern medicine can ease my pain... with FLAMING HOT NUCLEAR CODE RED WING SAUCE" followed by "GOOD LORD I'M NEVER SHITTING AGAIN."

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    There is simply too much glass..
  9. Re:Irritating ??? by Brickwall · · Score: 2, Funny
    The next when I saw him, there was no pretense, he used a few expletives but claimed that in the "after glow" phase he actually had what one might refer to as a religious experience.

    I saw that one! Then Homer met a talking wolf...

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    What was once true, is no longer so
  10. And Don't Forget... by FranTaylor · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wash your hands BEFORE you go to the bathroom.