Common Pain Cream Could Protect Heart During Attack

[Richard D]

New research from the University of Cincinnati shows that a common, over-the-counter pain salve rubbed on the skin during a heart attack could serve as a cardiac-protectant, preventing or reducing damage to the heart while interventions are administered.

These findings are published in the Sept. 14 edition of the journal Circulation.

Keith Jones, PhD, a researcher in the department of pharmacology and cell biophysics, and scientists in his lab have found that applying capsaicin to specific skin locations in mice caused sensory nerves in the skin to trigger signals in the nervous system. These signals activate cellular “pro-survival” pathways in the heart which protect the muscle.

Capsaicin is the main component of chili peppers and produces a hot sensation. It is also the active ingredient in several topical medications used for temporary pain relief.

snip

Researchers observed an 85 percent reduction in cardiac cell death when capsaicin was used. (!!)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090914173010.htm

[madeline_con]

1. "...an 85 percent reduction in cardiac cell death ..."

Damn!

[izquierdista]

2. Pain salve?

Any good salsa will do. Or in a pinch, a roasted jalapeno.

[Festivito]

9. Chili peppers. Yum. /nt

[tabatha]

3. Eating it regularly also helps.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Don't let big pharma know...They will outlaw it..

[EC]

5. Always though of Ben-Gay as a miracle cream... n/t

[grasswire]

6. what kind of pain salve?

I don't know what that means. Flex-All?

[Celebration]

7. it would be one with Capsaicin in it

Most of them don't have it. But, I found one at Walgreen's the other day.

The problem is they don't tell you what specific locations of the skin to put it on.

I wonder if it is acupuncture points?

Edited to add: Capsaicin is a sort of wonder substance. It can selectively kill many types of cancer cell lines.

[Why Syzygy]

8. That still needs study evidently ...

"We don't know if it will work for all indications, for all patients, and we don't know if it will work over an extended amount of time," he says. "A major goal is testing this therapy in clinical trials, but we still need to study more about dosage and application—where we put it on the body for the best results. However, this has tremendous clinical potential and could eventually save lives."

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-09/uoca-ssc091409.php

[grasswire]

10. yeah, I was looking for a brand name.

This is pretty amazing news. I don't think I want to make an incision in the belly, but I sure would use some salve.

[Celebration]

11. Mine is the Walgreen's brand name

"High strength capsacian"

Be careful with it! It's very hot on mucous membranes.

[izquierdista]

13. Make your own

If you think it is too messy to smear yourself with roasted jalapeno or serrano peppers, just put them in a jar with some rubbing alcohol. The capsaicin will leach out into the alcohol and you will have special duty rubbing alcohol. If you want something thicker, just pound the peppers together with some petroleum jelly and that will work.

Bottom line -- you don't have to pay big pharma to put it in a tube and advertise it. You can do it yourself, in your own kitchen.

[restless native]

12. I have used this stuff and it hurt like HELL!

It might work but I was too busy screaming and washing it off my skin...