Capsaicin patches help reduce post-shingles pain

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have reported that those who suffer from post-herpetic neuralgia or pain following an attack of shingles can now get relief through a patch of Capsaicin, the active ingredient of chili peppers.

Shingles is caused the varicella zoster virus, which also causes chicken pox. Shingles results in the occurrence of painful rashes on one side of the body and the pain can persist even after the rashes have disappeared. Researchers have now seen in a study patients with post-shingles pain that capsaicin acts on pain-responsive pain fibers. In the study, participants were treated with the capsaicin patch showed 33 per cent reduction in pain compared to four per cent of those who were given a placebo.