[CH] How's this for a cure?
JSchickows (JSchickows@aol.com)
Sat, 17 Jan 1998 13:02:45 EST
Special to ABCNEWS.com
Suffering from a sinus headache? Dr. Martin Citardi has something to get your
mind off the pain—a blast of a red-hot chili pepper solution, shot straight up
the nose.
Citardi is exploring the use of capsaicin, a naturally occurring
ingredient that makes red peppers hot, to "turn off" the nerve fiber that
triggers sinus headaches.
Repeat Applications
"When the capsaicin is applied, this particular nerve fiber becomes activated.
It transmits a signal," explains Citardi. "But with repeated applications, the
nerve becomes inactivated, essentially shutting down for good."
Hypothetically, when the nerve fiber is inactivated, the sinus headaches
go away. Other, redundant nerves in the nose continue to function, so that no
favorable sensations are lost.
How much capsaicin is required to take out a nasal nerve fiber? A teeny
bit, according to Citardi—25 millionths of a mole (about 0.00045 grams) in a
liter of solution. "We're using a very dilute nasal spray, with repeated
activations at a level that isn't really painful or irritating," he offers. If
applied repeatedly, even this minuscule amount will inactivate the nerve over
time, he maintains.
Volunteers?
A doctor at Saint Louis University's School of Medicine, Citardi is currently
recruiting students to participate in two studies—one on sinus headaches, the
other on hyperreflexive rhinopathy, a condition characterized by chronic nasal
congestion and thin, watery nasal drainage. Patients with this second malady
(also known as vasomotor rhinitis) don't suffer from allergies, but usually
wind up being treated for them, with no appreciable improvement, anyway.
"We're aiming at 20 to 30 participants for each study," says Citardi. "If
the early data is good, we're obviously going to continue the study, and we'll
need more people at that point."
Sinus headache sufferers, stand in line.