A non-obvious way to dull severe physical pain has been named

Researchers from Chongqing Normal University in China, led by Yizhou Zhou, found that the burning sensation in the mouth from spicy food can diminish the perception of strong physical pain, although it has no effect on mild pain. The study was published in the journal Physiology & Behavior (PB).

Capsaicin — the active compound that gives chili peppers their heat — binds to TRPV1 receptors, which detect dangerously high temperatures on the skin and mucous membranes. As a result, the brain registers intense burning even though no actual tissue damage occurs. This is the very principle behind capsaicin-based creams used to treat chronic pain: constant mild burning overloads pain neurons, eventually blocking the transmission of real pain signals.

To test how a brief spicy sensation in the mouth affects pain perception in other parts of the body, the researchers invited 48 healthy young adults to the laboratory. Participants visited the lab twice, approximately one week apart: during one visit, they held a jelly cube containing chili powder in their mouth for five minutes; during the other, they held a plain water-based cube without any spices. Afterward, 40 laser pulses of two intensity levels — low and high — were applied to the back of the left hand.

With mild pain, no difference was found between the "spicy" and control visits. However, after the spicy jelly, participants rated the strong laser pulses as noticeably less intense and unpleasant compared to after the neutral one.

At the end of the experiment, the volunteers reported their dietary habits: those who regularly preferred spicy food showed lower pain sensitivity and were less afraid of potentially painful situations.

The authors suggest that the burning pain in the mouth activates descending inhibitory pathways in the brain that suppress pain perception elsewhere in the body, and that capsaicin may stimulate the release of endorphins. A simple attentional distraction effect cannot be ruled out either. The study was small and included only young students from China, so the results cannot yet be generalized to other age and cultural groups.