Capsicum annuum

Reported Doses

Safety/efficacy may not be established; reported doses may be derived from limited or potentially inadequate studies w/ variable regimens, multi-ingredient products, or where concentration of active ingredients may vary widely

Special Note

[formulation clarification]

Info: active constituents may incl. capsaicin, civamide, other capsaicinoids; see capsaicin topical for FDA-approved Rx and OTC products; all other preparations are not FDA-approved

Effectiveness Ratings

[see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table]

allergic rhinitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply cotton wad soaked w/ 30 mcM capsaicin solution in each nostril x15min qd

athletic performance

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 12 mg PO x1 given 45min before physical test; Alt: 6 mg capsiate PO bid

back pain

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: apply 11 mg capsaicin plaster topically qd x4-8h/day; Alt: apply 22 mcg/cm^2 capsaicin plaster topically qd x4-8h/day; apply 0.075% capsaicin gel topically q12h

burning mouth syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 15 mL (0.02% capsaicin solution) swish/spit qd; Alt: apply 0.5 mL (0.01-0.025% capsaicin gel) topically to tongue tid; Info: avoid food/drink 30min after use

cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 5 g (0.1% capsaicin) cream topically on abdomen qd; Alt: apply 0.025% capsaicin cream topically qd

cluster headache

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 1 actuation (300 mcg/0.1 mL capsaicin) in ipsilateral nostril qd; Alt: apply 0.025% capsaicin cream in ipsilateral nostril qd

diabetic neuropathy

[Likely Effective]

Dose: apply 0.075% capsaicin cream topically qid

dry skin

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 400 mg paprika oil extract PO qd

dyspepsia

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 2.5 g/day red pepper powder PO divided tid; Info: give before meals

fibromyalgia

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 0.025% capsaicin cream topically qid; Alt: apply 0.075% capsaicin cream topically tid

gestational diabetes

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 5 mg capsaicin PO qd

IBS

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 2.1 g chili (2.5 mg capsaicin) PO qd; Info: give before meal

intermetatarsal neuroma

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 0.1 mg/0.5 mL capsaicin intermetatarsal injection x1; Info: give 5min after lidocaine w/ epinephrine injection

nausea/vomiting prevention, postop

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: apply plaster to acupoints on hand or forearm topically 30min prior to anesthesia x1 for 6-8h/day; Info: plaster stdzd to 345.8 mg capsicum and 34.58 mg capsicum tincture per sheet or capsicum oleoresin 1% w/w; may repeat dose qd for up to 3 days

neck pain

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 0.075% capsaicin gel topically bid

obesity

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 3 mg capsinoids PO bid given 30min before meals; Alt: 200 mg chili extract (4 mg capsaicinoids) PO qd

osteoarthritis

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: apply 0.025% capsaicin cream topically qid; Info: for pts w/ knee osteoarthritis

pain, acute

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: apply 0.05% capsaicin gel topically tid

pain, chronic

[Likely Effective]

Dose: apply 0.025-0.075% capsaicin cream topically qd; apply 0.05% capsaicin cream topically tid

perennial rhinitis

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 1 actuation (0.15 mg/dose capsaicin) in each nostril q2-3 days; Alt: 1 actuation (0.0033 mol capsaicin) in each nostril q7 days; 1 actuation (15 mcg/0.1 mL capsaicin) in each nostril tid; 1 actuation (1-4 mcg/dose capsaicin) in each nostril tid; 2 actuations (0.01 mM/0.4 mL capsaicin) in each nostril qd

postop pain, adult pts

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: apply plaster to acupoints on hands or near knees topically 30min prior to anesthesia x1 for 6-8h/day; Alt: instill 15 mg capsaicin x1 prior to wound closure; Info: plaster stdzd to 345.8 mg capsicum and 34.58 mg capsicum tincture per sheet; may repeat dose qd for up to 3 days

postop pain, peds pts

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: apply plaster to acupoints near knee topically 30min prior to anesthesia x1 for 6-8h/day; Info: plaster stdzd to 345.8 mg capsicum and 34.58 mg capsicum tincture per sheet; may repeat dose qd for up to 3 days

prurigo nodularis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 0.025-0.3% capsaicin cream topically 4-6x/day

sinonasal polyposis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 0.5 mL of a 30 mmol/L capsaicin solution in each nostril qd x3 days, then 0.5 mL of a 100 mmol/L capsaicin solution in each nostril qd

swallowing dysfxn

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 1.5 mcg capsaicin lozenge PO tid before meals; Alt: 1 mL (150 mcM/L capsaicin) nectar PO tid w/ meals; apply 0.15 mM capsaicin ice swab topically x20min before lunch and dinner