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Capsaicin, the active component derived from the fruit of capsicum, is used to relieve pain, improve circulation, to treat cluster headaches and psoriasis, and for weight loss. Capsicum or cayenne pepper, a shrub prevalent in many tropical and subtropical climates, is an important ingredient of many cuisines around the world. It has been used in traditional medical systems as a remedy for digestive and circulatory problems, poor appetite, and to relieve muscle and arthritic pain. Capsaicin is marketed in capsule form and as an ingredient in topical creams. A prescription-strength dermal capsaicin product, approved by the FDA, is available for the management of postherpetic neuralgia.

Capsaicin is thought to reduce pain sensation by temporarily depleting a neurotransmitter, substance P, which relays pain signals to the brain.
Studies support benefits of topical capsaicin for psoriasis ⁽⁵⁾, prurigo nodularis ⁽⁶⁾, pruritis ani ⁽¹⁵⁾, of intranasal application for rhinitis ⁽¹⁶⁾ and for cluster headaches ⁽⁸⁾. A dermal capsaicin patch was shown safe and effective for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia ⁽²⁴⁾.
Intravesical capsaicin injections were shown to induce diuresis ⁽⁷⁾. A small study found improved hair growth with a combination of capsaicin and isoflavone in healthy volunteers with alopecia ⁽¹⁸⁾.
Capsaicin cream did not relieve HIV-associated distal symmetrical peripheral neuropathy ⁽²⁾ and a review of studies of capsaicin for neuropathic pain associated with HIV, diabetes, and mastectomy concluded that available data are limited to enable full assessment of its benefits ⁽¹⁹⁾. Its utility for arthritic pain also remains inconclusive ^{(3) (4)}.

Capsaicin, originally thought by some to be a carcinogen, was shown to be safe in animal studies ⁽¹⁰⁾. Interestingly, it demonstrated chemopreventive ⁽¹⁷⁾ and antiproliferative ⁽²⁶⁾ effects against prostate cancer cells. A case report of a patient with prostate cancer suggests that capsaicin may slow doubling time of prostate specific antigen (PSA) ⁽²⁵⁾. Data also suggest that capsaicin cream can effectively control post-surgical pain in cancer patients ⁽¹⁾.