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I wonder if consuming foods high in capsacin could have similar effect?

I don't know, but a preventive dose couldn't do any harm. I'd best go find some right away! =]

Yummm! I'll have some of each. Actually, I do eat a lot of very spicy foods, so think I'll add even more now. I always thought hot spicy condiments were good for you, both for digestion, respiratory and other ailments. I'm diabetic, so maybe I'm healthier than I think.

Mexicans have a diet much higher in hot peppers than we do and they also have diabetes rates twice as high as most states.

The capsaicin may have to be injected to get the effect.

That top picture looks like my typical order at a Thai or Indian restaurant. Hotter is better. If you eat the hot stuff regularly, the depletion of substance P in you mouth and gut eliminates the "ouch" from eating it. If you don't eat hot stuff for a significant period, the nerves recover and you get a pretty good burn the next time.

If this "cure" is based on depletion of substance P as a means of suppression of improper function, they need to observe the "patient" over an extended period. The recovery of the substance P could easily resume the prior improper behavior of the nerves. Identification of the mechanism is a good first step to finding a treatment.

We have a new Indian restaurant getting off the ground in Pocatello. It is run by one of my neighbors. He has lamb vindaloo from 2 PM to 6 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Very tasty. The place is called Sanju's Dhaba. Last Friday he indicated that he may have found a good place in Chubbuck with satisfactory kitchen and seating space.