Posted by Anne on May 12, 1998 at 15:14:49:
My partner reports that he gets a bit of relief during CH attacks by rubbing capsicum ointment on his forehead/temple. I have seen this mentioned on the Web occasionally. Some users say they have had complete relief from pain when they put a bit of capsaicin (same thing, I think) cream high up the nostril on the affected side and keep doing it a few times - it is supposed to have a desensitizing effect. He tried this but it really stings an awful lot and didn't have the desired outcome in his case. However, when he tried rubbing it on his forehead and temple area, it did help a bit. It didn't desensitize him to the cluster pain, but it does have a distracting effect, as it sets up a rival pain/irritation centre, and gives him something to do. He says it makes the cluster pain a bit more bearable. It takes a little while each time for the effect to become apparent, so best to rub it on as soon as an attack starts. You have to be careful not to get it in your eyes. He says it gets less effective after a while, then he needs to take a short break from doing it so the effect gets stronger again. I buy the ointment from our local herbal store - smallish jar, brandname "Care", Capsicum ointment, BPC 1973, from Thornton and Ross, non-prescription. We live in the UK, so you may not be able to find this brand if you're in the US, but you may be able to find something similar.