Food Curry dishes Because of the burning sensation caused by<unk>  when it comes in contact with mucous membranes, it is commonly used in food products to provide added spice or "heat" (piquancy), usually in the form of spices such as chili powder and paprika. In high concentrations,<unk>  will also cause a burning effect on other sensitive areas, such as skin or eyes. The degree of heat found within a food is often measured on the Scoville scale. There has long been a demand for<unk> -spiced products like chili pepper, and hot sauces such as Tabasco sauce and Mexican salsa. It is common for people to experience pleasurable and even euphoric effects from ingesting<unk> . Folklore among self-described "chiliheads" attribute this to pain-stimulated release of endorphins, a different mechanism from the local receptor overload that makes<unk>  effective as a topical analgesic. Research and pharmaceutical use<unk>  is used as an analgesic in topical ointments and dermal patches to relieve pain, typically in concentrations between 0.025% and 0.1%. It may be applied in cream form for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains of muscles and joints associated with arthritis, backache, strains and sprains, often in compounds with other rubefacients. It is also used to reduce the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, such as post-herpetic neuralgia caused by shingles. A<unk>  transdermal patch (Qutenza) for the management of this particular therapeutic indication (pain due to post-herpetic neuralgia) was approved in 2009, as a therapeutic by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union. A subsequent application to the FDA for Qutenza to be used as an analgesic in HIV neuralgia was refused. One 2017 review of clinical studies having limited quality found that high-dose topical<unk>  (8%) compared with control (0.4%<unk>  provided moderate to substantial pain relief from post-herpetic neuralgia, HIV-neuropathy, and diabetic neuropathy. Although<unk>  creams have been used to treat psoriasis for reduction of itching, a review of six clinical trials involving topical<unk>  for treatment of pruritus concluded there was insufficient evidence of effect.<unk>  decreases LDL cholesterol levels moderately. There is insufficient clinical evidence to determine the role of ingested<unk>  on several human disorders, including obesity, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Pepper spray and pests<unk> oids are also an active ingredient in riot control and personal defense pepper spray agents. When the spray comes in contact with skin, especially eyes or mucous membranes, it produces pain and breathing difficulty in the affected individual.<unk>  is also used to deter pests, specifically mammalian pests. Targets of<unk>  repellants include voles, deer, rabbits, squirrels, bears, insects, and attacking dogs. Ground or crushed dried chili pods may be used in birdseed to deter rodents, taking advantage of the insensitivity of birds to<unk> . The Elephant Pepper Development Trust claims that using chili peppers as a barrier crop can be a sustainable means for rural African farmers to deter elephants from eating their crops. An article published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B in 2006 states that "Although hot chili pepper extract is commonly used as a component of household and garden insect-repellent formulas, it is not clear that the<unk> oid elements of the extract are responsible for its repellency." The first pesticide product using solely<unk>  as the active ingredient was registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1962. Equestrian sports<unk>  is a banned substance in equestrian sports because of its hypersensitizing and pain-relieving properties. At the show jumping events of the 2008 Summer Olympics, four horses tested positive for the substance, which resulted in disqualification.
Capsaicin
Eoxin
Agitoxin
Toxin
Dermatoxin
Toxicophore
Scyllatoxin
Allergen