Capsaicin Candy Recipe
Alternative Treatments for Facial Neuralgias

Disclaimer.

Capsaicin, the substance that makes chili peppers hot, has been found to reduce pain in arthritis patients when topically applied repeatedly over several weeks. Researchers have found that it reduces substance P which is found at nerve endings and is involved in transmitting pain signals to the brain.

Using this principle, researchers at Yale University School of Medicine have devised a candy, composed of hot chili peppers and taffy, to ease mouth pain in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Often chemo causes painful mouth sores that are difficult to treat. The sugar in the candy inhibits the burn of capsaicin in the mouth while the capsaicin provides pain relief

This candy might provide pain relief for some facial pain patients with pain inside their mouths.

The following recipe was adapted from the Joy of Cooking Cookbook.

Hot Pepper Candy Recipe

• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup light corn syrup
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 tbs cornstarch
• 2 tbs butter or marg
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 8x8x2 buttered pan

Over medium heat, stirring constantly till hard ball stage (256F). Remove the pan from heat, stir in vanilla and pepper.

Pour candy into buttered pan to cool. Don't scrape the sides of the saucepan or your candy might crystallize.

When the candy is cool enough to handle, butter your hands (important unless you like having toffee stuck to you) and pull until satiny and stiff. Pull into long strips, cut into 1" pieces, and wrap with wax paper.