Research shows that just looking at a picture of a curry can help relieve pain.
Chinese scientists had 27 volunteers look at images of spicy curries or noodles, as well as milder options such as fruit.
While looking at the pictures, participants received a small electric shock. Experts then asked them how much pain they felt.
The results showed that their discomfort was dampened when they viewed spicy foods. This is despite the fact that the same force is used in both scenarios.
Researchers from Chongqing Normal University examined the evidence of spicy food and discussed “possible solutions for pain management”.
Chinese researchers had 27 volunteers look at pictures of spicy curries or noodles, as well as softer cakes, fruit and hamburgers. While looking at the pictures, they received a small electric shock. Experts then asked them how much pain they felt. The results showed that their discomfort was dampened by their spicy foods. This is despite being zapped with the same force
Although there were initially promising signs, the team said more studies are needed to find out if the same theory would work for chronic pain.
Academics recruited only female participants because women “generally have a lower pain threshold than men.”
They all said they were healthy and had no aversion to spicy food.
Their left hand was connected to electrodes through which they fidgeted for 50 ms at low and then high intensity.
Meanwhile, they were shown 40 pictures of food, each shown for 30 seconds.
Half were spicy – like curry, noodles and dumplings – while the other were milder apples, cakes and hamburgers.
Food was shown against the same background and had the same caloric content.
The results, published in the journal Biological Psychology, showed that volunteers rated the pain of a high-intensity shock as “significantly less” when viewing pictures of spicy food, compared to pictures of non-spicy food. They rated their pain at 4.6 at the sight of hot foods and increased to 5.7 at the sight of bland foods
The group was asked to rate their pain on a scale of one to nine, ranging from “no feeling” to “excruciating pain.”
The results, published in the journal Biological Psychology, showed that volunteers rated the pain of high-intensity shock that is “significantly lower” when viewing pictures of spicy food compared to pictures of non-spicy food.
They rated their pain at 4.6 at the sight of hot foods and increased to 5.7 at the sight of bland foods.
However, self-reported pain did not differ significantly when tapped at low intensity.
The researchers said: “This result suggests that images of spicy compared to non-spicy foods reduced the painful experience during strong pain stimuli.
The team concluded that these results have important implications for the use of spicy arousal stimuli as a potential pain reliever.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
