# Does capsaicin INJURE (not cause pain to) mammals? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 5, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431 "2004-04-05T20:42:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/43 "2011-01-12T13:43:08Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Milk douche. Forgive me for junior modding, but I don’t think we’re allowed to insult people in this forum. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/44 "2011-01-12T17:02:18Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Milk douche. The casein in the milk binds the capsaicin and relieves the symptoms quickly. > > QtM, who has been called on to treat capsaicin burns in a lot of odd places. No fuckin way. I know you’re a doc and everything, but I wasn’t about to douche with anything. I was afraid I’d push the capsaicin further up in there and burn my cervix. :eek: No. Thank. You. If you can assure me that wouldn’t happen, I’ll keep it in mind next time. (Right. Like there will be a next time.) Furthermore, wouldn’t milk leave all sorts of bacteria up there that probably shouldn’t be? Sounds like a recipe for a horrible infection to me… Or PID. :: shudder :: ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/45 "2011-01-12T17:06:22Z")
I think alcohol is also supposed to help. So maybe – whiskey douche? ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/46 "2011-01-12T17:21:12Z")
Milk works. I speak from [experience](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=563468). ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/47 "2011-01-12T17:44:22Z")
I’m sure milk _does_ work, I’m just not squirting it up in my hoo-ha. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/48 "2011-01-12T17:47:08Z")
But it does a body good! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/49 "2011-01-12T17:49:21Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > I’m sure milk _does_ work, I’m just not squirting it up in my hoo-ha. Well, if you need help … ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/50 "2011-01-12T20:36:14Z")
> [@Any\_Other\_Name](#): > > Is in and banned in three posts a record? For paid membership? Disregarding obvious bots, trolls, sock puppets, etc? Any interesting user names worth searching? Just had to point out the username/post combo on this one. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/51 "2011-01-12T21:03:31Z")
Quoth **Dogzilla** : > [@](#): > > Furthermore, wouldn’t milk leave all sorts of bacteria up there that probably shouldn’t be? Sounds like a recipe for a horrible infection to me… Or PID. :: shudder :: IIRC (though I’m sure **Qadgop** or another knowledgeable poster will correct me if I’m wrong), the bacteria in milk are, by and large, the kind that _should_ be up there, and I’ve heard of yogurt douches being recommended as a home treatment for yeast infections (the yeast and bacteria are in competition, so increasing the bacteria can decrease the yeast). Speaking of which, doesn’t an acidic dairy product like yogurt or sour cream work even better at calming capsaicin than plain milk? Such has always been my experience, at least in the mucous membranes at the other end of the body. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/52 "2011-01-12T21:09:24Z")
Ew. Just sounds so… messy. Anything that goes up in there eventually comes back out, so again. Ew. Yogurt in my panties. Bleargh. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/53 "2011-01-12T23:52:16Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > No fuckin way. I know you’re a doc and everything, but I wasn’t about to douche with anything. I was afraid I’d push the capsaicin further up in there and burn my cervix. :eek: No. Thank. You. If you can assure me that wouldn’t happen, I’ll keep it in mind next time. (Right. Like there will be a next time.) > > Furthermore, wouldn’t milk leave all sorts of bacteria up there that probably shouldn’t be? Sounds like a recipe for a horrible infection to me… Or PID. :: shudder :: You think milk has more bacteria than the head of a penis? 😕 If you’re worried, use pasteurized skim. Follow with a saline douche if you want. Or not. It’s an effective, relatively safe way to quickly relieve pain from capsaicin. But just waiting it out works too, it just takes more time. Sour cream or yogurt are also effective, as noted above. It’s not the acid, it’s the casein. But most people find them less aesthetically pleasing, for some reason. Save those ingredients for tacos and pitas if that’s your pleasure. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/54 "2011-01-13T02:24:53Z")
Call me crazy, but did the banning seem a bit premature to anyone else? He was spouting nonsense, and started insulting people, but he wasn’t off the rails going apeshit. Seems like he could’ve been given a warning and an admonition to read the rules of posting again. It wasn’t even 1 strike and you’re out, it was no strikes. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/55 "2011-01-13T02:26:33Z")
> [@Any\_Other\_Name](#): > > Is in and banned in three posts a record? For paid membership? Disregarding obvious bots, trolls, sock puppets, etc? Any interesting user names worth searching? I didn’t check, but I am just about positive he was not a subscriber. His post count is visible now because he was banned. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/56 "2011-01-13T08:26:30Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > Call me crazy, but did the banning seem a bit premature to anyone else? He was spouting nonsense, and started insulting people, but he wasn’t off the rails going apeshit. Seems like he could’ve been given a warning and an admonition to read the rules of posting again. It wasn’t even 1 strike and you’re out, it was no strikes. Seconded. Not complaining, just agreeing. Too lazy to complain atm… Maybe after dinner. A nice dinner of habanero and yogurt. ---
**Author:** ![Any\_Other\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Any\_Other\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Any_Other_Name)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/57 "2011-01-13T15:40:32Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Ew. Just sounds so… messy. > > Anything that goes up in there eventually comes back out, so again. Ew. Yogurt in my panties. Bleargh. If that’s a problem, I’m sure someone would be willing to help. I’d consider signing up on the cleanup team for a frozen yogurt spill. I assume frozen yogurt would relieve pain from capsaicin? ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/58 "2011-01-13T16:29:19Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > You think milk has more bacteria than the head of a penis? 😕 If you’re worried, use pasteurized skim. Follow with a saline douche if you want. I never really thought about that, but a penis doesn’t turn into cheese if you leave it out on the counter for a week. So far as I know. I still think douche (of any concotion) would push the capsaicin further up in there. I didn’t think douching was a good idea at all. My body flushed it all out in about 20 minutes and I was fine. No need to make cottage cheese in my vagina. I really don’t plan to repeat the whole pepper-soaked tampon in the vagina trick again, ever. So all these recommendations are really nice, but I think I’ll try to learn from my mistakes and put on fresh clean latex gloves BEFORE I change a tampon, when I’ve been working with peppers. Or get my boyfriend to help. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/59 "2011-01-13T20:24:32Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > I never really thought about that, but a penis doesn’t turn into cheese if you leave it out on the counter for a week. So far as I know. Better not look up the medical term “smegma” then. The term “penis cheese” is often used as a synonym. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/60 "2011-01-13T20:54:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Sour cream or yogurt are also effective, as noted above. It’s not the acid, it’s the casein. But most people find them less aesthetically pleasing, for some reason. Save those ingredients for tacos and pitas if that’s your pleasure. Hm, maybe it’s just that the consistency allows them to stay “on target” for longer, then. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/61 "2011-01-15T09:01:03Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > I’m sure milk _does_ work, I’m just not squirting it up in my hoo-ha. “Pasteurized?” - “No, just up to my hoo-ha.” ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431/62 "2011-01-17T04:59:30Z")
OK, going on the assumption that Mr. **keintabak** was telling the truth about his experiences, does capsaicin really not cause tissue damage at all? If not, how can it blister you? And does it really cause increased blood flow to the area? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capsaicin-injure-not-cause-pain-to-mammals/238431.md?page=4)