# Isolating Pure Capsaicin: Can It Be Done By A Home Chemist?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolating-pure-capsaicin-can-it-be-done-by-a-home-chemist/783606>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 2, 2017, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolating-pure-capsaicin-can-it-be-done-by-a-home-chemist/783606 "2017-04-02T21:03:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolating-pure-capsaicin-can-it-be-done-by-a-home-chemist/783606/21 "2017-04-03T15:17:29Z")

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Non gustatory uses are as “pain killers” for topical application on the skin as well as for anti-personnel sprays.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolating-pure-capsaicin-can-it-be-done-by-a-home-chemist/783606/22 "2017-04-03T16:04:03Z")

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> [@Nava](#):
>
> I’m saying that the hemorroids are irritated, but what irritated them may or may not be the capsaicin. The capsaicin is just what the person thought of.

OK. I’m going to say my mileage differs with some consistency on this, but I don’t think anyone wants the details.

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**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolating-pure-capsaicin-can-it-be-done-by-a-home-chemist/783606/23 "2017-04-03T17:06:36Z")

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> [@Leo\_Bloom](#):
>
> Non gustatory uses are as “pain killers” for topical application on the skin as well as for anti-personnel sprays.

Topical capsaicin is highly diluted - less than 1%. I found out the hard way that I needed to use a tissue to apply it, and only use a little tiny dot. (Not just rubbing my eyes, but eating too - it caused some esophageal burning, just from that teeny tiny amount.)

Sweat reactivates it, too.

If I eat inadequately cooked jalapenos, I find myself passing jalapeno-scented gas within an hour or two. :o

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