Topical Creams
A number of topical creams containing capsaicin, which is an ingredient in cayenne pepper, are available in over-the-counter products you can find in drugstores. These creams do help many people and are safe to use. Double-blind studies have found them to be effective in reducing the pain of arthritis. The creams act by intercepting pain signals sent to your brain when joints are inflamed.

Pain interrupts our lives. It causes fatigue and shuts down our ability to think clearly. It leads to chronic depression, lowering the quality of our lives. Everything we do becomes more of an effort, so we tend to do less, which perpetuates the cycle. You may be caught in this downward spiral, doing little or nothing to change it because your past efforts have yielded few if any results. But if you have chronic pain from arthritis, you may be able to further reduce it with some of these techniques. You’re worth the effort.

Zeb, Shahid and N. Lawrence Edwards, "Osteoarthritis: nonpharmacologic therapy," Clin Rev, Summer 14-17, 1998.

Deal C.L., T.J. Schnitzer, E. Lipstein, et al. "Treatment of arthritis with topical capsaicin: A double blind trial." Clin Ther. 1991;13:383––395.

McCarthy G.M., D.J. McCarty. "Effect of topical capsaicin in the therapy of painful osteoarthritis of the hands." J Rheumatol. 1992;19:604-607.