- EXCLUSIVE: Researchers in China recruited 27 women to conduct two tests
- They found that pictures of spicy food could reduce pain ratings in participants
Research shows that just looking at a picture of a curry can help you beat aches and pains.
Chinese scientists had 27 volunteers look at images of spicy curries or noodles, as well as milder options such as fruit.
Participants received a small electric shock while staring at the photos. Experts then asked them how much pain they felt.
The results showed that their discomfort was dampened when they looked at spicier foods. This is despite the fact that the same power is used in both scenarios.
Researchers from Chongqing Normal University examined the cues of spicy food while discussing “potential solutions for pain management.”
Chinese researchers had 27 volunteers look at photos of spicy curries or noodles and milder cakes, fruit and burgers. They received a small electric shock as they stared at the photos. Experts then asked them how much pain they felt. The results showed that their discomfort was dampened by their spicier foods. This is despite the fact that you are zapped at the same power
Despite showing signs of initial promise, the team said more studies are needed to see if the same theory would work for chronic pain.
Academics recruited all female participants because women “generally have a lower pain threshold compared to men.”
They all said they were healthy and had no aversion to spicy food.
Their left hand was connected to electrodes, through which they zapped at a low and then high intensity for 50 ms.
Meanwhile, they were shown 40 photos of food, each shown for 30 seconds.
Half were spicy – like curry, noodles and dumplings – while the others were milder apples, cakes and burgers.
Foods were shown against the same background and had the same calorie content.
Results, published in the journal Biological Psychology, showed that volunteers rated the pain of a high-intensity zap “significantly lower” when viewing photos of spicy foods, compared to photos of non-spicy foods. They rated their pain at a score of 4.6 when looking at hot foods, increasing to 5.7 when looking at mild foods
The group was asked to rank their pain on a scale of one to nine, ranging from ‘no feeling’ to ‘unbearable pain’.
Results, published in the journal Biological psychologyshowed volunteers ranking pain of a high-intensity zap that is “significantly lower” when viewing photos of spicy food, compared to photos of non-spicy food.
They rated their pain at a score of 4.6 when looking at hot foods, increasing to 5.7 when looking at mild foods.
However, self-reported pain was not significantly different when zapped at low intensity.
The researchers said: ‘This result suggested that pictures of spicy versus non-spicy foods alleviated the painful experience at high pain stimuli.”
These findings have important implications for the use of spicy arousal stimuli as a potential painkiller, the team concluded.
