A new study realized by the researchers from the Harvard University has discovered a less risky anesthetic that is likely to make the visits to the dentist’s, for example, involving no pain and no numbness anymore. In the experiment that the scientists have realized only on rats, they have mixed capsaicin, which is the ingredient that makes the chili peppers so hot, and a drug called QX-314.

The combination has proved to block the pain-sensing neurons without bringing also the side effects of the usual anesthetics, such as the numbness or even the paralysis that typically join the current pain relievers.

The QX-314 represents a derivative of the lidocaine, which is also known as a common local anesthetic. However, the lidocain derivative is not capable of getting into the cells all by itself for blocking the electrical activity and this way the pain. This is why the capsaicin has been added, as it is able of opening the cell membranes of the pain-sensing neurons for letting the QX-314 into the cells.

Although the study has been realized till now only on rats, the discovery seems to be very important and the researchers are thinking that one day this new anesthetic will be able to be used for treating some types of chronic pain too.

"It's basically aspirin and morphine.” – Edwin W. McCleskey, the scientific officer at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, has presented the new discovery in simple words.