Research Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, used mice to pinpoint nerve cells that respond to both pain and itching. They found that there is only one nerve cell dealing with both these sensations which means it may be possible to treat itching with pain relief medication. They discovered that two types of irritants cause itching via a specific pain cell, named the wasabi receptor (after the green horseradish-based condiment eaten with sushi).
Their findings follow other research that found another pain cell, named the capasaicin receptor (after the source of hotness in chilli peppers), is also linked to itching. This doesn’t mean that an itch is felt as a pain but that the message of a specific type of pain or itching is carried by the same nerve cell, indicating that both could be treated with the same medication.
Because some types of itches, such as those associated with conditions like eczema, don’t respond well to antihistamines, these new findings could help relieve the misery of intense itching for many.
First published May 10, 2011