jlstrat

It's been cold a few mornings lately, under 30 (farenheit) when I leave. Last year I picked up some embrocation by a company called Training Day. A little on your toes and your feet don't freeze up. Works pretty well, but one of the ingredients is extracted from peppers--habenero, I think--and it's supposed to help your skin stay warm. Might work better on legs than on toes, but my feet stay warm without having to put heavy socks on unless the temp dips below 15 or so.

Well, one of the key things to remember if you use this stuff is that after your shower, dry your feet last. I got to work on Friday, showered, got to my desk and about 20 minutes later had a warm tingly feeling in my nether regions that I was not exactly going for. My co-workers probably wondered why I was squirming at my desk for a while. "It burns!"

By the way, I think Vaseline does the same thing as the embrocation, with no peppers.

bruce19

That's cool. Well not literally obviously. Do you start jonesin' for Mexican food?

CraigB

Capsaicin.

bsektzer

Oh yeah....

Mort Canard

Gives a whole new meaning to "Feel the burn!"

cplager

My wife just looked over at me and was wondering why I was cackling. Thank you for that.

B. Carfree

Decades ago I was doing a bit of lab work with capsaicin, looking at some of it's effects on cultured cells. One weekend while I was out of town my boss decided he just had to join the fun. Unfortunately, he didn't know the correct method for weighing out small amounts of hazardous substances. His improvised technique was to wear a dust mask while weighing it out. That might have worked just fine for him but for one detail: he didn't make up enough solution for his purposes. So, he went back to the scale and put his protective dust mask on...reversed. He had a very uncomfortable night.

One thing I should add here. Capsaicin stimulates the release of a neurotransmitter known as Substance P. The P stands for PAIN, appropriately enough.

osco53

Oh and wash your hands in very warm soapy water for quite a while after you use Ben Gay,,,BEFORE you go to the bathroom,,,,

Just sayin,,,

jlstrat

Glad I gave you a laugh...

jlstrat

I laughed at that one!

missjean

Along those lines....when you are toasting spices, including red pepper flakes & pepper corns, in a fry pan, don't decide to lean over the pan to take a whiff - you will mustard gas your self.

ping jockey

Many years ago I didn't heed this advice after peeling jalapenos for our home made salsa. I came out of the bathroom and I began experiencing quite a bit of discomfort. I told my wife and sister that I had to go take a shower, Right NOW! I'll never forget hearing their laughter over the sound of the shower. And I'll never forget to wash my hands before​ going to the bathroom after handling peppers.

CrankyFranky

Too funny! Interesting stuff, capsaicin.

B. Carfree

I had a friend who was the main cornea surgeon at a teaching hospital. One Saturday afternoon he got a frantic call from someone in the dermatology department. The chairman of the derm. department had opened a microwave that was at face height after cooking peppers in it. When the cornea surgeon got there, the derm chief had his face in a bucket of ice water and would only take it out to breath. I guess capsaicin can be carried on steam.

k7baixo

Most police training programs require that all trainees receive a face full of OC spray. Then, generally speaking, you have to perform a weapons retention drill.

They don't tell you but I've always thought it was a use of force lesson ie you have a gun/he has OC spray. Whatchagonnado?

Personally, I know the answer to that question. A face full of OC is not fun....and yes, you have to remove your glasses first.

Dan Burkhart 

Ha. I'm reading this thread sitting at a restaurant table. Minutes ago, I liberally applied Tabasco sauce to by sizzling skillet breakfast. Somehow, some of it found it's way to my left eye. The pain is pretty much gone now, but it's still watering.

Looigi

This stuff generates a warm sensation, but does not generate heat or help retain it. It may keep you from feeling cold and stimulate circulation a bit, but it won't keep your toes from actually getting cold or even frostbite.

Vaseline does essentially nothing.

leob1

Been there, done that. I had a tightness along the inside of my thigh, so I thought I'd use some sports cream, I think it was called Flexall 457, to loosen it up so I could walk when we got to te mall. I put some on, being very careful to not get too close to where I didn't want it. Washed hands thoroughly. Did you know that that stuff can migrate? By the time we got to the mall, my thigh was still tight, but my eggs where getting hard boiled. It was an interesting few hours.

osco53

OC spray,,Ha ! I can eat that stuff for breakfast,,LOL

Try being a crazy person in the military,,
I did the tear gas thing,,only one not to choke,,made my eys water alot tho....

When everyone walked out into the fresh air coughing I slipped to the side and pulled my rain poncho over me,
to keep the tear gas stuff in my hair and on my uniform,,,,,
The squadron break room was a short walk,,
It was full of troops,
I walked up to the fan, turned it towards the middle of the room, stood right infront of it,
took off the pancho, ruffled my hair,,what little I had, and shook like a dog,,,
Cleared the room,,the doughnuts were all mine

To clarify
10% oc, the kind you need for a bear will drop me but I can still get right back up and fight,,,

The kind a freinds wife had in her purse did nothing to me. I let her test it,,

AmFaeEmbra

Am I too late to tell those of you who have related their tales of woe on this thread that if I'm preparing peppers, I use disposable gloves.

I used to go commando, but not now!

qcpmsame 

Longest few minutes of my life were singing the Marine's Hymn in the chamber at PI.

Bill

Terex

This.

jlstrat

"Vaseline does essentially nothing."

Skiers use it, the theory being that it prevents heat loss due to water vapor. Also, since road shoes and booties both breathe, it helps cut down on some of the wind that gets through. That's the theory on a few web-sites anyway and it might be bogus. It does help keep your face warm.

jlstrat

Skiers use it, the theory being that it prevents heat loss due to water vapor. Also, since road shoes and booties both breathe, it helps cut down on some of the wind that gets through. That's the theory on a few web-sites anyway. It does help keep your face warm.

osco53

This ol wingnut hears ya,,,nods