At 05:08 AM 2/13/99 -0800, Clyde A Dodge wrote: > I believe the use of the word immunity or immunize with respect to >the effect of reduced pain from capsaisin is incorrect. Immunity is >defined as the freedom from some disease or something unpleasant, such as >a legal obligation. Since capsaisin is not a threat to bodily health, >such as small-pox or infantile paralysis, it would seem that a better >choice of words would be insensitivity or to insensitize. Just my 2 >cents worth. > It might be interesting to learn if this insensitivity is permanent >or if it wears off after a period of disuse. But it may be wrong to ask >Chile-Heads about that as they would never experince a period of disuse. > <bwg> I've always referred to it as a resistance, as in any type of resistance to a biologically active substance. Most any type of chemical that has the ability to affect the body seems to be subject to a build up of resistance to those effects. From mind altering substances such as alcohol and other drugs to medications, it seems that after a period of steady use, the amount needed to achieve a similar effect seems to increase. This effect on capsaicin follows a similar pattern. I try to explain to non CHers that it is not the case that those of us who like to eat lots of hot foods do not build a higher tolerance for pain, but actually don't percieve the heat nearly as much as those who have not developed a resistance to capsaicin. =Mark "Runs With Scissors" Stevens @ http://www.exit109.com/~mstevens @ @ ICQ# 2059548 @ Where ya' from? Jersey. Yeah? What exit?