Control Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain | Huberman Lab Podcast #9

Summary

• The Huberman Lab Podcast is a science-based podcast discussing tools for everyday life
• The podcast is sponsored by ExpressVPN, a virtual private network that keeps data secure and doesn't sell it to third parties
• The podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens, a vitamin, mineral, and probiotic drink that supports gut health and has numerous health benefits
• Patreon account set up for those interested in supporting the Huberman Lab Podcast
• Today's topic is the brain's ability to control pain and heal faster
• Pain is not just a sensation, it is also a decision made by the brain
• Pain can be influenced by various factors such as attention, belief, context, and social support
• The brain can be trained to better cope with and control pain through techniques such as meditation, hypnosis, and mindfulness
• These techniques can also help the body heal faster by reducing stress and inflammation
• The brain can also be trained to better cope with and control pain through physical exercise
• Exercise can improve the brain's ability to regulate and modulate pain by releasing endorphins and other neurotransmitters
• Exercise can also improve sleep, which is important for healing and overall health
• The brain's ability to control pain and heal faster can be enhanced through proper nutrition and hydration
• Adequate nutrition and hydration can support the body's natural healing processes and help to reduce inflammation
• It is important to listen to your body and prioritize self-care to effectively control pain and heal faster
• The somatosensory system is involved in understanding touch and physical feeling on the body
• The somatosensory system includes receptors in the skin that respond to mechanical touch, heat, cold, and vibration, and send electrical signals to the spinal cord and brain for interpretation
• The term "nociception" is used instead of "pain" because pain is subjective and has both mental and physical components
• Pain and injury can be dissociated from one another, with the possibility of tissue damage without pain or the perception of pain without tissue damage
• The gate control theory of pain proposes that the spinal cord has a gate that can block or allow the transmission of pain signals to the brain
• Wound healing involves the activation of immune cells and the release of growth factors and cytokines to repair the damaged tissue
• Neuropathic pain is pain caused by damage to the nervous system, while nociceptive pain is pain caused by damage to tissues or organs
• Physical therapy and medication can be used to manage pain and promote healing in the body
• Dopamine pathways may be related to reducing unpleasantness of physical and emotional pain
• Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in some studies, but can also exacerbate pain through specific neural pathways
• Acupuncture may help to illustrate the connections between the somatosensory system, the emotional system, and the cognitive system
• The use of acupuncture has expanded in recent years, leading to a greater number of treatments for various conditions
• The brain and body's relationship is complex and not fully understood, but research into practices like acupuncture can provide insight
• The opioid system is involved in pain perception and regulation, and opioid medications can be effective in reducing pain but also have significant side effects
• Non-pharmacological approaches to pain management, such as mindfulness meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy, may be effective alternatives to medication
• Chronic pain is a significant health problem and more research is needed to improve treatment options.
• The inflammation response is beneficial and calls to the site of injury to clean it up and bring helpful cells
• The glymphatic system, deep sleep, and feet elevated position may improve perfusion
• Red light therapy or sunlight may be useful for wound healing
• Stem cells exist in all of us and can become any type of cell, but stem cell therapy is not approved yet
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) involves taking blood, enriching it for platelets, and injecting it back into a person, but it is not clear if the injection itself is what causes the effect
• Acupuncture may have an effect on inflammation, but more research is needed
• Restricted use of the affected limb may help accelerate wound healing
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help with pain, but may not be as helpful for inflammation in the early stages of injury
• It is important to consider the timing, dose, and duration of any treatment.
• Blood transfusions from young individuals may lead to weight loss in obese people due to the gut microbiome
• There are differences between young and old brain, body, and blood that may affect cognitive function, physical function, and wound healing
• Pain and injury are not necessarily the same thing
• The experience of pain can be controlled to some extent
• Treatment of injury may involve addressing pain receptors at the site of the wound