The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity, and brain states such as stress, focus, fear, and optimal performance. For more than 20 years, Dr. Huberman has consistently published original research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, and Current Biology. He is a regular member of several National Institutes of Health review panels and a Fellow of the McKnight Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Dr. Huberman regularly consults for technology development companies, professional athletic organizations, and various units of U.S. and Canadian Special Operations.
Dr. Sean Mackey: Tools to Reduce & Manage Pain
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Sean Mackey, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Division of Pain Medicine and Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine and Neurology at Stanford University School of Medicine. His clinical and research efforts focus on using advanced neurosciences, patient outcomes, biomarkers and informatics to treat pain.
We discuss what pain is at the level of the body and mind, pain thresholds, and the various causes of pain. We also discuss effective protocols for controlling and reducing pain, including the use of heat and cold, acupuncture, chiropractic, physical therapy, nutrition, and supplementation.
We also discuss how pain is influenced by our emotions, stress and memories, and practical tools to control one’s psychological perception of pain.
And we discuss pain medications, including the controversial use of opioids and the opioid crisis.
This episode will help people understand, manage, and control their pain as well as the pain of others.
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
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Timestamps
(00:00:00) Dr. Sean Mackey
(00:02:11) Sponsors: AeroPress, Levels & BetterHelp
(00:06:13) Pain, Unique Experiences, Chronic Pain
(00:13:05) Pain & the Brain
(00:16:15) Treating Pain, Medications: NSAIDs & Analgesics
(00:22:46) Inflammation, Pain & Recovery; Ibuprofen, Naprosyn & Aspirin
(00:28:51) Sponsor: AG1
(00:30:19) Caffeine, NSAIDs, Tylenol
(00:32:34) Pain & Touch, Gate Control Theory
(00:38:56) Pain Threshold, Gender
(00:44:53) Pain in Children, Pain Modulation (Pain Inhibits Pain)
(00:53:20) Tool: Heat, Cold & Pain; Changing Pain Threshold
(00:59:53) Sponsor: InsideTracker
(01:00:54) Tools: Psychology, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Catastrophizing
(01:08:29) Tool: Hurt vs. Harmed?, Chronic Pain
(01:12:38) Emotional Pain, Anger, Medication
(01:20:43) Tool: Nutrition & Pain; Food Sensitization & Elimination Diets
(01:28:45) Visceral Pain; Back, Chest & Abdominal Pain
(01:34:02) Referenced Pain, Neuropathic Pain; Stress, Memory & Psychological Pain
(01:40:23) Romantic Love & Pain, Addiction
(01:48:57) Endogenous & Exogenous Opioids, Morphine
(01:53:17) Opioid Crisis, Prescribing Physicians
(02:02:21) Opioids & Fentanyl; Morphine, Oxycontin, Methadone
(02:07:44) Kratom, Cannabis, CBD & Pain; Drug Schedules
(02:18:12) Pain Management Therapies, Acupuncture
(02:22:19) Finding Reliable Physicians, Acupuncturist
(02:26:36) Chiropractic & Pain Treatment; Chronic Pain & Activity
(02:31:35) Physical Therapy & Chronic Pain; Tool: Pacing
(02:36:35) Supplements: Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C, Creatine
(02:42:25) Pain Management, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Biofeedback
(02:48:32) National Pain Strategy, National Pain Care Act
(02:54:05) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter