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Pain Pathways
By better understanding how the brain constructs pain, we may transform how we treat chronic suffering.
In "The Headache," Tom Zeller Jr. explores one of the human brain's most enduring, and painful, enigmas.
Fixing chronic pain in the body may sometimes require a treatment focused on the brain.
6mins
You know Steve-O. Now meet Steve Glover, as the professional stuntman talks to us about pain, insecurity, and never finding contentment.
Unlikely Collaborators
Capsaicin is already used to treat nerve pain. Early research hints it could do more.
Chronic pain is often driven by brain processes that can be reprogrammed.
A healthy endocannabinoid system is critical to the human body’s immune functions.
When migraine and tension-headache patients overuse their medications, they can actually trigger more headaches.
Researchers are looking at neurons required for touch-mediated pain relief.
The placebo effect is real. So are the ethical conundrums posed by those who would exploit the latest research advances for profit.
The cannabis plant produces both THC – the psychoactive component in marijuana – and the compound commonly known as CBD, which does not lead to a "high."
There may be a faster, less-painful way to use radiation against cancer.
Music and sounds only seem to reduce pain in mice when played at a specific volume.
From ibuprofen to fentanyl, it’s about meeting the pain where it’s at.
Scientists found a way to revert pain in mice using gene therapy. Perhaps the same technique could be applied to humans.
Drugs that stifle acute inflammation may prevent the body from healing properly.
Plants are very sensitive to touch, with research showing that touching a plant can change its genome and launch a cascade of plant hormones.
“At that time, it was just a wild idea, [...] that instead of just a loss of consciousness, anesthetics may do something to the brain that actually turns pain off.”
A ten-minute visit from a therapy dog reduces emergency room patients' pain and anxiety.
Painkillers have nasty side effects, such as organ damage or addiction. Researchers have discovered a new drug that may cause none of these.