Episode
Control Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain
1:38:00
Published: Mon Mar 01 2021
Description
In this episode, I describe the science of how and why pain arises in the body and brain, and how we can actively control our experience of pain. I discuss inflammation, stress, acupuncture, limb damage and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). I review protocols that leverage the lymphatic and nervous system to accelerate pain relief and healing in a variety of situations. Other topics discussed include how heat versus cold impacts neurons and wounds, red-light, sunlight, stem cells and more. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction/Avenues for Support (00:00:31) Sponsors: AG1, LMNT, Thesis, Momentous (00:04:58) Deliberate Unlearning (00:06:43) Pain, Injury and Regeneration (00:09:17) A System of Touch (Somatosensation) (00:11:42) Pain and Injury are Dissociable (00:15:19) Objective versus Subjective Control of Experience (00:16:15) Plasticity of Perception (00:16:41) Lack of Pain Is Self-Destructive; So Is Excessive Pain (00:18:42) Homoculous, Ratonculous, Dogunculus (00:19:05) “Sensitivity” explained (00:21:30) Inflammation (00:22:24) Phantom Limb Pain (00:24:00) Top-down Relief of Pain by Vision (00:26:41) From Deaf to Hearing Sounds (00:28:10) Pain Is In The Mind & Body (00:29:44) Recovering Movement Faster After Injury (00:35:00) Don’t Over Compensate (00:37:34) Concussion, TBI & Brain Ageing (00:40:49) The Brain’s Sewage Treatment System: Glymphatic Clearance (00:43:05) Body Position & Angle During Sleep (00:44:30) Types of Exercise For Restoring & Maintaining Brain Health (00:47:33) Ambulance Cells in The Brain (00:49:20) True Pain Control by Belief and Context (00:51:45) Romantic Love and Pain (00:55:05) Dopaminergic Control of Pain (00:57:15) Acupuncture: Rigorous Scientific Assessment (01:07:32) Vagus Activation and Autonomic Control of Pain (01:08:30) Inflammation, Turmeric, Lead and DHT (01:11:40) Adrenalin: Wim Hof, Tummo, “Super-Oxygenation” Breathing (01:14:53) Protocols For Accelerating Tissue Repair & Managing Pain (01:17:55) Ice Is Not Always Nice (For Pain and Injury): Sludging, Fascia, Etc. (01:22:02) Chronic and/or Whole Body Pain; Red-Light Therapy, Sunlight (01:26:10) Glymphatics and Sleep (01:26:29) Stem Cells, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP: Shams, Shoulds and Should Nots (01:31:38) Young Blood: Actual Science (01:35:44) Synthesis, Support & Resources Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac Disclaimer
Chapters
The Huberman Lab Podcast shares valuable information on the crucial role of Vitamin D3 for different aspects of body and brain health.
00:00 - 01:33 (01:33)
Summary
The Huberman Lab Podcast shares valuable information on the crucial role of Vitamin D3 for different aspects of body and brain health. Research shows its interaction with the gut microbiome, immune system and mood regulation.
EpisodeControl Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
In this podcast, the speaker discussed neuroplasticity in the context of pain, regeneration, and injury to the nervous system.
01:33 - 08:56 (07:23)
Summary
In this podcast, the speaker discussed neuroplasticity in the context of pain, regeneration, and injury to the nervous system. Additionally, the speaker emphasized the importance of supplements with single ingredient supplements and the role of hydration and electrolytes for nerve cell function.
EpisodeControl Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
The somatosensory system is a crucial system in the nervous system and helps us to perceive pain and sensations.
08:56 - 14:39 (05:43)
Summary
The somatosensory system is a crucial system in the nervous system and helps us to perceive pain and sensations. The mind has a powerful influence on pain perception, as shown by the example of feeling pain from just visualizing a nail going through a boot.
EpisodeControl Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
This episode explains how to discern the difference between injury and pain and how areas of the body with denser receptors are more sensitive to pain.
14:39 - 22:03 (07:23)
Summary
This episode explains how to discern the difference between injury and pain and how areas of the body with denser receptors are more sensitive to pain. It also touches on the impact of plasticity of perception on emotional pain and trauma.
EpisodeControl Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
The ability to use the brain to control pain in the body is known as top-down modulation, and people missing limbs can use mirror therapy to trick the brain into thinking the limb is still there.
22:03 - 28:19 (06:16)
Summary
The ability to use the brain to control pain in the body is known as top-down modulation, and people missing limbs can use mirror therapy to trick the brain into thinking the limb is still there. Additionally, individuals with congenital deafness can use a cochlear implant to replace the normal hearing apparatus that is deficient.
EpisodeControl Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Shallert and colleagues showed that if we have damage to our brain in the sensory motor pathways, any number of different sensory motor pathways, or we have damage to a limb, could be a leg, could be an arm, could be a hand, there's great benefit to restricting the use of the opposite, better performing uninjured limb or hand or other part of the body.
28:19 - 41:32 (13:13)
Summary
Shallert and colleagues showed that if we have damage to our brain in the sensory motor pathways, any number of different sensory motor pathways, or we have damage to a limb, could be a leg, could be an arm, could be a hand, there's great benefit to restricting the use of the opposite, better performing uninjured limb or hand or other part of the body.
EpisodeControl Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Zone two cardio, like 30-45 minutes of increased heart rate three times a week, can improve the glymphatic system's rates of clearance for brain debris, making it an essential exercise for individuals who have experienced traumatic brain injuries.
41:32 - 49:06 (07:34)
Summary
Zone two cardio, like 30-45 minutes of increased heart rate three times a week, can improve the glymphatic system's rates of clearance for brain debris, making it an essential exercise for individuals who have experienced traumatic brain injuries.
EpisodeControl Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Studies suggest that the release of dopamine in the brain and body may be responsible for the pain relief experienced during acupuncture or even from focusing on a loved one, pet or object, allowing people to move through extreme pain.
49:06 - 1:03:09 (14:03)
Summary
Studies suggest that the release of dopamine in the brain and body may be responsible for the pain relief experienced during acupuncture or even from focusing on a loved one, pet or object, allowing people to move through extreme pain.
EpisodeControl Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Inflammation is not wholly bad, and there are cases where it is actually beneficial.
1:03:09 - 1:12:18 (09:08)
Summary
Inflammation is not wholly bad, and there are cases where it is actually beneficial. Researchers have discovered methods to activate dopamine and norepinephrine to reduce inflammation, like through stimulation of different types with heat or without heat in various parts of the body.
EpisodeControl Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
The body's response to stress and inflammation counters infection and is used to optimize health.
1:12:18 - 1:18:25 (06:06)
Summary
The body's response to stress and inflammation counters infection and is used to optimize health. These non-sleep deep rest protocols, like Wim Hof breathing and ice baths, can be used to achieve the body's response to stress and inflammation, even if eight hours of sleep is not achievable.
EpisodeControl Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Red light therapy could potentially help manage pain, as it has been shown to have a positive effect on the activity of nerve pathways and neurons.
1:18:25 - 1:26:43 (08:18)
Summary
Red light therapy could potentially help manage pain, as it has been shown to have a positive effect on the activity of nerve pathways and neurons. However, more research is needed to draw firm conclusions.
EpisodeControl Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
Injecting stem cells into damaged tissues may seem like a miracle cure, but it should be approached with caution due to the cells' tendency to become various kinds of tissue, including tumors.
1:26:43 - 1:35:43 (09:00)
Summary
Injecting stem cells into damaged tissues may seem like a miracle cure, but it should be approached with caution due to the cells' tendency to become various kinds of tissue, including tumors. The need for careful molecular restriction is similar to the issues faced in acupuncture research, where sham control was used to avoid false positive results.
EpisodeControl Pain & Heal Faster with Your Brain
PodcastHuberman Lab
The principles related to pain, injury, and neuroplasticity in the somatosensory system can be useful for many.
1:35:44 - 1:37:53 (02:08)
Summary
The principles related to pain, injury, and neuroplasticity in the somatosensory system can be useful for many. Momentus Supplements are now partnered with the Huberman Lab podcast to provide high-quality supplements and related protocols.