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. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman AeroPress: https://aeropress.com/huberman Levels: https://levels.link/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Dr. Sean Mackey Stanford academic profile: https://stanford.io/48TgiBz Website: https://drseanmackey.com/ Publications: https://stanford.io/3U1OiHY Lab website: https://stan.md/3vKrrWY Stanford Division of Pain Medicine: https://stan.md/47zT9Dh X: https://twitter.com/DrSeanMackey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancmackey Journal Articles Swearing as a response to pain: https://bit.ly/3O32Tir Pain Mechanisms: A New Theory: https://bit.ly/3SiUGcq Sex differences in pain: a brief review of clinical and experimental findings: https://bit.ly/3ShAebP Diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC). I. Effects on dorsal horn convergent neurones in the rat: https://bit.ly/3ShFZGr Viewing Pictures of a Romantic Partner Reduces Experimental Pain: https://bit.ly/3SiyNdi Managing twin crises in chronic pain and prescription opioids: https://bit.ly/4aXuPht The clinical use of mindfulness meditation for the self-regulation of chronic pain: https://bit.ly/3vC4ky0 Local immune response to food antigens drives meal-induced abdominal pain: https://go.nature.com/3TVMmAH Effect of Electroacupuncture vs Sham Treatment on Change in Pain Severity Among Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: https://bit.ly/4aQnxfz Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acupuncture in Chronic Low Back Pain: https://bit.ly/3vuVBgS Adverse Life Experiences and Brain Function: https://bit.ly/48WumKP Oral Treatment With α-Lipoic Acid Improves Symptomatic Diabetic Polyneuropathy: The SYDNEY 2 trial: https://bit.ly/3TVMtw7 United States National Pain Strategy for Population Research: https://bit.ly/3U2Nrqi Other Resources TENS device: https://cle.clinic/48vzo0X Acetyl-L-Carnitine in ALS Clinical Trial: https://bit.ly/47DqIUO Empowered Relief: https://empoweredrelief.stanford.edu/ National Pain Strategy: https://bit.ly/47z2Vp9 PainUSA: https://www.painusa.org/ 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 #HubermanLab #Pain Disclaimer: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer