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.Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.Thank you to our sponsorsAG1: https://drinkag1.com/hubermanLMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlabWaking Up: https://wakingup.com/hubermanMomentous: https://livemomentous.com/hubermanTimestamps

Dr. Sean Mackey

Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

Pain, Unique Experiences, Chronic Pain

Pain & the Brain

Treating Pain, Medications: NSAIDs & Analgesics

Inflammation, Pain & Recovery; Ibuprofen, Naprosyn & Aspirin

Sponsor: AG1

Caffeine, NSAIDs, Tylenol

Pain & Touch, Gate Control Theory

Pain Threshold, Gender

Pain in Children, Pain Modulation (Pain Inhibits Pain)

Tool: Heat, Cold & Pain; Changing Pain Threshold

Tools: Psychology, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Catastrophizing

Tool: Hurt vs. Harmed?, Chronic Pain

Emotional Pain, Anger, Medication

Tool: Nutrition & Pain; Food Sensitization & Elimination Diets

Visceral Pain; Back, Chest & Abdominal Pain

Referenced Pain, Neuropathic Pain; Stress, Memory & Psychological Pain

Romantic Love & Pain, Addiction

Endogenous & Exogenous Opioids, Morphine

Opioid Crisis, Prescribing Physicians

Opioids & Fentanyl; Morphine, Oxycontin, Methadone

Kratom, Cannabis, CBD & Pain; Drug Schedules

Pain Management Therapies, Acupuncture

Finding Reliable Physicians, Acupuncturist

Chiropractic & Pain Treatment; Chronic Pain & Activity

Physical Therapy & Chronic Pain; Tool: Pacing

Supplements: Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C, Creatine

Pain Management, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Biofeedback

National Pain Strategy, National Pain Care Act