1 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: I guess what, mango, what's that will? So I know 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: we regularly hear these stories about the downsides of texting, 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 1: you know, the dangers of texting while driving, or all 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: these stories about how we're no longer present because we're 5 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: looking at our phones when we're around family and friends. 6 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 1: But there was actually a study I was reading recently, 7 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: and it was from the journal Pain Medicine, and it 8 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: showed the benefits of texting during surgery. So I'm guessing 9 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: we're not talking about major surgeries here. Well, yeah, I 10 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: mean we're talking about surgeries where the patient is still 11 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: awake and often feeling some kind of discomfort or pain 12 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: during that surgery. So the study involved a hundred patients 13 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: and they were having these minor surgeries, and they had 14 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: them do three different things. So some of the patients 15 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: were asked to text, some were playing angry birds, and 16 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: some were doing nothing. And they found that of the 17 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: three groups, those who were texting actually had the least 18 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: need for additional narcotics, and they also experienced the greatest 19 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: relief from that pain. But here's what's most weird about it. 20 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: The effect was most profound when they were texting with 21 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: a complete strange, really not not like someone you know 22 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: and someone who cares about you. Well, actually, I'm sure 23 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 1: there's some benefit to that as well, but the greatest 24 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: benefit was when they were texting with someone they didn't know. 25 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:11,759 Speaker 1: And they think it has to do with the type 26 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: of conversation you'd have with the loved one versus you know, 27 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: one with somebody that you don't know. So think about it. 28 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: With a loved one, if you're in a lot more pain, 29 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 1: you're you're likely to be talking about what's on your 30 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 1: mind with that or what's bothering you. But with a 31 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: stranger you kind of have to put on a happy 32 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:28,320 Speaker 1: face and be a little bit more positive and your 33 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: interaction you want to make a good impression, and that 34 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,919 Speaker 1: somewhat forced positive attitude actually help them withstand a higher 35 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: level of pain, and that's really fascinating. It's also kind 36 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: of cool to think that your phone's best app is 37 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,319 Speaker 1: as a pain killer. That's right, right, And it's a 38 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 1: reminder of that pain itself is such a strange thing, 39 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: and while they are multiple ways to manage certain pain, 40 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: it feels like most people aren't all that familiar with 41 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: the differences among some of the major forms of pain relief. 42 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: So in today's episode, we're going to focus on the 43 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: science behind the things like ibuprofen, a seda, menafin, aspirin, 44 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: as well as some others, and along the way we'll 45 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: dive into some of the most surprising forms of pain relief. 46 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: So let's get started. Hey there, podcast listeners, Welcome to 47 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: Part Time Genius. I'm Will Pearson and as always I'm 48 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: joined by my good friend Manesh Ticketer and on the 49 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: other side of the soundproof glass sorting his meds into 50 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: a massive three hundred and sixty five day pill organizers. Unbelievable. 51 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: That's our friend and producer Tristan McNeil. I mean, I've 52 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: got to say the sheer level of micromanagement on display 53 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: here is both kind of inspiring but also a little 54 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: bit unnerving at the same time, So kudos to you, Tristan. 55 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: I mean, it's especially interesting because the only films he 56 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: actually takes with those flintstones chewable vitamins, which makes that 57 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: giant feel caddy a little like overkill. Well, Tristan refuses 58 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 1: to take shortcuts. You've gotta respect him for that. And 59 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: speaking of shortcuts, today we're talking about common pain killers, 60 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: you know, which have become many people's go to quick 61 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: fix for everything from headaches to hangovers, and most of 62 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: us keep at least one of these over the counter 63 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,919 Speaker 1: medications on standby and the medicine cabinet or next to us. 64 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: But you know whether that's aspirin or I have a 65 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 1: profin or tail and all. But despite that ubiquity, a 66 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: few of us could tell you even the most basic 67 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: facts about the pills that we so readily swallow. In fact, 68 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 1: according to a two thousand one survey from the National 69 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: Council and Patient Information and Education, only one third of 70 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: the public is able to identify the active ingredient in 71 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: their pain killer of choice, And with over the counter 72 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: pain relievers accounting for over five billion in sales last year, 73 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: that's a big chunk of the population that medicates with 74 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: something they really don't know that much about. So for 75 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: today's episode, we're actually gonna shine some light on the 76 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: little known facts behind a few of the world's most 77 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: commonly taken, at least nderstood medications. So we'll try to 78 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: get an idea of where they come from and what 79 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: they're best suited for, as well as what the future 80 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 1: of pain management might look like, alright, ma, go, so 81 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: where do you think we should start? So, I mean 82 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: this might sound a little basic, but I thought it'd 83 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: be helpful to start with a quick refresher on what 84 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: pain really is and how a non prescription painkiller actually 85 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: works to relieve it. So for the first part of that, 86 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: pain is really just this early warning system. It's our 87 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: body's way of letting us know that we're injured or 88 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: even though we're doing something that we probably should stop doing. So, 89 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:31,719 Speaker 1: for instance, if you put your hand on the hot stove, 90 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: special nerve receptors in your skin will actually respond to 91 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: the damage from the heat, and that sensation is then 92 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: sent as a chemical message to the spinal cord and 93 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: your brain stem, and from there the message travels to 94 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: the brain, which is where the sensation is registered and 95 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: processed and finally perceived as pain. And that's a helpful description, 96 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 1: but it is kind of weird to take a step 97 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 1: back and think about it, like it almost makes it 98 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: sound kind of bureaucratic. Doesn't like this pain is this 99 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: memo that's got to be passed around from office to office, 100 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 1: gotta get everybody's a approval, and then it finally gets 101 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: to the big boss upstairs, you know, right, So it 102 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 1: obviously takes more time to describe the experience of feeling 103 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 1: the pain that actually does to feel it, which is 104 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 1: pretty much instantaneous. But it's still helpful to know the 105 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: ins and outs of the process because that's ultimately how 106 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: pain killers work. Like, they interfere with the body's transmissions 107 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: of pain signals. And this is where the difference between 108 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 1: pain killers comes into because each kind targets a different 109 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: point in the communication chain. So, for example, aspirin and 110 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: ibuprofen our end sets and that's n S a I D, 111 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: which stands for a non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. These 112 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 1: medications cut off the pain signals at the side of 113 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,160 Speaker 1: the injury. But something like a set of menafin, which 114 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 1: is a different kind of pain reliever, works much differently. 115 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: All right, we'll obviously get to that, But why don't 116 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: we stick to the end sets for now? So how 117 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,840 Speaker 1: does one of these run interference on these pain signals? Sure, so, 118 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: when the nerve receptors in our cells are damaged, they 119 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 1: produce chemicals that perform a variety of functions, right, some 120 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: lower the pain threshold it in the injured cells, to 121 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 1: make sure we get the message. Others produce inflammation and 122 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: swelling is a way to cushion the cells from further injury. Alright, 123 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: so these chemicals must be what the end SAIDs are targeting, right, 124 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: since they're anti inflammatories. Right, So and and said, like, 125 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: aspirin works by halting the production of the chemicals responsible 126 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: for the pain and swelling, and the aspirin binds with 127 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: the enzymes that produce these chemicals, which basically neutralizes the 128 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 1: enzymes and prevents the chemicals from being made at all. 129 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: Oh wow, that's interesting. All right, So the damage that 130 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: prompted the pain is still there, but but we no 131 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 1: longer perceive the pain. Is that what's going on exactly? 132 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 1: So pain killers don't actually heal injuries, and they don't 133 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: even kill the pain. Really, they just kill your awareness 134 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:39,600 Speaker 1: of pain by cutting off that signal out the source. 135 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 1: That sounds pretty deep. So the pain is still there, 136 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 1: we just don't feel the pain. But all right, we'll 137 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: speaking of the pain awareness, how does an end said 138 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: nowhere to go? Like, how's it able to pinpoint the 139 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: part of the body that's injured? So it doesn't really 140 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 1: like the aspirin dissolves in the stomach and it's carried 141 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 1: to all parts of the body through the bloodstream. It's 142 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:00,160 Speaker 1: just that the damage part is the only place will 143 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: actually find pain related enzymes to bind with. Well, that 144 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:04,840 Speaker 1: makes sense. So so what about a seta menaphin like 145 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,480 Speaker 1: it it doesn't reduce inflammation, that it must be doing 146 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: something else, right, Yeah, so that's the amazing thing, right, Like, 147 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: even though a sida menaphin was discovered in the eighteen 148 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: hundreds and it served as the active ingredient tallen al 149 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: since I want to say, the nineteen fifties, we still 150 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: really don't know how it works. I mean, just listen 151 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: to his physicians. Note that comes with toilen ail bottles quote. 152 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: Although the analgesic effects of a sida menaphin is well established, 153 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: the site and mode of action have not been clearly elucidated. 154 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: And that's stunning. Yeah. So basically, like it's saying this 155 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: stuff works, but we have no idea how. Yeah, it's 156 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: so weird. But you know, they do have some theories. 157 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: So for example, it's possible that a seda menafin works 158 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: the same way and SAIDs to, but it just isn't 159 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: effective against the chemicals responsible for inflammation. And then there's 160 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: this other theory that a side BeneFin actually affects our 161 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: sensation of pain by working on the endocannabinoid system, which 162 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: you know, you might guess is the same system that 163 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: responds to cannabis or marijuana. So you know, this is 164 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: according to researchers at Lundon University in Sweden, and sentimental 165 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: fin activates two ion channels in the brain and spinal cord, 166 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: and these are the two channels that also respond to cannabinoids. 167 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: And the weird thing though, is that these ion channels 168 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: can actually trigger pain and its responses, so it's pretty 169 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: strange that activating them would actually reduce the pain. But 170 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: you know, like I said, nobody really knows for sure 171 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: how these all work. Well, you know, you mentioned that 172 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: a set of menifit has been around since the eighteen hundreds. 173 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: So why don't we switch gears and talk a little 174 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: bit more about the history behind a few of the 175 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: common pain killers. Yeah, So, you know, I'm always tempted 176 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: to start from the beginning and dig into the weird 177 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: history beyond the topic, but with something like pain relievers, 178 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: it feels like it might be a tad too ambitious. 179 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: I mean, pain is something that humans have had to 180 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: contend with on a daily basis, and at this point 181 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 1: we've actually spent millennia like experimenting with different kinds of 182 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: ways to manage it. It's kind of a lot to cover, 183 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,439 Speaker 1: you know. Actually, when I was studying abroaden Tibet, we 184 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: went to the Kirang Valley, which hadn't had much contact 185 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 1: with Western realization, and our professor told us that people 186 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 1: used to manage their headaches by putting these pieces of 187 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: tape on the sides of their heads. In fact, if 188 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,840 Speaker 1: you give them aspirin or a town all or whatever, 189 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: it would actually really really affect them. And it was 190 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 1: kind of funny because marijuana actually grew wild in the 191 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: fields there everywhere. It was all over the place, but 192 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: no one smoked as pain release. They just used these 193 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: little strips of tape to manage their pain. And you know, 194 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: maybe it works. I didn't actually try didn't try some tape. 195 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 1: We could easily devote a whole episode to bizarre pain 196 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 1: management techniques that people have tried in the past. You 197 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 1: look at everything from like boring holes and people's skulls, 198 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,079 Speaker 1: the banging gongs to scare away painful spirits, which I 199 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: know you still do sometimes. But you know, but those 200 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 1: ancient remedies that have the most bearing on pain killers 201 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: of today, they're actually the botanical ones. So for instance, 202 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: you know, you look at the ancient Greeks, they chewed 203 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: bark and the leaves of willow trees in order to 204 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,960 Speaker 1: help produce things like fever or relief pain during childbirth. 205 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:56,959 Speaker 1: Ancient Egypsians did something pretty similar with the leaves from 206 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,839 Speaker 1: myrtle bushes. You look at the Native Americans to actually 207 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 1: you birch bark as their pain relieving plan of choice, 208 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,959 Speaker 1: and those all turned out to be pretty great ideas 209 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: because actually all three of those plants contain high levels 210 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: of salasilic acid, which is the active ingredient, and aspirin, 211 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: which is awesome, but I always thought the active ingredient 212 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: aspirin was aspirin, Like, it's not its own thing. If 213 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: you want to get technical, the active ingredient and aspirin 214 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 1: is called a setal salasilic acid or a s A. 215 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: You know, see that the pain relieving chemical that's most 216 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: common to all these plants I mentioned also had the 217 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 1: unfortunate side effect of wreaking havoc on our digestive systems. 218 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: So it was a big deal in when this German 219 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: scientist who was working for Bear Pharmaceutical, he was able 220 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:43,680 Speaker 1: to synthesize a less harmful and easier to digest chemical 221 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: and that was this A S A that we're talking about. 222 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: So the Bear company named this new drug aspirin, and 223 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: it was the first mass produced over the counter pain 224 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: reliever to come to the market. In fact, the word 225 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: itself was a trademark term, you know, kind of like 226 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:57,439 Speaker 1: tile and all or some of these others for about 227 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: twenty years. But after that aspirin became i a generic 228 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: word for the A S A based medicine in most markets. 229 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: Actually still today Bear holds the trademark in some countries. 230 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: So what about another end said like ibuprofen. Is that 231 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: the actual chemical ingredient or is it just another trademark 232 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 1: term that died in went generic. No, Hyperprofen is its 233 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: own active ingredient, which you'll find in branded versions like 234 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,839 Speaker 1: advil or motrin. And although the chemicals themselves are different, 235 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 1: ibuprofen works pretty similarly to the A S A and aspirin. 236 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 1: In fact, the man who discovered ibuprof and his name 237 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 1: was Dr Stewart Adams. He did so while he was 238 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: looking into how aspirin worked. This was back in the 239 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: early nineteen fifties. Adams was working in the research department 240 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: at a place called Boots Pure Drug Company, and this 241 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: was in England, and his goal at the time was 242 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 1: to find a new way of treating rheumatoid arthritis that 243 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: wasn't reliant on steroids and all the side effects that 244 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 1: come along with those. So, I mean at this time 245 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 1: aspirin was already in you. So we've already said it 246 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 1: was non steroidal and and it was great for inflammation, 247 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: Like why didn't arthritis patients just use Well, they did, 248 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: but there were drawbacks to any pain killer that we'll 249 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: be talking about. In the case of aspirin, it usually 250 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: has to be given in fairly high doses and that 251 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 1: of course greatly increases the risk of side effects like 252 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:15,559 Speaker 1: allergic reaction or indigestion or in some cases even internal bleeding. 253 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 1: So Adams and his team were after an alternative that 254 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 1: could be better tolerated if if they were going to 255 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: be used regularly, and it didn't come easily. I mean, 256 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: together with a chemist and a technician, Adams actually tested 257 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: the potency of more than six hundred chemical compounds over 258 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,839 Speaker 1: the course of about a ten year period. And I 259 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: mean you do hear about sort of like a tenure 260 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 1: cycle for drugs coming to come about, But like, was 261 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: it just like trial and error until they figured out 262 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: this winning compound? Yeah, it was, And I mean a 263 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: few of the most promising ones were actually tested by 264 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: the team itself, like something you would never see happening today. 265 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:52,199 Speaker 1: And so was the team just knocking back these experimental 266 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:54,079 Speaker 1: pills and like they had no idea what sort of 267 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 1: damage would cause. Well, I mean the handful of compounds 268 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,839 Speaker 1: they tested firsthand were ones that had already passed the 269 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 1: toxicity test, but otherwise pretty much I mean. In fact, 270 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:05,319 Speaker 1: Dr Adams later revealed that his discovery of ibaprof and 271 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: was due to him ingesting a promising compound as a 272 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: way of dealing with a bad hangover. So apparently, sometime 273 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 1: in the early sixties he was scheduled to give this 274 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 1: important speech, but the night before he has spent some 275 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: time at the bar, wasn't really feeling up to the task. 276 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 1: And here's how he described the event in an interview. 277 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: He said, I was first up to speak, and I 278 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: had a bit of a headache after a night out 279 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: with friends, so I took the six hundred milligram dose 280 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 1: just to be sure and found it was very effective. 281 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 1: I love that before he was giving this big speech, 282 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 1: he was like, let me just try a little bit 283 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 1: of this stuff. We've been mixing up one of the 284 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: ten thousand different things or six hundred different chemical compounds. Yeah, 285 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:43,440 Speaker 1: and that the night before that he was just drinking 286 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: over right, It's a good strategy. So, I mean, obviously 287 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: it sounds insane, and it does also sound like a 288 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: ringing endorsement for ibanprofen as a hangover cure. But h 289 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: what about some other common pain killers, Like we should 290 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: probably talk about some of their striends and weaknesses as well. Yeah, 291 00:13:58,160 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 1: I definitely want to, But before we do, let's take 292 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 1: a quick break. You're listening to Part Time Genius and 293 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: we're talking about the science behind the world's most common 294 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: pain killers, all right, Mango. So obviously we lump a 295 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: bunch of different products into the same category of these 296 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: non prescription pain relievers, and one of the biggest downside 297 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: to this is that we tend to use them all interchangeably. 298 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: So I know, you were doing some digging into this 299 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: so too, So tell me what kind of stuff should 300 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: we consider when you know choosing which pill we need 301 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: to pop. So, I mean, a great place to start 302 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: is whether or not your pain involves any kind of swelling, 303 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: and if it does, you should definitely go with an 304 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 1: end set. And from there it really comes down to 305 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: what kind of pain you have and if you're dealing 306 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: with any other conditions. For example, aspirin works well for 307 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: headaches and for reducing inflammation in joints, but like you 308 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 1: mentioned earlier, it can be pretty rough on your stomach. Again, 309 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 1: it's also an anticoagulant, which is why you can reduce 310 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: the risk of heart attack or stroke in some people. 311 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 1: But anybody who's already on blood thinners should steer clear 312 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: for the same reason. All right, So, so going back 313 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 1: to iboprof and what's the deal with that one? So, 314 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: just like Dr Adams intended, ibuprofen is less irritating to 315 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 1: the stomach than aspirin is, but it still offers a 316 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: lot of the same perks, and for someone with acid 317 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: reflux or ulcers, hyperprofen is a good way to go. 318 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 1: It's also particularly useful for dealing with pain from menstrual 319 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: cramps or arthritis, toothaches, even sprains. You know, sometimes it 320 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: has better results than aspirin. Alright, So what about something 321 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: like a leave that that's an inset too, right it is. Yeah, 322 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: So the active ingredient in that one is called anoproxin, 323 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: and it's available in doses that are much stronger and 324 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 1: longer lasting than those of aspirin and hyperprofen, and that 325 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: makes it great for treating inflammation based pain like arthritis 326 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: or even something like sunburn. However, there are downsides and 327 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: aproxism strength, and one of them is that it can 328 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: cause gastro intestinal problems and it can also take a 329 00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: while to kick in, so because it's not fast active, 330 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: it's not actually a great choice for quick relief from 331 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: something like a headache. All right. So there's some nuanced 332 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: differences between the different end sets that might make you 333 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 1: pick one over another in some cases, but it feels 334 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: like for the most part, you know, any of them 335 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: would do the trick for common pains or inflammation. But 336 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: but that's not really the case with the seta menaphon though, right, Yeah, 337 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: so a seta menfant is really the odd man out 338 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 1: among these common pain killers. It lacks the anti inflammatory 339 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: properties of its end said counterparts, but you know, for 340 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: simple pain relief, a seta menafin does have a few 341 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 1: things going for it. For one thing, it's generally very 342 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: easy on the stomach, so for people with stomach sensitivities, 343 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: like a seta menaphin is probably the first thing they 344 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 1: reach for when a headache pops up. It's also not 345 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: an anticoagulant like aspirin is, so it's safer for hemophiliacs 346 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: or people on bloodening medications as we talked about, or 347 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: even for kids. It's interesting that the Seeda menapin is 348 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 1: the safer choice in some cases, because isn't that the 349 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: one that's supposed to be really bad for your liver. Yeah, so, 350 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: taken regularly or to access seta menafin can actually cause 351 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: some serious damage to ever. It's the top cause of 352 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:04,159 Speaker 1: acute liver failure in the US. I didn't realize this 353 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 1: before this episode, but you know, a big reason for 354 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,399 Speaker 1: that is that it's all too easy to overdose on 355 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,919 Speaker 1: a seat a menafin and their recommended dosage for pain relief, 356 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:15,240 Speaker 1: and the mountain needed to overdose aren't actually that far apart. So, 357 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 1: according to the CDC and FDA, between fifty thousand to 358 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,359 Speaker 1: eighty thou people in the US head to the emergency 359 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,639 Speaker 1: room each year due to seeda menafin overdose. Wow, so 360 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: it's just super easy to take too much of it 361 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 1: or what? Yeah, it's probably because the seeda menafin isn't 362 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: confined to just tile at all, like it crops up 363 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 1: in over the counter cold and flu remedies, and it's 364 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: also in prescription pain killers like percocet, so people who 365 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,919 Speaker 1: don't pay close enough attention to the labels might unknowingly 366 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 1: consume more than the recommended doses. And because the drug 367 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 1: can accumulate in your liver and also your bloodstream, even 368 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 1: taking slightly too much a seat a menafin over the 369 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 1: course a few days can lead to an overdose. It's 370 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 1: this phenomena called a staggered overdose, but it can be 371 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: every bit as deadly. What we're talking about a seta 372 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: menafin being hard on the liver. So so given that, 373 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:03,639 Speaker 1: I'm guessing it's not that helpful when you're trying to 374 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: fight something like a hangover, right, Oh, definitely not. I 375 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: mean tons of people are probably popping a couple of 376 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 1: tile al after a night of drinking in the hopes 377 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 1: of wording off a hangover. But this is one of 378 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 1: those mistakes that comes from using pain killers interchangeably, because 379 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: taking a seedominafin with alcohol, even just a little bit, 380 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,680 Speaker 1: is actually a terrible idea. Really so, so why is that? So? 381 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: This is a little tricky and Gabe actually walked me 382 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,680 Speaker 1: through it. But basically, because the drug is mostly metabolized 383 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: in the liver, where it's joined with something called glutoth ione, 384 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,479 Speaker 1: it's then turned into this non toxic compound that can 385 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:41,360 Speaker 1: be removed later through urination. However, alcohol is actually known 386 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 1: to reduce the livers glutothione levels, and when a seeda 387 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 1: menafin is metabolized without it, the drugs turns into this 388 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 1: far more toxic substance, and this is actually bad news 389 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,440 Speaker 1: for your kidney. So once studies showed that taking the 390 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 1: recommended dose of a seeda menapin with a small to 391 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: moderate amount of alcohol can actually increase the risk of 392 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 1: kidney disease by a hundred All right, well, so obviously 393 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 1: common pain killers aren't as across the board safe as 394 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:07,639 Speaker 1: you know. They're over the counter status might make you 395 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: think they are. We talked about insects, you know, their 396 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:13,400 Speaker 1: ability to recavoc on your stomach lining and the fact 397 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: that the regular use of a sneamenefin can cause permanent 398 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: damage to your liver or even your kidneys. And with 399 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 1: those risk in mind, I do think it's good to 400 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:22,919 Speaker 1: point out that these pain relievers they're not meant to 401 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,440 Speaker 1: be long term or daily treatments. In fact, people who 402 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 1: regularly take these medications for headaches actually put themselves at 403 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,239 Speaker 1: risk for something called rebound headaches, which are caused by 404 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,159 Speaker 1: the drugs wearing off. Yeah, so I think it's a 405 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:37,439 Speaker 1: smart idea to occasionally take stock if you're over the 406 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 1: counter drug use, Like if you're taking something that you 407 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:42,920 Speaker 1: use daily for the same reason, then you should probably 408 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:46,160 Speaker 1: consult your doctor about other treatment options, Like there could 409 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:48,679 Speaker 1: be an underlying issue that's just being masked by these 410 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 1: pain killers. Yeah, that's good advice for sure. And all right, well, 411 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: if you don't mind, I kind of want to switch 412 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: gears a little bit. You know, we've talked a little 413 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 1: bit about the medications that that are not helpful for 414 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: drinking alcohol, but there's actually a recent study that suggests 415 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: alcohol itself is a pretty good way to manage pain, 416 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: you know, perhaps even better than some of the pain 417 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 1: killers we've talked about. Well, I mean you do sometimes 418 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 1: hear about alcohol is a way to duller numb pain, 419 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:15,440 Speaker 1: especially in country music, and since we've already established that's 420 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 1: basically what pain killers do, I guess it does make sense. 421 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: Of course, if you were to regularly use alcohol for 422 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:23,879 Speaker 1: pain management, you've run into similar long term problems as 423 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: with n sets or a sid menafin. Absolutely. I mean, 424 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:28,679 Speaker 1: it's an interesting study and it might be good to 425 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: know in a pinch, but I'd not any medical professional 426 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: would actually recommend drinking as a way to treat chronic pain. 427 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: And I'm pretty sure that we should not go on 428 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:38,919 Speaker 1: the record is suggesting that, you know, we're not suggesting that. 429 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:41,320 Speaker 1: But tell me what the study said, all right, So 430 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,080 Speaker 1: researchers at the University of Greenwich in London, they gathered 431 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:47,439 Speaker 1: volunteers for a study on pain and alcohol, and they 432 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: found that the participants reported to reduce sensitivity to pain 433 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 1: with every drink consumed. And this is actually the interesting part, 434 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 1: Like the effect was cumulative. So after three drinks for 435 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 1: men and two for women, the participants pain thresholds rose 436 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: from small to moderate slash large. According to the researchers, 437 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 1: this pain relieving effect on alcohol on pain intensity is 438 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:11,120 Speaker 1: comparable to opioids and actually more powerful than a set 439 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: of menaphon. Wow, So do we know why that's the case. 440 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 1: They really don't know exactly why. I mean, the researchers 441 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:20,639 Speaker 1: suggested that the alcohol may block the transmission of pain signals, 442 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:24,160 Speaker 1: you know, to the spinal cord, but alcohol's anxiety relieving 443 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,640 Speaker 1: properties could also be a part of this as well. 444 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 1: But either way, it's a little dangerous that alcohol is 445 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: as effective as it is in relieving pain. I mean, 446 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: swapping chronic pain for alcohol abuse isn't exactly trading up, 447 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 1: and that potential to create a whole new problem is 448 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:42,679 Speaker 1: one of the biggest dangers with self medicating. But you know, amazingly, 449 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: we're not even the only animals to try this. I 450 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:47,399 Speaker 1: found a few examples of other species that take their 451 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: health into their own paws. But before I tell you 452 00:21:49,960 --> 00:22:05,719 Speaker 1: about that, why don't we take a quick break? Okay, So, 453 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,640 Speaker 1: what's the drink of choice for these self medicating animals 454 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:10,399 Speaker 1: that you talked about? That? Like, do they stick to 455 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 1: beer and wine or do they go straight to the 456 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 1: hard stuff or what's their strategy. So there is a 457 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,639 Speaker 1: species of monkeys in Uganda that's believed to self medicate 458 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 1: for pain, but they're not hitting up the bar to 459 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 1: do it. Instead, they consume massive amounts of tree bark, 460 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: which is what humans used to do with willow bark. Right, So, 461 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 1: a team of a collegists studied a troop of Colubus monkeys, 462 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 1: some of which were infected with a parasite called whipworm, 463 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: and the team noticed that the infected monkeys spent way 464 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:39,199 Speaker 1: less time moving and grooming and even mating than the 465 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 1: other monkeys, but they also ate twice as much tree 466 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:44,119 Speaker 1: bark as them, even though all the monkeys stuck to 467 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 1: the same feeding schedules. Al Right, so sick monkeys were 468 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: purposefully eating more bark than usual, that's what you're saying. 469 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:53,440 Speaker 1: But I mean, couldn't the sickness have just made them hungrier? Yeah, 470 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: I mean it could be a coincidence, but it would 471 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 1: have to be a pretty big one. Seven of the 472 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:00,679 Speaker 1: nine species of trees and shrubs that the sick monkeys 473 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 1: eight from are actually known to have pharmacological properties and 474 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:07,120 Speaker 1: those are the same plants that local humans actually used 475 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: to treat illnesses, including the whipworm illness. All right, so 476 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 1: maybe not a complete coincident. It's just weird to think, though, 477 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:16,440 Speaker 1: that some animals might knowingly take medicine for their illnesses, though, 478 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:19,160 Speaker 1: isn't it. Yeah, And I mean, self medicating monkeys are 479 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: one thing, right, Like, they aren't that far removed from 480 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:24,199 Speaker 1: us in terms of evolution. But there's another team of 481 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 1: researchers out at the University of Helsinki that claims to 482 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: have found the first evidence of self medicating insects. So 483 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:34,119 Speaker 1: here's how an article in Scientific American broke down this discovery. 484 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:37,360 Speaker 1: When the biologists exposed to hundreds of for Mica fusca 485 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 1: ants to a dangerous fungus, many of the infected insects 486 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,160 Speaker 1: chose to consume four to six percent hydrogen peroxide solution 487 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:48,879 Speaker 1: made available for the experiment. Healthy ants avoided the household chemical, 488 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 1: which can quah infections and small doses, but it's otherwise deadly. 489 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 1: The sick ants that part took were less likely to 490 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: succumb to the grips of the fungus. I mean, I 491 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: guess it is pretty telling that only the sick ants 492 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,199 Speaker 1: an the solution, But what about in the wild, Like, 493 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 1: it's pretty different. It's not like hydrogen peroxide is growing 494 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: on trees or anything. Yeah, I mean that's true, but 495 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 1: the confound does grow inside some plants. So researchers theorized 496 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:13,679 Speaker 1: that wild dance infected by the fungus might actually be 497 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:16,360 Speaker 1: able to find relief by eating plants that release hydrogen 498 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:19,880 Speaker 1: peroxide in order to fight off aphids. That is pretty cool, 499 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: But you know, actually the animal kingdom isn't just a 500 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: place for us to watch to like learn how to 501 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 1: manage our pain. It's actually a place to go as 502 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: a source of pain relief in some cases. You know. 503 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:30,760 Speaker 1: For instance, I was reading about a new kind of 504 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:33,439 Speaker 1: pain killer that's derived from the toxic venom of a 505 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 1: sea snail. So the drug is called and I don't 506 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:38,719 Speaker 1: know if I'm pronouncing this correctly. I think it's Zicona tide. 507 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:41,640 Speaker 1: But the really standout name belongs to the snail itself. 508 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: It's called the magician's comb. That is pretty sweet. And 509 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:48,239 Speaker 1: you know, I'm always curious about this. I know we 510 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 1: mentioned it a little yesterday with that viper from Brazil, 511 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:54,360 Speaker 1: But how does toxic venom make for good medicine. Well, 512 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 1: this one works actually by blocking calcium channels and the 513 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 1: specific nerve cells, and that prevents certain pain signals from 514 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:03,639 Speaker 1: reaching the brain. And so this makes it super useful 515 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: for treating patients with pain that isn't that easily managed 516 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:09,400 Speaker 1: by traditional methods. And we're talking about things people suffering 517 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,359 Speaker 1: from cancer or AIDS or you know, several types of 518 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:15,520 Speaker 1: neurological disorders that they've seen positive results with this c 519 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 1: snail pain killer. But if scientists have their way, this 520 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 1: won't be the only venom based pain reliever that's out 521 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: there currently. Research is underway to make use of tarantula 522 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 1: venom too, and if it's successful, we could be looking 523 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:29,679 Speaker 1: at a whole new kind of pain killer, you know, 524 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:32,440 Speaker 1: one that can treat severe pain without the risk of addiction, 525 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:35,400 Speaker 1: which is super exciting. And the animal kingdom isn't even 526 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 1: the only place to find these kinds of breakthrough is 527 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 1: because plants are actually doing their part as well. Both 528 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:44,439 Speaker 1: marijuana and salvia are promising candidates for non addictive pain relief, 529 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: and even the pain dulling chemical capsain that's found in 530 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: chili peppers is on the table as a potential pain killer. Yeah, 531 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 1: that's true, and really there's a greater need for treatments 532 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 1: with that kind of potential than there ever has been before. 533 00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 1: I was looking at some of the statistics from the 534 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: Institute of Medicine and then apparently there over a hundred 535 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:05,440 Speaker 1: million Americans currently suffering from some form of chronic pain, 536 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:08,720 Speaker 1: which amounts to as much as six hundred billion dollars 537 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 1: a year in medical bills and lost productivity. And obviously, 538 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 1: when dealing with pain that's that severe, these over the 539 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: counter drugs aren't always going to cut it, and that's 540 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 1: why we're currently dealing with things like the opioid crisis 541 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 1: in our country now. So when the best tool for 542 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 1: managing high pain levels is highly addictive and debilitating in 543 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 1: its own right, I mean, you know, it's time to 544 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:31,120 Speaker 1: find a better way. Absolutely, And one of the most 545 00:26:31,119 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 1: promising alternatives I've actually heard about comes from this really 546 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: unexpected place, Mango, even more unexpected than my magical cone 547 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:43,439 Speaker 1: sea snails. Yeah, even more than magical sea snails. But 548 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:46,439 Speaker 1: you know, there's a growing number of hospitals that are 549 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 1: out there looking into how virtual reality could be used 550 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 1: for pain management, like the clunky headsets like videos and 551 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 1: stuff like that. So clinical researchers have already had success 552 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 1: using them to treat panic attacks and other psychosomatic disorders, 553 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 1: and now the actually starting to explore the text applications 554 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,679 Speaker 1: for treating pain brought on from everything from like joint 555 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:07,720 Speaker 1: injuries to even cancer, and so far trials with a 556 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 1: pair of the three D coggles have been proven to 557 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 1: reduce patients experience of pain by a full twenty per cent. Yeah, 558 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: I mean, there's also hope that the technology can be 559 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 1: extended to chronic pain sufferers who would typically have to 560 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:22,680 Speaker 1: look to those addictive prescription pain killers for relief. That's 561 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:24,679 Speaker 1: pretty incredible. I mean, can you imagine if someone who 562 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 1: had just had surgery or gotten a car accident they 563 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:30,400 Speaker 1: could be sent home with like a VR headset instead 564 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:32,399 Speaker 1: of you know, like a bottle of percoset or somebody 565 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:34,639 Speaker 1: that might be a little bit hopeful, But it does 566 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:36,920 Speaker 1: sound like this could really flip the script on pain 567 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:40,720 Speaker 1: management definitely. And and VR treatment actually draws from techniques 568 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: that have already proven medically effective, you know, things like 569 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 1: mindfulness and meditation. But you know, most doctors wouldn't prescribe 570 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:50,640 Speaker 1: something like meditation because there's a good chance patients won't 571 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 1: go home and follow through with that treatment, and by comparison, 572 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:55,960 Speaker 1: pain pills have been a more certain and also more 573 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:59,159 Speaker 1: lucrative way to go, but VR, with its promise of 574 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 1: fun and apism, could actually do away with all that uncertainty, 575 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:05,000 Speaker 1: Like patients will be far more likely to actually go 576 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:06,840 Speaker 1: home and use it on their own. I mean that 577 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:08,880 Speaker 1: kind of makes sense, but I'm curious about, like, how 578 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 1: exactly does VR relief pain? Is it just that it 579 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:14,680 Speaker 1: calms people down, because you know, if if that's the case, 580 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 1: it seems like people could just sit there and watch 581 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 1: a relaxing video or something like that. So a major 582 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:21,679 Speaker 1: reason why VR is so effective is that the games 583 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,119 Speaker 1: and environments that generates are actually a great way to 584 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 1: distract your brain, and that level of immersion VR provides it. 585 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:30,639 Speaker 1: It actually gives this distinct advantage over I don't know, 586 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 1: just watching a nature video on your smartphone, and that's 587 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:35,720 Speaker 1: because the experience actually shuts off the neural pathways that 588 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 1: typically transfer pain signals from your peripheral nervous system. It 589 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:42,680 Speaker 1: occupies all the brain's attention so that the sensation of 590 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:45,880 Speaker 1: pain is lesson significantly. That's really interesting and I admit 591 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 1: I was a little bit skeptical of this, but but 592 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 1: it sounds pretty promising. And I do love the idea 593 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 1: of overcoming pain, like not through just chemical trickery, but 594 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 1: simply giving our brains the freedom to focus on something else. 595 00:28:57,800 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 1: You know, for way too many people, the physical pain 596 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 1: and they live with is just all consuming. You know, 597 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 1: pain killers, whether they're over the counter or even prescription, 598 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 1: they're they're pretty limited in their usefulness because of these 599 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 1: side effects and the high risk of addiction that we 600 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 1: talked about. So it is pretty hardening to hear about 601 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:14,760 Speaker 1: these new approaches like this that make the idea of 602 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 1: a pain free future seem a little more attainable. Yeah, 603 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 1: I couldn't agree with you more. And you know, learning 604 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 1: is another great way to keep your mind off pain. 605 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:24,280 Speaker 1: So what do you say we conduct our own clinical 606 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:27,200 Speaker 1: trial using the pain killing power of facts. I mean, 607 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 1: I'm gain for effect, but I do think we should 608 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 1: be clear, like, the health benefits of trivia are not 609 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:35,120 Speaker 1: fully proven, So I think the last thing we need 610 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:45,960 Speaker 1: is another lawsuit here, Mango, that's right, all right, Well, 611 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:47,680 Speaker 1: I'll kick us off. So we've talked about a few 612 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,760 Speaker 1: things that have these surprising abilities to reduce pain. And 613 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 1: here's another one to add to the list. Now. I 614 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 1: know it's common wisdom to say that money doesn't really 615 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: lead to happiness, but you know, there's no denying that 616 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 1: our brains love any In fact, one study out of 617 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,640 Speaker 1: China's show that just holding onto it pretty much works 618 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 1: like a drug. In the study, participants were asked to 619 00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:10,320 Speaker 1: put their hands into some really hot water, now not 620 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 1: for long, but still very hot water. And just before 621 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:15,720 Speaker 1: doing this, some of them had been given a stack 622 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:18,440 Speaker 1: of money to handle and some were just given blank 623 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:21,440 Speaker 1: paper to shuffle through. And sure enough, those who had 624 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 1: handled the money had a higher tolerance of pain. That's amazing. Well, 625 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 1: you know, since you mentioned hot water, I'm gonna go 626 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 1: with the cold water test. And you know, I have 627 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 1: always envious the scientists who get to conduct studies like 628 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: the one we heard about earlier where they were testing 629 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: to see if swearing actually reduces pain. And in this study, 630 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 1: participants were asked to put their arm in a bucket 631 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 1: of ice water and then given certain words say or 632 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 1: shout out loud and see how long they could keep 633 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:48,400 Speaker 1: their arm in the ice water. And it turns out 634 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:50,360 Speaker 1: that those who were swearing were able to keep their 635 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: arms in for longer. But you know, I was curious 636 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 1: as to whether the specific curse words had different effects, 637 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:00,120 Speaker 1: and it turns out they do. Maybe. Not surprisingly, they 638 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:02,680 Speaker 1: found out that the F bomb was much more effective 639 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:05,719 Speaker 1: than using the word bum. The word bum. Yeah, I mean, 640 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:07,480 Speaker 1: I want to meet these people who scream out the 641 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:11,360 Speaker 1: word bum when they're all right. So we covered handling 642 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:15,120 Speaker 1: money and swearing. I think we're making parents really happy today, 643 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:17,440 Speaker 1: So why don't we do one that's a little bit different. 644 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:19,840 Speaker 1: And I think we should revisit the meditation thing. And 645 00:31:20,040 --> 00:31:22,040 Speaker 1: I do know we talked a little bit about it earlier, 646 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 1: but there's this study out of wake Forest that I 647 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:26,800 Speaker 1: think was pretty interesting. And if they found that after 648 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 1: just a few days of meditation training, you know, where 649 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 1: they help participants focus on something soothing instead of their pain, 650 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:35,840 Speaker 1: those in the study actually saw a fifty seven percent 651 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:39,600 Speaker 1: reduction in what they described as unpleasantness, and they reported 652 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 1: that was roughly the equivalent to the effects of morphine. 653 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:45,280 Speaker 1: That's unbelievable. So here's a weird one, and I feel 654 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:47,080 Speaker 1: like you'd have to test this to believe it. But 655 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:50,080 Speaker 1: apparently if you feel a headache coming on, you can 656 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 1: actually eat a bit of green apple or even just 657 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:55,240 Speaker 1: smell one to get some of the relief from a migraine. 658 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 1: And this was a study from the Research Foundation in Chicago, 659 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:01,080 Speaker 1: and the researchers believed it's related to the finding that 660 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 1: the green apple smell does in fact reduced muscle contractions 661 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:06,960 Speaker 1: in the head and neck, which would reduce that pain 662 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 1: from the migraine. You know, I think we should do 663 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:11,120 Speaker 1: another study where we test what would happen if you 664 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:13,720 Speaker 1: hold a lot of cash, you scream the F bomb, 665 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:15,440 Speaker 1: and you sniff an apple at the same time, and 666 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:20,280 Speaker 1: see probably feel great. All right. Well, have you ever 667 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:22,640 Speaker 1: wondered why we tend to grab our injuries when we 668 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:25,320 Speaker 1: get hurt, like you know, imagine you have an ankle's brain, 669 00:32:25,400 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 1: what's the first thing that you do? You sit down 670 00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:30,720 Speaker 1: and you grab your ankle. But apparently there's a reason 671 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:33,440 Speaker 1: for this. So when we touch our injuries, it gives 672 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:36,239 Speaker 1: our brains a chance to map out these injuries and 673 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 1: better pinpoint the location and then more effectively manage the pain. 674 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:43,920 Speaker 1: That's fascinating. Okay, Well, I say my most important fact 675 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:46,640 Speaker 1: for last, and that's the fact that Kenny Loggins and 676 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:50,240 Speaker 1: Dean Pitchford actually wrote the title track for Footloose while 677 00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:53,400 Speaker 1: under the influence of pain curts. This is very important. 678 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,520 Speaker 1: So apparently Loggins had just recently broken a rib while performing, 679 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:58,000 Speaker 1: you know, because he likes to leave it all out 680 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:01,080 Speaker 1: on the stage. It doesn't and Pitchford was dealing with 681 00:33:01,120 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 1: a pretty high fever and strep throat, and the two 682 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:05,400 Speaker 1: of them would meet up to record, and they only 683 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:07,560 Speaker 1: had a few days, so they couldn't let their ailments 684 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:11,040 Speaker 1: slow them down. And as Pitchford said, quote, I think 685 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:13,040 Speaker 1: it was two or three days. We kept up this 686 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:15,520 Speaker 1: garade of him showing up on his pain killers and 687 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:17,920 Speaker 1: me and my pain killers, and us getting the gist 688 00:33:17,920 --> 00:33:21,200 Speaker 1: of the song. Wow. I mean, can you imagine the 689 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,000 Speaker 1: magic that may have never happened if they hadn't pushed 690 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:28,600 Speaker 1: through and worked on this world changing song Mango? I mean, 691 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 1: I may have never had the opportunity to sing that 692 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:34,440 Speaker 1: song in my high school show choir. I'll pull out 693 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:36,280 Speaker 1: the tape some time to show you in Tristan, or 694 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:38,080 Speaker 1: maybe I'll just leave it at my parents house. But 695 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:40,680 Speaker 1: I'm honestly, I'm not sure i'd be the man I 696 00:33:40,720 --> 00:33:44,480 Speaker 1: am today without that experience though, so for that, I'm 697 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:47,720 Speaker 1: gonna have to give you today's fact off trophy Mango 698 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:50,240 Speaker 1: and if there was ever a fact in my fact 699 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:54,000 Speaker 1: off windstreak, I'm glad that's the ones that congratulations. Thank 700 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 1: you so much, and thank you guys for listening. If 701 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:58,800 Speaker 1: we have forgotten any great facts that you'd like to 702 00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 1: share with us about pain killers or pain management, we'd 703 00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:04,000 Speaker 1: love to hear those from. You can always email us 704 00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:06,880 Speaker 1: part time Genius at how stuff Works dot com. You 705 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:10,359 Speaker 1: can always call our seven fact hotline that's one eight 706 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:13,400 Speaker 1: four four pt Genius, or hit us up on Facebook 707 00:34:13,480 --> 00:34:15,719 Speaker 1: or Twitter. We've loved the great facts that you guys 708 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:17,880 Speaker 1: have been sending, the great ideas that you've been sending, 709 00:34:17,920 --> 00:34:20,480 Speaker 1: so please keep them coming, and thanks again for listening, 710 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:37,080 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. Part Time Genius is a production 711 00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:39,560 Speaker 1: of How Stuff Works and wouldn't be possible without several 712 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:42,120 Speaker 1: brilliant people who do the important things we couldn't even 713 00:34:42,120 --> 00:34:45,479 Speaker 1: begin to understand. Tristan McNeil does the editing thing. Noel 714 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:47,520 Speaker 1: Brown made the theme song and does the MIXI mixy 715 00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:51,080 Speaker 1: sound thing. Jerry Rowland does the exact producer thing. Gay 716 00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:54,000 Speaker 1: Bluesier is our lead researcher, with support from the Research Army, 717 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:57,040 Speaker 1: including Austin Thompson, Nolan Brown and Lucas Adams and Eve 718 00:34:57,120 --> 00:34:59,520 Speaker 1: Jeff Cook gets the show to your ears. Good job, Eves. 719 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:01,600 Speaker 1: If you like what you heard, we hope you'll subscribe, 720 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:03,520 Speaker 1: And if you really really like what you've heard, maybe 721 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:05,440 Speaker 1: you could leave a good review for us. Did we 722 00:35:05,560 --> 00:35:07,279 Speaker 1: do we forget Jason? Jason who