Introduction: The goal of this study was to use a novel approach to pain relief which includes a participant using their mind to reduce or relieve their neck pain in a matter of minutes and taking continuous thermal m...Introduction: The goal of this study was to use a novel approach to pain relief which includes a participant using their mind to reduce or relieve their neck pain in a matter of minutes and taking continuous thermal medical imaging scans during the process to capture any concurrent temperature changes at the location of the self-reported pain. Previous studies using multidisciplinary approaches have shown that it is possible for a person to achieve a moderate reduction in pain over a period of time (typically two or more months). However, in this innovative study, the goal was to demonstrate rapid pain relief (in a matter of minutes) using only the mind. Case report: For this study, six subjects were selected, all of whom were experiencing long-term chronic neck pain. The subjects consisted of five adult females and one adult male. Several of the subjects also had pain that radiated into their upper back region. Each subject participated in one talk therapy session during which the subject’s neck was actively scanned by a thermal imaging (TI) camera that was programmed to take a new thermal image every thirty (30) seconds. The goal of the talk therapy session was to create a strong emotional shift by encouraging the subject to let go of negative emotions and replace buried painful feelings with feelings of positive expectation and optimism. Then, as the subject created this emotional shift, the goal was to observe if this change affected the subject’s self-reported physical pain, as well as noting any visible effects in thermal images. Results: All six subjects reported that they were able to relieve some or all of their pain by the end of the talk therapy session. As they did, there was simultaneously a significant decrease in temperature recorded on the TI images in the corresponding location in their neck and upper back region. This suggested that the pain relief the subjects reported was not merely “mind over matter”, since there were marked physiological changes taking place. Discussion and Conclusion: It’s worth noting that three of the subjects had moments during their talk therapy session where they thought about a specific painful memory that increased their negative emotions. At that moment, their self-reported pain also increased, and simultaneously, the infrared camera detected an increase in temperature in the corresponding location where the subjects reported increased pain. Subsequently, when the subjects were able to change the painful memory and once again move towards feelings of optimism, they reported pain relief, and simultaneously, the TI camera reported a decrease in temperature. Neither this potential outcome nor any other potential outcome was discussed with the subjects before or during the session. This research shows that talk therapy may be used as a new therapeutic option for people not only with neck pain, but possibly other types of pain, and that under certain circumstances, the results can be rapid.展开更多
Earthing (grounding) refers to the human body being in contact with the surface of the Earth by barefoot exposure outdoors or using special indoor systems connected to the Earth. Previous studies have showed multiple ...Earthing (grounding) refers to the human body being in contact with the surface of the Earth by barefoot exposure outdoors or using special indoor systems connected to the Earth. Previous studies have showed multiple beneficial effects as a result of such contact, including better sleep, normalization of cortisol, reduced inflammation, pain and stress, and better blood flow. To determine if Earthing for one hour improves facial blood circulation, forty middle-aged volunteers were divided into a grounded group and a sham-grounded group according to a double-blind procedure. They were asked to sit in a comfortable recliner chair equipped with a grounding mat, pillow and patches. The grounding systems were either grounded or sham-grounded via a wire to the ground port of a power outlet. An infrared imaging camera was used to measure changes in blood flow and temperature. Thermal imaging showed clearly improved circulation of fluids (including blood) throughout the torso, which in turn, translates into enhanced delivery of blood to the head and improved blood circulation in the face as well. The results of this innovative study demonstrate that even one-hour contact with the Earth appears to promote significantly autonomic nervous system control of body fluids and peripheral blood flow that may improve blood circulation in the torso and face, facial tissue repair, skin health and vitality and optimize facial appearance (face anterior view p = 0.002;face lateral views p = 0.017;full anterior torso view p = 0.002). Further study using larger comparison groups and following subjects for a longer period of time (longitudinal study) is warranted.展开更多
Purpose: Memory has been identified as an important protective feature to prevent future injury, but its role has yet to be ascertained. The current study aimed to determine whether there was a difference in pressure ...Purpose: Memory has been identified as an important protective feature to prevent future injury, but its role has yet to be ascertained. The current study aimed to determine whether there was a difference in pressure pain threshold (PPT) responses between participants with a prior history of injury of lower extremity injury (PSI) and those without (NPSI) when exposed to 1) experimental mechanical pain, 2) short-term memory recall of a painful stimulus, or 3) long-term memory of the pain associated with a prior injury. Subjects and Methods: The study used a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. A convenience sample of 59 pain-free participants was recruited from an urban university. Twenty-nine PSI and 30 NPSI were stratified into two groups based on their injury history with PPT values measured at baseline and immediately following each of the three experimental conditions. A repeated measure ANCOVA analysis was conducted for each condition to determine whether there was a difference in PPT responses between the two groups. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in PPT values between the two groups when exposed to experimental pain, F(1,57) = 6.010, p = 0.017, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.095 and with long-term pain memory, F(1,57) = 4.886, p = 0.031, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.079. There was no statistically significant difference between groups with short-term pain memory, F(1,57) = 3.925, p = 0.052, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.064. Conclusions: These findings suggest that pain processing may be altered by pain memory, highlighting the role of experience and memory in the rehabilitation process.展开更多
Malaria is still a significant cause of death and suffering throughout much of the developing world.Fortunately,the global community provides significant(though,not sufficient)resources to combat the disease and the p...Malaria is still a significant cause of death and suffering throughout much of the developing world.Fortunately,the global community provides significant(though,not sufficient)resources to combat the disease and the parasite that causes it.How ought we to allocate these resources?One option is to purchase and distribute perhaps the best tool we have to prevent malaria:insecticide-treated nets.Another route would see us invest in research and development of a novel biotechnology that could eradicate the disease in perpetuity.If we choose to spend our money on insecticidetreated nets,we will be rescuing current individuals at risk of being infected with the parasite.Though,we can be almost certain there will be future individuals who will also need rescuing.If we instead invest in the novel biotech no logy,we could benefit countless future individuals who never have to experience the threat of malaria.Hence,this would mean that some number of current individuals will die due to the lack of insecticide-treated nets that otherwise could have saved their lives.So,ought we to rescue current,identifiable individuals,or ought we invest in research for the sake of the future?After an exploration of the duty to rescue and cost-effectiveness analysis,I suggest we look towards the literature on intergenerational justice for a justifiable answer to the question of how we ought to allocate our malaria resources.展开更多
文摘Introduction: The goal of this study was to use a novel approach to pain relief which includes a participant using their mind to reduce or relieve their neck pain in a matter of minutes and taking continuous thermal medical imaging scans during the process to capture any concurrent temperature changes at the location of the self-reported pain. Previous studies using multidisciplinary approaches have shown that it is possible for a person to achieve a moderate reduction in pain over a period of time (typically two or more months). However, in this innovative study, the goal was to demonstrate rapid pain relief (in a matter of minutes) using only the mind. Case report: For this study, six subjects were selected, all of whom were experiencing long-term chronic neck pain. The subjects consisted of five adult females and one adult male. Several of the subjects also had pain that radiated into their upper back region. Each subject participated in one talk therapy session during which the subject’s neck was actively scanned by a thermal imaging (TI) camera that was programmed to take a new thermal image every thirty (30) seconds. The goal of the talk therapy session was to create a strong emotional shift by encouraging the subject to let go of negative emotions and replace buried painful feelings with feelings of positive expectation and optimism. Then, as the subject created this emotional shift, the goal was to observe if this change affected the subject’s self-reported physical pain, as well as noting any visible effects in thermal images. Results: All six subjects reported that they were able to relieve some or all of their pain by the end of the talk therapy session. As they did, there was simultaneously a significant decrease in temperature recorded on the TI images in the corresponding location in their neck and upper back region. This suggested that the pain relief the subjects reported was not merely “mind over matter”, since there were marked physiological changes taking place. Discussion and Conclusion: It’s worth noting that three of the subjects had moments during their talk therapy session where they thought about a specific painful memory that increased their negative emotions. At that moment, their self-reported pain also increased, and simultaneously, the infrared camera detected an increase in temperature in the corresponding location where the subjects reported increased pain. Subsequently, when the subjects were able to change the painful memory and once again move towards feelings of optimism, they reported pain relief, and simultaneously, the TI camera reported a decrease in temperature. Neither this potential outcome nor any other potential outcome was discussed with the subjects before or during the session. This research shows that talk therapy may be used as a new therapeutic option for people not only with neck pain, but possibly other types of pain, and that under certain circumstances, the results can be rapid.
文摘Earthing (grounding) refers to the human body being in contact with the surface of the Earth by barefoot exposure outdoors or using special indoor systems connected to the Earth. Previous studies have showed multiple beneficial effects as a result of such contact, including better sleep, normalization of cortisol, reduced inflammation, pain and stress, and better blood flow. To determine if Earthing for one hour improves facial blood circulation, forty middle-aged volunteers were divided into a grounded group and a sham-grounded group according to a double-blind procedure. They were asked to sit in a comfortable recliner chair equipped with a grounding mat, pillow and patches. The grounding systems were either grounded or sham-grounded via a wire to the ground port of a power outlet. An infrared imaging camera was used to measure changes in blood flow and temperature. Thermal imaging showed clearly improved circulation of fluids (including blood) throughout the torso, which in turn, translates into enhanced delivery of blood to the head and improved blood circulation in the face as well. The results of this innovative study demonstrate that even one-hour contact with the Earth appears to promote significantly autonomic nervous system control of body fluids and peripheral blood flow that may improve blood circulation in the torso and face, facial tissue repair, skin health and vitality and optimize facial appearance (face anterior view p = 0.002;face lateral views p = 0.017;full anterior torso view p = 0.002). Further study using larger comparison groups and following subjects for a longer period of time (longitudinal study) is warranted.
文摘Purpose: Memory has been identified as an important protective feature to prevent future injury, but its role has yet to be ascertained. The current study aimed to determine whether there was a difference in pressure pain threshold (PPT) responses between participants with a prior history of injury of lower extremity injury (PSI) and those without (NPSI) when exposed to 1) experimental mechanical pain, 2) short-term memory recall of a painful stimulus, or 3) long-term memory of the pain associated with a prior injury. Subjects and Methods: The study used a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. A convenience sample of 59 pain-free participants was recruited from an urban university. Twenty-nine PSI and 30 NPSI were stratified into two groups based on their injury history with PPT values measured at baseline and immediately following each of the three experimental conditions. A repeated measure ANCOVA analysis was conducted for each condition to determine whether there was a difference in PPT responses between the two groups. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in PPT values between the two groups when exposed to experimental pain, F(1,57) = 6.010, p = 0.017, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.095 and with long-term pain memory, F(1,57) = 4.886, p = 0.031, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.079. There was no statistically significant difference between groups with short-term pain memory, F(1,57) = 3.925, p = 0.052, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.064. Conclusions: These findings suggest that pain processing may be altered by pain memory, highlighting the role of experience and memory in the rehabilitation process.
文摘Malaria is still a significant cause of death and suffering throughout much of the developing world.Fortunately,the global community provides significant(though,not sufficient)resources to combat the disease and the parasite that causes it.How ought we to allocate these resources?One option is to purchase and distribute perhaps the best tool we have to prevent malaria:insecticide-treated nets.Another route would see us invest in research and development of a novel biotechnology that could eradicate the disease in perpetuity.If we choose to spend our money on insecticidetreated nets,we will be rescuing current individuals at risk of being infected with the parasite.Though,we can be almost certain there will be future individuals who will also need rescuing.If we instead invest in the novel biotech no logy,we could benefit countless future individuals who never have to experience the threat of malaria.Hence,this would mean that some number of current individuals will die due to the lack of insecticide-treated nets that otherwise could have saved their lives.So,ought we to rescue current,identifiable individuals,or ought we invest in research for the sake of the future?After an exploration of the duty to rescue and cost-effectiveness analysis,I suggest we look towards the literature on intergenerational justice for a justifiable answer to the question of how we ought to allocate our malaria resources.
