Category: neuroscience

Medical Humanities, neuroscience

I Only Want What’s in Your Mind and Heart”: The Origins and Science of Total Pain in Oncology

So here’s the thing about pain: it’s complicated. Last weekend I was on call when my phone rang. It was an elderly woman in her 80s with advanced cancer that had been stable. Her chart said “pain well-controlled on optimized opioid regimen” – one of those clinical phrases we use that sometimes means everything and sometimes means nothing at all. She started talking about bone … Continue reading I Only Want What’s in Your Mind and Heart”: The Origins and Science of Total Pain in Oncology

Unknown's avatarMarcin Chwistek, MD
neuroscience, Research Articles

The Jellyfish, the Poppy, and the Future of Pain Relief: A New Chapter Begins

Ancient Remedies and Modern Crises: The Poppy’s Legacy For centuries, humanity has sought relief from pain, and the poppy, with its potent analgesic properties, became deeply entwined with our history and culture. In 1805, a young German pharmacist’s apprentice, Friedrich Sertürner, refined this ancient remedy, isolating morphine and revolutionizing pain management. This breakthrough, however, paved the way not only for the widespread use of morphine … Continue reading The Jellyfish, the Poppy, and the Future of Pain Relief: A New Chapter Begins

Unknown's avatarMarcin Chwistek, MD
Cannabis, neuroscience, Research Articles

Hidden in Plain Sight: How Our Brain’s Endocannabinoid System Could Transform Pain Medicine

Opioids have a dual role in medicine, serving both as pain relievers and also their use may lead to addiction, complicating pain management conversations, especially for cancer patients. Recent research from Weill Cornell Medicine demonstrates a potential method to separate pain relief from addiction risk by manipulating brain compounds, offering hope for improved treatment strategies and quality of life. Continue reading Hidden in Plain Sight: How Our Brain’s Endocannabinoid System Could Transform Pain Medicine

Unknown's avatarMarcin Chwistek, MD
neuroscience, Research Articles

New Insights: Exercise to Combat Chemotherapy Neuropathy

It turns out that there is yet another thing that exercise helps for – chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). It not only helps to diminish the symptoms of neuropathy that already took place, but it can prevent it (!), which many other things that have been vigorously tried before (vitamins, fish oil, medications, etc.) failed to do so. It is potentially quite paradigm changing finding that … Continue reading New Insights: Exercise to Combat Chemotherapy Neuropathy

Unknown's avatarMarcin Chwistek, MD
neuroscience, Patient-Physician Relationship

Guilt: The Elephant in the (exam) Room.

“I don’t do guilt.” Dr. Robin Taylor is a pulmonologist who practices in Glasgow, Scotland. Most of the patients who come to see him in his respiratory clinic, smoke. And one of the most important things he could help them do for their health is to quit. And as simple as it sounds, it is notoriously a difficult thing to do. And it is not … Continue reading Guilt: The Elephant in the (exam) Room.

Unknown's avatarMarcin Chwistek, MD
Friday Links, neuroscience

Friday Assorted Links #14

Hello friends, A few new links today. All evolving around the themes of exploration, creativity, vitality and resilience. I have been listening to the Song Explorer podcast for a while, but had no idea that there is Netflix show now based on the podcast: “Song Explorer: how music gets made”. Same idea. Deconstructing songs, looking for their roots and elements to reveal how they came … Continue reading Friday Assorted Links #14

Unknown's avatarMarcin Chwistek, MD