Pain

Spider venom isn’t normally something you want in your body, but there might be exceptions. Australian researchers have identified two peptides from tarantula venom that show promise in blocking organ pain, working particularly well in mice with IBS.

Australian researchers have solved the mystery behind the sting of one of the most venomous plants on the planet. The newly discovered neurotoxin explains how Australian stinging trees cause pain that can last for extraordinarily long periods.

Researchers in Australia have succeeded in developing an artificial skin that responds to painful stimuli, heat and pressure like real skin does, which they see as an important step towards intelligent machines and prosthetics.

An incredible, first-of-its-kind trial testing the pain-killing properties of LSD microdoses has delivered the compelling suggestion that tiny, non-psychedelic doses of this infamous drug could serve as an effective analgesic.

Researchers have homed in on a specific brainwave measurement that can predict a person’s pain sensitivity. The research suggests this tool could be used to generate tailored treatment plans for patients based on their individual pain tolerance.

Two new imaging breakthroughs demonstrate a PET/MRI approach to locate specific locations of chronic pain in a patient, and a full-body scanner that can visualize the complete systemic burden of inflammatory arthritis for the very first time.

New research is offering the first clinical trial insights into microdosing THC to treat chronic pain. The results of the small trial suggest tiny doses of THC may confer clinically apparent reductions in pain without inducing psychoactive effects.

As some readers may already know, in-ear stimulation of the vagus nerve can help relieve pain in other parts of the body. Thanks to new research by Austrian scientists, such treatments could soon be more effective than ever.

What drives pain and how it might be prevented in humans are complex questions demanding complex answers, but scientists at Duke University have come across a rather simple one, comparatively speaking.

New research describes the successful results of animal studies testing a novel experimental peptide designed to inhibit the receptors responsible for chronic neuropathic pain. The research is now moving towards initial human trials.

Opioid pain relievers not only produce potential side effects such as nausea and constipation, but they can also be highly addictive. Australian scientists have therefore created what could be a better medication, that is made using tarantula venom.

A study tracking the potency of cannabis products found most medical marijuana is stronger than it needs to be for pain relief. The research suggests high THC levels are unnecessary for medical uses and can increase the risk of negative side effects.