This is the excruciating aftermath of an adult’s bout with shingles — or herpes zoster, the same virus that causes chicken-pox in children. The virus appears to lie dormant in a nerve root for decades in some people and later appears, sometimes in response to stress or to physical upset. This infection also produces rashes [...]

A criticism of medical training is that specialisation has led to each specialist tending to adopt a tunnel-vision approach. Thus, anaesthetists treat chronic pain with nerve blocks. Surgeons cut nerves or remove vertebral discs, according to their special interest. Psychiatrists either use psychotherapy or tell patients they are imagining the pain. Doctors often prescribe narcotic-based, [...]

According to the American Academy of Social Physicians, two-thirds of consultations in the United States are prompted by stress-related symptoms. The cost of such symptoms in absenteeism, company expenses and lost productivity have been estimated at between $50 billion to $75 billion a year — more than $750 for every worker. The indications are that [...]

Pain is as old as time itself. Some of our ancestors must have been profoundly mystified by pain associated with disease. An attempt was made to explain this as an intrusion into the body by evil spirits, or objects, thus requiring their removal by extracting the object, exorcising demons or placating the Gods. The Ancient [...]