Pain: a need for paradigm change. 1987

F Batmanghelidj
Foundation for the Simple in Medicine, Lancaster, PA 17603.

From November 1979 to May 1982, I had the "honor" of serving time at Evin political prison, Teheran Iran. Evin is the historical prison which has set the pace of revolution in the country. At Evin it was discovered that increased regular intake of water improved the clinical picture of peptic ulcer disease. One of the main components of this picture was pain of varying severity, sometimes very severe indeed. Theoretical research to find the physiological reasons for the observed effect of water, in a condition currently classified as disease, has revealed a neurotransmitter, an osmoregulator, a water intake promoter status and a role for histamine. The action of histamine seems to be coupled to the efficient function of the cation pumps. Histamine and serotonin are involved in the regulation of the body's water balance. Cellular "free water" insufficiency produces a disturbance of tryptophan metabolism; it is this disturbance and induced functional deficiency altering the homeostatic balance that produces pain and eventually tissue transformation and/or damage. This pain is being introduced as a signal system denoting free water deficiency of the cell and, therefore, it should be classified as thirst pain. Histamine and the reninangiotensin system also coordinate the water intake and sodium balance of the body. With the induction of renin-angiotensin system for increase in water intake, threshold rates for water intake and the threshold rates for raising blood pressure seem close.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006973 Hypertension Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more. Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
D010146 Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by NERVE ENDINGS of NOCICEPTIVE NEURONS. Suffering, Physical,Ache,Pain, Burning,Pain, Crushing,Pain, Migratory,Pain, Radiating,Pain, Splitting,Aches,Burning Pain,Burning Pains,Crushing Pain,Crushing Pains,Migratory Pain,Migratory Pains,Pains, Burning,Pains, Crushing,Pains, Migratory,Pains, Radiating,Pains, Splitting,Physical Suffering,Physical Sufferings,Radiating Pain,Radiating Pains,Splitting Pain,Splitting Pains,Sufferings, Physical
D011956 Receptors, Cell Surface Cell surface proteins that bind signalling molecules external to the cell with high affinity and convert this extracellular event into one or more intracellular signals that alter the behavior of the target cell (From Alberts, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2nd ed, pp693-5). Cell surface receptors, unlike enzymes, do not chemically alter their ligands. Cell Surface Receptor,Cell Surface Receptors,Hormone Receptors, Cell Surface,Receptors, Endogenous Substances,Cell Surface Hormone Receptors,Endogenous Substances Receptors,Receptor, Cell Surface,Surface Receptor, Cell
D012084 Renin-Angiotensin System A BLOOD PRESSURE regulating system of interacting components that include RENIN; ANGIOTENSINOGEN; ANGIOTENSIN CONVERTING ENZYME; ANGIOTENSIN I; ANGIOTENSIN II; and angiotensinase. Renin, an enzyme produced in the kidney, acts on angiotensinogen, an alpha-2 globulin produced by the liver, forming ANGIOTENSIN I. Angiotensin-converting enzyme, contained in the lung, acts on angiotensin I in the plasma converting it to ANGIOTENSIN II, an extremely powerful vasoconstrictor. Angiotensin II causes contraction of the arteriolar and renal VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE, leading to retention of salt and water in the KIDNEY and increased arterial blood pressure. In addition, angiotensin II stimulates the release of ALDOSTERONE from the ADRENAL CORTEX, which in turn also increases salt and water retention in the kidney. Angiotensin-converting enzyme also breaks down BRADYKININ, a powerful vasodilator and component of the KALLIKREIN-KININ SYSTEM. Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System,Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System,Renin Angiotensin System,System, Renin-Angiotensin,System, Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone
D001834 Body Water Fluids composed mainly of water found within the body. Water, Body
D002471 Cell Transformation, Neoplastic Cell changes manifested by escape from control mechanisms, increased growth potential, alterations in the cell surface, karyotypic abnormalities, morphological and biochemical deviations from the norm, and other attributes conferring the ability to invade, metastasize, and kill. Neoplastic Transformation, Cell,Neoplastic Cell Transformation,Transformation, Neoplastic Cell,Tumorigenic Transformation,Cell Neoplastic Transformation,Cell Neoplastic Transformations,Cell Transformations, Neoplastic,Neoplastic Cell Transformations,Neoplastic Transformations, Cell,Transformation, Cell Neoplastic,Transformation, Tumorigenic,Transformations, Cell Neoplastic,Transformations, Neoplastic Cell,Transformations, Tumorigenic,Tumorigenic Transformations
D004326 Drinking The consumption of liquids. Water Consumption,Water Intake,Drinkings
D004573 Electrolytes Substances that dissociate into two or more ions, to some extent, in water. Solutions of electrolytes thus conduct an electric current and can be decomposed by it (ELECTROLYSIS). (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Electrolyte
D006632 Histamine An amine derived by enzymatic decarboxylation of HISTIDINE. It is a powerful stimulant of gastric secretion, a constrictor of bronchial smooth muscle, a vasodilator, and also a centrally acting neurotransmitter. Ceplene,Histamine Dihydrochloride,Histamine Hydrochloride,Peremin
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

Related Publications

F Batmanghelidj
September 2008, Ugeskrift for laeger,
F Batmanghelidj
August 2022, The Canadian journal of chemical engineering,
F Batmanghelidj
May 2001, Psychological medicine,
F Batmanghelidj
January 1996, The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieres,
F Batmanghelidj
September 2013, Revista de neurologia,
F Batmanghelidj
July 1970, Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association,
F Batmanghelidj
May 2010, Current medical research and opinion,
F Batmanghelidj
February 1961, The Canadian nurse,
F Batmanghelidj
September 2011, Sports health,
Copied contents to your clipboard!