Accumulated Notes About Endorphins
a key chemistry of pain / pleasure play.
From http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dh75en.html
Role of endorphins discovered
-- 1975
In the 1960s, neurochemist Choh Hao Li at the University of California
in San Francisco was investigating the pituitary gland for substances
that aided in the metabolism of fat. It was hard to get enough of this
substance, though, so he acquired about 500 dried camel pituitaries.
But the camels had none of this fat-metaboliser. Li isolated another
amino acid substance from the camel pituitary, beta-endorphin, but it
didn't play into the questions he was asking and he put it in storage.
In 1973, research teams
in Sweden, Baltimore, and New York independently found that the brain
has special receptors that interact with opiates such as morphine. Strong
opiates tended to bind better to these sites than weak ones. This seemed
odd. Why would human brains around the world have a receptor for morphine,
the product of flowers that originated in the MiddleEast?
In 1975, John Hughes and Hans Kosterlitz published their discovery of
a small amino-acid molecule in the brains of pigs. They called this
molecule enkephalin" (meaning "in the head"). It had
some of the qualities of morphine, which helped answer the question
of why the brain had receptors for morphine. Hughes thought they might
be able to use enkephalin in painkillers that were not as addictive
as morphine. They tried this idea out in the lab and were disheartened
to find that the reverse was true: The painkilling power was weak, but
it was extremely addictive.
Back in San Francisco, Li realized that the beta-endorphin he had isolated
contained enkephalin. Now he had a question to ask about it: Did it
have something to do with pain perception? When Li injected the substance
into the brain, he found it was 48 times more powerful than morphine;
injected in the vein it was 3 times as powerful. And also addictive.
This research allowed neuroscientists to conclude that the brain has
receptors for painkillers which the pituitary releases under great stress.
If an artificial painkiller
such as morphine is given, it occupies more of the pain receptors in
the brain; however, less natural painkiller is released. Then, when
the artificial source is taken away, there are more empty pain receptors,
causing the craving for narcotics and a withdrawal response.
From http://www.frugaldomme.com/dangers.htm#endorphins
{note this link appears to be
dead 4.15.01}
The Pain Threshold and
Endorphins or, "No Pain, No Gain"
The pain threshold is
the level of pain which the bottom can no longer voluntarily endure.
This is the point at which your bottom will safe out. Learning where
that point lies for your bottom is very important if you wish to maximize
the experience for both partners. This is because once that point is
identified, it can be manipulated.
Endorphins are neurotransmitters
(chemicals which are directly involved in the brain's electrochemical
workings). They are also natural painkillers. High endorphin levels
cause a feeling of euphoria. Of course, SM is not the only way to achieve
this state. Long-distance runners refer to it as "runner's high."
The sensitive, careful
and methodical application of pain can move the pain threshold higher,
enabling the bottom to tolerate higher levels of pain, thereby receiving
the benefits of higher endorphin levels. To the bottom, the pain will
not seem to increase, even though the physical trauma upon the body
does. This is because as endorphin levels rise, the pain becomes deadened.
Safety Note: The fact
that the pain is deadened must never make you lose sight of the physical
trauma you are causing. Don't abuse your responsibility for your bottom's
safety just because the euphoria of a endorphin rush makes your bottom
a little giddy.
In order to stimulate
the release of endorphins, the top should gradually increase the pain
level until it nears the pain threshold. After reaching the threshold,
lower the intensity and allow the endorphins which the pain released
to work their magic, nullifying the pain. When the top once again begins
to increase the pain, the endorphins which the previous cycle released
allow the bottom to tolerate a higher level of pain. The now higher
level of pain releases even more endorphins, and the cycle begins again
.
Patience is a virtue here.
There are several difficulties you may run into. They can discourage
you, but don't let them! Keep them in mind, watch for them, and when
they occur, alter your technique until you find that unique formula
that works for you and your bottom. Sometimes subtle changes in technique
can produce dramatic results.
Sometimes the pain threshold
will hit a plateau, refusing to rise further. If this happens, a complete
break in activity for a few moments, a few minutes or longer might be
in order. Every bottom has a certain point beyond which even the best
technique cannot take them. This point can vary from day to day. Just
because the bottom hit a new high yesterday doesn't mean he or she will
hit it again today. If you try every technique you can think of to get
beyond the plateau, but to no avail, it's just not the right day. Accept
what comes.
Another common problem
is hypersensitivity, which causes the pain threshold to drop dramatically.
Those of you who have had large tattoos done know how it works. Believe
me, it's no fun. You are playing, having a great time - the bottom is
on a major endorphin high and you're loving it. Suddenly the bottom
safes out. You take a break and then get back into it, but after the
break even love taps are too painful. What went wrong?
Hypersensitivity seems
to happen most often when you have been pushing too far, too fast. Playing
right around the threshold is physically and mentally stressful, and
too much of it will wear the bottom out. Make sure when you bring him
or her back down, you leave plenty of time for rest.
Endorphin highs are a
great reward, but they take hard work. If you are not successful after
a few attempts, don't give up. Even an experienced player takes time
to learn a new bottom, and as a novice you have to learn the bottom
while learning the technique. Just work slowly, stay determined, and
look for small signs of success. These small successes will tell you
what works for the bottom. Eventually, with patience, you will get it.
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