Can swearing reduce the perception of pain?

If you've ever bumped your head, stubbed your toe, or whacked your thumb with a hammer, you've surely let loose a stream of pain-induced expletives. And now a new British study claims that this explosion of four-letter words just might have helped increase your tolerance to pain.

It's easily one of the silliest bits of medical "research" ever to be put into action, don't you think?

To test the theory, British researchers had college students (swearing experts to be sure) put their hands into buckets of ice water for extended periods - one group was told to curse as often as possible, the other was told to repeat a G-rated descriptor. The result? The foul-mouthed group was able to withstand icy water for longer, and had a decreased perception of the pain.

It's anecdotal evidence at best, and if you ask me the research is flawed. Cursing as a result of pain is a reactive outburst that responds to an unexpected stimulus. Knowingly placing your hand into a bucket of icy water is hardly comparable. And I think the water bucket is a rather poor example of sustained "pain." Would someone who, for example, just had their leg crushed in a car wreck experience a similar pain reduction by repeating a stream of curse words?