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Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine

Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine

583 episodes — Page 2 of 12

Ep 532Sawbones: Henry VIII

How dangerous is jousting? Just look into the example of King Henry VIII of England. The Tudor king is infamous for his six wives, but Dr. Sydnee explains how a jousting injury may have changed his behavior – and changed the course of history.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/Harmony House: https://harmonyhousewv.com/

Mar 11, 202535 min

Ep 531Sawbones: Kleptomania

Kleptomania is defined by an undeniable compulsion to steal, so it has wavered between legitimate diagnosis and flimsy criminal defense to somewhere in between since its inception. This week on Sawbones, Dr. Sydnee unpacks the facts from fiction while Justin tries to steal the show.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/Harmony House: https://harmonyhousewv.com/

Mar 4, 202538 min

Ep 530Sawbones: Apple Cider Vinegar

The recent semi-fictionalized Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar explores the world of wellness following bloggers Belle Gibson and Milla Blake. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about what factors in the world and in peoples' lives could lead to fame and success in the pseudo-scientific alternative medicine world.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/

Feb 25, 202542 min

Ep 529Sawbones: Frostbite

It's been bitterly cold in our region lately and that's got Dr. Sydnee thinking about frostbite. This week, we'll gain a better understanding of this malady and even stage a brief theatrical selection about it.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/

Feb 11, 202542 min

Ep 528Sawbones: Science Updates

There has been a lot going on in the United States in the last few days that might affect what's going on with health, medicine, and other sciences. Dr. Sydnee talks about the implications of all of these now and in the immediate future, and what we can do about it.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/

Feb 4, 202541 min

Ep 527Sawbones: Whooping Cough

Depending on where you live, you might be hearing a lot lately about Pertussis or Whooping Cough, even in Dr. Sydnee and Justin’s home county. Dr. Sydnee talks about the long history of this disease, its symptoms, and how the vaccine eventually came about.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/Palestine Children's Relief Fund: https://www.pcrf.net/

Jan 28, 202536 min

Ep 526Sawbones: Physicians' Unions

Imagine if your doctor could go on strike in the middle of a treatment. That’s the most popular argument against physicians’ unions, but there’s a lot more to the issue. Dr. Sydnee talks about the process of training doctors in the United States, why doctors would want to unionize, and what a doctors’ union might look like.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/Palestine Children's Relief Fund: https://www.pcrf.net/

Jan 21, 202535 min

Ep 525Sawbones: Seven-Second Poop Trick

It's a real medical (with a lower-case m) mystery, as Dr. Sydnee tries to find the source of a trick on TikTok that reportedly helps alleviate constipation. Join Sydnee on her surprisingly difficult journey to find what exactly this "trick" is to determine whether or not it does anything at all.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/Palestine Children's Relief Fund: https://www.pcrf.net/

Jan 14, 202534 min

Ep 524Sawbones: Book Club

Dr. Sydnee and Justin are easing back into the swing of things after the holidays by discussing what they’ve been reading, both apart and together. So cozy up with some tea to hear some good book recommendations from your favorite health professional and clown husband.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/Palestine Children's Relief Fund: https://www.pcrf.net/

Jan 8, 202541 min

Ep 523Sawbones Classic Double-Feature: A Medicine Called Christmas 1 & 2

Happy Candlenights! We've got for you a double-feature of the original A Medicine Called Christmas 1 and 2.Medicine Called Christmas: Live from Candlenights 2018, we're so proud to present a staged reading of the new Hallmark Christmas movie written by Justin and Sydnee McElroy: A Medicine Called Christmas. Music: Adam Sakiyama CAST: Narrator: Rachel McElroy Daniel: Tommy Smirl Tabitha: Sydnee McElroy Phil: Griffin McElroy Chris: Justin McElroy Ms. Crimble: Teresa McElroy Mr. Frankson: Dwight Slappe Mr. Cameron: Travis McElroy Beth: Teylor Smirl Mandy: Rileigh Smirl Mr. Golfberg: Michael Meadows Santa: Clint McElroy Medicine Called Christmas 2: Royal Pain: Just in time for Christmas, we've got another extremely special holiday film created by Justin and Sydnee McElroy. Gather the family and prepare for A Medicine Called Christmas 2: A Royal Pain. NARRATOR: Rachel McElroy PHIL: Griffin McElroy TAB: Sydnee McElroy JESUS: Dwight Slappe SORIANO: Travis McElroy CHRIS: Justin McElroy WAITER: Michael Meadows MR. BIG CITY: Tommy Smirl BETH: Teylor Smirl MANDY: Rileigh Smirl QUEEN: Mary Smirl SANTA: Clint McElroy

Dec 24, 20241h 11m

Ep 522Sawbones: How's My Lump Doing?

As a gift to the audience, we have another Sawbones Q and A, answering strange questions submitted by listeners! How does a menstrual disk work? How should we ACTUALLY clean our ears? Are cat biscuits bad for pregnancy? And why does Justin have the old man cough?Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/Harmony House: https://harmonyhousewv.com/

Dec 17, 202436 min

Ep 521Sawbones: Walking Pneumonia

It’s nearly winter, which means the return of mycoplasma or “Walking Pneumonia” on this hemisphere. This week Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about how this infection was discovered, the questionable way it was researched and how it differs from “typical” pneumonia.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/Harmony House: https://harmonyhousewv.com/

Dec 10, 202439 min

Ep 520Sawbones: Tesla Medbed

Somehow the Tesla medical bed, or Tesla Biohealing Wellness Hotel and Resort is not related to Elon Musk. It is also not really related to actual medical care. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about another wellness product and what this harnesser of biphoton energy is supposed to do.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Nov 26, 202441 min

Ep 519Sawbones: Project 2025

Needless to say it’s going to be a long four years for the United States. This week’s episode of Sawbones offers some guidance on what we might expect for medicine and health care going forward and what pro-active steps you may want to consider.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Nov 19, 202441 min

Ep 518Sawbones Classic: History of Abortion

It's Election Day in the United States of America, and so we present this Sawbones episode on the history of abortion from May 2022. Go vote!With the recent news about Roe v. Wade, it’s important to talk about the history of abortion in the United States. The right to autonomy over one’s own body in regard to medical care is one of the basic tenets of medical ethics; but no matter what anyone personally believes, banning abortion doesn’t stop abortion. It just makes it unsafe. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Nov 5, 202446 min

Ep 517Sawbones: John Green and Good.Store

Dr. Sydnee and Justin are joined by John Green to talk about the still-prevalent disease of tuberculosis and how his company Good.Store is using coffee and tea to eradicate it in one African country.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Oct 29, 202436 min

Ep 516Sawbones: Doctor Odyssey

There's a new medical show in town, and Sawbones is all here for it. Dr. Sydnee goes through some of the highlights of the medical emergencies above the cruise ship in Doctor Odyssey and their plausibility and how likely it is to be able to do procedures like dialysis on the high seas.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Oct 22, 202440 min

Ep 515Sawbones: Brazilian Butt Lift

Some cosmetic surgeries include adding silicon or plastic to enhance the figure. But what if the extra fat came from your own body? Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the fraught and history of the Brazilian Butt Lift, or BBL, which is a story of eugenics, bad medicine, and unrealistic beauty standards. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Oct 15, 202441 min

Ep 514Sawbones: Can Doritos Make Skin See-Through?

Bring on the fall weather and bring on the listeners’ weird medical questions! Dr. Sydnee and Justin answer listeners’ strangest queries and maybe learn a thing or two themselves. Is Shy Bladder a real thing? Can you inhale an item into your lungs? Are mosquitoes eating my bruises? And is urea actually good for your skin or is some skin care just pee in a bottle?Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Oct 8, 202441 min

Ep 513Sawbones: Kegels

No matter the body parts, strengthening your pelvic muscles is generally good for you. But who were they named after, and most importantly, who introduced them? Dr. Sydnee and Justin go on a journey through the Kegel's medical history and naming conventions.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Oct 1, 202438 min

Ep 512Sawbones: Exploding Teeth

Canonically, Dr. Sydnee doesn’t know much about teeth, but there are several cases in dental journals about teeth that spontaneously exploded. Dr. Sydnee tries to make sense of a few mysterious account of these events, conceding that some medical mysteries remain unexplained.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Sep 24, 202434 min

Ep 511Sawbones: Superman

It’s a bird! It’s a podcast! It’s Justin’s superhero anatomy textbook to the rescue! What is the medical and scientific explanation of how Superman’s powers work? Batman has thoroughly analysed his Justice League colleagues, but Dr. Sydnee brings the actual medical knowledge to discuss X-Ray Vision, Super Strength, and a Kryptonite weakness. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Sep 17, 202442 min

Ep 510Sawbones: Triple E and Public Health in 2024

A rare but deadly mosquito-born illness called Eastern equine encephalitis is prompting some local governments to limit evening play for kids. But after the COVID public health crisis, the discussion about how to best protect people has gotten much more complicated.Music: ""Medicines"" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Sep 3, 202447 min

Ep 509Sawbones: Fentanyl and the ONEbox

If you haven’t already been personally affected by a fentanyl overdose, you likely know someone who has. This week on Sawbones, Dr. Sydnee explores the rapid rise of fentanyl as a lethal street drug and what one West Virginia group is doing in hopes of turning the tide against overdose fatalities.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Aug 27, 202442 min

Ep 508Sawbones: The Doctor Patient

Dr. Sydnee goes through her own story of a routine mammogram and its follow up: how the experience is different coming in as a doctor, the advantages and the disadvantages of trying to doctor yourself, and how easy it is for someone without every advantage to fall through the cracks of the United States health care system.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Aug 20, 202445 min

Ep 507Sawbones: Mushrooms

It wouldn't be Twenty Fungalore without talking about the alleged medicinal properties of mushrooms, which are a fungus and not a plant at all. Justin and Dr. Sydnee talk to Cleveland about common fungi used as medical supplements, from the parasitic Cordyceps to the infamous psilocybin.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Aug 13, 202436 min

Ep 506Sawbones: Medical Jewelry

Magnetic bracelets, immortality rings . . . the internet is full of wearables that are sold for their medicinal properties as if they’re equipment in Baldur’s Gate. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the history of this fashionable medicine and what it claims to do. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Aug 6, 202445 min

Ep 505Sawbones: Mechanical Heart Pump

Sometimes the cities we visit on tour have some historical medical mess-ups, but not Detroit! Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about Forest Dewey Dodrill, who performed the first successful heart surgery (with a pump) in a time where operating on the heart was considered a no-no. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Jul 23, 202430 min

Ep 504Sawbones: Tampons

You may have heard that a new study showed tampons contain traces of metals. Dr. Sydnee and Justin go through the history of tampons, why they might contain metal, and what we still need to find out about the possible effects of using them.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Jul 16, 202448 min

Ep 503Sawbones: Human Tricks

Can you touch your tongue with your nose or wiggle your ears? Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the science and studies behind weird little tricks some bodies can do, or "stupid human tricks." Can you flare your nostrils? Take our poll: https://shorturl.at/rdzY3 Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Jul 9, 202441 min

Ep 502Sawbones: A Couple of Boob Questions

Sawbones listeners just have so many strange medical questions! Questions like: Why do I sneeze at dark chocolate? Does Diet Coke actually relieve nausea? Why does saliva get thicker while exercising? And you know that TikTok with the cinnamon rolls and the yeast infection. . . is that . . .real? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Jul 2, 202447 min

Ep 501Sawbones Classic: Chocolate

To coincide with the opening of Justin and Sydnee's stage production, we bring to you a classic episode about the medicinal history of chocolate! This week on Sawbones, Dr. Sydnee and Justin take a sunrise and sprinkle it with dew. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Jun 18, 202434 min

Ep 500Sawbones: Willy Wonka

There are different versions of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory exploits, but all of them involve strange things happening to children who misbehave. But from a biological standpoint, what does that look like? Dr. Sydnee and Justin discuss the strange science going on at Wonka's factory and whether gum could possibly contain enough juice to turn someone into a blueberry. Note: Willy Wonka is the creation of Roald Dahl, not a good person. More information about his antisemitism available here: https://time.com/5937507/roald-dahl-anti-semitism/ Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Jun 11, 202435 min

Ep 499Sawbones: Do You Know How Italian I Am?

Hot time, summer in the city, time for listener Sawbones questions! Questions like: Why is blood sticky? Why does skin itch when it grows back? Might my twin reject my organs? And should I bring my own speculum to an exam? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Jun 4, 202442 min

Ep 498Sawbones: Hydrogen Water

Dr. Sydnee has ruined her TikTok algorithm for the listeners once again and came across something called "Hydrogen Water." Similar to alkaline water, hydrogen water goes through an ionization process that leaves it with excess hydrogen molecules. But . . . is it better than regular water? Probably not. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

May 21, 202439 min

Ep 497Sawbones: Plexus

In a collaboration of medical fads and brands, Dr. Sydnee and Justin dive into the confusing MLM called Plexus. The company started as a seller of the Breast Chek [sic] Kit but has since branched out into wellness and weight management products that it encourages its Ambassadors to recruit others to sell. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

May 7, 202444 min

Ep 496Sawbones: Vampire Facials

You may have seen some celebrities or influencers on social media getting something called a Vampire Facial. It's exactly what it sounds like: blood spread on the face like a cream mask. But why would anyone do this unless it's supposed to do something for the skin? Dr. Sydnee and Justin draw out where this trend came from and its questionable benefits.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Apr 30, 202438 min

Ep 495Sawbones: CPR

Squishing someone’s heart and blowing air into them to bring them back to life seems so basic, so why weren’t we able to agree on it for the past few hundred years? This week on Sawbones, Dr. Sydnee gives an overview of the evolution of CPR which, despite what movies and TV would have you believe, isn’t quite an infinite cheat code for avoiding death.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Apr 23, 202441 min

Ep 494Sawbones: Lazarus Syndrome

What if someone was declared dead . . . only for their heart to start beating again? This is a phenomenon sometimes called "Lazarus Syndrome" or "auto resuscitation after failed pulmonary resuscitation". Dr. Sydnee and Justin discuss the outline of exactly what needs to occur, some possible reasons this might happen, and a few wild examples. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Apr 16, 202439 min

Ep 493Sawbones: Sea Moss

Another day, another fad superfood on social media! Sea moss, or carrageenan or Irish moss, has historically been used for ulcers and sore throats, but does it actually have any proven medical use? Well, no, but it’s probably a good vegan substitute for gelatin. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Apr 9, 202440 min

Ep 492Sawbones: Interpreting Research

With so much medical research out there on internet, how can you sort through what's based in science and what's just three people in a room? Dr. Sydnee discusses the all the different factors to think about when deciding how much weight to give any article or study. There's a lot! Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Apr 4, 202441 min

Ep 491Sawbones: Gamer Pills

If you want to Get Good at video games quickly, are there any magic pills you can take? Well, there are people trying to sell them to you. Justin and Dr. Sydnee look at some supplements that claim to give gamers better focus and more energy, none of which are doctor-approved. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Mar 28, 202451 min

Ep 490Sawbones: Can You Lick the Capsaicin Patch?

Dr. Sydnee and Justin are welcoming in the spring and allergy season with listeners' strangest medical questions! Why do some people get goosebumps when they do alcohol shots? Does baking soda work for bug bites? Do people with facial hair get more sick? And for real, how long can you REALLY actually look at an eclipse before it's unsafe? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Mar 19, 202452 min

Ep 489Sawbones: Bad Bugs

There are many ways people get sick, but sometimes diseases are carried to people by insects. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the top ten "bad bugs" including mosquitoes, ticks, assassin bugs, and some beetles that are big and bad. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Mar 12, 202443 min

Ep 488Sawbones: IVF

Started in the 1930s by scientist Dr. Miriam Menkin, in vitro fertilization is a medical procedure to help with fertility that took until the 1970s to have results in humans. With some drastic misunderstandings going on in the news, Dr. Sydnee and Justin go through the long history of in vitro fertilization and its importance in fertility and contraception today.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Mar 5, 202449 min

Ep 487Sawbones: Knock Knock Hi

Justin and Dr. Sydnee are joined by parallel-universe versions of themselves, The Glaucomfleckens! The two doctor-spouse duos talk about Will and Kristen Flanary's journey into podcasting, including serious medical scares, balancing work and kids, and social media. KNOCK KNOCK HI: https://glaucomflecken.com/podcast/ Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Feb 27, 202450 min

Ep 486Sawbones: Tongue Ties

A tongue tie is not just a turn of phrase, it's a medical condition in which the frenulum under your tongue is too thick and restricts your lingual movement. For a long time, a procedure to cut it has been done as a solution to some breastfeeding woes. But should it be? Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the history of this procedure and the medical field's view on it today. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Feb 13, 202451 min

Ep 485Sawbones: Aquatofana

Normally Sawbones talks about medical cures, whether real or fake, but today Dr. Sydnee and Justin are diving into the opposite. There was a time when women in bad marriages and needed a way out could turn to Julia Tofana who offered a secret, untraceable poison and, maybe, a chance at freedom. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Feb 6, 202437 min

Ep 484Sawbones: Gallstones

Do you even know where your gallbladder is? Maybe it's not so surprising that millions of Americans don't know they have a gastrointestinal disorder caused by gallstones. Dr. Sydnee and Justin go through the history of gallbladder disease, and why the icky medical mnemonic of "forty, fat, and fertile" is misleading and maybe even harmful.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Jan 30, 202442 min

Ep 483Sawbones: Dr. Scholl's

In a continuation from last week, Dr. Sydnee and Justin are focusing on a particular Doctor Brand: Dr Scholl's. Who was Dr. Scholl, what was his medical training, and why was he so interested in fixing feet? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Jan 23, 202440 min