Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine
Join Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin McElroy for a tour of all the dumb, bad, gross, weird and wrong ways we've tried to fix people.
Join Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin McElroy for a tour of all the dumb, bad, gross, weird and wrong ways we've tried to fix people.
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Progress
Duration
Release Date
The Green Children of Woolpit
For Halloween, Sawbones is bringing you a story rooted in folklore and mystery: two children showed up one day in the English town of Woolpit, speaking a strange language . . .and with green skin. But their curious appearance may have a logical and medical explanation, and we bring you our best guesses.
19 Oct 2021
33 MINS
33:09
19 Oct 2021
The Malaria Vaccine
As an intro to new listeners, we’re bringing you science unfolding in real time that’s actually really good: the malaria vaccine. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: It’s called Mosquirix. Doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue. But the good news? It could save tens of thousands of children’s lives every year.
12 Oct 2021
41 MINS
41:34
12 Oct 2021
The Pill that Helps Prevent HIV
Were you aware there’s a medicine that with an extremely high degree of efficacy can prevent the spread of HIV? There is! There’s just one problem: It’s costly. … And not enough people know about it. … And many doctors don’t know enough about it. … And it’s the center of a protracted legal battle . . . Okay, so there are a few problems. This week on Sawbones, we’ll explore them all.
05 Oct 2021
43 MINS
43:02
05 Oct 2021
Bruising
Well, in one of the classic parenting whoopsies, Justin and Sydnee dented their daughter (she’s fine). In honor of her contusion, this week on Sawbones we’re talking about bruises.
Are steaks part of it? Should you put most of a charcuterie board on there? Also, what’s up with the little irons boxing guys get rubbed on their face bruises? All of your questions about bruises will be answered, friend. Hold tight!
28 Sep 2021
38 MINS
38:58
28 Sep 2021
Weird Medical Questions Strike Back
Is there evidence that sugary drinks cause worse hangovers? Does green snot mean there’s an infection? We’re answering more of your weird medical questions. Well, to be fair, Dr. Sydnee is answering your medical queries about sticky lip germs, C.diff, and the hot debate about that thing on your back.
22 Sep 2021
39 MINS
39:00
22 Sep 2021
Black Oxygen Organics
Well, people are eating dirt. Real expensive dirt, too. That’s where we’re at. There’s a multi-level marketing company that sells people dirt to eat. We’re doing a Sawbones about it, and it turns out that we actually think it’s a really cool and good idea! Eating pricey dirt goo, we mean.
… No, no, it’s terrible. It’s all terrible.
14 Sep 2021
45 MINS
45:01
14 Sep 2021
Herbalife
If you’ve seen a new smoothie shop or “Nutrition Club” open up in your area, take note: It may not be a smoothie store at all. This week on Sawbones, we explore the history of Herbalife and why this multi-level marketing weight loss company is opening smoothie shops with no smoothies for sale.
CW: Discussion of dieting and weight loss
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
07 Sep 2021
49 MINS
49:46
07 Sep 2021
Havana Syndrome
We’ve got a real mystery for you on Sawbones this week: Havana Syndrome. It’s either a secret beam being blasted at American diplomats . . . or a mass psychogenic illness . . . or a complete fabrication. Or anything in between?
Yep, it’s a weird one. Hang in there.
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
31 Aug 2021
41 MINS
41:23
31 Aug 2021
Thalidomide
In the 1950s, Thalidomide was rolled out very quickly and what followed was a tragic story that highlighted perils of greed and hidden agendas. This week on Sawbones, Dr. Sydnee and Justin attempt to untangle this murky narrative, and highlight the doctor who heroically kept this disaster from claiming many more lives.
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
24 Aug 2021
46 MINS
46:35
24 Aug 2021
Vicks
Justin takes over Sawbones researching duties from Dr. Sydnee this week as he begins profiling the unsung heroes of business: Brands. In this inaugural attempt, he’ll present the story of Vicks and how the company’s VapoRub took over the world. Also: The puzzling truth about NyQuil’s name.
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
10 Aug 2021
42 MINS
42:54
10 Aug 2021
Virology
How well do we understand viruses? We were fighting them before we could even see them. Fast forward to today, Dr. Sydnee explains how all of this relates to what we know now about the Delta variant.
To donate to the Immunization Action Coalition: [immunize.org] (http://immunize.org/)
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
03 Aug 2021
47 MINS
47:54
03 Aug 2021
Balto
Sawbones is finally doing the Balto episode! What happens when a remote town in Alaska has a diphtheria breakout, but their entire anti-toxin supply is expired? Call up Balto and the pack of hero dogs and mushers to make the harrowing journey.
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
27 Jul 2021
42 MINS
42:05
27 Jul 2021
Naloxone
Naloxone is known as the “life-saving drug,” since it can bring someone back from an opiate overdose. Dr. Sydnee goes through the history of this hero drug, how it works, and the recent struggle of keeping it accessible in some communities.
Check out the Free Naloxone Day Fundraiser: [Bit.ly/SawbonesNaloxone] (http://bit.ly/SawbonesNaloxone)
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
20 Jul 2021
45 MINS
45:20
20 Jul 2021
Hot Medical Question Summer
It’s time to answer more of your medical queries, like what is Texidor’s Twinge, when does the sunscreen clock start, and yeast infections: why?
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
13 Jul 2021
42 MINS
42:59
13 Jul 2021
Jimmy Buffett
We recorded this episode live on the Joco Cruise 2020, where Dr. Sydnee dissects the medicine mentioned in the songs of Jimmy Buffett. What is recommend for “Island Fever”? What should Mr. Buffett be concerned about when eating that “Cheeseburger in Paradise”? And do the lyrics of “Frenchmen for the Night” mean he may have Jumping Frenchmen of Maine?
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
07 Jul 2021
44 MINS
44:12
07 Jul 2021
Physician Burnout
Workplace burnout is commonplace in the 21st century, but it’s a fairly recent idea. It’s especially insidious among physicians, who are taught that any fatigue is a sign of weakness. Dr. Sydnee shares her personal experience with exhaustion and what might be done to address this problem in the United States.
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
29 Jun 2021
46 MINS
46:17
29 Jun 2021
Black Lung Disease
As any proud West Virginian knows, the history of mining in the United States is tied tightly to the history of the labor movement. This was partially to address something known as coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, also known as black lung disease. Though unions may have won the battle for recognition, the war against this disease continues to this day.
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
15 Jun 2021
42 MINS
42:04
15 Jun 2021
COVID Variants and Guns for Vaccines
You might have heard about the COVID variants that have some people worried, and how effective the current vaccine will be against them. But not to worry, we’ve got the sweet sweet data from the Lancet, and some good news regarding the (specifically Pfizer) vaccine. And if you haven’t gotten a vaccine yet, maybe a car or lotto ticket will motivate you. Or a gun?
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
08 Jun 2021
52 MINS
52:58
08 Jun 2021
The Parasite Delusion
Last week, we talked about if eating papaya seeds could rid your body of parasites (spoiler: it can’t). But being concerned about having parasites is not new. We continue the conversation by looking into the phenomenon of Ekbom’s syndrome, or delusional parasitosis, a difficult disorder to both manage and treat.
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
25 May 2021
38 MINS
38:39
25 May 2021
Papaya Seeds and Parasites
TikTok is where the kids are getting all their information on new new wellness trends, so Dr Sydnee decided to check one that’s been popping up a lot: eating Papaya seeds. The main claim is that the seeds awesomely force parasitic worms out of your body – worms you didn’t even know you had! But is there a SEED of truth in these claims?
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
18 May 2021
38 MINS
38:49
18 May 2021
Revenge of the Sawbones Quiz
Test your medical history knowledge from this past year’s episodes in the Super Secret Sawbones Quiz of Interesting Information to Inform and Enlighten and Entertain and Impress Your Friends 2021!
Consider becoming a supporter of our show: www.maximumfun.org/join/
Sad Trombone by Benboncan: https://freesound.org/people/Benboncan/
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
11 May 2021
40 MINS
40:56
11 May 2021
Direct-to-Consumer Advertising
For MaxFunDrive 2021, Sawbones is talking about gross medicine of a different sort. In the United States (and New Zealand) we see a lot of those commercials for prescription medicines with jaunty names and a full minute disclaimer at the end. How they came to be the norm here is a complicated history of bad medicine and the shifting of credence among doctors, patients, and pharmaceutical companies.
Consider becoming a supporter of our show: www.maximumfun.org/join/
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
04 May 2021
50 MINS
50:47
04 May 2021
Chlorophyll
Along with Dr. Sydnee’s amazing videos, TikTok is also a host to an interesting wellness trend: chlorophyll. The green pigment that helps plants turn sunlight into food and oxygen has also been thought to boost your immune system and help with body odor. But chlorophyll as a health food is an idea that dates back to 1930, and spoilers ... it's just as effective now as it was then.
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
27 Apr 2021
41 MINS
41:41
27 Apr 2021
Vaccine Verification
About a year ago, Sawbones discussed what herd immunity was not. In this episode, we look at how we’ll get there, and what role vaccine verification will play. How has it impacted public health historically, and what can we anticipate in the near future?
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
20 Apr 2021
52 MINS
52:19
20 Apr 2021
St John's Wort
A somewhat invasive plant with yellow flowers named after John the Baptist has been used for centuries as a kind of cure all. Dr. Sydnee will lead you through a history of its many applications, what it’s used for today, and explain what exactly is a wort.
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
06 Apr 2021
38 MINS
38:55
06 Apr 2021
Gamer Danger
When the Nintendo Wii was released, it also came with a warning about potential injuries, to yourself and to others. But are video games good or bad for your health? Justin takes the lead to educate, entertain and delight about both the medical harm and medical good that video games can do.
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
30 Mar 2021
34 MINS
34:46
30 Mar 2021
Blue Light Therapy
Have you ever noticed an old house house that has blue glass windows? It's pretty, sure, but it's also supposed to provide healing energy. You can thank a man who really liked growing, farming, and . . . colors for this bizarre but beautiful notion. We've got his story (and how his legacy endures) on this week's Sawbones.
Music: "Medicines" by [The Taxpayers] (https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/)
23 Mar 2021
36 MINS
36:04
23 Mar 2021