Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/