Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine - podcast cover

Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine

Justin McElroy, Dr. Sydnee McElroysawbones.simplecast.com
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.

Episodes

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

Apr 20, 202152 minEp. 365

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

Apr 06, 202139 minEp. 364

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

Mar 30, 202135 minEp. 363

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

Mar 23, 202136 minEp. 362

COVID-19: One Year Later

It's been around a year since COVID-19 began to reshape America. On this week's episode of Sawbones, we look back at the past 12 months and examine what we've learned and what we've lost. We'll also take a look at the current state of vaccine rollouts and answer some of your questions. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Mar 16, 202147 minEp. 361

Harm Reduction

There are simple, common-sense ways we can save the lives of injection drug users. The United States is woefully behind in adopting these best practices and there are some who are fighting to keep it that way. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Mar 09, 202148 minEp. 360

Believe It Or Not, More As for Your Qs

The more questions answered, the more oddly specific they become. Justin plays the listener as Dr Sydnee addresses Alice in Wonderland syndrome, super glue, and sixth disease. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Mar 02, 202144 minEp. 359

The U.S. Surgeon General

A new presidential administration means a new U.S. Surgeon General, so this week on Sawbones, we're examining exactly what that means. Are they a general? Why do they get to tell us what to do? And why do they care so much about sailor health? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Feb 16, 202145 minEp. 358

Mewing

Would you believe that without spending a single cent, with just a slight movement of your tongue you could breathe better, sleep better and perhaps even ... become your most beautiful self? You probably wouldn't believe that, because you listen to Sawbones. You probably would believe that the simple, possible effective technique called "Mewing" has been co-opted by incel culture though, right? Yeah, that sounds like Earth. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers...

Feb 09, 202145 minEp. 357

The Great Smog

As with almost every cultural touchstone, Dr. Sydnee and Justin are extremely late to The Crown party. But the Netflix historical drama has provided not only immovable hairdos and withering glares, it also serves as the inspiration of our latest episode, in which a freak weather pattern (and an overuse of fossil fuels) nearly suffocated a city. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Feb 02, 202138 minEp. 356

How to Talk About Vaccine Hesitancy

The COVID-19 vaccine has finally arrived and there are, dishearteningly, too many that are on the fence about getting it. This week on Sawbones, Dr. Sydnee and Justin provide a guide for talking with those who are vaccine hesitant and how using a kind, empathetic approach can help them see the light (and the antibodies). Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Jan 26, 202146 minEp. 355

Dropsy

It's a true shame that the medical condition with perhaps the most adorable name, dropsy, doesn't really exists. Well, it exists but ... you know what, this is too complicated. Let's just do a podcast episode about it. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Jan 19, 202137 minEp. 354

COVID-19: The Final Mile

OK, so the COVID-19 vaccine is here, basically, kind of, but how do you get it? How does your Nonnee get it? How will anybody get it? The answers are ... well, they're a lot less clear than we'd like. This week on Sawbones, we'll equip you with the best information we have in the hopes of reaching herd immunity (and Nonnee immunity) just as quickly as possible. Buy The Sawbones Book paperback! Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers...

Jan 05, 202143 minEp. 353

COVID Vaccine Questions and Answers

Vaccines are here! Vaccines are here! But wait ... aren't they ... rushed? Did you hear they might be ... tainted? Do they give you ... cheetah powers? Even if you believe in vaccines, it's normal to have some questions about them. So this week we'll be providing you with all the answers we have to your pressing queries. Pre-order The Sawbones Book paperback! Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers...

Dec 18, 202047 minEp. 352

Don't Steal Your Dog's Worm Medicine to Treat COVID-19

Ivermectin is a fantastic, incredible miraculous drug that has recently been touted by some as a potent treatment for COVID-19, despite not having the research yet to back up the claims. This week, we'll help you avoid stealing your dog's worm medication in the hopes of fending off coronavirus. Pre-order The Sawbones Book paperback! Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers...

Dec 11, 202041 minEp. 351

Sawbones: Clinical Trials

Dr. Sydnee and Justin have turned themselves into lab rats as they join a COVID-19 vaccine trial. But how did humanity discover the practices and policies that guide these sorts of human experiments? Listen and find out! Our primary source for this week's episode is this excellent article by Dr. Arun Bhatt. Pre-order The Sawbones Book paperback! Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers...

Dec 04, 202048 minEp. 350

Even More Weird Medical Questions

Is it possible for your medical questions to be ... too weird? That's a question you may be asking yourself on this latest Q&A episode of Sawbones, which explores the contents of poop and a secret button above your buttcrack that makes you pee. PRE-ORDER THE SAWBONES BOOK PAPERBACK! Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers...

Nov 27, 202046 minEp. 349

Hypodermic Needles

With news that a COVID-19 vaccine may be on the horizon and flu shot season in full swing, we take things back to basics with a history of the hypodermic needle and syringe. Also, a strangely large amount of car talk for you gear heads. Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Nov 13, 202044 minEp. 348

Angel's Glow

On a chilly, rainy Civil War battlefield in Tennessee, soldiers started noticing something strange: Some of their wounds had begun ... glowing. Stranger still: Those with the glow tended to fare better than their illuminated counterparts. The assumption? Angels were bringing them back from the brink. An incredible story. This week on Sawbones? You guessed it, Dr. Sydnee and her old buddy Science are gonna ruin the whole thing. Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers...

Nov 08, 202033 minEp. 347

A Health Care Voter's Guide

If, by some set of unexplainable circumstances, you are still an undecided voter in the U.S. we've prepared something special for you in anticipation of next week's presidential election on Nov. 3. If you're not undecided, you'll at least have a better understanding of how important this election is. We'll be reviewing the major tenets of the healthcare plans of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Who will have the better plan? You'll have to listen to find out. (It's not Trump.) Music: "Medicines"...

Oct 30, 202044 minEp. 346

Herd Immunity

There's been a lot of discussion about herd immunity in the face of COVID-19, but did you know that anyone who talks about achieving herd immunity without a vaccine (something humanity has never pulled off ever) is a big stinky liar goofball? We'll explore that truth and so much more on this week's episode of Sawbones. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Oct 23, 202044 minEp. 345

Sawbones: Osteopathic Medicine

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.s) have been thrust into the spotlight recently when one was tasked with caring for the world's most famous COVID-19 patient. Some even went so far as to dismiss the president's D.O. for those two letters following his name. But is that fair? This week on Sawbones: Do D.O.s do what M.D.s do? Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Oct 16, 202051 minEp. 344

Our 2020 Flu Shot Extravaganza

Gather the family around, it's time for our annual celebration of the flu shot! We got you the PERFECT gift: A bunch of answers to your flu shot quandries, especially in the age of COVID-19. C'mon, the party's starting! More Information: The Immunization Action Coalition Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Oct 02, 202051 minEp. 343

How Horseshoe Crabs (Probably) Saved Your Life

Horses? Majestic. Frogs? Maybe royalty. But have you taken a moment to reflect on the humble, half-billion-year old horseshoe crab that almost certainly saved your life with its incredible blood? If not, THIS is that moment. Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Sep 25, 202040 minEp. 342

Forced Sterilization

Many were shocked to learn of allegations of forced sterilizations at an ICE facility. In this episode, we explore the long American history of this practice and the heartbreaking truth that this latest incident is just the latest in a long string of clinical genocide by those in power.

Sep 18, 202050 minEp. 341

Death Certificates

You may have recently heard a statistic that just six percent of COVID-19 deaths are attributed to COVID alone. This statistic was based on death certificates. This week on Sawbones, we explain, through the history of this odd document, why that's a really terrible idea. Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Sep 11, 202045 minEp. 340

Nostalgia

Lately, have you found yourself pining for a simpler time? An easier time? Maybe just, like, ANY time other than your current one? You may be experiencing nostalgia. This week on Sawbones, we'll track its evolution from a clinical diagnosis to a possible healing tool. Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Sep 04, 202043 minEp. 339

Vagina Shaming

For millennia, people with vagina was told that there was something wrong with them (if they were even spoken about at all). Their vagina smelled wrong, looked wrong, it was too wet or not wet enough. This week on Sawbones, a reminder that your vagina is (almost always) just fine the way it is. Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Aug 29, 202049 minEp. 338

Oleander

Puzzled as to why a pillow peddler is pushing poison to the president to pacify a pandemic? Please press play. Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Aug 21, 202044 minEp. 337

Grounded for Life

This week on Sawbones, we explore The Most Important Health Discovery Ever! We know it's the The Most Important Health Discovery Ever because the book is called Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever. So there you have it. Music : "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Aug 14, 202047 minEp. 336
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