Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine

One of the national drinks of the Dominican Republic, Mamajuana has a long history as an enjoyed alcoholic beverage . . . and a medicine. Dr. Sydnee and Justin go over the backstories of this beverage and the various medicinal properties it has reportedly held. For more about the history of Mamajuana and how to use it in cocktails, check out Neat: The Boozecast: https://on.soundcloud.com/71Rxg Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Florida has a sudden uptick in cases of leprosy – but isn’t that just a weird Biblical disease? It’s real, it’s just fairly rare. Justin and Dr. Sydnee bring the history of leprosy from a 2014 episode, in addition to updated research and treatments, as well as what exactly is going on in Florida. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Trains are statistically one of the safest ways to travel, but please mind the vibrations. Dr. Sydnee talks about the brief period in the 1800's when men kept going wild on trains. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

You'll never believe what people are doing on TikTok now. Borax is a salt you might have in your home: it's an active ingredient in many contact solutions, so it doesn't sound especially good to eat. Dr. Sydnee talks about the different reasons people on the internet are drinking it, the history of borax, and the actual science behind it. But the bottom line is: please do not drink borax. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

John Green recently made a video asking Johnson & Johnson not to extend their patent on a tuberculosis drug, which would keep it exclusive and expensive. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about how drug patents work, the recent (good) update about bedaquiline specifically, and the next steps that pharmaceutical companies and the government need to make to keep life-saving drugs affordable. We’re back to classic Sawbones, keeping tabs on Big Pharma again...

Now that there have been malaria cases popping up in the United States, we bring the full episode about the disease from 2015. So learn all about malaria in the past, and Dr. Sydnee will have an update about malaria in the present. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Sound can sometimes be therapeutic, like listening to white noise to help fall asleep. But can a big egg-shaped hut use the theory of quantum realms and vibrations to cure everything with love and frequencies? Um . . . no. But someone seemed to think so. Dr. Sydnee and Justin explain the Harmonic Egg, how it’s supposed to work, and how it came about. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Start the summer off smarter with the answers to listener medical questions! What old-timey diseases should I worry about if I time travel? Are meat sweats a real thing? Is there any risk in being exposed to drugs in giving someone mouth-to-mouth? And why does Aleve get the short end of the stick when it comes to choice painkillers? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Most people have probably heard of gangrene, a condition that causes tissue to become necrotic. But Fournier’s Gangrene is a more . . . targeted version, specifically affecting the perineum, or taint. Justin and Dr. Sydnee discuss who Dr. Fournier was and how he (deservedly or not) put his name on this very specific infection. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Sometimes Sawbones covers timely topics, like the latest adulterant in a substance people like to put in their bodies. Xylazine, or “tranq,” is the new one exacerbating the opioid crisis. Dr. Sydnee talks about the history of Xylazine and how to approach it now. But all in all, the best way to help would be to stop managing a medical condition with the justice system instead of health care. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/