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Step back into the bizarre world of historical medicine where the cures were often worse than the disease. In this episode, we explore some of the strangest and most dangerous medical practices in history: milk transfusions, Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup (yes, the one loaded with morphine), cocaine for hay fever, a whale hotel for rheumatism, and even John Wesley’s book of natural cures that claimed to treat almost everything. And of course, no tour of old-time medicine would be complete without a little bloodletting.

These so-called “treatments” raise questions about how far medicine has come—and just how questionable it used to be. From patent medicines that preyed on desperate families to bizarre experimental therapies, we’ll uncover the weird, the dangerous, and the downright deadly side of medical history.

Resources:

https://www.science.org/content/article/ultimate-blood-substitute-us-military-betting-46-million

https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/pharmacys-past-the-soothing-syrup-known-for-causing-death-in-thousands-of-babies-

https://digirepo.nlm.nih.gov/ext/dw/101640177/PDF/101640177.pdf

https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2022/04/10-strange-medical-practices-from-history/

https://ancientwarhistory.com/medieval-medicine-the-dark-ages-of-healthcare/

https://wesleyscholar.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Primitive-Physick-14th-ed-1770.pdf

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In this episode, we dive into the messy world of bioethics through two infamous cases: Henrietta Lacks and her immortal HeLa cells and the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment. We unpack how a woman’s cells were taken without consent and changed medicine forever, while an unethical government study left hundreds of Black men untreated in the name of “research.” These stories raise tough questions about informed consent, racism in medicine, and the dark history of medical research in the United States.

Resources:

https://www.britannica.com/science/HeLa-cellulture | Britannica

https://www.biography.com/history-culture/henrietta-lacks

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/who-was-henrietta-lacks-heres-how-hela-cells-became-essential-to-medical-research

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/the-stolen-cells-of-henrietta-lacks-and-their-ongoing-contribution-to-science#A-lack-of-trust

https://www.cdc.gov/tuskegee/about/timeline.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/tuskegee/timeline.htm

https://www.history.com/articles/the-infamous-40-year-tuskegee-study

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What happens when a doctor’s prescription pad becomes more powerful than a drug cartel? In this episode, we dive into the controversial story of Dr. William Hurwitz, the physician once dubbed a pioneer of pain management — and later accused of running what many called a pill mill. From handing out OxyContin, Percocet, and other narcotics like candy, to the legal firestorm that made him both a hero to chronic pain patients and a villain in the opioid crisis, we break down the blurred line between treatment and addiction. Was Dr. Hurwitz a reckless prescriber, a scapegoat for Big Pharma’s sins, or just the wrong doctor in the wrong era? Tune in as we explore the darkly comic side of America’s prescription drug epidemic.

Resources

https://managingpain.org/2024/02/11/archive-physicians-under-fire-the-case-of-william-hurwitz-md/

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/feb/22/rosalia-nurses-license-suspended-after-deaths/

https://www.nursys.com/LQC/LQCViewReport.aspx

Dr Feelgood Documentary

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Think raw milk is healthier? Heard sugar makes kids bounce off the walls? Still worried your deodorant or cell phone is giving you breast cancer? In this episode, we’re busting the most common medical myths that just won’t die. From the truth about detox supplements, cracking your knuckles and arthritis, to whether swallowing gum really sticks around in your stomach, we separate fact from fiction with science you can trust. We’ll also tackle if you can really die from a broken heart, and why cold weather doesn’t actually make you sick (spoiler: it’s the germs, not the temperature).

Join us as we dive into the evidence, debunk health misinformation, and explain why these myths persist. If you’ve ever wondered about raw milk safety, kids and sugar, deodorant myths, cell phones in bras, detox fads, knuckle cracking, gum swallowing, broken heart syndrome, or cold weather colds, this episode is your one-stop myth-busting clinic.

References

https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/raw-milk-misconceptions-and-danger-raw-milk-consumption

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/medical-myths-does-sugar-make-children-hyperactive#Why-does-the-idea-persist

https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-myths/carrying-a-phone-in-your-bra-can-cause-breast-cancer/

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk.html

https://www.sciencenewstoday.org/the-truth-about-detox-diets-and-cleanses

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-cracking-your-knuckles-bad-for-you

https://www.livescience.com/health/does-gum-really-take-7-years-to-digest

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.055854

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/exposure-to-cold-do-to-body

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In this episode, we crack open the spine-tingling world of chiropractic care — and not just the vertebrae. We dive into the infamous Wilks lawsuit that put chiropractic practice under a legal spotlight, and how it shaped the profession’s fight for legitimacy. Then, we follow two real-world case studies where adjustments didn’t go quite as planned (spoiler: complications aren’t always “just a little sore tomorrow”). Finally, we dig into why chiropractic care still struggles with public trust, decades after “straightening out” its image.

Is chiropractic the misunderstood underdog of healthcare… or just one crack away from controversy? Tune in and decide before your next adjustment.

Resources:

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/671/1465/2595129/

https://www.acatoday.org/news-publications/in-memoriam-wilk-v-ama-attorney-george-mcandrews/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21033-chiropractic-adjustment

https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0036-1597626

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6016850/

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD008880.pub2/full

https://nationalpost.com/news/college-of-chiropractors-of-ontario-anti-vaccine

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Pigs aren’t just for bacon anymore—they might be the future of organ transplants. In this episode, we dive into xenotransplantation, the science of using animal organs (pigs and cows) to save human lives. We’ll cover the groundbreaking cases of pig heart transplants and why researchers think this could solve the organ shortage crisis. If you’ve ever wondered whether science fiction is becoming science fact—or just wanted to know if “oink” could be your second chance at life—this is the episode for you.

Resources

https://www.annalsthoracicsurgery.org/article/S0003-4975(22)00071-6/fulltext

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4684730/

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/organfarm/etc/synopsis.html

https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2007/08/23/cow-valve-replacement-surgery-bovine-valves/

https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/cow-valve-replacement.php

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It's a Two Partah!

In this episode, we are back in the fascinating world of organ donation—from the incredible science behind allografts to the groundbreaking new technology improving organ preservation and transportation. Learn how donated hearts, kidneys, livers, and lungs make their life-saving journeys, from cutting-edge hypothermic perfusion systems to reanimation warming transport systems. We’ll bust common myths about organ donation, explore the role of living donors, and discuss how organ research is advancing the success rates of transplants. Whether you’re curious about how organs are matched, the difference between brain death and circulatory death donation, or the ethical questions around transplantation, this episode offers an insider’s look into the future of saving lives through donation. Perfect for anyone interested in transplant medicine, medical technology, or healthcare innovation.

Resources

https://www.transmedics.com/ocs-hcp/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37778525/

https://www.paragonixtechnologies.com/

https://donatelife.net/donation/types/living-donation/

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In this episode, we dissect what really happens when a patient is referred for organ donation — and why a recent New York Times article got it dangerously wrong. We walk you through the two medical pathways for donation: brain death and circulatory death, explaining how organ procurement is handled ethically, legally, and with care.

We also bust common myths about organ donation, like “doctors won’t try to save you” or “you’re not really dead,” and unpack how bad journalism can fuel harmful misinformation.

Whether you're a registered donor or just donation-curious, this episode offers a no-nonsense look at the organ donation process, why it matters, and why the media must get it right.

For more information on Donor Status visit:

https://www.organdonor.gov/sign-up

Resources:

https://law.temple.edu/aer/2024/09/07/emotional-decision-making-hardwired-and-helpful/

https://www.stroke-manual.com/brainstem-reflexes/#ocr-h

https://www.nursingcenter.com/blogs-plus/blogs/blogs-post?identifier=Dolls-Eyes#/post/Dolls-Eyes

https://www.stroke-manual.com/brain-death-diagnosis/

https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/kentucky-man-wakes-during-organ-harvesting-procedure-prompting-federal-investigation

https://lcnw.org/understanding-donation/

https://www.lifenethealth.org/healthcare-professionals/products-services

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