Sawbones: Kratom

Sawbones: Kratom

Author: Justin McElroy, Dr. Sydnee McElroy June 2, 2026 Duration: 41:42
Maybe you've heard of kratom, a substance being sold as a 'natural' energy substance. With its alarmingly growing popularity, Dr. Sydnee and Justin look into what exactly it is, what it really does, and whether you should take it. (Spoiler: you should not). Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Lamda Legal: https://lambdalegal.org/

Ever wondered why doctors used to prescribe cigarettes or thought drilling a hole in your skull could cure a headache? That’s the strange territory explored each week on Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine. Hosted by Dr. Sydnee McElroy, a family physician, and her husband Justin McElroy, this is a deeply funny and often cringe-inducing journey through the bizarre history of medical treatments. Together, they dig into the archives to uncover the dumb, bad, gross, weird, and downright dangerous ideas that have masqueraded as healing science. You’ll hear about everything from radioactive tonics and mercury-laden cure-alls to the peculiar origins of modern fitness fads, all delivered with the easy rapport of a couple who finds humor in humanity’s well-intentioned blunders. This podcast isn’t just a list of historical errors; it’s a conversation that connects past medical misadventures to our current understanding of health, making you appreciate the scientific method while you laugh. The blend of Sydnee’s medical expertise and Justin’s incredulous curiosity creates a uniquely entertaining and informative listen, perfect for anyone fascinated by the odd intersections of comedy, history, and human wellness. Tune in for stories that are as educational as they are hilarious, reminding us that the path to good health has been anything but straight.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine
Podcast Episodes
Sawbones: Munchausen Syndrome [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:03
There are many eponymous disorders and diseases, but Munchausen is an interesting case of a disease named after a character who is based on a real person. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about Hieronymus Karl Friedrich von Mü…
Sawbones: Lisztomania [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:46
Before the hysteria of Swifties and Beatlemania, people were getting hype over the handsome pianist Franz Liszt. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about what exactly about this artist made regular fandom escalate into a mania a…
Sawbones: Freddy Pharkas, Frontier Pharmacist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:57
Before everyone hits the back-to-school grind, we’ve got a fun episode about Freddy Pharkas. A historical figure of frontier medicine? No, a video game character from 1993. Justin and Dr. Sydnee talk about how a farmer-c…
Sawbones: Can I Use My Own Tears as Saline? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:25
We're bringing the heat with listeners' weird medical questions! Are the hot parts of the body the only Sweaty parts? Is spicy food spicier some days more than others? Is there any benefits to extra things in glasses len…
Sawbones: King of Sting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:52
A dovetail from last week’s episode, Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the official pain scale of insect stings, all compiled by Justin O. Schmidt. So who was this Justin, how did his research contribute to science, and d…
Sawbones: Wasps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:02
After an unfortunate and painful encounter with an angry flying insect, Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about wasps: how their stings work, and a journey into the science behind some folk remedies. Music: "Medicines" by The T…
Sawbones: The Heartmobile [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:36
It used to be that if you needed to get to the hospital quickly, you would call the herse – because it had the space to transport a person who was lying down. Well, all of that changed in Columbus, OH, with the Heartmobi…
Sawbones: MAHA Mess [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:58
Dr. Sydnee and Justin said they'd talk about when the US Health Department replaced the vaccine council . . . well, it's happened. But to EVERYONE'S surprise, it's more of a mess than a triumph. Dr. Sydnee talks about al…
Sawbones: Is Nose Ointment a Waste of Time? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:05
Just in time for The Prom season, Justin and Dr. Sydnee bring your weird summer medical questions! Do other citrus fruits affect medication, or is it really just grapefruits? Why do hiccups happen so sporadically? Do car…