Sawbones: Milk, Part 1 - Lactose Intolerance

Sawbones: Milk, Part 1 - Lactose Intolerance

Author: Justin McElroy, Dr. Sydnee McElroy April 21, 2026 Duration: 41:35
Why do some people have stomachaches when they drink or eat dairy products? Dr. Syndee and Justin talk about lactose and lactase to explain that it's really those who can drink milk who are the outliers and answer the very important question: is school milk racist? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Marsha P. Johnson Institute: https://marshap.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: 100

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

Duration: 44:28
Back from his first colonoscopy, Justin outlines the extremely detailed steps he took in order to prepare for the screening: the before, the after, and whether it's easier to take four liters of laxative or navigate the…
Sawbones: Colonoscopy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:03
In honor of Justin's first colonoscopy, Dr. Sydnee goes through the history of looking inside the colon. From Pompei to the Light Conductor to the more flexible tubes today, humans have always been curious to see just wh…
Sawbones Classic: Nose Blowing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:22
This cold and flu season, we're bringing you a classic episode on clearing your nasal passage correctly. Blowing your nose is maybe the only small glint of satisfaction had while having a cold or sinus infection. But is…
Sawbones: Hepatitis B [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:54
A trip to get an updated tetanus shot led to the realization that Justin never got a Hepatitis B vaccine. So Dr. Sydnee explains what exactly is Hep B, the recent headlines surrounding the vaccine, why do people usually…
Sawbones Classic: Christmas is Trying to Kill You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:02
A pre-Christmas warning, we're re-releasing our 2015 live show outlining all the ways that you need to watch out this Christmas – and not just from Santa's wrath. This week on Sawbones, Live from Huntington, WV and Candl…
Sawbones: The True Meaning of Candlenights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:04
It's the most wonderful time of the year – Candlenights! Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the plans for the upcoming Candlenights special, as well as the story of Harmony House and some of the myths and facts behind home…
Sawbones: Anyone Else Get Pee Shivers? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:58
Cozy up by the fireplace with some weird listener medical questions. What's the difference between a disease and a disorder? Where does the extra blood during pregnancy come from? Did getting my gallbladder removed chang…
Sawbones: Dopamine Detox [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:24
The algorithm strikes again, this time telling Justin about a popular wellness trend known as a Dopamine Detox. Dopamine is often associated with pleasure centers and addiction, and certain corners of the internet think…
Sawbones: Monkey Escape [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:48
Sometimes we like to have fun on Sawbones, like diving into a recently reported story of a truck full research animals who escaped and were infectious to humans. But what actually happened, were these monkeys infected, a…
Sawbones: Methylene Blue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:08
Often pseudo-scientific medicine is brought to Dr. Sydnee by friends and family. But this time, she encountered methylene blue in the wild! Methylene blue is currently being touted as a cancer treatment, which is . . . n…