No, dear listener, “arsenic wallpaper” is not just a great band name, it’s also a reference to a mid-1800s fanaticism around using arsenic to create a particular vibrant shade of green. A sort of . . . jade? Sage? Anyway. You’ve probably already guessed how that works out, but we’ll lay it out for you just the same on this week’s Sawbones.

Arsenic Wallpaper

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.

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Medicine

Science & Medicine

Health & Fitness

To coincide with the opening of Justin and Sydnee's stage production, we bring to you a classic episode about the medicinal history of chocolate!  This week on Sawbones, Dr. Sydnee and Justin take a sunrise and sprinkle it with dew.  Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Sawbones Classic: Chocolate

There are different versions of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory exploits, but all of them involve strange things happening to children who misbehave. But from a biological standpoint, what does that look like? Dr. Sydnee and Justin discuss the strange science going on at Wonka's factory and whether gum could possibly contain enough juice to turn someone into a blueberry.  Note: Willy Wonka is the creation of Roald Dahl, not a good person. More information about his antisemitism available here: https://time.com/5937507/roald-dahl-anti-semitism/  Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Sawbones: Willy Wonka

Hot time, summer in the city, time for listener Sawbones questions! Questions like: Why is blood sticky? Why does skin itch when it grows back? Might my twin reject my organs? And should I bring my own speculum to an exam? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Sawbones: Do You Know How Italian I Am?

Dr. Sydnee has ruined her TikTok algorithm for the listeners once again and came across something called "Hydrogen Water." Similar to alkaline water, hydrogen water goes through an ionization process that leaves it with excess hydrogen molecules. But . . . is it better than regular water? Probably not.   Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Sawbones: Hydrogen Water

In a collaboration of medical fads and brands, Dr. Sydnee and Justin dive into the confusing MLM called Plexus. The company started as a seller of the Breast Chek [sic] Kit but has since branched out into wellness and weight management products that it encourages its Ambassadors to recruit others to sell.  Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Arsenic Wallpaper

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