Bizarre RX – Weird, Wild, and Wacky Medical History

Tiny Monster Umbrella
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Bizarre RX, the show where we dive into the strangest, most jaw-dropping medical practices and findings throughout history. We’re not doctors, just curious fans who fell down some very weird rabbit holes. Expect a mix of bizarre facts, questionable science, and plenty of WTF moments. Heads up: some topics are graphic, so listener discretion is definitely advised. tinymonster.substack.com

  1. Bizarre Rx - Hole in Head (E09)

    03/31/2025

    Bizarre Rx - Hole in Head (E09)

    In this episode of Bizarre Rx, we’re cracking open the skulls of history—literally. Welcome to the ancient (and somehow ongoing?!) world of trephination, where headaches, demons, and bad vibes were treated with a rusty drill to the dome. From prehistoric skull holes to Hippocrates playing Home Depot with human heads, all the way to 1960s dudes self-drilling in the name of enlightenment, this episode asks: Why were we so obsessed with putting holes in our heads and why are some people still doing it? Was it medicine, madness, or just early humans really committed to opening their third eye the hard way? Pour a drink, grab your safety goggles, and prepare for a deep dive into one of history’s most unhinged cures. And seriously… if someone offered to cure your migraine with a hand drill—how bad would the pain have to be before you said yes? WARNING:In this show, we dive into the strangest, most jaw-dropping medical practices and findings throughout history. We’re not doctors, just curious fans who fell down some very weird rabbit holes. Expect a mix of bizarre facts, questionable science, and plenty of WTF moments. Heads up: some topics are graphic, so listener discretion is definitely advised. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tinymonster.substack.com

    51 min
  2. Bizarre Rx - Phrenology (E08)

    03/24/2025

    Bizarre Rx - Phrenology (E08)

    In this episode of Bizarre Rx, we’re cracking open the skull—figuratively—to explore the strange, controversial world of phrenology. Once hailed as cutting-edge brain science, this now-debunked practice claimed your personality lived in the bumps on your head. Spoiler: it gets weirder…and way more problematic. WARNING:In this show, we dive into the strangest, most jaw-dropping medical practices and findings throughout history. We’re not doctors, just curious fans who fell down some very weird rabbit holes. Expect a mix of bizarre facts, questionable science, and plenty of WTF moments. Heads up: some topics are graphic, so listener discretion is definitely advised. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tinymonster.substack.com

    18 min
  3. Bizarre Rx - Urine for a Surprise (E07)

    03/13/2025

    Bizarre Rx - Urine for a Surprise (E07)

    In this episode of Bizarre Rx, we’re wading knee-deep into the golden, glistening world of urine therapy, specifically, how horse pee became a multi-billion-dollar menopause treatment. From pregnant mares strapped to pee-collection rigs to the doctors who looked at a horse and thought, That’s the cure, we’re covering the wild history of Premarin. Was it a medical breakthrough or just Big Pharma taking the piss, literally? Grab your lab coats and maybe a poncho, because things are about to get weird, wet, and wildly questionable. Premarin is still on the market, so here’s the question: Would you take a medication if you found out it came from horse pee? Or better yet, what’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever used in the name of health and beauty? Spill your secrets in the comments. WARNING:In this show, we dive into the strangest, most jaw-dropping medical practices and findings throughout history. We’re not doctors, just curious fans who fell down some very weird rabbit holes. Expect a mix of bizarre facts, questionable science, and plenty of WTF moments. Heads up: some topics are graphic, so listener discretion is definitely advised. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tinymonster.substack.com

    29 min
  4. Bizarre Rx - Faith Healing (E06)

    03/03/2025

    Bizarre Rx - Faith Healing (E06)

    In this episode of Bizarre Rx, we’re diving into the messy, murky world of faith healing, where miracles meet manipulation and the line between divine intervention and a good old-fashioned scam gets blurry. From snake-oil preachers to "holy" water that’s just...water (and undrinkable), we explore the shady history of those promising salvation, health, and eternal life, all for a price. Is it a cure or a con? WARNING:In this show, we dive into the strangest, most jaw-dropping medical practices and findings throughout history. We’re not doctors, just curious fans who fell down some very weird rabbit holes. Expect a mix of bizarre facts, questionable science, and plenty of WTF moments. Heads up: some topics are graphic, so listener discretion is definitely advised. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tinymonster.substack.com

    31 min
  5. Afterthoughts - Bizarre Rx Post Show (EP05)

    02/25/2025

    Afterthoughts - Bizarre Rx Post Show (EP05)

    WARNING:This isn’t the main show. This is Afterthoughts, where we push past the weird and straight into the unhinged. We’re talking controversial takes, spicy topics, and the kind of conversation that makes polite society clutch its pearls. From corpse medicine to beef tallow makeup, from raunchy romance to porn and relationships. Nothing’s off-limits. If you’re easily offended, now’s your chance to back out. If you’re ready for chaos…let’s go. We started with corpse medicine, but now we’re spiraling deeper. This Afterthoughts episode chews on everything from eating animals (and people) across cultures (yes, even the taboo ones) to slathering beef tallow on your face like it’s Sephora. Ever wonder how far you’d go for survival or just a really good meal? Then, we shift gears to books, from Akwaeke Emezi’s haunting The Death of Vivek Oji and Little Rot to Mistborn’s fantasy adventures to the smut that gets devoured by adults. What’s the real difference between reading erotica and watching porn? Is it just spice, or is there something deeper at play? Finally, we touch on the taboo of sex and why it still makes people squirm. Women swap tips, giggle, and openly discuss what works, so why do so many men treat it like a secret mission? Why is talking about pleasure still so awkward when, let’s be real, everyone’s doing it ? Is it time to start having real conversations about what’s fun, what’s satisfying, and what we actually want? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tinymonster.substack.com

    1h 6m
  6. Bizarre Rx - Eat the Dead (EP05)

    02/24/2025

    Bizarre Rx - Eat the Dead (EP05)

    Feeling sick? In the 1600s, the solution wasn’t chicken soup. It was ground-up mummy, fresh human blood, or a nice rub of corpse fat. That’s right, medical cannibalism was all the rage, and rich folks treated powdered Pharaohs like their personal Advil. From grave robbing to straight-up execution blood vendors, history proves people will eat anything if they think it’ll keep them alive. Would you rather drink powdered mummy or take a modern vampire facial? Or are you just gonna stick with Tylenol? Let’s discuss. Share your weirdest old-school remedy below. WARNING:In this show, we dive into the strangest, most jaw-dropping medical practices and findings throughout history. We’re not doctors, just curious fans who fell down some very weird rabbit holes. Expect a mix of bizarre facts, questionable science, and plenty of WTF moments. Heads up: some topics are graphic, so listener discretion is definitely advised. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tinymonster.substack.com

    29 min
  7. Bizarre Rx - Blowing Smoke Up Your A$$ (EP04)

    02/17/2025

    Bizarre Rx - Blowing Smoke Up Your A$$ (EP04)

    Ever heard the phrase "blowing smoke up your ass"? Turns out, it wasn’t just an expression—it was an actual 18th-century medical procedure. Welcome to Bizarre Rx, the podcast that explores the wild, weird, and WTF moments in medical history. In this episode, we’re lighting up a story so ridiculous you’ll wonder if it’s satire—but no, people really thought pumping nicotine into your rectum could cure drowning, colds, and a bad attitude. With firsthand accounts (like the questionable testimony of a sailor named Slimy Ned), we’re here to remind you: medicine has always been a little unhinged. Would you ever trust a doctor named Dr. Fucklestick with your rear-end resuscitation? Ever had a cure so dumb it actually worked? Let us know. WARNING:In this show, we dive into the strangest, most jaw-dropping medical practices and findings throughout history. We’re not doctors, just curious fans who fell down some very weird rabbit holes. Expect a mix of bizarre facts, questionable science, and plenty of WTF moments. Heads up: some topics are graphic, so listener discretion is definitely advised. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tinymonster.substack.com

    26 min
  8. Bizarre Rx - Placebos (EP03)

    02/10/2025

    Bizarre Rx - Placebos (EP03)

    Snake oil salesmen, real water snakes, and Perkins Tractors. Welcome to the weird world of placebos. In this episode, we dive into how people have been tricked (or tricked themselves) into feeling better for centuries, from miracle cures to modern-day magic pills. Whether it’s a weight-loss supplement, a boner pill, or just a couple of wooden rods, placebos are everywhere. But do they actually work? Have you ever taken something thinking it’d help, only to realize it was all in your head? Do you think your mind would know, or would it be fooled? Let us know. WARNING:In this show, we dive into the strangest, most jaw-dropping medical practices and findings throughout history. We’re not doctors, just curious fans who fell down some very weird rabbit holes. Expect a mix of bizarre facts, questionable science, and plenty of WTF moments. Heads up: some topics are graphic, so listener discretion is definitely advised. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tinymonster.substack.com

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Bizarre RX, the show where we dive into the strangest, most jaw-dropping medical practices and findings throughout history. We’re not doctors, just curious fans who fell down some very weird rabbit holes. Expect a mix of bizarre facts, questionable science, and plenty of WTF moments. Heads up: some topics are graphic, so listener discretion is definitely advised. tinymonster.substack.com

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