Unusual Medical Practices Around The World

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Executive Producer: Doctor Mike
Production Director and Editor: Dan Owens
Managing Editor and Producer: Sam Bowers
Editor and Designer: Caroline Weigum
Editor: Juan Carlos Zuniga

* Select photos/videos provided by Getty Images *

** The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional **

[mfinchina__]

My dad is 90+ and remembers the pre-polio vaccine days. Every year when polio season rolled around, all the moms in the neighborhood would be panicky and there would be this sense of fear that even the kids could feel. My friend's mom has a permanent limp because she got it as a child. People don't value vaccines enough because they didn't experience or hear about life before them.

[MichelleP]

When my son was born, I took him to the pediatrician for his vaccines. She went through the list and mentioned the polio vaccine. Without thinking I said “Why does he need that? People don’t get polio anymore.” She responded with “Exactly, that’s why he needs it.” Boy did I feel silly after that comment 😂😂

[whiskey_pink_]

I’ve had maggot therapy for the slough created by Pyoderma Gangrenosum (think MRSA but it doesn’t respond to antibiotics). They were well bandaged so you couldn’t see them, and the most I felt was a ‘tickling’ sensation. They really kick started my healing after just a day and got all the dead necrotic tissue off.

[Startificer]

Fun fact:
My dad had diverticulitis and he was hospitalized recently because of an attack. He got 1-3 feet of his intestines removed and now he can eat strawberries. He spent 9 years of his life unable to eat strawberries.

[yokomomochi]

That guy who lives in the Iron Lung is an inspiration, really. His story is incredible, he nearly died when his machine malfunctioned and they had to work so hard to find someone who could potentially repair such an antique device. Polio was a different time!

[steelrice]

Rip Justin. That man single handedly figured out the pain index of almost every single sting on the planet. What an inspiration

[lutimstrickshots]

Mike: *Is a certified doctor*
Also Mike: "KNIFE THERAPY OR SECRET ASSASSIN?!"

[hows_life]

The man in the iron lung is incredible. I looked into his full story and it’s amazing how much resilience he has and how he was able to write actual books and even still suffering, he is able to be happy and accomplish brining so much light to others.

[AlyCat-rcfr]

The woman that was getting the melanin treatment done needed to have it done in order to get a job there in India. She said in that same interview that she was rejected from all the jobs she applied for because she didn’t have the “right look.” Even though she had all the right credentials. It’s crazy how the world works sometimes.

[Eijiken]

Justin Schmidt is actually legendary in the Entomology world, super legit and a very nice guy.
He passed away this year, RIP to a great guy.

[rbenfield]

I would love to see Doctor Mike make a video addressing health anxiety! I know he's made some about anxiety in general, but as someone who has made multiple trips to the ER in the past year, all false alarms, it would be amazing to hear some coping mechanisms for dealing with constant panic about health issues!

[SomeGuyMC-YT]

6:14 “eww I did not need to see that 💀”
-Dr.Mike 2023
*YOU ARE A DOCTER CMON*

[kaelincarbonetto]

As an entomology hobbyist, one of my favorite things is watching people react to learning there's such thing as a tarantula hawk 😂😂

[eoeaoee]

Actually, there's a simple reason why Paul is still in an iron lung: he prefers it. Ventilators feel too uncomfortable too him and according to him puts too much strain on his breathing. If his iron lung breaks or if something happens though, he has a trilogy ventilator on stand-by.

[kylianthehylian]

I saw an ep of Untold Stories of the ER where a homeless guy supposedly came in with a carpet of maggots on his foot and after they let him take a shower and gave him some clean clothes they examined the foot and it had healed perfectly from whatever wound it originally had. I've also heard it's a really good burn treatment.

[ephvvonlyway]

Paul Alexander has me in tears. What an admirable and inspiring man.

[kayz]

I watched a documentary on the polio virus outbreak & iron lungs. It had the last remaining survivours included Paul, that said Iron Lungs are currently the ONLY breathing machine that uses negative air pressure. All modern ventilators/breathing machines use positive pressure & when they tried to move these last known survivors to the new tech, it actually caused them too much pain to use and had a poor/more negative outcome than using the Iron Lungs.

[christiangrant]

The man in the iron lung says he still uses it because the negative pressure chamber essentially allows him to breathe normally with his own efforts. Modern systems mostly use positive pressure to force air into the lungs which can be unpleasant.

[ignitionfrn]

0:10 - Knife therapy
1:30 - Sting sommelier
2:25 - Skin lightning
3:35 - Bonobos are herbalists
5:30 - Leech for surgeries
6:25 - Nature healing program
7:30 - MeTro
9:15 - Live maggots
10:45 - Charplin therapy
11:40 - Iron lung man

[HFXmermaid]

I have had the laser treatment for mask of pregnancy. It brought all the pigment to the surface and it washed off. but it was very expensive and would take many treatments to keep it gone for good and it was quite painful.