I brought a friend today this is George George is a leech to be specific he is a
George is a leech to be specific he is a
George is a leech to be specific he is a European medicinal leech it’s been very
European medicinal leech it’s been very
European medicinal leech it’s been very interesting living with George lately
interesting living with George lately
interesting living with George lately it’s the first time we’ve had a pet in
it’s the first time we’ve had a pet in
it’s the first time we’ve had a pet in our home that looks to us not as the
our home that looks to us not as the
our home that looks to us not as the provider of dinner but dinner itself so
provider of dinner but dinner itself so
provider of dinner but dinner itself so leeches like George have been used for a
leeches like George have been used for a
leeches like George have been used for a millennia for countless treatments under
millennia for countless treatments under
millennia for countless treatments under the Sun if you had a stomach ache for
the Sun if you had a stomach ache for
the Sun if you had a stomach ache for example you would have leeches applied
example you would have leeches applied
example you would have leeches applied to your belly if you had a raging case
to your belly if you had a raging case
to your belly if you had a raging case of gonorrhea you might have upwards to
of gonorrhea you might have upwards to
of gonorrhea you might have upwards to 50 leeches applied to your testicles
anybody have a headache today would you
anybody have a headache today would you like George to chew on your temple and
like George to chew on your temple and
like George to chew on your temple and fix that yeah I see a lot of shaking
fix that yeah I see a lot of shaking
fix that yeah I see a lot of shaking heads clearly we have come a long way
heads clearly we have come a long way
heads clearly we have come a long way for example in the 18th century tobacco
for example in the 18th century tobacco
for example in the 18th century tobacco was used as a treatment for victims of
was used as a treatment for victims of
was used as a treatment for victims of drowning in the Thames river in England
drowning in the Thames river in England
drowning in the Thames river in England specifically tobacco smoke enemas that’s
specifically tobacco smoke enemas that’s
specifically tobacco smoke enemas that’s right they used to think that blowing
right they used to think that blowing
right they used to think that blowing smoke up your ass was an actual
smoke up your ass was an actual
smoke up your ass was an actual legitimate way to save you from being
legitimate way to save you from being
legitimate way to save you from being almost dead and don’t worry I am NOT
almost dead and don’t worry I am NOT
almost dead and don’t worry I am NOT going to ask for volunteers for that one
going to ask for volunteers for that one
going to ask for volunteers for that one for centuries
for centuries
for centuries Egyptian mummies were stolen from tombs
Egyptian mummies were stolen from tombs
Egyptian mummies were stolen from tombs ground-up mixed with myrrh and spices
ground-up mixed with myrrh and spices
ground-up mixed with myrrh and spices and used as a treatment for a ringworm
and used as a treatment for a ringworm
and used as a treatment for a ringworm or the plague and that wasn’t the only
or the plague and that wasn’t the only
or the plague and that wasn’t the only kind of corpse and cannibalistic
kind of corpse and cannibalistic
kind of corpse and cannibalistic medicine out there human fat harvested
medicine out there human fat harvested
medicine out there human fat harvested from the recently executed was a
from the recently executed was a
from the recently executed was a treatment for things like aching joints
treatment for things like aching joints
treatment for things like aching joints and symptoms of rabies they called it
and symptoms of rabies they called it
and symptoms of rabies they called it man’s grease or hangman’s self and my
man’s grease or hangman’s self and my
man’s grease or hangman’s self and my favorite poor sinners fat as recently as
favorite poor sinners fat as recently as
favorite poor sinners fat as recently as the early 20th century radioactive water
the early 20th century radioactive water
the early 20th century radioactive water was sold as a health tonic and some of
was sold as a health tonic and some of
was sold as a health tonic and some of the drinkers became so radioactive that
the drinkers became so radioactive that
the drinkers became so radioactive that on their death they were buried and
on their death they were buried and
on their death they were buried and lead-lined coffins like I said we have
lead-lined coffins like I said we have
lead-lined coffins like I said we have come a long way we know so much more
come a long way we know so much more
come a long way we know so much more about the human body now there was a
about the human body now there was a
about the human body now there was a time when some anatomist actually
time when some anatomist actually
time when some anatomist actually thought that air ran through our blood
thought that air ran through our blood
thought that air ran through our blood vessels instead of blood the uterus was
vessels instead of blood the uterus was
vessels instead of blood the uterus was once thought for well over a thousand
once thought for well over a thousand
once thought for well over a thousand years to be this misbehaving organ that
years to be this misbehaving organ that
years to be this misbehaving organ that ran around hither and thither inside a
ran around hither and thither inside a
ran around hither and thither inside a woman’s body cavity wreaking havoc like
woman’s body cavity wreaking havoc like
woman’s body cavity wreaking havoc like a dog without a bleach
a dog without a bleach
a dog without a bleach and the only way to make it behave was
and the only way to make it behave was
and the only way to make it behave was to lure it into place with some sweet
to lure it into place with some sweet
to lure it into place with some sweet smelling herbs waved down near her
smelling herbs waved down near her
smelling herbs waved down near her nether regions we now have so much a
nether regions we now have so much a
nether regions we now have so much a better idea of things like infectious
better idea of things like infectious
better idea of things like infectious diseases we understand better how things
diseases we understand better how things
diseases we understand better how things like Ebola travel through our bodies and
like Ebola travel through our bodies and
like Ebola travel through our bodies and across continents we know that gold
across continents we know that gold
across continents we know that gold elixirs will not magically cure us of
elixirs will not magically cure us of
elixirs will not magically cure us of alcoholism and that implanted monkey and
alcoholism and that implanted monkey and
alcoholism and that implanted monkey and goat glands is are not going to revive a
goat glands is are not going to revive a
goat glands is are not going to revive a man’s waning libido
man’s waning libido
man’s waning libido I mean surgeons actually wash their
I mean surgeons actually wash their
I mean surgeons actually wash their hands before surgery and believe it or
hands before surgery and believe it or
hands before surgery and believe it or not that was not always the case so if
not that was not always the case so if
not that was not always the case so if we have come so far why is it that there
we have come so far why is it that there
we have come so far why is it that there is a multi-billion dollar industry of
is a multi-billion dollar industry of
is a multi-billion dollar industry of unproven often useless and occasionally
unproven often useless and occasionally
unproven often useless and occasionally dangerous treatments out there so I have
dangerous treatments out there so I have
dangerous treatments out there so I have a couple answers for this but first a
a couple answers for this but first a
a couple answers for this but first a story it’s about me and my hair so for a
story it’s about me and my hair so for a
story it’s about me and my hair so for a couple decades now I am the person
couple decades now I am the person
couple decades now I am the person responsible in my household for leaving
responsible in my household for leaving
responsible in my household for leaving wads of hair in the shower drain call it
wads of hair in the shower drain call it
wads of hair in the shower drain call it genetics call it telogen effluvium which
genetics call it telogen effluvium which
genetics call it telogen effluvium which is a fancy word for my hair sheds in
is a fancy word for my hair sheds in
is a fancy word for my hair sheds in cycles so much more than a golden
cycles so much more than a golden
cycles so much more than a golden retriever but what I do know is that
retriever but what I do know is that
retriever but what I do know is that when I flip open my computer these ads
when I flip open my computer these ads
when I flip open my computer these ads will pop up because the all-knowing
will pop up because the all-knowing
will pop up because the all-knowing internet knows me better than I know
internet knows me better than I know
internet knows me better than I know myself
myself
myself and it’ll try to sell me these new hair
and it’ll try to sell me these new hair
and it’ll try to sell me these new hair shampoos and vitamins and laser cannons
shampoos and vitamins and laser cannons
shampoos and vitamins and laser cannons that promise to turn me into Chewbacca
that promise to turn me into Chewbacca
that promise to turn me into Chewbacca if I just click on the click bait and
if I just click on the click bait and
if I just click on the click bait and hand over my credit card now depending
hand over my credit card now depending
hand over my credit card now depending on how much hair I’ve been shutting that
on how much hair I’ve been shutting that
on how much hair I’ve been shutting that morning I might actually click on some
morning I might actually click on some
morning I might actually click on some of them I might even buy some of them so
of them I might even buy some of them so
of them I might even buy some of them so here’s a little context I am a
here’s a little context I am a
here’s a little context I am a practicing physician of internal
practicing physician of internal
practicing physician of internal medicine I know how to do a medical
medicine I know how to do a medical
medicine I know how to do a medical literature search and I know how to read
literature search and I know how to read
literature search and I know how to read that medical literature better than the
that medical literature better than the
that medical literature better than the average American it’s part of my job
average American it’s part of my job
average American it’s part of my job with my co-author Nate Peterson we
with my co-author Nate Peterson we
with my co-author Nate Peterson we actually wrote an entire book on the
actually wrote an entire book on the
actually wrote an entire book on the history of quack medicine so in a
history of quack medicine so in a
history of quack medicine so in a nutshell when it comes to hair loss
nutshell when it comes to hair loss
nutshell when it comes to hair loss scheme’s i really should know better so
scheme’s i really should know better so
scheme’s i really should know better so why is it that all of us can be so
why is it that all of us can be so
why is it that all of us can be so susceptible to these unproven and
susceptible to these unproven and
susceptible to these unproven and occasionally fraudulent quack remedies
occasionally fraudulent quack remedies
occasionally fraudulent quack remedies out there now
out there now
out there now well there’s one there’s one obvious
well there’s one there’s one obvious
well there’s one there’s one obvious reason which is that you know we don’t
reason which is that you know we don’t
reason which is that you know we don’t know everything about the human body as
know everything about the human body as
know everything about the human body as a result of that we don’t have a cure
a result of that we don’t have a cure
a result of that we don’t have a cure for everything that can go wrong in it
for everything that can go wrong in it
for everything that can go wrong in it and that leaves a lot of room for quacks
and that leaves a lot of room for quacks
and that leaves a lot of room for quacks to fill the void with their products a
to fill the void with their products a
to fill the void with their products a second reason is bias so bias is this
second reason is bias so bias is this
second reason is bias so bias is this incredibly powerful force that affects
incredibly powerful force that affects
incredibly powerful force that affects every single one of us let’s say for
every single one of us let’s say for
every single one of us let’s say for instance you really want to lose some
instance you really want to lose some
instance you really want to lose some weight and your two trusted friends
weight and your two trusted friends
weight and your two trusted friends swear that swallowing tapeworm eggs will
swear that swallowing tapeworm eggs will
swear that swallowing tapeworm eggs will do the trick so you buy them – that’s
do the trick so you buy them – that’s
do the trick so you buy them – that’s called the bandwagon effect let’s say
called the bandwagon effect let’s say
called the bandwagon effect let’s say you really want to work on your
you really want to work on your
you really want to work on your complexion
complexion
complexion so you fork over 50 dollars to pay for
so you fork over 50 dollars to pay for
so you fork over 50 dollars to pay for these great arsenic wafers and after you
these great arsenic wafers and after you
these great arsenic wafers and after you spent the money you think it was really
spent the money you think it was really
spent the money you think it was really expensive but it’s good stuff it must
expensive but it’s good stuff it must
expensive but it’s good stuff it must work right that’s post purchase
work right that’s post purchase
work right that’s post purchase rationalization and those are only two
rationalization and those are only two
rationalization and those are only two of many many different biases that we
of many many different biases that we
of many many different biases that we are affected by all the time but here’s
are affected by all the time but here’s
are affected by all the time but here’s the more complicated answer as to why
the more complicated answer as to why
the more complicated answer as to why quackery is still vividly alive today
quackery is still vividly alive today
quackery is still vividly alive today it’s hope now don’t get me wrong hope is
it’s hope now don’t get me wrong hope is
it’s hope now don’t get me wrong hope is incredibly important I mean we can’t
incredibly important I mean we can’t
incredibly important I mean we can’t wake up in the morning without hope we
wake up in the morning without hope we
wake up in the morning without hope we wouldn’t have eradicated smallpox or
wouldn’t have eradicated smallpox or
wouldn’t have eradicated smallpox or saved countless heart attack victims
saved countless heart attack victims
saved countless heart attack victims without it I mean it’s one of the things
without it I mean it’s one of the things
without it I mean it’s one of the things that makes us so human isn’t it I mean
that makes us so human isn’t it I mean
that makes us so human isn’t it I mean George isn’t hoping for good weather
George isn’t hoping for good weather
George isn’t hoping for good weather tomorrow or an optimal cholesterol level
but hope can be a little intoxicating
but hope can be a little intoxicating and like certain intoxicants it can
and like certain intoxicants it can
and like certain intoxicants it can alter your ability to critically
alter your ability to critically
alter your ability to critically evaluate treatments and cures that are
evaluate treatments and cures that are
evaluate treatments and cures that are out there sometimes
out there sometimes
out there sometimes I wish the word came with a big warning
I wish the word came with a big warning
I wish the word came with a big warning label hope can be hazardous to your
label hope can be hazardous to your
label hope can be hazardous to your health
health
health you see our health is part of our
you see our health is part of our
you see our health is part of our identity it’s deeply personal
identity it’s deeply personal
identity it’s deeply personal and when we are making decisions about
and when we are making decisions about
and when we are making decisions about our healthcare it’s not always a
our healthcare it’s not always a
our healthcare it’s not always a subjective choosing of this versus that
subjective choosing of this versus that
subjective choosing of this versus that it is personal and it can be an
it is personal and it can be an
it is personal and it can be an emotional process and so when something
emotional process and so when something
emotional process and so when something in our body goes awry and our immune
in our body goes awry and our immune
in our body goes awry and our immune system starts attacking us and we now
system starts attacking us and we now
system starts attacking us and we now have a diagnosis of lupus or rheumatoid
have a diagnosis of lupus or rheumatoid
have a diagnosis of lupus or rheumatoid arthritis it’s not the body that we felt
arthritis it’s not the body that we felt
arthritis it’s not the body that we felt we had before and we want so much to get
we had before and we want so much to get
we had before and we want so much to get back to normal or a new normal as soon
back to normal or a new normal as soon
back to normal or a new normal as soon as possible I know what it’s like to
as possible I know what it’s like to
as possible I know what it’s like to give bad news
give bad news
give bad news the biopsy result is cancer it’s time to
the biopsy result is cancer it’s time to
the biopsy result is cancer it’s time to talk about dialysis and I know what it’s
talk about dialysis and I know what it’s
talk about dialysis and I know what it’s like to receive bad news
like to receive bad news
like to receive bad news Lydia there is a spot on your ovary and
Lydia there is a spot on your ovary and
Lydia there is a spot on your ovary and it doesn’t look exactly benign aside
it doesn’t look exactly benign aside
it doesn’t look exactly benign aside from the shock of how can this be
from the shock of how can this be
from the shock of how can this be happening to me there’s this
happening to me there’s this
happening to me there’s this overwhelming desire to find that normal
overwhelming desire to find that normal
overwhelming desire to find that normal to find a solution as soon as possible
to find a solution as soon as possible
to find a solution as soon as possible and so you take this potent mix of
and so you take this potent mix of
and so you take this potent mix of emotions fear feeling lost and you add
emotions fear feeling lost and you add
emotions fear feeling lost and you add hope which is so important but it can be
hope which is so important but it can be
hope which is so important but it can be a little bit like wearing a pair of
a little bit like wearing a pair of
a little bit like wearing a pair of rose-colored glasses and suddenly when
rose-colored glasses and suddenly when
rose-colored glasses and suddenly when you pop open your computer and these ads
you pop open your computer and these ads
you pop open your computer and these ads are there promising you exactly what you
are there promising you exactly what you
are there promising you exactly what you need exactly the moment you need them
need exactly the moment you need them
need exactly the moment you need them how can you say no so we as physicians
how can you say no so we as physicians
how can you say no so we as physicians have to understand that making medical
have to understand that making medical
have to understand that making medical decisions for for our patients might not
decisions for for our patients might not
decisions for for our patients might not be as obvious to us as far as the answer
be as obvious to us as far as the answer
be as obvious to us as far as the answer as we think it might be when they’re
as we think it might be when they’re
as we think it might be when they’re coming from this place of vulnerability
coming from this place of vulnerability
coming from this place of vulnerability and we as patients have to understand
and we as patients have to understand
and we as patients have to understand that hope can change us in ways that we
that hope can change us in ways that we
that hope can change us in ways that we don’t expect it can make us both are
don’t expect it can make us both are
don’t expect it can make us both are both our best advocates for ourselves
both our best advocates for ourselves
both our best advocates for ourselves and our worst enemy so going back to
and our worst enemy so going back to
and our worst enemy so going back to George here I know that the subject of
George here I know that the subject of
George here I know that the subject of today’s talks are everything changes and
today’s talks are everything changes and
today’s talks are everything changes and in so many cases it really has I mean
in so many cases it really has I mean
in so many cases it really has I mean we’re no longer snacking on corpses or
we’re no longer snacking on corpses or
we’re no longer snacking on corpses or performing lobotomies but until there
performing lobotomies but until there
performing lobotomies but until there are safe and free and easy treatments
are safe and free and easy treatments
are safe and free and easy treatments for every medical problem then quackery
for every medical problem then quackery
for every medical problem then quackery is always going to be there and as long
is always going to be there and as long
is always going to be there and as long as we have hope then snake oil salesmen
as we have hope then snake oil salesmen
as we have hope then snake oil salesmen are going to feed voraciously on its
are going to feed voraciously on its
are going to feed voraciously on its optimism
optimism
optimism I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have hope I’m just saying that your emotional
hope I’m just saying that your emotional
hope I’m just saying that your emotional state of mind might make George here a
state of mind might make George here a
state of mind might make George here a little bit more attractive than he
little bit more attractive than he
little bit more attractive than he should be
should be
should be thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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