Medicine is an absolute marvel of science. Just think, at one point we went from using poisons like mercury to treat diseases to being able to grow a patient new ear , using his own cells. New and seemingly miraculous treatments are constantly emerging. Sometimes they are incredibly profound and the result of years of research and practice. And sometimes they are just downright weird. Here are ten of the most surprising treatments for some common, everyday ailments.
10. Cocaine is prescribed to treat certain intestinal obstructions.
A can of Coca-Cola contains 39 grams sugar, which is 140 calories per can. That's pretty significant, and it's why many people insist that Coke and other soft drinks are bad for you. If you're a fan of soda and need a reason to defend it from those who think it's unhealthy, you're in luck. Coke is a prescription drug for some people.
There is a type of intestinal obstruction that a person can have, caused by something called bezoars. These are caused by lumps of undigested food that stick together and get stuck in the intestinal tract, building up until they cause a blockage. They can be very serious and even fatal if they are not removed, which is often done surgically, but not always.
In some cases, bezoars can be successfully removed using was used Coca-Cola . According to research, baking soda is more than effective 90% cases in removing certain types of bezoars by dissolving them. The acid in Coke has an effective reaction to these nasty little food pellets, softening them and breaking them down so they can pass harmlessly through the digestive tract. Compared to surgery, this is a much safer and less stressful treatment.
9. The Epley Maneuver Can Treat Dizziness, And You Can Do It Yourself
They say that before 40% Americans experience dizziness at some point in their lives. This condition affects your sense of balance and can cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and related symptoms. However, there are many causes, so treatment can vary and may include a number of different medications and even surgery to destroy certain nerves. However, one of the most effective treatments is the Epley maneuver.
Named after its creator, Dr. John Epley, the treatment works remarkably well, including in cases that have proven resistant to other treatments. Oddly enough, other professionals many years ridiculed and rejected him . They simply didn't believe the treatment could be real because it was so simple, and as a result they dragged Epley's name through the mud and even at one point threatened to steal his license.
So what? What does this mysterious treatment include? You need to sit on the bed. Then turn your head 45 degrees towards the problem ear. Then you quickly lie back with your head turned, resting on your shoulder for 30 seconds. Then turn your head 90 degrees the other way and wait 30 seconds again. Turn your head and body another 90 degrees in the same direction and, you guessed it, wait another 30 seconds. Then you just sit. That's it.
When used to treat certain types of dizziness in impressive 76% patients improvement is observed after a single use of the maneuver.
8. Ketogenic diets can treat epilepsy
Ketogenic diets have been quite popular in the fad diet world for a few years now. They are sometimes referred to as low-carb diets, and typically include normal protein but higher fat content than many other diets. The Atkins diet was a famous example of keto, and while some people have had success eating this way, others claim that it quite harmful to health , especially in the long term. But it turns out it has another unexpected benefit: treating epilepsy.
There have been cases where epilepsy, especially drug-resistant epilepsy, has been controlled by the keto diet. Since your body and your brain rely on what you eat for energy, the keto diet can change way getting energy from food, and it changes the way epilepsy works. Instead of carbohydrates, you train your body to burn fat for energy. How it changes seizure activity is still unclear, although it seems to be based on lowering sugar levels while increasing fat levels, which sort of tricks your brain into functioning differently.
This approach is often used. in children, but adults who have failed traditional epilepsy treatments can also benefit from it. However, doctors must closely monitor it, and it is by no means an overnight success, it will require patience.
7. Acid reflux can be treated with a magnetic ring
If you weren't sure how serious heartburn and acid reflux are, you should know that the global antacid market is worth $3.97 billion That's a lot of Tums and a lot of upset stomach. And while antacids can often solve the problem, they can't always do it. Serious heartburn requires serious relief, like magnetic ring , installed in your esophagus.
The ring allows food to pass through but prevents acid and waste from coming back in. approved for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The metal ring is mainly constricts the throat, but not with enough force to prevent swallowing. You can think of it as a balloon pinched between your fingers. You can still force air in, but you hold it with enough force to keep it from escaping.
6. 90s Rap Music Was Used to Treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
For several years music therapy has shown benefits in treating a variety of disorders, including anxiety, phobias, and OCD. At least one doctor has narrowed the field even further when it comes to treating disorders by using 1990s rap music, so probably a healthy dose of Snoop Dogg, MC Hammer, and Public Enemy.
In one case, a woman with a severe fear of thunderstorms was literally unable to leave her house because of the fear that overtook her. After her therapist made her listen to Hypnotize by the Notorious BIG and focusing on the rhythm of the applause, she was able to distract herself from the rhythm long enough to go for a walk with her therapist, since her brain, and therefore her phobia, was otherwise occupied.
5. Cone snail venom can treat chronic pain
The ocean is an inhospitable place at the best of times. Drowning is always a risk, and no one needs to be told about sharks anymore, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Even snails in the ocean can kill you. Without treatment, cone snail venom can kill you in as little as one hour . And as dangerous as it may sound, these are valuable things. Cone snail venom is also a powerful painkiller and cancer treatment.
One of the many compounds in the venom of some snails can be used to treat cancer and endocrine disorders, as well as severe and chronic pain. Somatostatin is also produced by humans, and is a hormone and neuropeptide. Snails produce a chemically similar compound, but it is much more stable. The human version has a half-life of only three minutes. Snails have enough for almost a week .
Painkillers like Prialt already exist and were derived from snail venom, but they must be injected in the spine, which makes them difficult to use. However, they are even stronger than morphine, so there is hope that the method of administering them will improve someday.
4. Botox injections are used to treat chronic migraines
Migraines can be extremely painful and debilitating. Often, the standard treatments you might use for regular headaches don't work for migraines, and those who suffer from them may just have to wait it out. But Sanitary and Quality Supervision Authority The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved One unusual treatment that, while not a cure, can definitely help relieve symptoms is Botox.
The treatment is not suitable for everyone. You must have serious migraine problem , or about 15 migraine days per month for three months. But because Botox paralyzes muscle and nerve receptors, it is thought that when injected into the forehead, scalp, and surrounding areas, it can also block pain receptors associated with migraines.
3. Depression can be treated with sleep deprivation
Depression is one of the most common conditions in the world, affecting approximately 280 million people . In some it can be treated with medication, but in many it can be quite drug resistant. This leads to a long struggle that in some cases may never be cured.
There are alternatives to medications, and some are more surprising than others. Perhaps one of the most unusual is sleep deprivation. Studies have shown that it almost immediately reduces symptoms in about half of patients. That's a big step up from traditional drugs, which can sometimes take weeks to show results.
For many patients, falling back asleep after sleep deprivation will result in a relapse, but this may only be partial and the benefits may last for several weeks. When combined with drug therapy, the positive effects can be stabilized and improved overall. There is also evidence to suggest that partial sleep deprivation may be as effective as total sleep deprivation, which means staying awake for more than 36 hours. As for why it has any effect at all, well, that's still a bit of a mystery.
2. Cognitive behavioral therapy can treat back pain
According to one study, more 65 million Americans reported recent back pain, and that’s about 8% of all adults suffering from chronic back pain. Life is back pain. So what can be done? Usually it’s over-the-counter painkillers like Tylenol and Advil that carry the weight of back pain, but there’s an intriguing drug-free alternative. Cognitive behavioral therapy, the same psychological treatment used for things like depression, can help treat back pain.
Comprehensive research covering more than 13,000 patients, have shown that when a physical and psychological approach is used to treat pain, the results are much better than either approach alone. The approach must be comprehensive, and obviously it will not eliminate the physical cause of the pain, but it can help the patient learn coping mechanisms psychological comorbidities So if your back pain is also causing you depression, anxiety, anger, or anything else, it can help you overcome that, which in turn leads to an overall reduction in perceived pain.
1. Fish scales can be used to treat burns.
About half a million burns are treated in hospitals each year. Of these, about 40 000 can be so severe that they require hospitalization for treatment. And if you've ever suffered a burn yourself, you know that you don't want to be burned so badly that you need to be hospitalized. It's one of the most painful injuries you can endure.
One of the most horrific parts of severe burns is the damage they can cause to the skin. Skin grafts are one of the few treatment options for this condition, which involve moving unburned skin from a healthy part of the body to the burn so it can heal.
Animal studies showed that fish skin can significantly speed up wound healing . Fish skin treated with a silver solution significantly reduces the risk of infection by reducing the number of bacteria and accelerating the growth of new skin. The same fish, tilapia, has been successfully used to treatment of human burns Their skin is rich in something called type 1 collagen, which is essential for healing. Once sterilized, the scales can be applied as a bandage, but do not need to be changed. Human skin is, of course, more ideal, but in many developing countries, it is simply not an option. Since tilapia skin has no use after the fish is processed, it is an untapped resource with some obvious benefits.
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