On this week's episode of the pod, we take a more philosophical approach to a topic we've discussed in detail many times before-- alternative medicine. We set the stage by discussing the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) medicine industry and remind people that it is a multi-billion dollar industry. We discuss the available research on the effectiveness of alternative therapies, many of which lack scientifically verifiable effects. However, we talk about the very valid reasons why some people are drawn to CAM (largely due to the shortcomings of our healthcare system). We go on to discuss some of the potential dangers of CAM and give some specific examples, such as alternative therapies used to "treat" cancer. We discuss the many different types of CAM-- some of which have some evidence to support their use in conjunction with conventional medicine but are rarely (if ever) a replacement. We wrap up with a discussion of the vilification of conventional medicine and "big pharma" and why that kind of thinking is flawed and extremely dangerous. We discuss certain logical fallacies, such as the appeal to nature, which are central to this discussion-- and their implications. You do not want to miss this! Check us out on Substack and Instagram: www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to [email protected], with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line. PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the pod, we tackle a topic that bugs so many... ticks! Tis the season for ticks in certain parts of the US, so we had to talk about these little blood-sucking arthropods! We are “joined” by a special guest and the Executive Director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation: our very own Dr. Andrea Love! We kick things off with a summary of the diversity of tick species, especially those to be aware of in the US. We chat about different types of pathogens and diseases that may be spread by ticks. We discuss the ways the ticks feed and survive and their life cycle. We remind folks that not all ticks carry pathogens-- and we try to allay the concerns of those who avoid going outside out of fear of tick bites. Next, we focus on prevention and the multi-pronged approach that will significantly reduce your risk of tickborne illness! We discuss what to do if you are bitten by a tick (and what NOT to do) and debunk some common tick myths and misconceptions. We wrap things up with a discussion about tick testing (and whether it's necessary to send in ticks to labs for testing) and distinguish between diagnostic testing and surveillance. You do not want to miss this! Check us out on Substack and Instagram: www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to [email protected], with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line. PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the pod, we tackled a topic that really got our tummies rumbling...sushi! We kick things off with some background on the origins of sushi. We spend some time talking about the multi-billion-dollar sushi industry in the US, and some factors that might impact the cost of sushi in the not-so-distant future. Next, we do a deep dive on the term, "sushi grade." For this discussion, we talk about FDA advisory guidelines-- what they cover, and what they don't. We spend some time talking about different food-borne illnesses related to sushi and raw fish consumption-- including those due to different types of parasites and bacteria. We discuss some obvious signs that fish might not be safe for consumption and whether consuming fish is "worth the risk." We chat about signs and symptoms of food poisoning from sushi and when to seek medical care. We wrap things up with a discussion about the risks of mercury poisoning due to frequent sushi consumption. You do not want to miss this episode! Check us out on Substack and Instagram: www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to [email protected], with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line. PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we tackle a topic that people often avoid discussing….pre-clinical animal research. We acknowledge the controversies surrounding animal research and that some feel very strongly about this subject. We discuss our personal experience conducting animal research and some applications of the research conducted. We cover several examples of biomedical advancements made possible thanks to animal research. We dig into the reasons for using animals in research as well as the limitations of non-human studies. Animals serve as “models” that represent certain aspects of a biological phenomenon to study. There are also times when certain animal models are used, like fish and frogs, whose anatomy and physiology may be quite different from humans, but still can help researchers address fundamental biological processes similar across species to develop knowledge to improve human health. We detail regulations and laws protecting animals used in biomedical research and protocols in place for these types of studies. We cover a couple high-profile cases of inhumane treatment of animal subjects which, we want to reiterate, is absolutely inexcusable. We wrap up the episode with a discussion of future directions and the national (and international) push to find alternatives to animal research. Make sure to tune in! Check us out on Substack and Instagram: www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to [email protected], with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line. PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the pod, we tackle a topic near and dear to our animal-loving hearts: pet allergies! We are joined by Dr. Manisha Relan, a pediatric allergy and immunology specialist, to discuss animal allergies. We kick things off with stats on pet allergies. We cover allergic reactions and allergies, including how the immune system response leads to the symptoms experienced. We discuss that pet allergies aren't responses to animal fur, hair, or feathers, but rather, proteins found in animal dander, saliva, and urine, and why that means there are no truly "hypoallergenic" pets and the data regarding this. (That’s right—save your money and head to the animal shelter!) We cover allergy testing and diagnosis, as well as different ways to manage pet allergies with behavior modifications and medications. You don't want to miss this one! Check us out on Substack and Instagram: www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to [email protected], with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line. PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices