In 1820, most of the drugs listed in the American Pharmacopoeia were plant-based; by 1960, it was a mere 5 percent. Yet in the late 20th century this trend reversed. Why? Join Josh and Chuck as they get to the root of ethnobotany and plant-based medicine.
AI Summary
In this fascinating episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck dive into the incredible world of plant-based medicine and the surprising ways poisons can heal us. They explore how ancient civilizations successfully performed brain surgery thousands of years ago and trace the evolution from traditional plant remedies to modern synthetic drugs, revealing that many of today's medicines - from aspirin to morphine - originated from plants discovered by indigenous cultures. The hosts also delve into the counterintuitive world of using deadly toxins as cures, including how snake venom led to antivenom and how scorpion and tarantula poisons are being used to fight cancer and heart attacks.
Back to the Future
1985
1h 56m
★ 8.3
"This would have been a much better way to start out the future of the internet one, huh? — Josh made a reference to Back to the Future when discussing starting out with the internet episode topic."
— Josh
Beyond Rangoon
1995
1h 40m
★ 6.6
"What was the Connery movie? They were searching for the cure for cancer in the jungle. Rangoon beyond Rangoon. No, that was a Rangoon man. — Chuck was trying to remember a Sean Connery movie about searching for a cure for cancer in the jungle but confused it with Beyond Rangoon."
— Chuck
GoodFellas
1990
2h 25m
★ 8.5
"It was the lady from the Sopranos and Goodfellas and then Sean Connery — Chuck was describing actors in a movie he couldn't remember the name of that involved searching for a cure in the jungle."
— Chuck
"It was the lady from the Sopranos and Goodfellas and then Sean Connery — Chuck was describing actors in a movie he couldn't remember the name of that involved searching for a cure in the jungle."
— Chuck
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