Brutal and Gross Treatments We Still Use

We Are Not So Modern as You Might Think

When we think of ourselves as modern men, we pride ourselves in having gotten rid of all that primitive stuff we used to do.

After all, we aren’t Neanderthals; we are Homo sapiens.

But despite our advancements, we are still somewhat of Neanderthals roaming around Earth (not to mention that we have 1–2% of their DNA).

Here are some treatments that prove we are not as modern as you might have thought.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

The Italians gave us pizza, pasta, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

In the 1940s, when patients weren’t getting part of their brains taken out, they were getting electrocuted. Slowly, as new therapy forms were found, ECT lost a lot of its uses. But still, the procedure was somewhat popular in the 1980s.

I know what you are thinking. You’ve seen the movies, and you think that such a thing should be illegal. But ECT is still effective in treating depression, mania, and catatonia.

To paraphrase the psychiatrist who gave us classes: “If I were depressed and suicidal, gas me up and hook me up because that thing would get me out of depression the fastest.” And let me tell you, it is true.

I saw patients being put to sleep and getting ECT. When they woke up, they were confused. But they improved faster. I could not believe it. In fact, some could rebound into a state of mania.

To my surprise, the procedure is safe and not at all dramatic like in the movies. And I agree with my teacher. If I ever get severe depression, I’ll get in line.

But don’t take my word for it. Here is what American Psychiatric Association says.

“Extensive research has found ECT to be highly effective for the relief of major depression. Clinical evidence indicates that for individuals with uncomplicated, but severe major depression, ECT will produce substantial improvement in approximately 80 percent of patients.” -APA, Psychiatry.org

Poop Transplant

Yes, you read it right. Fecal transplant. It is no joke; this therapy can save lives.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Am I right?

There is a bacterium named Clostridium difficile which, as the uncreative name suggests, may be difficult to treat. These bacteria are usually treated with antibiotics. But if you get the stubborn variety; they will come back.

The problem with these bacteria is that they overgrow and mess with our bacterial flora. There are bacteria inhabiting our gut that are necessary for our well-being. They even produce vitamins.

In such cases, where C. difficile is persistent, a fecal transplant may be necessary. The most common donors are family and friends, but they don’t have to be.

If that is gross, you can always get it from a poop bank — or stool bank.

Most importantly though, if you ever find yourself in need of this treatment, do not despair. You don’t have to gulp down a shot of your brother’s predigested dinner. Luckily, it goes in through the other way. According to webmd.com, this is done by colonoscopy and under anesthesia.

There are other diseases where a fecal transplant may be useful: Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease are two such examples.

Bloodletting

The once panacea still has its uses today.

There is a rare type of cancer named Polycythemia Vera. It is an uncontrolled replication of red blood cells. Basically, your bone marrow makes too many and turns your blood thick. High viscous blood can cause clots leading to strokes, heart attacks, and blockage of many vessels.

To control the red blood cells, physicians bleed you out — or they perform phlebotomies.

They let the blood out just enough until the patient reaches normal levels.

Colon as an Esophagus

In cases where the esophagus turns into cancer. The esophagus must be removed, but still, something must do the job.

What would you use? Another tube of course, so surgeons decided that the colon is a candidate.

But don’t worry, in this case, someone else’s colon isn’t used.

A part of your colon is used as an own transplant (autograft) and serves as an esophagus. Obviously, the surgery has its complications. I assume it is reserved for more severe cases.

Trepanation

In earlier cultures, opening a hole in your head was done so spirits would leave. It also had other spiritual and ritualistic reasons.

In our modern era, craniotomy is used instead. It is used to relieve intracranial pressure.

After trauma, the vessels in our brain can break and build collections of blood — hematomas. They cause the pressure to build up.

But holes aren’t drilled like ages ago, it is more of an opening instead.

Studies, such as an MRI or lumbar puncture, are done prior to the procedure.

Once the diagnosis is done, a craniotomy is done in an operating room — under aseptic conditions. The opening is left while you are at risk or the pressure is still elevated. Once the risk is out, it is then closed back up.