Science presenter and journalist Dr Michael Mosley was well-known not just for his knowledge, energy and fervour as a broadcaster, but additionally for conducting experiments on himself. From swallowing tapeworm eggs to disabling areas of the brain, Mosley joined other medical pioneers who weren’t afraid to use their bodies to learn more about them.
“The Father of Medicine”, Hippocrates – and more vital figures from the history of China, India, Egypt and Arabia – recorded in some patients excessive thirst, urination and weight reduction. These symptoms are related to the disease diabetes, a metabolic disorder involving high blood sugar levels. The term “diabetes” refers to increased urination, and the Latin word “” means sweet as honey.
One of the ways Hippocrates examined his patients was: urine taste sweet. And he wasn’t the only historical medical figure to pass away Bear Grylls to pee. Ancient Indian physician Shushruta (circa 500 BC) described the sweet taste of diabetic urine as “madhumeha” or honey urine. In the seventeenth century, although a British physician Thomas Willis called diabetes “an annoying evil”, actually seemed to like the taste of diabetic urine, which he described as “extremely sweet” and “wonderfully sweetlike sugar or honey.” I need to know who actually did the whole tasting.
Did Hippocrates take a sip himself or as an alternative offer it to his patient to try? If the doctors actually tasted the urine sample, it might be one in every of the earliest examples of dedication to the cause. Very noble, but as a doctor I’m glad it is not a part of the Hippocratic Oath today.
Agony and ecstasy
Self-experimentation will be controversial but he made significant contributions to modern medicine.
In the Eighties, physician Barry Marshall noticed a connection between gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) and the bacteria. Marshall’s research was initially garbage and was refused publication in clinical journals – so he took matters into his own hands.
By consuming a solution containing , Marshall was able to display that the bacteria caused widespread inflammation. He also established a link between the occurrence of stomach ulcers. It was ultimately published shortly thereafter that Marshall and his collaborator Robin Warren received the award Nobel Prize in 2005. Thanks to Marshall’s self-test will be easily treated with antibiotics and other medications.
Other doctors have deliberately infected themselves with viruses and bacteria to study their spread or effects, including: cholera, CampylobacterAND yellow fever.
In addition to discovering the causes and diagnosing conditions, self-experimentation has led to the development and availability of many essential treatments. Take a commonly used local anesthetic lidocainewhich prevents patients from feeling pain during surgical procedures without the negative effects of general anesthesia. It was developed in the Forties by Swedish chemists Nils Löfgren and Bengt Lundqvist – Lundqvist he tested the product on himself.
Other experiments included synthesizing and testing recent drugs, testing vaccines, and developing key treatments and surgeries. Many scientists investigated the effects of recent compounds as drugs through self-medication and chronicling the effects, including chemist Alexander Shulgin. Shulgin – referred to as “godfather of ecstasy” – I tested the drug myself before introducing it to psychologists to be used in talk therapies.
Some others weren’t as successful. French researcher Daniel Zagury injected himself and several other other volunteers with potential AIDS vaccine, which, although hailed as “bold” and “exciting” at the time, didn’t work. Other self-experimenting researchers have unintentionally stumbled upon vital recent discoveries. When developing a recent antimicrobial drug, Danish group they tested it on themselves and located that consuming it with alcohol causes unpleasant effects. This led to development disulfirama drug still used to treat alcohol addiction.
Perhaps a Victorian physiologist Joseph Barcroft is one in every of the most prolific self-experimenters. His repertoire ranges from studying the effects of cyanide gas to blood oxygenation in extreme conditions and the body’s response to hypothermia – he tested the whole lot on himself.
Dr. Michael Mosley: Human guinea pig
So Michael Mosley followed the well-trodden path, if ethically questionable, a path to using your body as a testing ground for medical research. He was really committed to getting one for the team.
In 2014, Mosley became infected tapeworm larvae understand their impact on the human body.
Imagine feeding a second mouth in your stomach that absorbs the calories you are taking in. There have been tapeworms introduced to the market How weight reduction product for over a century. Because Mosley gained two kilos during the experiment, which suggests that perhaps tapeworms are an ineffective weight reduction agent, and in addition very dangerous.
Moseley really helpful periodic fasting and the so-called 5:2 weight-reduction plan after following the regime. Although the weight-reduction plan has been attracting ever since dispute, tests suggests that intermittent fasting may not only aid weight reduction, but additionally reverse type 2 diabetes in some patients.
Mosey was a part of a wealthy medical tradition of self-experimentation, joining those whose commitment and fearlessness were enough to test the scientific method in the most personal way possible.