6 scientists achieved brilliant achievements thanks to self-testing

For centuries, bold and curious scientists have been exploring the problem for themselves and using themselves to experiment in the process of discovering mysteries that have not been answered. This is a common practice in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially in the field of psychology and medicine.

Doctors at that time thought that when they experienced the effects caused by some specific drugs or diets, they could be trusted. Currently, although self-study and implementation on the body itself is no longer popular as before but still continues to be performed by some scientists.

Neurology and biology have the most self-researched and experimental scientists.

Here are 6 great events in the history of modern science done by researchers who are self-learning and experimenting on themselves.

1. The first hallucinogenic drug

Genius chemist Albert Hofmann was the first to synthesize powerful hallucinogens: lysergic diethylamide acid (LSD). But at the time, he did not know that the drug was capable of causing hallucinations and stimulating the nervous system. It was not until 1943 that he accidentally swallowed a small amount and began to hallucinate.

Albert Hofmann was the first to synthesize a powerful hallucinogen: lysergic diethylamide (LSD).

Realizing the importance of this discovery, he began to study further and experiment on himself." LSD " LSD caused his first intentional illusion and of human history as of April 19, 1943, when he drove his bike home from work while still " drugged".

"Now, even though I have closed my eyes, but in front of me still shows the colors and shapes that are constantly changing , " he recorded the experience of playing " LSD " in his diary. "The colorful images bloom like kaleidoscope, alternating and twisting and then spouting all things. It feels so great. I feel like I'm floating in that colorful world." .

He said that the special thing that hallucinogens cause to people who absorb it is that they will make sound perception (such as car or piano) become visual and color perception. Each sound has its own color, vivid and subtle.

2. Alcohol cure pills

Olivier Ameisen was an extremely successful cardiologist until he became addicted to alcohol due to work and life pressures. No one method at that time could make him stop drinking. While in despair, Ameisen came up with a unique idea: to experiment with yourself with baclofen, a chemical that relaxes muscles.

Ameisen experimented with baclofen, a chemical that relaxes muscles.

In the past, there have been some reports that baclofen has signs of reducing addiction in animals. But this problem has not been deeply studied and gradually sink into oblivion.

Ameisen continued to learn more about the subject and weighed his own dose of baclofen so that his alcohol cravings completely disappeared. It is thanks to him that thousands of "alcoholics" around the world have been cured.

3. Extremely powerful anesthetic

In 1898, the German surgeon named August Bier found that a dose of cocaine injected into the cerebrospinal fluid was as effective as a powerful anesthetic. To prove this, Bier asked an assistant to inject the drug into his head.

August Bier asked an assistant to inject drugs into his head when he realized cocaine use was as effective as a powerful anesthetic.

But the assistant made a serious mistake. Because of misidentification, the cerebrospinal fluid had flowed out of Bier's needle. But instead of giving up the experiment, Bier persisted. He ordered the two to change positions, meaning Bier would inject cocaine into the head of his assistant.

And the results were unexpected, although still awake, the assistant could not move even a finger. Bier used various tools to check the assistant's body sensation and he was extremely happy at the miraculous effect of this method.

4. Lose weight without trying

Neuroscientist Michael Graziano recently announced a weight loss study that he has done on himself for a long time. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate a method to help lose weight without any effort.

Graziano has developed a theory that if we try to diet, we will increase hunger.

Graziano has developed a theory that if we try to diet, we will increase hunger. This will give us a strong appetite and consume more food than a normal diet.

Graziano conducts experiments by avoiding foods that make us hungry (those that are high in carbohydrates), and using a variety of foods makes us long (fat). Besides, he ate enough to eat every meal. Result? He lost more than 18.6 kg (50 pounds) within 8 months without trying or fighting any will.

5. Cure allergies with parasitic worms

Do you have the courage to allow hookworms to parasitize on your skin, then they can go deep through the skin, live in the intestines and suck your blood to live? But immunologist and biologist David Pritchard did that in 2004, all for scientific research purposes.

Pritchard experimented on himself and recorded the progress of the study as evidence.

He had a theory that hookworm infection would reduce allergy and asthma symptoms. Pritchard has developed a complete theoretical framework and only one final step is a practical test on people. However, the Ethics Issues Committee does not allow him to do so because it is inhumane to study the parasite worm against humans.

Without giving up, Pritchard experimented on himself and recorded the progress of the study as evidence. The result is exactly what he predicted and the next experiments have been allowed to spread on a large scale. Thanks to him, many patients with severe allergies have relieved the disease without having to use drugs.

6. The first surgery in the world

On February 15, 1921, American surgeon Evan O'Neill Kane was lying on an operating table waiting for surgery to remove the appendix. Suddenly, Kane came up with a very crazy idea: Can he do the surgery for himself?

Kane pecks out his own stomach and cuts out the appendix.

He ordered doctors and nurses to inject into his abdomen a mixture of cocaine and adrenaline to numb. Kane then pecked himself out and removed the appendix. The entire surgery ended well within half an hour. The only problem encountered during the surgery was Kane's gut that was spilled out because he bowed too much forward. However, this did not cause any harm and after the surgery, he recovered very quickly.