/oss/taxonomy/term/1153/all en /oss/article/medical-critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/no-traditional-chinese-medicine-has-not-been-vindicated-science <p>People love to show that skeptics were wrong about something, especially when national pride hangs in the balance.</p> Fri, 10 Nov 2023 16:08:05 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 9718 at /oss /oss/article/health-general-science/science-basil <p>Sir Francis Bacon, an important figure in the development of the scientific method, claimed in his work on natural history that<a href="https://www.google.cat/books?id=Tv4rAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA248&dq=editions:HARVARDHN6ADI&hl=ca&output=html_text&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4"> </a><a href="https://www.google.cat/books?id=Tv4rAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA248&dq=editions:HARVARDHN6ADI&hl=ca&output=html_text&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4">when a basil plant was exposed too much to the sun</a>, it became wild thyme.</p> Sat, 11 Sep 2021 08:00:00 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 8840 at /oss /oss/article/history/under-microscope-rose-petals <p>Nowadays roses are mostly used for Bachelorette ceremonies and hipster lattes, but once upon a time roses, and their fruit, rose hips, were widely used as medicines.<br /> Diarrhodon is the name given to herbal treatments containing roses, and there are lots of them, said to treat everything from liver problems to heart problems to digestion issues. Traditional Chinese medicine made use of the China rose for regulating menstruation, pain relief, thyroid problems and diarrhea.<br /></p> Mon, 06 May 2019 17:58:23 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7746 at /oss /oss/article/nutrition/spice-life <p>Very few of us would argue against the notion that spices (and to a lesser extent, their leafy cousins, herbs) play an important role in our culinary preferences. These days it would be almost unthinkable to make a dish that is completely devoid of our standard ‘go-tos’ from the aptly named spice cabinet in the kitchen, such as a spaghetti sauce without oregano and thyme or a cauliflower soup without some cumin… or just about any prepared dish for that matter, without the omnipresence of pepper, garlic and onion.</p> Tue, 23 Oct 2018 18:01:09 +0000 Adam Oliver Brown PhD 7404 at /oss /oss/article/health-quackery/can-bitter-melon-treat-type-2-diabetes <p><span><span>What on Earth is bitter melon?</span></span></p> <p><span>Good question. I certainly didn’t know before researching this article. Let’s start with some basics.</span></p> Thu, 21 Jun 2018 17:00:30 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7147 at /oss /oss/article/food-health-history-quirky-science/forget-licorice-prostate-problems <p style="text-align:justify"><a href="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/files/2013/07/licorice.jpg"><img alt="licorice" height="150" src="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/files/2013/07/licorice-150x150.jpg" width="150" /></a>A 67-year-old Chinese man sought medical help in a Taipei hospital because of progressive muscular weakness. Aside from somewhat elevated blood pressure he had been in good health. Doctors could find no abnormality except for a very low level of potassium in the blood. The man revealed that he had been taking a Chinese herbal remedy for his enlarged prostate. It turned out the remedy contained licorice root. Licorice has a long history in Chinese herbal medicine as a general healing agent. While the accounts of miraculous cures are highly suspect, glycyrrhizic acid, the active principle in the licorice root certainly does have physiological effects. Licorice was one of the first drugs used in the treatment of Addison's disease by western physicians. This is an ailment of the adrenal glands which results in reduced production of cortisol, a hormone that helps regulate blood pressure and water retention. It turns out that glycyrrhizic acid interferes with an enzyme that normally breaks down excess cortisol in the kidney. If you are really interested, the enzyme in question is 11-betahydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2!</p> <p><a href="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/2013/07/25/forget-licorice-for-prostate-problems">Read more</a></p> Thu, 25 Jul 2013 23:56:14 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1991 at /oss /oss/article/environment-quirky-science-supplements/mystique-parsley-sage-rosemary-and-thyme <div> <p style="text-align:justify"> </p> </div> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 22:29:30 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2123 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/does-taking-supplement-maca-root-have-any-merit <p>A good story can sell a product especially when it comes to dietary supplements. Talk about some legendary use by natives, throw in terms like increased stamina, improved mood, natural and aphrodisiac, and you are off and running to the marketplace. Maca root powder, here we come! Maca is grown mostly in Peru and its cooked root, with a composition much like wheat or rice, has a long history as a dietary staple. But it is stories about the enhanced virility of Inca warriors who supposedly downed maca root before going into battle that captured the imaginnation of supplement manufacturers.</p> Sun, 05 Jul 2015 00:20:09 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2273 at /oss /oss/article/environment-food-health-history/love-it-or-hate-it <p>When it comes to food, everyone has likes and dislikes. Chocolate generally gets favourable comments, spinach less so. But no flavour seems to elicit the degree of polarizing comments as that of cilantro.</p> Sat, 13 Feb 2016 01:10:56 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2318 at /oss /oss/article/health-history/hype-hope-and-ginseng <p>Probably what first attracted the Chinese to the odd looking root was its shape. It had a decidedly human appearance and was therefore given the name "ginseng," meaning "man- like." The uncanny resemblance to the body undoubtedly encouraged experimentation with ingestion and led to the first recording of claims about beneficial effects. Ancient Chinese manuscripts speak of ginseng brightening the eyes, opening the heart, invigorating the body and prolonging life. Since that time, the claims have become even more extravagant.</p> Sun, 25 Nov 2012 04:30:51 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1831 at /oss