/oss/taxonomy/term/1594/all en /oss/article/critical-thinking-general-science/let-us-talk-about-lettuce-water <p>Macbeth knew about sleep deprivation, as we can infer from his thoughts in the second scene of Act 2.  </p> <p style="text-align:center"><em>Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care, </em></p> <p style="text-align:center"><em>The death of each day's life, sore labor's bath, </em></p> <p style="text-align:center"><em>Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, </em></p> <p style="text-align:center"><em>Chief nourisher in life's feast. </em></p> Wed, 06 Dec 2023 18:02:30 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9750 at /oss /oss/article/critical-thinking-pseudoscience/magnesium-supplements-sleep-may-not-work-dream <p>Everywhere I turn these days, an influencer is trying to sell me magnesium supplements. Apparently, all of us who find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep all night are missing the boat. The answer is a simple mineral available as a dietary supplement: the all-mighty magnesium.</p> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 13:09:25 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 9649 at /oss /oss/article/medical/melatonin-safe-sleeping-aid <hr /> <p><em>This article was originally posted in the <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-is-melatonin-safe-as-a-sleeping-aid">Montreal Gazette.</a></em></p> Fri, 05 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 9501 at /oss /oss/article/health-pseudoscience/reflexology-research-doesnt-put-its-best-foot-forward <p>Imagine you have appendicitis. You are rushed to the hospital where a surgeon needs to operate on you to remove your appendix which is full of bacteria and ready to burst. Only, instead of a classically trained surgeon, you are operated on by a doctor who studied the Morrell method of surgery, where they were taught the appendix is in the right thigh. Meanwhile, at a hospital across town, a different surgeon uses the Vaxuflex method of surgery, which uses a map of the body where the appendix is underneath the clavicles. One thing both surgeons agree on: they can help you.</p> Fri, 07 May 2021 22:04:48 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 8724 at /oss /oss/article/health/sleepy-science-there-best-position-sleep <p>One thing is very clear. If you are a baby, you should be <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/childhood-adolescence/stages-childhood/infancy-birth-two-years/safe-sleep/safe-sleep-your-baby-brochure.html#back-to-sleep">sleeping on your back</a>. Infants who sleep on their back, as opposed to their stomachs, have a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).</p> Wed, 27 Feb 2019 17:06:37 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 7613 at /oss /oss/article/health/when-it-comes-insomnia-theres-no-shortage-advice <p><span>O sleep! O gentle sleep! / </span><span>Nature’s soft nurse, how have I frightened thee, / </span><span>That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down / </span><span>And steep my senses in forgetfulness?</span></p> Sun, 13 Apr 2014 14:31:53 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2127 at /oss /oss/article/news/put-sock-it-dr-oz <p>Dr. Oz is being sued. Not for dispensing silly advice about "natural" weight loss supplements. Not for shamelessly promoting "Dr.Oz's homeopathic kit." Not for having nutcase Joe Mercola on his show. Not for having guests who claim to talk to the dead. But for giving advice about improving sleep by wearing socks filled with hot uncooked rice. Apparently Oz opined that wearing rice-filled socks that had been microwaved for twenty minutes is better than counting sheep. He did warn that care has to be taken that the rice doesn't get too hot.</p> Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:02:42 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1898 at /oss