/oss/taxonomy/term/2475/all en /oss/article/critical-thinking/peppermint-oils-pseudo-high <p>Burt’s Bees is my all-time favourite lip balm. I always keep a tube in my bag (sometimes more than one). So, when I found myself on the Burt’s Bees side of TikTok, I was excited to see that other people were raving about this same product. Except there’s a catch — they were applying the product to their eyelids instead of their lips, explaining that they felt a buzz that was perfect for a night out. Upon clicking the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/beezin?lang=en">Beezin’ tag</a> on TikTok, I saw there were a combined 18.4 million views for these types of videos!</p> Fri, 23 Dec 2022 11:00:00 +0000 Cat Wang, B.Sc. 9340 at /oss /oss/article/videos/right-chemistry-essential-facts-essential-oils <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-zvosxdvizoy" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz: Essential facts on essential oils" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/zvoSxdVIzoY?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-zvosxdvizoy&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz: Essential facts on essential oils" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz: Essential facts on essential oils</iframe> </div> </p> Mon, 26 Aug 2019 14:57:53 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7884 at /oss /oss/article/health-technology/why-mosquitos-bite-you-and-how-make-them-stop <p>Summertime means hammocks, BBQs, fireworks, and mosquito bites.</p> <p>At least it does for me. Those rotten little suckers seem to just love me. They’ll flock to me even when there are three other people sitting in my backyard. What is it about my blood that they seem to enjoy so much?!</p> <p>Let’s take a look at the science behind mosquitos and try to answer two questions: Why do mosquitos bite certain people, and what should we do to make them stop?</p> Fri, 05 Jul 2019 17:56:40 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7820 at /oss /oss/article/quackery/skeptics-vacation-hell-quite-relaxing-nonetheless <p>Being a skeptic has downsides. Try going to a spa and relaxing.</p> <p>A few summers ago, I needed to unwind and temporarily disconnect from the virtual world, so I decided to treat myself to a three-day stay at a spa resort outside the city. I told myself, "I am not going there to work. I will not take notes. I will ignore the woo and relax."</p> Tue, 21 Aug 2018 15:58:50 +0000 Jonathan Jarry, MSc 7314 at /oss /oss/article/health-you-asked/are-all-oils-essential-are-essential-oils-even-oils <p><span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil">Oils</a></span><span> are defined as any net uncharged chemical substance that is a thick liquid at room temperature and is both hydrophobic (does not mix with water) and lipophilic (does mix with fats, or lipids). When we think of them, our minds tend to focus on the kitchen: olive, canola or peanut oil. But there are also oils in your garage (motor oil), bathroom (conditioner) and your art collection (oil paints).</span></p> Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:02:47 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7152 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-history/aromatherapy <p>The term “aromatherapy” was first coined in 1937 by Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist, whose badly burned arm was supposedly miraculously cured by the use of lavender oil. Jean Valnet decided to further investigate the medicinal benefits of essential oils by applying them to soldiers’ wounds during World War II. Today, essential oils are still used for their healing properties and as a form of therapy with claims such as eucalyptus aiding in the prevention of colds and flu while a blend of ylang ylang with grapefruit relieving stress.</p> Wed, 31 May 2017 14:40:15 +0000 OSS 2514 at /oss