/oss/taxonomy/term/282/all en /oss/article/health-and-nutrition-trotter-public-science-symposium/laughter-best-medicine <p>“Laughter is the best medicine!” That’s an old adage, maybe even dating back to the biblical era. The book of Proverbs in the Old Testament proposes that “a  merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” An intriguing concept! Is there any science behind it? It seems there is. The body and the mind are connected. And that is just what we are going to explore in this year’s “Trottier Public Science Symposium” with speakers Drs. Marla Shapiro, Amir Raz and Patch Adams. Let’s get you started with a little laughter right here.</p> Thu, 19 Oct 2017 15:39:43 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 5925 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/what-are-endorphins <p>Endorphins, molecules produced by the pituitary and hypothalamus glands to produce pain relief and a sense of well-being. The name derives from “endogenous morphine,” meaning internally produced morphine. A very appropriate description, because the identification of these compounds stemmed from the discovery that that molecules isolated from opium, such as morphine, provided pain relief by stimulating receptors on nerve cells. Receptors are specific protein molecules that are configured to bind to opiates.</p> Fri, 10 Jun 2011 18:34:36 +0000 Joe Schwarcz 1554 at /oss