/oss/taxonomy/term/542/all en /oss/article/medical-critical-thinking/rooting-out-curcumin-problems <p>Divide some laboratory rabbits into three groups. Feed one group normal rabbit chow, the second group a high cholesterol diet, and the third group a high cholesterol diet supplemented with 0.2% curcumin. After eight weeks take blood samples, sacrifice the bunnies, and examine their aortas for atherosclerotic deposits. That’s a typical animal experiment to test the potential of curcumin, the compound responsible for the yellow colour of turmeric, as being possibly beneficial in reducing the risk of heart disease.</p> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9687 at /oss /oss/article/covid-19-health/ginkgo-has-not-been-shown-treat-covid-19 <p>There is a word more and more popular in science communication circles: pre-bunking. There is so much bunk out there—misinformation, lies and unwarranted hype—that it always feels like we are playing catch-up. The idea of pre-bunking is to get in front of the bunk and warn people in advance so they can recognize the signs of rubbish when they see them. A sort of vaccine for the mind, if you will.</p> Wed, 05 May 2021 17:21:33 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 8721 at /oss /oss/article/pseudoscience-reviews/genetic-astrology-naturopath-ben-lynch <p>Are you Hufflepuff or Gryffindor? Erudite or Dauntless? Or maybe you know your Myers-Briggs Type to be ESTP? Or how about plain old astrology? Are you a Capricorn?</p> <p>Belonging to a discreet category can be reassuring to many people. We’re told we have <i>these</i> traits but not <i>those</i> traits, and we get a cool label we can use to recognize other members of our in-group. It provides clarity and security. But while I have seen genes that cause cancer, I had never seen Cancer in genes… until I read Ben Lynch’s book, <i>Dirty Genes</i>.</p> Tue, 26 Nov 2019 21:38:09 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 8008 at /oss /oss/article/health-nutrition-quackery/cracked-science-05-who-created-cancer-good-thing-montrealhealthygirl <p></p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"></div> Thu, 10 May 2018 18:21:39 +0000 Jonathan Jarry, MSc 7078 at /oss /oss/article/quackery/cracked-science-01uc-irvine-and-integrative-medicine <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-2"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-pormuylhtxu" width="640" height="390" title="UC Irvine and Integrative Medicine (CS03)" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/PoRmUYlHTXU?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-pormuylhtxu&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="UC Irvine and Integrative Medicine (CS03)" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of UC Irvine and Integrative Medicine (CS03)</iframe> </div> </p> Wed, 09 May 2018 21:54:24 +0000 Jonathan Jarry, MSc 7060 at /oss /oss/article/health-quackery/pharmacies-blur-line-between-sense-and-nonsense-0 <p>I was technically on vacation but when I saw the words “integrative pharmacy”, I knew I had to take a look.</p> <p><span>I was in Vancouver for a science communication conference and decided to spend two extra days exploring the city. What this means for a skeptical science communicator like me is to stay away from anything that might trigger an idea, any bit of pseudoscience that would turn my vacation into a work day. No dice. I was eating lunch, turned my head and, outside the window, I could see the sign.</span></p> <p><span>“Pure Integrative Pharmacy.”</span></p> Thu, 26 Apr 2018 19:00:00 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 7043 at /oss /oss/article/quackery/cancer-good-thing-says-montreals-own-food-babe <p>“CANCER IS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING!!!”</p> <p>It’s not every day that I encounter a statement that physically deforms my face. I believe the right word is “aghast”.</p> <p>I have become immune to the commonplace claims of naturopaths, homeopaths, and other merchants of quackery. I have heard of the diluted substances that allegedly cure, of the homunculus found on the sole of our feet which can apparently serve as proxy for our liver and lungs, of the magical power of positive thinking.</p> <p>But cancer depicted as a hero, complete with all caps and exclamation marks?</p> Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:09:52 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 6940 at /oss /oss/article/health-news-quackery-technology-you-asked/physioscan-latest-hype-or-just-old-news-naturopathy <p>Here is the question that came our way: “Is Physioscan the latest hype or just old news in Naturopathy?” I had never heard of PhysioScan so I looked into it. At first I thought it was a joke. Actually, it is. It’s just that it wasn’t designed to be a joke. So what is “PhysioScan?” It’s a computerized device designed to..…well, let them tell you what it is supposed to do:</p> Tue, 25 Jun 2013 22:20:50 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1969 at /oss /oss/article/news-quackery-you-asked/you-asked-what-are-bach-flower-remedies <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bach_flower_remedies#Use">Bach flower remedies</a> have been around for close to a hundred years and were the brainchild of Edward Bach a British physician. Actually, there doesn’t seem to have been much “brain” involved in the development of this curious alternative healing method. Bach was a traditionally trained physician who became disenchanted with the way medicine was being practiced and began a search for novel healing methods.</p> Tue, 23 Dec 2014 06:16:13 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2223 at /oss /oss/article/news-quackery/naturopathic-medicine-your-primary-form-healthcare-i-dont-think-so <p>Do you think that naturopathic medicine should be replaced as our primary form of health care? No? Neither does Dr. Joe Schwarcz, a well-recognized professor and author at ���ϲ����� University.  However many people think that naturopathic medicine is a legitimate fit for our health care system, therefor Dr.</p> Tue, 22 May 2012 15:32:26 +0000 Sasha Selby 1699 at /oss