/oss/taxonomy/term/750/all en /oss/article/medical/placebos-are-harmless-right-not-always <hr /> <p><em>This article was originally posted in the</em> <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-placebos-are-harmless-right-not-always"><em>Montreal Gazette.</em></a></p> <hr /> <p>My last column on the<a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-placebo-effect-is-real-and-complicated"> placebo effect</a> generated the same comment from two people. They suggested the next article should be on nocebos — that is, placebos that cause harm.</p> Fri, 22 Dec 2023 11:00:00 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 9768 at /oss /oss/article/health-you-asked/does-policosanol-reduce-cholesterol <p>When you think of sugar, you don’t think of lowering cholesterol. But Cuban researchers do. In fact they think that a byproduct of the sugar industry, policosanol, is an effective alternative to prescription drugs in reducing blood cholesterol levels. Cuba has a large sugar cane industry, but world competition to sell sugar is fierce. Any profitable byproducts of the sugar producing industry are therefore most welcome. Cuba also has a significant pharmaceutical industry which has targeted the abundant sugar cane crop as a possible source of therapeutically useful compounds.</p> Sun, 18 Nov 2012 01:05:07 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1798 at /oss