/oss/taxonomy/term/2633/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/quackery-trotter-public-science-symposium/get-ready-trottier-public-science-symposium <p>When John Milton wrote in Paradise Lost that the mind can make a heaven of hell and a hell of heaven, without realizing it, he was talking about the “placebo” and the “nocebo” effect. “Placebo” comes from the Latin “I will please” and refers to a situation whereby a beneficial effect on the body comes about as a result of mental activity. The classic example is relief of pain from a sugar pill when the patient believes that a real medication has been administered.</p> Mon, 16 Oct 2017 15:44:44 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 5358 at /oss /oss/article/environment-health-you-asked/are-wind-farms-really-bad-peoples-health <p>At present wind turbines produce a little over 2% of Canada’s electricity.  The industry’s goal is to have this number go up to 20% by 2025 leading to a rapid expansion of wind farms around the country.  In Ontario, wind power for the first time has surpassed coal in the production of electricity. This is good news in terms of greenhouse gas emission but it may come at a cost. More and more people living nearby, blame wind turbines for a variety of health problems.  The symptoms vary but include sleep deprivation, anxiety, depression and increased blood pressure.</p> Sun, 17 Feb 2013 02:40:02 +0000 Ariel Fenster PhD 1874 at /oss