/oss/taxonomy/term/5451/all en /oss/article/health-and-nutrition/taking-daily-aspirin-good-idea <hr /> <p>This article was originally published in the <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/christopher-labos-is-taking-a-daily-aspirin-a-good-idea">Montreal Gazette</a></p> Thu, 28 Oct 2021 19:15:15 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 8909 at /oss /oss/article/history-did-you-know/even-aspirin-doesnt-grow-trees <p>It is a common misconception that aspirin is found in the bark of the willow tree. A related compound called salicin does indeed occur in willow bark, thereby explaining the use of the bark as a medication since the time of Hippocrates. But salicin is very irritating to the stomach, a problem that prompted the Bayer company to look for an alternative. One of its chemists, Felix Hoffmann, synthesized acetylsalicylic acid in 1898 and found it to be a great improvement over other salicylates. A triumph of chemistry over nature!</p> Fri, 04 Jun 2021 20:27:32 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8756 at /oss