Health

Riches to rags: How the Buddha’s journey to enlightenment reimagined neurotherapeutics

Culture, Health, World / /

The accumulation of years, cognitive and physical decline, and reckoning with death’s inevitability drew the spoon-fed prince Siddhartha Gautama away from a life of copious riches and political popularity. While embarking outside his palace, the sight of a humble ascetic inspired a quest to understand the universal experience of suffering, or in other words, life. […]

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Fishing for happiness: Omega-3 and seasonal affective disorder

Environment, Health, Psychology / /

As the days get shorter and the weather colder, keeping that frown upside down becomes an arduous task. While you might think you have what it takes to bear the elements through sheer willpower, your genetics and neurochemistry disagree.  Studies of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in Iceland and in various regions globally show that genetics

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Our brains on psychedelics: Getting creative in the treatment of mental illnesses

Health, Psychology, World / /

Bill Wilson co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous in the 1930s. He had struggled with alcoholism since his early twenties and depression even longer. But while AA helped Wilson recover from alcoholism, he remained frustrated with available mental health treatments. So, in the ‘50s, he began collaborating with psychologist Betty Eisner and discovered the power of LSD. In

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Journeying through healthcare inequality in South Africa

Health, World / /

Walk through an average South African hospital, and you’ll see crowded waiting rooms full of unstable patients. Meet the diverse patients hailing from the largest cities and the smallest villages. Admire the nurses who work tirelessly to provide care despite staffing shortages and crumbling hospital infrastructure.  Drive ten minutes through the city and arrive at

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Worth a (Microneedle) Shot: How dissolvable microneedle vaccine patches are changing the future of healthcare

Health / /

Shots are never fun. Many people experience anxiety right up until the needle pierces their skin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fear of needles prevents people from getting life-saving vaccinations each day. However, advancement in vaccine delivery technology is making it possible to receive these vaccinations without a needle. Transdermal

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