It may be hard to believe for the average 21st century citizen living in an environment saturated with synthetically derived chemical products -- including pesticides, plastics and pretty much portable anything -- but a mere 200 years ago there weren't any! It wasn't until the early 19th century that scientists really got a handle on exactly how chemical structures could be "engineered" and then mass produced.
The first chemical to be synthesized was a minuscule little molecule called "urea" and, as teeny as it was, the little structure was stupendously significant. It marked a milestone in human achievement; for the first time a chemical only found in the human body, and one with active biological properties, was man-made in a laboratory, developed de novo from a distinct "parent" chemical structure.
That was in 1828. From those humble beginnings, by the middle of the century, millions of chemicals were being produced around the world. It wasn't long before chemists started to turn their attention to substances that could be used to manipulate human metabolism and, come the end of the 1800s, the first manufactured synthetic drugs were being marketed. The race was on to discover more and more ways to make more and more biologically active chemicals.
In 1912, the European drug company Merck, whose American subsidiary had only opened 20 years prior, filed for a patent for a drug called "methylsafrylamin" that was to be used to control bleeding. The patent was granted in 1914 and, although there were periodic attempts to develop the drug as a blood clotting agent, that was pretty much the last anyone ever heard of "methylsafrylamin" until the late 1950s, an exciting and propitious period for pill producers. The promise of miracle drugs elicited great admiration from the medical community. With the culture in awe as well, and the drug industry had matured to become a multibillion dollar business.
Four people remained hospitalized Monday — two critically ill, two in serious condition — following a weekend overdose cluster involving Wesleyan University students and, apparently, a drug called "Molly."
Health experts and police were working to pinpoint the source of those drugs and confirm the precise chemical that caused 10 students and two visitors at the Connecticut college to require emergency medical attention early Sunday.
Molly might be a mystery to some Americans. But millions are believed to have used one form of it recreationally, experts say. Here are five crucial questions about what may sound like a harmless drug — but a substance with possibly life-threatening side effects.
What is Molly, and what is it not?
Many people have heard of the drug ecstasy. It's synthetic and, at least in the lab, it's known as MDMA, short for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Ecstasy gained popularity at nightclubs in 1980s and '90s. The pills gave users the euphoric high of amphetamines and the psychedelic effects of hallucinogens.
Molly, experts say, contains all MDMA in a crystalline powder contained in a capsule. So, it's a concentrated form of ecstasy, but users don't always know if it's truly "pure." Like all synthetic drugs, it could be diluted with other psychogenic substances.Read Full Article
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Trained not only in human health, but in animal health as well, Dr. Joel Wallach has observed results of the agricultural industry that eliminated 900 diseases in animals (that still plague humans) and doubled animal lifespans. In the first half of the show, he discussed the human body's innate ability to heal itself through natural means such as healthy diet and nutrition supplements. All human bodies require 90 essential nutrients-- specific vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids for health, longevity, strength, intelligence, and fighting off ailments, he said. "If we don't take these nutrients in either naturally or by supplementation, we get all kinds of manifestations of disease like Tourette's Syndrome, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, macular degeneration, and arthritis, he continued.
Wallach believes that many of the diseases that doctors say have a genetic cause, such as heart disease, are actually related to inflammation brought about by consuming such things as fried foods, gluten, oils, and processed meats. Diabetes is also not genetic, it's that the cells are missing a required mineral to understand insulin's message, he suggested. Regarding diet, people in Sardinia live some 30 years longer than Greeks and Italians because they eat a lot of goat's milk and goat's cheese, red wine, and sweet potatoes, and don't consume much wheat, pasta, and olive oil, he stated, adding that he considers all oils bad, as they oxidize and lead to inflammation.
In less than two minutes, Ben Fuchs discusses how treatments based on benzoyl peroxide work (its a poison!) and makes simple dietary recommendations to help keep skin healthy.
