How Aspirin Changed Medicine Forever

Aspirin isn't just an old medicine cabinet stand-by, it's one of the oldest medicines we humans learned how to make ourselves. And our research into aspirin did more than just make it better at relieving pain, it opened the door to whole new disciplines of scientific research!

Hosted by: Hank Green

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[LokiTheAnsuz]

I still remember when I was a 10 year old kid and during the family Christmas dinner I said aspirin was invented thanks to willow bark. Everyone laughed at me and said I was drunk (we give kids cider on Christmas). I was the Christmas joke for years to come... Turns out, I was right lol

[pharmdiddy]

Coming from a pharmacist here... I really loved how thorough this was! You covered cyclooxygenase subtypes, prostaglandins, and newer research about other health benefits all while not using too much tech speak. Okay, now here's a challenge for you where do you stand on the 81 vs 162 mg a day thing? Is there ever a clinical situation where you would use over a hundred mg and not go right to 325?

[SunriseFireberry]

Heroin over the counter. History has had its low points, but some of the past was...incredibly high.

[carissstewart]

I want to know which genius in the distant past first said, "Og have headache. Eat tree bark."

[zxwmabcdef]

my grandmother has an old newspaper advertising Bayer Cocaine, Heroin, and Aspirin. It says "When you have pain reach for Bayer Cocaine, Heroin, and Aspirin".

[sebastianelytron]

I was aspirin' for a good SciShow topic today, not disappointed.

[WickedWildlife]

Video idea 💡 could you do a video on embryonic diapause in kangaroos!
Several kangaroo species can mate the day after they give birth, but freeze the embryo at only a few cells in suspended animation as a backup if they loose the first joey

[NATOSAH]

I never expected to be in my mid 30’s, sitting up at 4:30am watching a video about Aspirin- and totally ok with it.. Lol

[urgx]

Heroin was also a discovery by Bayer that was the product of acetylation. It’s acetylated morphine (diacetyl morphine). They discovered by simply acetylating morphine the result was a new molecule that was more potent; about three to five times, depending on who you ask.

[douglas]

Aspirin is still a game changer today; amazing how with all of the knowledge and medical advances the best headache medicine for me (by MILES) is Excedrin, which is simply a cocktail of 250mg of aspirin, 250mg of acetaminophen (Tylenol), and 65mg of caffeine. Aspirin alone works decently too, but nowhere near as well as the Excedrin cocktail. Still, incredible miracle drug.

[mommywithnokidsss]

Is it weird I use aspirin for period blocks and menstrual pain?? Often my period blood is way too thick and blobby so it hurts me a lot while it just sits there, trying to force itself out. It helps SO much! For any of you ladies out there who have trouble passing thick period blood, a 200-300 mg dosage at the beginning of my periods, makes SO much difference. Mine is very severe, so you might not need as high of a dosage as I do. If you have blood clotting or over-bleeding issues, this might be more dangerous for you than helpful. But if you know you're medically okay, but viscous periods make you suffer, give it a try. It has actually changed that part of my life completely!

[lukewilkinson]

So much chemistry in this one, I love it!!!

[robertschlesinger]

Superb video on aspirin. It may intetest viewers that the synthesis of aspirin has been a rather routine laboratory exercise for basic organic chemistry students for several decades. Native American Indians have had a long tradition of using Willow Bark in various preparations.

[bruced.]

I have to wonder if Wohler shouted "Ureaka" when he discovered what he'd done.

[DumbSkippy]

Hank and the team.... You write and produce amazing mini docos !
You've come so far since your EcoGeek days !

[Fuffzehn]

Wow this is one of the best videos you ever made imo. Keep up the awesome work!

[unicornswag]

Next Up: How Anabolic Steroids Changed Muscle Hank Forever

[thedevildick]

Nothing like a good history science lesson to end my day, thanks guys!

[gmanable]

I could add so much to this video!!!! i have studied aspirin for years. Since i worked on the Spanish flu. people didn't die of the flu but asprin overdose, Reyes syndrome.

[johnopalko]

We synthesized aspirin in Chem 102. Salicylic acid + acetic anhydride. We also made polystyrene. Fun class!
(We did a quantitative analysis on brandy once, but they wouldn't let us drink our unknowns.)