Season 2 · Episode 28
The Apothecary Diaries · S2E28
Aired on January 31, 2025
Science entries in this episode
Bear Bile
Why did bear bile, a traditional TCM remedy, lead to a modern drug? UDCA dissolves gallstones and treats the liver.
False Pregnancy
A swollen belly, missing periods, milk without pregnancy: The Apothecary Diaries describes pseudocyesis. The hormonal and psychological mechanism.
The Glass Mirror
Why does a glass mirror give a far sharper image than polished bronze? The history of Venetian silvering and the chemistry of mirror-making.