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Learning from Others' Experiences
The gold standard of research is learning from the experiences of people suffering the same illness, condition or injury that you are suffering. You can learn about other people's specific symptoms and situations and read detailed descriptions of what has and has not worked for them. You will want to read the experiences of dozens if not hundreds of people, not only to see trends of what works for people with your condition but also to discover how people have overcome hurdles that might apply to you also. Specifically, read comments made in Facebook groups. Examples:
To find groups, enter the type of group that you are seeking in the Facebook search bar; e.g., "type-1 diabetes group". Look for groups with intriguing names, as general support groups are not likely to tell you anything your doctor hasn't already told you. YouTube Channels Many of the the most insightful functional-medicine doctors and experts have YouTube channels and Facebook pages. Examples:
We are not saying that the above experts are right or wrong or that we agree or disagree with them. Rather, these experts provide a range of views that might get you thinking about health from different angles. Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT and other AI models open health to the non-specialist:
An example of asking ChatGPT to explain blood tests for iron
The negative aspect of AI models is that they are often trained on outdated concepts and will push an agenda that was inherent to their training. For instance, an AI model might insist that saturated fat is inherently bad for you before backing down and admitting that it is repeating a narrative that was never supported by evidence. Therefore, AI models are best used for learning the concepts and language surrounding your condition and understanding how doctors might view your illness. This will give you confidence in making your own decisions about your health. As of May 2025, the Cellular Medicines' website will have its own AI Health Discovery chatbot, accessible at the bottom right of each page. The chatbot is powered by ChatGPT, but it is directed toward the latest practical health information from world experts, which other AI models are not sufficiently trained on. Classical Study If you want in-depth explanations of vitamins and minerals and diseases associated with their deficiencies, a comprehensive series of videos is provided by: If you want to learn the science of the body, a remarkable educator is:
And if you want to understand the science of soil and the nutrients therein, a brilliant educator is Dr Elaine Ingham: Peer-reviewed Studies Largely speaking, peer-reviewed studies (papers) do not suggest new treatments. Instead, papers are written after treatments have long shown promise. They are thus not your source for the latest breakthroughs in health science. However, if you want to begin reading papers to get an academic perspective on health:
Other Considerations when Reading Research In reading research, keep in mind that health science has been compartmentalized, with experts in one field rarely talking to experts in another field. This approach is not well suited to understanding the complexities of human health. As such, much of your progress will involve piecing together information. Also keep in mind that your average doctor will not be interested in the papers that you read and what you discover. Few doctors are scientists or scientifically minded. Finally, we best keep in mind how much science, particularly health science and medicine, is censored.
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