Discussing the "Old Friends Hypothesis" and the therapeutic potential of helminths (parasitic worms) in treating chronic inflammatory disorders, particularly Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and allergies. The hygiene hypothesis, a precursor to the "Old Friends Hypothesis," suggests that reduced exposure to microbes and infections in modern societies has led to a failure in immunoregulation, resulting in increased autoimmune and allergic conditions. Several studies, including a systematic review, investigate helminth therapy, such as using Trichuris suis ova (TSO) or Necator americanus, as a novel treatment due to the worms' ability to induce an anti-inflammatory tolerance in the host by increasing regulatory T cells and anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10 and TGF-β. While most clinical trials found the therapy to be safe and tolerable, the evidence regarding its efficacy for IBD is mixed and inconclusive, although research continues into using specific helminth products as potential drug candidates.

Discussing the "chemical imbalance" theory of major depressive disorder (MDD), particularly focusing on the serotonin hypothesis, and explore alternative mechanisms and treatments. A key theme is the strong challenge to the long-standing idea that depression is caused simply by low serotonin levels, citing a major 2022 systematic review which found no convincing evidence for this etiology. Sources detail the history and development of monoamine-based antidepressant drugs, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, and note that these drugs affect neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine, though their mechanism is likely related to modulating emotional processing and promoting synaptic plasticity rather than directly fixing a simple deficit. Finally, we introduce the emerging focus on the glutamatergic system (involving compounds like ketamine) as a rapid-acting therapeutic target for MDD, especially for treatment-resistant patients, and note that healthcare providers are the most influential source in perpetuating the oversimplified "chemical imbalance" narrative among the public.

Offering a historical and critical examination of diabetes research and treatment, particularly focusing on the role of diet and the management of insulin. This documents the dramatic increase in diabetes prevalence since the mid-twentieth century and critiques the long-standing medical consensus that often prioritized high-carbohydrate, low-fat diets and insulin therapy, even for Type 2 diabetes patients who exhibit high insulin levels. Historical accounts detail early dietary approaches, such as the animal-based diets for diabetes management, and the controversies surrounding the discovery and use of insulin after the 1920s. Furthermore, this explores alternative therapeutic approaches, including carbohydrate-restricted diets, citing studies that show their effectiveness in controlling blood sugar and reducing medication needs, suggesting that deeply entrenched medical beliefs about nutrition and obesity may be flawed.