Heresay (not to be confused with heresy) is information that you hear from others with no proper substantiation. The dictionary defines heresay as rumour.

There is perhaps no other field but health where heresay is at it's most destructive and epidemic form; perhaps for the reason that easy health is very much sought after, thus creating a big demand for heresay. This creates negative loop: since most heresays are wrong information, practising it doesn't just fail to resolve the problem, but aggravates it creating more demand for a solution. This generates more heresay and the loop continues.

We advise you to not practice or propagate heresay for the following reasons:

• Most often, the information is wrong.
• Even if it is is right,
  • practising it without due diligence will only develop the habit of heresay,
  • or your condition may be different thus bringing an unexpected outcome to the practice.
• Otherwise, the information could be just hyperbole.

Wrong Information

Most heresays come from Internet search engines, online articles, social media posts and general conversations. These are merely media for people (literally anyone) to post anything.

Search engines like Google curate information from many websites that are considered popular (not factual) by their algorithms. This does not imply accuracy; therefore the information cannot be trusted without due diligence.

Online articles that feed these search engines can be written by anyone with no proper research done. So is the case with social media posts. Most of the medical articles and social media posts come with no credibility because of poor or no research and no citations to support their claims. Only those with citations to scientific papers and written by credible authors/teams can be trusted with their health advise.

That is not to say you cannot get the right information from the Internet. If you research, you will. Merely asking a question to a search engine and relying on the instant answers they give or some articles it suggests does not imply factuality.

Right Information

Most share heresay information out of a feeling to help others; therefore missing out on conducting the due diligence on the information. This will inculcate the habit of heresay even if the heresay information happens to be true. Once this habit is cultivated, it is only a matter of time before you end up following some foolish and dangerous heresay. Therefore, make it a habit to conduct your due diligence before practising any heresay.

As for the propagation of it, remember that you do not know if the other person have the same biology as you have. Even if you have, there are biological difference that can change the outcome of the treatment for both of you. Therefore, it is best not to engage in a spree of sharing heresay information. Also, it is immoral to advise someone on health if you are not a professional.

If you are sharing heresay with the excuse that the other person should do the due diligence before applying the information, thus relieving yourself of an accountability of the outcome, be known that most people don't do that. If you need proof, look at yourself. So its best that you don't share heresay with regards to health without actually knowing the other person's condition.

Also, remember anyone who needs medical advise today has access to a wide pool of approved professionals and resources. No one is in such state that their health depends on your sharing of medical advise. Leave it to the professionals.

Hyperbole

Most medical heresays are hyperbole. Some content creator creates an article or a video glorifying a particular food (raw), which catches your attention and triggers a "Oh my God! This is so great" moment. Next time you shop, there is a psychological leaning to buy that food and cook it. The fact is, all food are great. And you would stammer to name a food that is intrinsically bad; because there is none.

Such hyperboles can alter buying habits putting a lot of emphasis on one or two food when the emphasis should be on ensuring variety and balanced diet. If the food happens to be expensive, such hyperbole can even disturb the weekly/monthly budget of an average household.

The key to health is a balanced diet with lots of focus on variety of food rather than focus on one or two food. Hyperboles about a food influences your focus and does more damage than good on the long run.