Emdoc Health, Suite 6 Beacon Consultant Clinic Sandyford Dublin 18, Dublin (2026)

19/02/2026

At this point, most adults have copped that any reel: "I learned this froms [expert]... " we can safely assume that whatever follows is likely 1) unhelpful at best and insane at worst 2) clearly not from an expert. This includes the lady who put oestrogen cream on her face (please don't do this) or the lady who stick q-tips with steroid spray in her ear (please don't do this either).

It should be clear to all of us know that health "hacks" from attention-seeking influencers online may not be the best idea -- and always a good idea to talk to your chemist or GP, ideally before sticking things in your ear.

But it can get more confusing from there, unfortunately: "I went to a specialist." "They were a top expert." "He was rated as a Top Doctor in Turkey or "the influencer said they were the best" or "They headlined at a ticketed wellness event - so they must be good."

So, what IS the criteria to call yourself an "expert"? What's the criteria to be promoted by for-profit event companies or influencers? What's the criteria to get awarded the title "top doctor"?

**None. Absolutely none.**

This is really important. There are experts. There are certified coaches. There are doctors recognised as being the best in their field. The problems is that just about everyone else can say they are too. And it even gets MORE confusing when real experts are using their real expertise to sell (sometimes useless) products.

When it comes to our health, nothing is more important. In Ireland, there has been some progress in patient/consumer protection, but you might not be surprised at what rather large loopholes remain, particularly in supplements, cosmetic industry, fertility.

In today's Blog, I recap that: what questions should a savvy consumer be asking? Especially if you have bought tickets to attend Fertility, Health, or Beauty shows in coming weeks.

Because if you are paying money, you need to think like a consumer, not a patient. This is difficult where you may be emotionally vulnerable: weight, fertility, menopause, or body image.

Link to Blog in Bio.

18/02/2026

Quitting today? Good for you!

Regardless of why you are quitting - well done on your decision!! - And let's set you up for success with some FIVE FAST FACTS:

1. Cold turkey works for some, but the evidence isn't good. Don't struggle - get support.

2. Our best evidence that the most successful way to quit is with ni****ne replacement and expert support. This is all available for FREE. Just sign up at quit.ie. That's it. Type quit.ie in your browswer. Sign up and the expert team will take it form there.

3. Unless you are new to following, you know what I'm going to say next: Va**ng is not a way to quit smoking. Va**ng is a way for to***co companies to not lose a customer (and target teens).

4. Save €€€€: Hypnosis , acupuncture and supplements haven't been shown in studies to help with quitting smoking successfully.

5. If you got online medical advice that a drug like Ozempic can help you quit smoking, talk to your own doctor ( real, in-person doctor - not an online pill mill) before trying it for this reason. These drugs are not licensed for this use, they have side effects, and aren't for everyone. The standard of care is that they are prescribed with a long term plan in mind.

National No Smoking Day is also the start of season - for the more religious among us - to fast and sacrifice. For many, it's Ash Wednesday. For others - especially many of my colleagues in healthcare - it's the first day of Ramadan. For others, Lent represents a secular but nonetheless important time based on cultural tradition in Ireland to focus on breaking bad habits, from excess sweets to excess alcohol to excess screen use. One of my colleagues I worked with for years - who was notoriously grumpy individual - used to give up being angry this time of year. It was probably brilliant for his blood pressure - and ours.

What are you giving up?

**ng .fides

18/02/2026

National No Smoking Day - What actually works to quit? Whatever your reason for quitting - let's bring the science to help you succeed (and, as always, probably save you some €€€€!)

#

You Can Quit .fides

17/02/2026

If you are new to following - Most of what I post about here comes from question in DMs. So, lots of follow-up on supplements and vitamins. Here are some top tips if you are overwhelmed in the vitamin aisle.

1. Just because someone wears a white coat does NOT mean their supplements are better.

2. Supplements are not necessarily "natural" or free of side effects. That includes popular ones such as melatonin, magnesium. oil of oregano.

3. You can have too much of certain vitamins.

4. Targeting women with supplements "balancing hormones" is not empowering women.

5. Supplements and Vitamins can NEVER replace healthy diet. Did you know that your body absorbs nutrients better from real food?

6. There is no such things as exercise in a bottle. You need to move for your heart, bones, liver, brain, menopause, mental health...

7. Just because it calls itself a "clinic" does not mean there is a healthcare professional there. Red flags when expensive testing lead to recommendations for expensive supplements.

8. Vitamins are sometimes needed - but we need the right amount for the person who needs them. Common vitamins we prescribe include calcium, iron, Vitamin D, folic acid, some of the Vitamin Bs. Expensive ones are usually not better than the cheap own brand.

9. Supplements are not regulated here like drugs. Which means they don't have to necessarily do what they claim. The evidence for many supplements in studies has been fairly weak, like collagen and glucosamine.

10. Supplements and vitamins - including via e***a, IV drip, tea, powder - cannot detox you. Your kidney and liver do it 24/7 already. While we are here - they also can't cleanse parasites.

If you are skeptical like me, you might remember that Big Pharma already sell willow bark (aspirin), mold (penicillin) more mold (warfarin) foxglove (digoxin) and poppy (opioids). But they can only do that when they meet strict regulatory standards which don't apply to supplements.

You can read deep dives in all these topics - conflict of interest to supplements to menopause to IV drip bars - in the Blog. Link in Bio

.fides

15/02/2026

Cortisol is everywhere. It seems every other patient lately asks me if they need their cortisol tested or about supplements for cortisol.

It won't surprise you that hormones are big business right now for the wellness industry, majority targeting women.

Swipe through slides above for a some quick science to make you a savvy consumer - before you hand over money for testing or treatment for "adrenal fatigue" or a "cortisol detox"

TL;DR: If your adrenals are making too much or too little cortisol, this is a serious medical condition and you need a doctor. However, it's rare. Supplements and detoxes can't balance this hormone. If you are very stressed - that is a whole other problem. But let's manage that stress - not throw supplements at the problem.

And, as always, if you are left wondering whether more should be done to protect patients/consumers from fake diagnoses, unqualified practioners, predatory health misinformation, or exploitative treatments not based in evidence - you are not alone.

Worth also pointing out once again: we import a great deal of health misinformation, especially via social media, from countries with poorer access to health care and poorer health literacy. In Ireland, reputable doctors are not looking for business. I always remind patients that there is no secret "doctors don't want you to know" or withholding treatments because we are in pockets of big pharma. A quick look around your local GP or ED waiting room will confirm that.

An empowered patient is one who has the correct information and facts.

For deeper dives on these topics, you can always check out the Blog. Link in Bio.

.fides

14/02/2026

Dearest Gentle Reader...what if doctor's wrote love poems? Wonder no more. Happy Valentine's Day.

❤️

14/02/2026

Happy Valentine's Day.

If doctors wrote valentines, they might look a little like these...

06/02/2026

If you follow me, you know I've been uncharacteristically quiet lately! I've been off of social media as I've been a bit under the weather but it's definitely time to talk about topic that comes up in my real life clinic all the time: The Drugs.

Medications that we take. Over the next week, I'm going to take some conversations from my real life clinic and unpack some common misunderstandings and urban myths:

1. Does it matter where you get your drugs?
2. What IS the difference between supplements and medication?
3. Who regulates all this? (Hint: it's not the FDA here!)
4. What basic steps can all patients - and carers and doctors - take to help keep a patient safe when it comes to taking medications?

We are also going to touch on common problems of misuse of drugs.

Somewhere along the way, we might touch on THAT study on statins that hit the headlines. And I'll be talking about all of this when I'm back on as a guest on the Late Lunch with Gerry Kelly on Tuesday 10/2/2026 on

So, as we go into the weekend -- all getting ready to become experts in downhill skiing and curling -- send me your questions. Throw them in the comments or DMs.

.fides

24/01/2026

Navigating health information right now is like playing Traitors: who to trust?

Many traditionally trust white coats -- so now supplements are marketed by people wearing white coats.

"all natural" sounds nice and safe - we trust popular influencers making up nonsense about parasites to sell you their "all natural" parasite cleanse

Fear builds trust when we see alarmist clickbait that we are harmed by toxins and we need to detoxes. (you don't need a detox)

We trust people promising access to healthcare procedures we cannot afford here - "deposit today and get a luxury VIP limo transport."

We trust popular influencers: "it's not medical advice but definitely take the cream your doctor prescribed for definitely not-your-face and stick it on your face - doctors just don't want you to know." (don't do this, please)

Look, it's not easy. Navigating health information - especially targeted at women -is daily game of Traitors. It has never been more important to fact-check the science, check trusted resources, and talk to your own in-person doctor.

22/01/2026

When you are struggling h to get household eating habits better, its a minefield of "what" to eat and restrict. An easy place to start is fix the "how" to eat: meal plan, prep and BATCH COOK. Saves time and € and we all make better choices when we arent under pressure. .net has great free resources I recommend to real life patients and families regularly.

21/01/2026

Ive popped in to store quickly this evening to pick up yogurt. Because it seems my children eat ridiculous amounts of it. In and out, right? But the person in front of me has an entire trolley of whole chickens. Just raw chickens. At least 30. I've stopped counting.

Many people may think: "weird!" Or more charitably: "serious commitment to keto"

Me, I rarely think weird. I just know there is a fascinating story: unique party menu? New diet trend? Science experiment? Prop for an political protest? Insane batch cooking session?

I'm a doctor not just because I love people -- I love people's stories.

It's the best part of medicine. I invite every new patient I meet to "tell me the story:
Not " What's wrong?" Because the patients story is quite often as helpful (more helpful!) as the lab result and the blood pressure reading -- and very often make sense.

Sadly, this is the good stuff, the best stuff of a doctor-patient relationship that can get lost in rushed appointments and overcrowded, pressure clinics.

But if any of my colleagues see a very severely constipated person next week, I hope they have time to mention the chickens.

20/01/2026

We are all - very reasonably! - talking about Grok and nudify. However, the issues with screens in the family home go so much beyond that. Thanks so much to LMFM for inviting me back as guest today on the Late Lunch with Gerry Kelly. If you missed it, here are 10 tips for families to look after their health when it comes to screens.

1. No phones/screens in the bedrooms. For safety (kids) and sleep health (everyone.)

2. 20/20/20 rule for Eye health. Take a 20 sec break every 20 minutes to look at 20 feet away.

3. Limit screen time. What we NOT doing when we are on screens? Let's allow more time to play, move, talk to other real humans...

4. Food and Screens: Screens impact our relationship with food, from distracted eating to microinfluencing choices (did you know your child/teen sees food promotion every 3 minutes online?!) to weird diet trends.

5. Talk to your child and teen about cyberbullying.

6. The digital world is not real- the fake perfect content can lower mood for all ages.

7. Make sure your family has a better place to learn about their bodies than TikTok. From skin care to substance misuse, from body size to diet trends, from exercise routines to s*x education, from supplement sales to fear-mongering about "toxins" in your home ...health disinformation is everywhere and everyone - including adults - deserves correct information about their bodies

8. Have difficult conversations: Children from age 10 are accessing p**n, which often normalises unsafe s*x and gender based violence. p**n addiction can start in adolescence.

9. Parental controls. Get up to speed at

10. Monkey see, monkey do. If you are on your phone all the time, your child is learning that this is something more important than what they are doing. Involve your whole family in making the decision on healthy changes to screen use.

Got questions? For a much deeper dive into all of this, check out today's Blog. Link In Bio.

.fides

Emdoc Health

19/02/2026

18/02/2026

18/02/2026

17/02/2026

15/02/2026

14/02/2026

14/02/2026

06/02/2026

24/01/2026

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