Cynthia Li – Brave New Medicine

Brave New Medicine by Cynthia Li is a powerful memoir and guide that chronicles Dr. Li’s personal journey from a physician facing mysterious and debilitating health issues to discovering unconventional and holistic approaches to healing. After conventional medicine failed to provide answers, Dr. Li explored alternative therapies, including functional medicine, integrative practices, and the mind-body connection. Her journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of looking beyond traditional medical paradigms. This book provides both inspiration and practical advice for anyone dealing with chronic illness, emphasizing the importance of listening to one’s body and being open to diverse healing modalities.

In this revelatory memoir, Doctor Cynthia Li shares the truth about her disabling autoimmune illness, the limitations of Western medicine, and her hard-won lessons on healing—mind, body, and spirit. 

Li had it all: a successful career in medicine, a loving marriage, children on the horizon. But it all came crashing down when, after developing an autoimmune thyroid condition, mysterious symptoms began consuming her body. Test after test came back “within normal limits,” baffling her doctors—and baffling herself. Housebound with two young children, Li began a solo odyssey from her living room couch to find a way to heal.

Brave New Medicine details the physical and existential crisis that forces a young doctor to question her own medical training. She dives into the root causes of her illness, learning to unlock her body’s innate intelligence and wholeness. Li relates her story with the insight of a scientist, and the humility and candor of a patient, exploring the emotional and spiritual shifts beyond the physical body.

Millions of people worldwide are affected by autoimmune disease. While complex conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are gaining attention, patients struggling with these mysterious ailments remain largely dismissed by their doctors, families, and friends. This is the harsh reality that doctor-turned-“difficult patient” Li faced firsthand.

Drawing on cutting-edge science, ancient healing arts, and the power of intuition, this memoir offers support, validation, and a new perspective for doctors and patients alike. Through her story, you can find the wisdom and heart to start your own healing journey, too.