I have been sickly since I was a child. I have more than 15 autoimmune diseases, a pituitary tumor, no immune system, and more! I started taking Vitamin C when I was a teenager because I had a cold every week! (I had my tonsils out when I was 18 and that stopped that at least.). But I had that undiagnosed pituitary tumor and I didn't know why I had all these other symptoms (my adrenals weren't working, I didn't have any Human Growth Hormone, my thyroid wasn't working, etc.). I started experimenting with other supplements. I had a very bad skin disease called Hidradenitis suppurativa that didn't really have many treatment options back in 1976 - but I learned that people in India didn't suffer from that disease - and I learned that it was because they eat a lot of turmeric. I began taking turmeric and my skin disease went away (my arthritis also thanked me). This led me to look for other remedies amongst the vitamins and herbs. Also, doctors used antibiotics on me so much, I became resistant to all but the three IV hospital antibiotics such as vancomycin. My infectious disease doctor told me to look at herbs for answers. I should also say that I worked in one of the first biotechnology research labs (where polymerase chain reaction was discovered!) with many scientists and doctors, and there were many conversations about healthcare. I do extensive research - and as I have mentioned here before (I know we are not supposed to mention websites - but this one was allowed) - I am also a member of ConsumerLab.com which is a consumer watchdog group for supplements. They post MANY peer-reviewed research papers about vitamins and herbs, and they test supplements to be sure they are what they say they are and do not have anything else in them, they are the strength they say they are, they are in a form that can be used by the body (some of these pills don't come apart fast enough in the body - so the pills go right through you), etc. I try to be as informed as I can be before I take a supplement. Finally, because my adrenals do not work, I must take a low dose steroid pill daily. Steroids, antibiotics, hormones and stress are some of the things that can disrupt the balance in your gut and cause Candida overgrowth. This is not a problem that most doctors will acknowledge. I became very ill and could not leave the house for three years. I finally figured out I had Candida overgrowth, and I treated it myself with probiotics, herbal antifungals, and a no-sugar diet. To see a functional doctor for this problem would have easily cost me $2,000 for the first visit. I decided I would educate myself, and that is what I have done. I read everything I can get my hands on that talk about gut health. Hipppocrates said that all disease begins in the gut and I think he was probably correct. My body is turning around big time since I embraced this diet. From my teeth to my toes, everything is healing - even though I am 68 and almost 69. I had pre-cancerous cells in my gut, and they are gone now! So that is my history with herbs and vitamins. I learn a lot from being in online support groups also. I get ideas from other people (like you) and that leads me to do some investigating. One last thing I'd like to say: When I was 61, my parrots' veterinarian (!!!) called me at home to discuss my thyroid. He suggested I try Armour Thyroid because I complained I never felt any benefit from taking synthetic thyroid meds. What a huge boost that was to my system! So I have learned throughout the years to always question my medications and to keep looking until I find what works.