Search for information using the library and the internet. When you go to the library, ask a reference librarian to direct you to materials on neurological medicine. When you search the internet, use a search engine like Google or Yahoo! to search for terms such as “Essential Tremor research” or “Essential Tremor scientific information.”
Focus on scientific and medical journals that are current and peer-reviewed. The articles in these journals are reviewed by members of the scientific community who have performed actual research and published articles in this subject. Authoritative online journals include the following:
Neurology – the journal of the American Academy of Neurology
Annual Review of Neuroscience – articles from physicians and researchers in Essential Tremor
JournalWatch – physician-edited information from several journals on the subject of Essential Tremor.
Look up obscure scientific and medical terms using a current medical dictionary. Use one that is no more than 3-4 years old – you want the most current information. Jot down a quick definition in your own words to be sure you thoroughly understand what it means. Up-todate medical dictionaries can be purchased at any retail bookstore. Medical dictionaries on the web can be found at the following:
MedlinePlus – medical dictionary from the National Library of Medicine
MedTerms – from MedicineNet
Keep your notes in a journal or notebook. This process can seem slow at first, but as you become familiar with the terminology of the field, the reading will go faster and the information will become part of your own knowledge.
Find biographical information on the authors of the articles and books using reputable biographical sources such as “Who’s Who in America”. On the web, BioMedExperts is a reliable resource of information on scientists.
Ask the reference librarian to point you to these materials and help you look up the authors. Most of these materials will be in the Reference section of the library and cannot be checked out, but you may find older versions in the stacks that you can check out. If you can’t find any biographical information on the author, look for information on the college, university or research institute that the author is affiliated with. If you cannot find any information on the authors or organizations in reputable reference sources, the article may have been written by someone who knows nothing about the actual science of Essential Tremor.
When you have identified a researcher as an actual authority in the field, you will find his/her name often in your search. Make note of articles by the same author. For example, Elan D. Louis, MD, a professor of neurology at Columbia University, has published many articles on Essential Tremor. His name comes up often in web searches.
Read the articles carefully and critically. Look at the number of subjects in the study, often found in the methodology section of a study report. A larger number of people studied is preferable. If the study concerns a medication, look to see if it was a double-blind study. That is a study where both the subjects and the persons distributing the medication do not know whether they are receiving a medicine or a placebo.
Avoid websites that offer so-called alternative medicine treatments or cures. They are trying to sell you something that very probably will not work and may even be harmful. Many Essential Tremor sufferers will avail themselves of the knowledge of physicians and the many pharmaceuticals that have been shown to be effective. Some will find that alcohol quiets the tremor, often leading to over-use and addiction. It is not surprising when they fall victim to alternative medicine scams out of desperation.
Look up herbal/alternative treatments in one of the hoax-debunking sites, including the following:
The National Council Against Health Fraud
National Institute on Aging />
Select articles from your search that are published by universities, non-profit organizations or governmental agencies first. These will have URL addresses that end in .edu, .org, or .gov. These are the most reliable sources of medical information. Some good examples include the following:
Medline – health information from the National Library of Medicine
The International Essential Tremor Foundation
National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke
Worldwide Education and Awareness for Movement Disorders – WeMove.org
The Movement Disorder Society – organization of professional scientists and physicians
Find the date of the article – the more recent, the better. Scientific and medical research is ever-changing and new information becomes available often. Medical textbooks take years to be written, edited and published. Researchers often submit articles with newer results available to the online edition of the research journals before they are published in books.
Keep your reference books close so you can look up words, phrases and the credentials of the authors. If you are using online references, keep them open in other windows of your browser. As you find recognized researchers in the field, you can look up other articles by them.
Read several articles carefully and critically. Evaluate the methodology, size of the the study and the conclusions of each article. Legitimate researchers will often include the suggestion that further research is recommended. You may want to collect a bibliography for yourself on the research. The quick way to do this is to copy and paste the title, author, publication, page and date of each article into the body of an email message and save it as a draft.
Written by dduck1947
Former college librarian, paralegal and interstate courier. Now a freelance writer and photographer.