Unsolved Medical Mysteries: Explaining the Unexplainable

By: Brandy Schillace, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Brandy Schillace

In the 1630s, children in southern France described a chilling sensation: worms wriggling beneath their skin. Were these parasitic infestations or figments of their imagination? Centuries earlier, a 14th-century French king insisted his body was made of glass, fearing a single misstep could shatter him. And today, doctors encounter baffling conditions like stiff person syndrome, fibromyalgia, long Covid, and the common migraine.

What links these mysteries across time? Why do some ailments defy explanation, even in our advanced medical era? Unsolved Medical Mysteries: Explaining the Unexplainable is your chance to explore the strangest and most confounding cases in medical history. In 12 gripping lectures, acclaimed author, historian, and medical humanities expert Dr. Brandy Schillace guides you on a fascinating journey into the unknown, from historical enigmas to modern medical conundrums. With her unique blend of storytelling and scientific insight, Dr. Schillace digs into a range of medical mysteries, including:

· Water and sun allergies

· Split personalities

· Facial blindness

· Foreign accent syndrome

· Tree person syndrome

One theme in this course is the interplay between mind and body—and another is the ethical dimensions of medicine. Over the centuries, society at large and even callous physicians have dismissed patient complaints, particularly women, with a diagnosis of “it’s all in your head.” But thanks to 21st-century tools and techniques, scientists better understand the biological reality of autoimmune disorders, neurological conditions, and more.

This course is not just about what we don’t know—it’s about the hope of discovery. As Dr. Schillace emphasizes, every unanswered question is an opportunity. Whether it’s decoding the genetic causes of autoimmune disorders or unraveling the neuroscience of Alzheimer’s or Autism, each discovery brings us closer to explaining the unexplainable. This course is a celebration of curiosity, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge—a must for anyone intrigued by the stranger side of science and the hope of solving medicine’s greatest puzzles.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 The Great Courses (P)2025 The Teaching Company, LLC

Nice overview, but seems sensationalized

The author covers a variety of diseases, but most seem sensationalized instead of just facts. What is said may be the truth, but because of the drama the reader is not sure how much to believe. It is good to hear the patients' side, but I want to hear the scientific side too.