<p>Alchemy is not a walk-in-the-park task. The process of learning alchemy is arduous. While some people are naturally talented and intellectual than others, perfecting alchemy takes years of practice. From a young age, Edward and Alphonse Elric were exposed to alchemy, especially as their father had been a brilliant alchemist and left a gargantuan collection of books behind for the kids to read. This, however, was in addition to their already curious minds and their prodigal level of skill.</p>
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<p>[picture from <a href="https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/6368/how-did-the-characters-learn-alchemy">this answer</a> (please upvote if you like my answer)]</p>
<blockquote>
<p>[...] he doesn't even have basic medical knowledge.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>Wrong</strong>. Edward Elric was an alchemical prodigy and almost everyone considered him to be a genius. <a href="https://fma.fandom.com/wiki/Edward_Elric" rel="nofollow noreferrer">From wiki:</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Edward Elric is an alchemical prodigy of genius level intellect. From early childhood, he displayed proficiency for alchemy, acquiring self-taught alchemy skills and comprehension from the advanced literature in his father's abandoned study at an age. Having incorporated alchemy into his life during his developmental stages, Edward sees the world alchemically and is, therefore, able to solve complicated codes, puzzles, and mysteries much more easily than normal. <strong>He has also shown himself to be exceptionally adept at chemistry and reasonably competent with biology; indeed even his preparations for the failed attempt to resurrect his mother were indicative of these.</strong> Edward's near-encyclopedic knowledge of alchemical theory is astounding and contributed to his incredible success with emergency Soul Binding experimentation. He shows an uncanny level of focus that allows him to effectively shut out everything from his surroundings and devote all of his considerable mental power to whatever problem demands his attention, especially in the case of books.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>He did had a superior medical knowledge and hence attempted to resurrect his mother with the help of the laws of alchemy but due to limited experience it failed. But after years and years of study and practice and sheer perseverance, he gained knowledge and perfected alchemy and successfully performed human transmutation on himself.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-23T04:58:12.887Z
2021-06-23T05:13:58.640Z
2021-06-23T05:13:58.640Z
Fumikage Tokoyami
<p>While he was trapped inside Gluttony, Edward performed human transmutation on himself in order to access his Gate. This means that he had to deconstruct and reconstruct himself, but I don't understand how he was able to re-create himself when he doesn't even have basic medical knowledge.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-22T17:49:58.607Z
Afaik Edward and his brother did extensive research into the human body in order to prepare for the transmutation of their mother. The first step of transmutation is _comprehension_ after all. I would say that counts as basic medical knowledge.
Turamarth
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-22T20:21:59.990Z
Hmm, but later in the series, Edward is unable to heal himself after he gets impaled.
alexgbelov
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-23T04:26:05.567Z
Also see: https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/8699/if-the-truth-didnt-exist-would-that-mean-that-feats-such-as-human-transmutat/8700
Fumikage Tokoyami
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-23T05:12:57.170Z
@alexgbelov Healing alchemy is very much different from normal alchemy and is called  [alkahestry](https://fma.fandom.com/wiki/Alkahestry) which is used in the country of Xing notably May Cheng.  Alkahestrists are capable of a higher level of medical transmutation than Amestrian alchemists - transmitting chi through the pathways of the human body to cure mild ailments as well as minor injuries. Amestrian alchemists are not expert in this field and they require a catalyst i.e. philosopher's stone to perform healing.
Fumikage Tokoyami
<fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood>
How can Edward perform human transmutation on himself?
# How can Edward perform human transmutation on himself?
Posted by: username_0 on 2021-06-22
While he was trapped inside Gluttony, Edward performed human transmutation on himself in order to access his Gate. This means that he had to deconstruct and reconstruct himself, but I don't understand how he was able to re-create himself when he doesn't even have basic medical knowledge.
**Tags:** fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Afaik Edward and his brother did extensive research into the human body in order to prepare for the transmutation of their mother. The first step of transmutation is _comprehension_ after all. I would say that counts as basic medical knowledge.  
> **username_0**: Hmm, but later in the series, Edward is unable to heal himself after he gets impaled.  
> **username_2**: Also see: https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/8699/if-the-truth-didnt-exist-would-that-mean-that-feats-such-as-human-transmutat/8700  
> **username_2**: @alexgbelov Healing alchemy is very much different from normal alchemy and is called  [alkahestry](https://fma.fandom.com/wiki/Alkahestry) which is used in the country of Xing notably May Cheng.  Alkahestrists are capable of a higher level of medical transmutation than Amestrian alchemists - transmitting chi through the pathways of the human body to cure mild ailments as well as minor injuries. Amestrian alchemists are not expert in this field and they require a catalyst i.e. philosopher's stone to perform healing.  
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## 1 answers
### Answer by username_2 on 2021-06-23. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
Alchemy is not a walk-in-the-park task. The process of learning alchemy is arduous. While some people are naturally talented and intellectual than others, perfecting alchemy takes years of practice. From a young age, Edward and Alphonse Elric were exposed to alchemy, especially as their father had been a brilliant alchemist and left a gargantuan collection of books behind for the kids to read. This, however, was in addition to their already curious minds and their prodigal level of skill.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/CA8Yi.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/CA8Yi.jpg)

[picture from [this answer](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/6368/how-did-the-characters-learn-alchemy) (please upvote if you like my answer)]

> [...] he doesn't even have basic medical knowledge.

**Wrong**. Edward Elric was an alchemical prodigy and almost everyone considered him to be a genius. [From wiki:](https://fma.fandom.com/wiki/Edward_Elric)

> Edward Elric is an alchemical prodigy of genius level intellect. From early childhood, he displayed proficiency for alchemy, acquiring self-taught alchemy skills and comprehension from the advanced literature in his father's abandoned study at an age. Having incorporated alchemy into his life during his developmental stages, Edward sees the world alchemically and is, therefore, able to solve complicated codes, puzzles, and mysteries much more easily than normal. **He has also shown himself to be exceptionally adept at chemistry and reasonably competent with biology; indeed even his preparations for the failed attempt to resurrect his mother were indicative of these.** Edward's near-encyclopedic knowledge of alchemical theory is astounding and contributed to his incredible success with emergency Soul Binding experimentation. He shows an uncanny level of focus that allows him to effectively shut out everything from his surroundings and devote all of his considerable mental power to whatever problem demands his attention, especially in the case of books.

He did had a superior medical knowledge and hence attempted to resurrect his mother with the help of the laws of alchemy but due to limited experience it failed. But after years and years of study and practice and sheer perseverance, he gained knowledge and perfected alchemy and successfully performed human transmutation on himself.
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