Explaining Unexplained Illnesses: Disease Paradigm for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia, Post-Traumatic Stress Di

by Martin L. Pall

Book Overview

Discover the answer to the mysteries of these debilitating illnesses Explaining "Unexplained Illnesses" provides long-sought explanations for the properties of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), multiple... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 078902389X
• ISBN13: 9780789023896
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: CRC Press
• Length: 150 Pages
• Weight: 1.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Helpful Model for Unexplained Illness

Dr. Pall's research and recommended treatment saved me. The core of my treatment for a variety of neurological and digestive problems involves his recommended techniques for down-regulating the NO/ONOO cycle. My improvement relies on specific supplements to turn down reactivity combined with avoidance of chemical and food irritants. I only dared read this book once I had recovered sufficiently to have hope again. Within its pages I found helpful advice, well-supported scientific explanations for my "weird" symptoms and some sobering observations. The lack of recognition of chemical toxicity leads to incredible suffering and financial hardship. Dr. Pall's book should be compulsory reading for every doctor. The biochemical mechanisms he describes should be researched thoroughly so that there can be proven treatments for the growing number of people with "unexplained illness". Also there needs to be increased awareness and regulation of those "harmless" chemicals that are literally destroying lives.

A lay person's perspection about the book.

I found this book to be extremely insightful. It details very specifically some causes, stressors, effects, and cycles for each of the unexplained illnesses it references. This book is a definite "must have" for anyone wanting scientific reference. I am going to recommend this book to known health care providers, as well as, people who are experience these illnesses.

Groundbreaking New Disease Paradigm

In the groundbreaking new book "Explaining 'Unexplained Illnesses'", Dr. Martin Pall has proposed a new paradigm of human disease, the NO/ONOO- vicious cycle, which now explains CFS, MCS, FM, PTSD and GWS, bringing new hope for successful treatment and eventually a long hoped for cure. This paradigm also encompasses important illnesses such as asthma, autism, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and ALS, offering explanation and direction for research and treatment. Dr. Pall clearly explains his new paradigm and the deranged biochemistry behind it. While the mechanism is complex, he gives hope to the millions who are suffering from these illnesses with an excellent chapter (Chapter 15) on treatment, mainly citing natural supplements as opposed to pharmaceuticals for disrupting this vicious cycle and returning the biochemistry to normal. He further explains the need for more research to develop the best treatment protocol and eventual cure. Chapter 13, titled "What About Those Who Say It Is All in Your Head or That It All Starts in Your Head?", is a well-researched, heavily documented, pointed response to those who accuse these patients (of CFS and MCS particularly) of suffering from psychological/mental illness (or of being malingerers) rather than a physiological disease. As Dr. Pall points out, the chemical industry and insurance industry have vested interest in this issue, so as to avoid devastating liability lawsuits, payouts for disability, medical care and treatment. As a former health care professional, I highly recommend this book as required reading for all people engaged in any aspect of the health care industry and all health care providers (from physicians to nurses to dentists) as well as for anyone who suffers from any of the illnesses impacted by this new disease paradigm. This book's importance cannot be overstressed.

Protocols for Treating Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, etc.

I hope you will make the time to read Dr. Pall's book and find it as inspirational and educational as I did. I was very excited to read about this NO/ONOO theory and explanation underlying these inflammatory illnesses: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Fibromyalgia (FM), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Gulf War Syndrome (GWS), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), etc. Take this book to your treating physician and discuss the protocols which fit your medical needs. This book is dense with information - read the first chapter - The NO/ONOO Cycle and the Cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. If you find it too technical, skip to the section about your illness, then go back and see if the chemistry is easier to understand. But everyone should read this book - even if they don't understand the chemistry - just for the supportive information which validates their experience with their illness. Referring to MCS, Dr. Pall writes," MCS initiation commonly involves chemical exposure, either a single high-level exposure or multiple lower-level exposures. The chemicals involved in initiation of MCS fall mainly into four classes, organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides and two other classes of pesticides, and volatile organic solvents." Page 4 The chapter on therapies is most helpful as it provides detailed information on agents expected to down-regulate the vicious NO/ONOO cycle. "At least 30 therapeutic agents or classes of agents are available today that are expected to down-regulate cycle biochemistry." Page 265 Dr. Pall lists the various protocols of Drs. Paul Cheney, Jacob Teitlebaum, Garth Nicolson, Nash Petrovic, and Grace Ziem. He explains how each therapy and protocol acts to lower the NO/ONOO cycle or lowers NMDA activity, or acts as a nitric oxide scavenger or vanilloid antagonist. These two statements stood out in the Chapter on MCS: "I estimated based on both, anecdotal reports and controlled exposure study, that MCS sufferers are at least 100 times more sensitive than normals and are probably more on the order of 1000 times more sensitive." 2 Page 114 And,"In one of my papers, I estimated that the prevalence of MCS from epidemiological studies is similar to that of diabetes, but the funding available for its study has been only about 1/1000th as much." 2 Page 113 Footnote 2. Pall ML. NMDA sensitization and stimulation by peroxynitrite, nitric oxide and organic solvents as the mechanism of chemical sensitivity in multiple chemical sensitivity, FASEB J 2002; 16:1407-1417 In the Therapy chapter discussing Dr. Grace Ziem's protocols, Dr. Pall writes: "Patients are advised to use environmental controls to reduce exposure to volatile organic solvents, pesticides and other irritant chemicals wherever possible. The therapeutic agents are not a substitute for avoidance of irritant chemicals, but

A novel idea, with ground-breaking potential.

Dr. Martin Pall's book, Explaining "Unexplained Illnesses," proposes an insightful and carefully constructed theory for the cause of such mysterious illnesses as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Gulf War Syndrome. It is a must-read for those in the health care profession as well as any individual who has, or knows someone who has, the afore mentioned illnesses. The theory is somewhat complicated as it proposes an entirely new paradigm for disease, yet Dr. Pall presents the material in such a way that even an undergraduate like myself can understand it. Each chapter includes an introduction to help ease the reader into the topic, as well as take-home lessons to summaries the material in a digestible way. For those interested in going into greater detail on any of the particular diseases, there is an entire chapter devoted to each one. The book provides concise summaries as well as unabridged, through explanation. Basically, there is something for every type of reader.