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| 90 results - showing 11 - 20 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 | Results per page: |
Books Covering Multiple Environmental Illnesses
Essential reading!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
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Having struggled with chronic fatigue syndrome, imbalances in my own gut flora due to reduced immunity and antibiotic use, and severe mood disorders in the form of depression, seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D), and anxiety, I had pieced together the strong connection between gut and psychological health myself. In Gut and Psychology Syndrome Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride does a great job of communicating often complex details of this relationship to the lay reader; the book looks at how digestive health can contribute to a host of learning and mood disorders from autism and ADHD to depression and schizophrenia. The book is an excellent balance of background on the link between gut flora and psychology and advice on removing causes and restoring balance and health. An in-depth look at dietary changes and the use of supplements, particularly probiotics, to restore microbial balance in the gut is included and clearly presented. I thoroughly recommend Dr. Campbell-McBride's work to anyone affected by (or caring for someone affected by) the conditions covered in the book. It may open up a whole new avenue of effective therapy for many. It certainly has for me! |
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Nutrients M-R
Very useful for lowering cortisol and aiding restf
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
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I recently came across a substantial amount of research suggesting PS could lower production of cortisol produced after exercise or due to mental stress. I suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and my body clock is all over the place. I feel wired at night and am unable to get myself to bed at a reasonable hour and my sleep quality is poor. Adrenal stress index (ASI) test have suggested this may be because I am producing large amounts of cortisol at night when production should actually be its lowest. I have been taking 300mg of phosphatidylserine every day around 8pm for a month now and found it to be a great help from day one. Within an hour I felt myself winding down and the need for sleep approaching. Basically I felt how I should at that time of day - something I haven't felt in a long long time. I feel my sleep quality has also improved as I am waking feeling more refreshed. I've not noticed any other benefits from taking PS such as cognitive improvements or improved exercise capacity. PS is not a miracle cure by any means but it has definitely helped improve my sleep problems which I know will affect many others with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, depression, and many other illnesses. Treatment
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Endocrine (Hormones)
Helped explain many symptoms and guided treatment
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
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Although providing the saliva samples throughout the day is a bit inconvenient (and it is often hard to even produce the required amount of saliva) it is worth it to understand how your adrenal glands are functioning.I have had two ASI tests and the results for cortisol in particular have correlated exactly with my symptoms. Cortisol levels are supposed to be highest in the morning to give us the drive and energy to get going. They are then supposed to decline gradually throughout the day, reeaching their lowest level at night to allow sound sleep. My results show that my cortisol levels are low in the morning, which explains my inability to wake up and get going until late morning (10:30-11:00). They then rise and peak around 12-1 and this is when I am feeling a lot better and am my most productive. My cortisol then falls and reaches a low at 4pm when I experience a corresponding period of drowsiness and it is a real struggle to carry on being active. My results then indicate my cortisol shoots up at night which explains why I find it hard to relax in the evening and don't go to bed until late. My sleep is also of very poor quality. I should explain that I have suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome for 18 years from the age of 12 and these results are typical of an ME/CFS patient. The results have been very helpful to me and I have found licorice is effective at boosting my low morning cortisol while phosphatidylserine blunts my high night time levels and allows me to sleep better. The results also showed generally low DHEA and I have found DHEA supplementation to be very useful at improving my stress resistance, mood, and general feelings of well-being. I'd recommend this test to anyone suffering from chronic stress and associated symptoms as well as those suffering from ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and unexplained chronic illness. Lab Name
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Digestive Disorders
Some good advice but very simplistic
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
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I bought this book to review for the site after having read a glowing recommendation on a blog which had some good content. I have to say overall I am very disappointed with Gut Reaction. The emphasis on getting back to basics by urging readers to chew food properly and eat in a relaxed environment, amongst other things, is commendable. As is the fact the author prefers not to rely on nutritional supplements. However, everything is covered very quickly and in very little detail. The role of digestion and diet in health is given a brief summary before tips such as those for improving eating habits are described. The author then provides tailored dietary plans for a host of illnesses with little discussion of rationale before skimming over nutrients, nutritional supplements and a few other topics at the end of the book. The credibility of some of the recommendations is also questionable, particularly with regard to pH balancing. It is said that drinking lemon and olive oil "counteract[s] acidity in the stomach, making the system more alkaline, and clears undigested food particles." For starters lemon juice itself is acidic and only has an alkalizing effect on the body once it is absorbed and metabolised. Secondly, I'm unsure why anyone would want to counteract acidity in the stomach - it is acidic for a reason which is because it needs to be to properly digest protein. Partially digested proteins increase the risk of food allergy and intolerance, as well as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). This aside, the bulk of the tips for healthy eating habits are useful and the lay reader new to the subject of nutrition may find this book a good read. For those looking for something a little more in depth and scientifically sound I would recommend Digestive Wellness by Lipski or Optimum Digestion by Nichols and Faass (eds). |
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Gastrointestinal
Useful in any unexplained chronic illness
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
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The intestinal permeability test is so easy to perform at home and is relatively inexpensive (I paid about Ł40/$65) that I'd recommend anyone with unexplained chronic health problems does one, whether they have digestive symptoms or not. The number of conditions that researchers are linking to increased intestinal permeability/leaky gut syndrome is increasing all the time. Studies are currently underway to determine its role in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and it has already been linked to Crohn's disease, autoimmune diseases including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroiditis, and may be associated with asthma as well as food allergy and intolerance, and allergies in general. This test may also alert patients and health care providers to the presence of malabsorptive conditions including celiac disease. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the health of the entire body depends on the health of the GI tract. This simple and inexpensive test gives a good picture of how well the GI tract is doing its job of absorbing nutrients while acting as a barrier against toxins, allergens, and microorganisms. A good initial screen of gut health. If results show malabsorption or leaky gut syndrome further testing (usually more expensive) can help to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. This test really helped to confirm my suspicions that poor gut health was behind the worsening of my health problems which include chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and chronic liver toxicity. Lab Name
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Nutrients A-F
Turned winter into summer for a SAD sufferer
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
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As someone who has suffered from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) for many years I have tried bright light therapy with various light boxes, a lot of anti-depressant medications, and even more nutrients and herbs in an effort to maintain my mood in winter. Bright light therapy was mildly effective but the best treatment I had found was simply waking with the sun and getting outside in the sun's rays as often as possible. That was until I discovered high dose vitamin D. This year I tried taking vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) concentrate in doses of 25,000+ iu per week. My response to this treatment was rapid and substantial. It may be hard for other SAD sufferers who are deep in despair to believe, but after only a few hours of the first dose I felt in my mind like it was summer. My mood improved hugely, everything seemed brighter, and I found myself enjoying things again. The only downside for me was that I found I was overly stimulated at night which made it difficult to sleep. However, this happens with any stimulating substance I take due to adrenal fatigue so may not be a problem for others. If it is just try adjusting the dose downwards. I went through my doctor to get the vitamin D3 concentrate as it is not widely available. It is a good idea to work with a healthcare professional when using such high doses anyway despite vitamin D's apparent lack of toxicity. Treatment
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Antidepressants
Caused severe drowsiness
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
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I used low dose amitriptyline (10mg) as a sleep aid for sleep problems associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). I found it helped with getting to sleep. It basically knocked me out in a way that felt like a general anaesthetic. That would have been fine but the next day I felt extremely drowsy and wobbly on my feet and was basically unable to function. It was like I was walking around like a zombie. My memory was also affected. It could be that I was particularly sensitive but 10mg is already a low dose (much higher doses of 50mg+ are used for depression treatment) so there was little point tinkering with dosages. Not a good experience for me. In terms of medications the benzodiazepines such as diazepam/Valium help with sleep without the next day side-effects and I have also found melatonin and phosphatidylserine supplements highly effective. Treatment
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Thyroid Medication
Some improvement but a bit disappointing
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
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I tried Armour thyroid after having no success with thyroxine. I suspected it would be more effective given that it includes the full range of thyroid hormones. Unlike conventional thyroid medications (e.g. levothyroxine) which only contain thyroxine (T4) Armour also contains 9mcg T3 along with 38mcg T4 per 60mg tablet (referred to as one 'grain'). T3 is the active hormone which communicates the message to the cells. One reason people prefer to use desiccated thyroid extracts like Armour is because they don't respond to T4 alone. One possible reason being an inability to convert T4 to T3 in the body. I suspected this might be the case with me given nutritional deficiencies (particularly selenium). I only took Armour for around 6 weeks but found the results were a little disappointing. I did notice an improvement in mental alertness and energy where there had been none with thyroxine medication but I had expected more. I started with 60mg (1 grain) for 2 weeks then increased this to 120mg (2 grains) for a further 4 weeks. It's likely I may have needed to be on Armour for longer and made more dose adjustments but I certainly didn't respond to the treatment as I had expected. I know a lot of others do do very well so individuality certainly plays a role. I did much better on T3 medication (Cytomel) so please see that review. Treatment
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Thyroid Medication
Rapid positive effects on mood and energy
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
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After finding thyroxine (T4) to be totally ineffective it was not until years later that I tried T3 (in the form of cytomel) and the results couldn't have been more different. T3 is very fast acting once ingested and only 15 minutes after taking a 5mcg dose (which is small) I felt my mood beginning to brighten after years of depression and a lack of enjoyment in life. On T3 I feel like myself again. I am able to find enjoyment in things, I am more focused and can think clearly, and generally have more mental energy. My physical energy is also improved. The effects on mood and mental function are not surprising given that the brain has a high concentration of receptors for T3 which is needed to trigger the manufacture and release of major neurotransmitters including serotonin and the catacholamines (dopamine, noradrenaline/norepinephrine). It is important to make sure that adrenal function is good before taking T3 as it can be over-stimulating when adrenal fatigue is present and make things worse in the long-run. Since T3 is short-lived in the body it is also a good idea to use a timed-release version so blood levels remain constant (otherwise regular doses are required and blood levels fluctuate which isn't the best situation). I would recommend T3 therapy to anyone suffering from hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and depression where standard treatments (thyroxine, antidepressants etc) have failed. Treatment
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Thyroid Medication
No noticeable effect
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
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I developed chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) aged 11 and later in my teens had my thyroid function tested by a ME/CFS who suspected low thyroid function may have been contributing to my condition. My thyroxine levels came back borderline low so I was given thyroxine medication which I took at a dose of 25mcg, increasing to 50mcg, over a period of a few months. I noticed no effects from the thyroxine tablets at all. There were also no side-effects to report however. Years later I was given T3 medication. T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone where thyroxine is seen more as a storage form. The T3 produced very positive results very quickly. I'd therefore advise anyone with similar health concerns to myself to get comprehensive thyroid testing that includes T3 levels and to ask for T3 medication (or natural thyroid extract) to be added to their treatment if thyroxine alone is not effective or only partially so. Treatment
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