I have been following the work of Dr. Martin Pall with interest for some time now so couldn't wait for this book to be published. When well known and respected names like Dr. Paul Cheney and Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum speak so highly of someone and their work you can be sure it is worth looking in to. Dr. Pall's article 'Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: The End of Controversy' has been one of the most read articles on this site ever since it went online.

Having said all that I admit I initially hesitated in making purchasing 'Explaining "Unexplained Illnesses"' as the price of the original hardback edition was pretty high. Thankfully there is now a paperback version which is much more affordable.

Dr. Pall is Professor of Biochemistry and Basic Medical Sciences at Washington State University. He has a long-standing interest in biological regulatory mechanisms and free radical pathology and it is this that has led him to investigate the "unexplained illnesses". This book explains in detail his theory that CFS, multiple chemical sensitivity, fibromyalgia, and other conditions result from out of control oxidative stress (from free radicals) triggered by disruption of the nitric oxide system within the body. Nitric oxide (NO) is a chemical that the body itself produces and which hs a number of useful functions, as a nuerotransmitter and in the regulation of blood pressure, for example. What Dr. Pall suggests is that particular stressors (which are known to trigger unexplained illnesses) such as viral infections, chemical exposures, and severe stress trigger increased levels of NO which then do not return to normal. The problem he says, is that NO triggers the production of harmful free radicals such as peroxynitrite which the body is unable to deal with and which lead to the various symptoms of these illnesses.

Dr. Pall does a great job of explaining such complex biochemistry in a way that the layman can understand (even those of us with unexplained illnesses!). He starts off with a little background about the illnesses and how he came to suspect the involvement of NO before explaining the mechanisms in detail which he backs up with a host of references, as you would expect from a university Professor. It is worth noting that Dr. Pall's work has recently been independently verified by other researchers who have noted higher than normal levels of NO in CFS patients with a link to previous immune activation from a viral infection.

The book is set out in a logical and readable fashion taking us through each of the illnesses in which Dr. Pall suspects NO involvement. The final section of the book deals with possible treatment options for addressing this underlying cause. Refreshingly from a medical academic, the majority of these treatment options are nutritional supplements that are available over the counter. They are in the most part powerful antioxidants. Each is discussed in some detail and the evidence for their potential usefulness assessed.

The book concludes with a review of the current research and what needs to be done in future to get to the bottom of unexplained illnesses.

I feel that this book is a hugely important step towards uncovering the mechanisms that lay behind the unexplained illnesses that are afflicting modern society. It provides a mechanism that not only explains the multiple and varied symptoms seen in unexplained illnesses but also makes the connection between illnesses, that although different in some ways, share many similarities that can't just be ignored. If you can handle a bit of science and want to discover what is goin on in these illnesses and possibly discover effective treatment options then don't hesitate to take a look at this book.

Gloria Gilbčre is a traditional naturopath, homeopath and doctor of natural health and is an internationally known author and speaker.

In this book she defines what she calls 'invisible illnesses'. These are the illnesses that visitors to this website will be very familiar with and include chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, leaky gut syndrome, and multiple chemical sensitivity. The term 'invisible illnesses' is very apt, how many times have people told you that you like fine? I can't count the number of times I have heard that phrase!

Being a natural health practitioner, the author uses the bulk of the book to discuss the various natural therapies that can be used to manage invisible illnesses and set the patient on the road to recovery. Chapters focus on various specific issues that must be addressed for healing to occur. These include gut problems and the gut-brain connection, reducing the toxic load on the body, improving immune system health, and improving emotional wellbeing.

The book recommends various therapies that can address these and other issues. Therapies include diet modification and nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, homeopathic remedies, and colonic irrigation.

What sets this book apart from others in a similar vein is that Gloria Gilbčre has suffered from invisible illnesses herself and managed to regain her health through the natural methods she now recommends to others. It's clear that she understands what readers are going through with these conditions as her compassion and empathy is clear throughout.

This book is an invaluable resource by an author whose own renewed health is proof of the effectiveness of the treatments described.