EiR Blog

Many of those afflicted by environmental and / or invisible illness will have heard of Ashok Gupta or the Gupta Program he created. If you haven't, the Gupta Program is a form of brain retraining that focuses on re-wiring the limbic system (specifically, amygdala) within the brain using what's known as neuroplasticity; the ability of the brain to create new synaptic pathways. In this case the phenomena is used for creating pathways more conducive to health and recovery from complex multi-system illnesses. There is now much scientific and medical evidence that the likes of chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) result from hyperactivity of the limbic system. Since this area of the brain is not under conscious control and is responsible for the fight or flight response (more accurately - fight-flight-freeze) and governs the hypothalamic-pitiutary-adrenal (HPA) axis, it is easy to see how hyperactive responses to stress,...

In 2000 I went through the horrible experience, as you no doubt have, of developing multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). It was a familiar story recounted by other 'MCSers' in which I first became sensitive to my family's deodorants and perfumes, I was just 21 at the time and still living at home. After that it was laundry detergent, fabric softener and my dad's cigarette smoke that lingered on his clothes. From that point on, over a period of around three months, I became sensitive to just about everything; all of the chemical products in the house, the gas hob / stove and central heating boiler fumes. I couldn't even escape to the outdoors as I eventually became sensitive to vehicle exhaust fumes and the scents worn by passers by. If you're reading this I have no doubt you can relate! This is not a blog about my struggles and suffering...

The Dynamic Neural Retraining System™ (DNRS™) is a therapy program initially aimed at sufferers of environmental and invisible illnesses such as multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia, of which Founder Annie Hopper was one, but which has also been found to be helpful to those with a wide variety of conditions. The aim of the program is to "rewire" the limbic system of the brain to get to the root of illness, rather than simply chasing symptoms as medications and other interventions usually do. The basis of this approach is neuroplasticity therapy, since as stated on the System's website (retrainingthebrain.com) it has been found that "the disorganization of neural networks that occur during trauma can cause deep protective mechanisms within the limbic system of the brain to fire more rapidly and inappropriately." The result of the above is a heightened chronic stress response that may affect many systems of the brain and body,...

For a decade or more now a number of therapies variously referred to as brain retraining programs, limbic system therapy or limbic system techniques, have become very popular in the treatment of environmental illness and invisible illnesses from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Yet often little is explained on program websites about what exactly is involved.     Thankfully, in the case of the Gupta Program (formerly known as The Amygdala Retraining Programme) a number of members here at The Environmental Illness Resource (EiR) who have been helped, or even recovered, by using Ashok Gupta's techniques have been kind enough to share point by point descriptions of the program in our forums.  The program comes in the form of a DVD series available for shipping worldwide, although Ashok also conducts seminars and personal one-on-one sessions to help patients through the program.  In our forums you will find accounts...

Chronic sinusitis is an extremely common and troublesome condition, yet symptoms are often dismissed as being due to the common cold or a bout of flu, even by medical doctors! The suggested treatment simply rest and painkillers... I became interested in finding out more about chronic sinusitis and how best to treat it after becoming suspicious my wife was suffering from the condition. She was developing the telltale symptoms every month or two, and despite working as a teacher in a school where viral infections frequently infect much of the staff and student body, I couldn't believe she was catching every single infection going - every time. Things began to fall into place when I read a highlighted statement on the website SinusitisWellness.com run by sinus specialist, Donald Dennis, M.D. The statement reads: "We believe the true cause of chronic sinusitis is an allergic reaction to MOLD. This has been...

Mold and the illness it causes can be hugely stubborn to get rid of unless an appropriate and comprehensive protocol is put in place. That's not to say this needs to be a complicated or difficult process however. In this article you will learn of 5 simple steps you can take to get on top of the problem for good! To me it seems logical that if you want to treat mold-related illnesses such as chronic sinusitis, you first need to ensure your home environment, work (as much as possible) and even your car are free from mold so you are not constantly re-exposing yourself and/or your family to the source of your ill-health. None of us want to waste money on products that simply treat our recurring symptoms before the root cause of our illness is addressed, do we? This type of approach is also prudent for other environmental and...

Seasonal Affective Disorder (known widely by the appropriate acronym - SAD)  is a form of clinical depression associated with late autumn and winter and thought to be caused by a lack of light. It’s estimated to affect 10 million Americans, with another 1-2 million Americans suffering from a milder form, often referred to as 'the winter blues' - making it extremely common, affecting 1 in every 30 people in the United States. The signs and symptoms of SAD are almost identical to those of clinically diagnosed major deppression with the difference being that those affected by SAD generally experience a gradual worsening and then resolution of their symptoms as the seasons change and with them the amount of light and sun exposure.  Symptoms of SAD Feelings of Sadness and Despair Irritability Crying Spells Poor Sleep Tiredness & Fatigue Body Aches Trouble Concentrating Lack of Motivation Loss of Sex Drive Overeating...

I think most people would agree that aging is not particularly desirable. Some even go as far as to call it a "disease". While I wouldn't go that far, I want to do all I can to understand the aging process and perhaps slow it down and avoid its more serious consequences. What are these consequences I am talking about? Well although I do not see aging as a disease in itself, our risk of degenerative diseases certainly increases as our bodies age. Heart attacks, strokes and cancer, some of the the biggest killers in the developed world become much more likely, as do multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease and various forms of dementia such as Alzheimer's disease. Not to mention conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis which can leave individuals disabled. All of these diseases of aging reduce a person's quality of life and in the case of cardiovascular disease...

The widespread use of antibiotics, birth control pills and immune-suppressing steroids such as anti-inflammatories, combined with modern high sugar diets, has led to the overgrowth of Candida and other yeasts in the upper gut becoming common and leading to debilitating systemic illness.

 

As an individual living with this for the past 20 years or so I have begun to notice something that should be obvious but nobody I am aware of has written about - that is that many effects of intestinal Candida overgrowth are the same as those that alcoholics experience or are at risk for.

 

The reason for this is that the main way intestinal Candida overgrowth causes illnesses is through the production of alcohol. Candida is a yeast which ferments carbohydrates in our diet to produce exactly the same type of alcohol that an alcoholic would consume to excess in the form of alcoholic beverages - namely ethanol.

 

Ethanol is a central nervous system depressant and it is this property that makes social drinking enjoyable since it relaxes us and removes inhibitions. It can however also cause long-term effects on cognitive function and mood. Ethanol is toxic and can damage the body at the cellular level as well as the organ level - the obvious example of the latter being liver diseases including alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Glutathione (GSH) is a small tripeptide molecule (composed of 3 amino acids) that plays a big part in detoxifying the body of harmful substances and protecting it from reactive oxygen molecules such as free radicals in its role as an antioxidant. The three amino acids that combine to form glutathione are cysteine, glycine and glutamic acid. Glutathione is a major player in the Phase 2 (conjugation) detoxification system which is primarily active in the liver. Molecules of glutathione are "conjugated", or joined, to toxins that have either passed through Phase 1 (cytochrome P450) system to prepare them for conjugation, or to substances which are already amenable to joining with glutathione. Once glutathione conjugation has taken place the toxins can be safely and easily excreted from the body. As an antioxidant glutathione directly neutralizes free radicals and other reactive oxygen molecules like peroxides. In addition to this it also plays a...

After the initial bewilderment and panic of becoming sensitive to what were previously harmless everyday items and environments, everyone who suffers from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) quickly realizes that there is yet more suffering in store for them. Firstly, their regular doctor is unlikely to take the condition seriously or diagnose it correctly, instead opting for a psychiatric diagnosis. Secondly, no treatment actually targeted at MCS is likely to be forthcoming. Even when naturopathic doctors and other alternative practitioners who do recognize MCS for what it is are consulted, the treatments on offer are often expensive and only partially successful at best. For this reason I decided to compile the following list and summaries of five MCS treatments which are most likely to help you if you suffer from this debilitating and isolating condition. I decided on the five treatments based on my own recovery from MCS, feedback from other...

As someone who has suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) for over two decades from the young age of 11 I have come to see that we need to use every tool at our disposal to help us manage chronic illness and live life to its fullest. Starting around 10 years ago a began flirting with various forms of meditation and eventually settled into regular practice of a form of meditative practice that involves the repetitive chanting of a mantra (word or phrase). Whether the mantra itself is important is up for debate as it seems to me at least that the rhythm of the chanting is the important aspect, leading the brain into a state of syncronisation, focus, and relaxation. What I know for certain is that my practise of mantra meditation has empowered me to build and maintain The Environmental Illness Resource website, obtain a bachelor's degree in...

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is estimated to affect up to 15% of the population in the US and other industrialised nations (1), yet research into why people develop this hypersensitivity to chemicals is sorely lacking. Currently we have mainly animal testing and studies involving small numbers of participants diagnosed with MCS to go on. One leading theory suggests the development of a hypersensitivity to chemical stimuli in an area of the brain known as the limbic system which controls a variety of functions including emotion, behaviour, long term memory, and olfaction (our sense of smell). Animals studies have shown that both large acute exposures and low-level chronic exposures to certain organic chemicals can result in hypersensitivity of the limbic system to subsequent minute exposures to the same, or similar chemicals (2). Perhaps the most complete theory of the pathophysiology of MCS thus far has been proposed by Martin Pall, Professor...

Albert Einstein is my kind of guy. Although undeniably one of the greatest scientists who ever lived, he did not see the world simply through the narrow focus of physics. Although his views on religion and the existence of God are far from clear...due in no small part to his (I suspect deliberately) ambiguous comments on these subjects, he appears to have had a spiritual side and despite his great knowledge and understanding of the workings of the universe, he maintained childlike wonderment at that which we call reality. Einstein famously said "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind". Although open to interpretation, my take on what he was saying is that without the ability to see scientific findings in the context of a greater whole those findings serve little purpose and do nothing to furthering our understanding of reality and of the human experience. Equally, to...

Those of us affected by what are frequently referred to as 'Invisible Illnesses' - chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia (FMS), multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) etc - are constantly frustrated by the fact that we feel lousy, yet appear perfectly healthy to the casual observer i.e. our friends and relatives. Perhaps even more frustrating is that to the eye of the conventionally-trained doctor we also show no signs of illness, leading many to assume it's all in our heads and to send us off to the shrink. Which is of course unproductive, and often counter-productive, given that these illnesses may often be invisible, yet are nevertheless as real and legitimate as physical conditions as the likes of diabetes and arthritis. The medical literature is now full of decades worth of research documenting immunological, endocrine, and neurological abnormalities that overwhelmingly makes this case for us.   These illnesses may be invisible to...

After being chronically ill for 20 years, having been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) at the young age of 11, I have grown increasingly interested in psychology and particularly the traits required to survive an illness that robs sufferers of so much (what I would give to be able to just go for a run). My ill health has also included multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D.), and adrenal fatigue, which are all terrible things to deal with in themselves and have forced me to draw on every last bit of inner strength I could muster to keep going despite a distinct lack of enjoyment in life. Rather than crushing my spirit however, these trials and tribulations that have shaped my life, have actually strengthened my resolve, given me greater confidence in myself and my abilities, and changed my outlook on life for the better. When one...

So, I again find myself writing on my positive experience with a LifeWave patch...this time the new Aeon product which is aimed at reducing stress and its consequences, both as a standalone product, or as part of LifeWave's Y-Age system which also incorporates patches designed to increase levels of glutathione and carnosine in the body. Having last year completed a Bachelor of Science degree in nutritional medicine, including a dissertation which involved performing a systematic review of the medical literature, I am quite familiar with the 'hierarchy of evidence' which is revered in academia, and perhaps most of all in medicine. In modern medicine if an intervention does not have numerous randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews of such trials supporting its use it is dismissed as useless or a scam. Now I understand the rationale behind this system and to a point agree with it. Living with a...

At the back end of last year I underwent a number of laboratory tests through my environmental medicine doctor. One of these tests, through UK-based laboratory named Acumen, looked for 'DNA adducts' (substances bound to DNA that should not be there) and found bisphenol A (BPA) to be an issue for me. The significance of the DNA adducts testing is that if a toxin such as BPA is present in in large enough quantities in the body to become bound to DNA then its concentrations in the body as a whole are likely to be quite high. Once these toxins become bound to DNA they may also damage it and change the way genes function. Our genes regulate every process in the body so this is not a good thing at all!  The purpose of this blog post however, is not to go into an in-depth discussion of DNA adduct testing, but rather to look...

For those who are not regular visitors to The Environmental Illness Resource, I am a 31 year old male from the UK and was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) in March 1991 around the time of my 12th birthday. Recently my parents moved house and my mum dropped off a box full of old photos of me from my childhood. Looking through them I was struck by how happy I looked as a child. This was clearly the purest type of happiness borne out of freedom from worry and a true zest for life and the excitement of discovering new things every day. Naturally, it's easy and 'normal' to lose these things as we get older, but even more so when a chronic and misunderstood illness such as ME/CFS deprives you of many of the things that most people take for granted. As I found photos of myself as...

 There is no doubt that chronic illness involves a lot of suffering, a lot of soul searching, and a great deal of loss, both of one's capacity to continue doing all the things that bring enjoyment and of self-esteem and fulfillment in life. But what if chronic illness could be turned into a positive experience? This summer I completed a bachelors degree in nutritional health and was awarded first class honours by the University of Greenwich, London. At 31 I was beginning to think I would never obtain a degree after being forced to drop out of a computer science course at the University of Sheffield aged 19 due to ill health - this was therefore a great achievement for me. However, the degree was supposed to be followed by a year of clinical training to become a nutritional therapist/nutritionist. A recent downturn in my health as forced me to...