Customer Reviews

Chronic Fatigue Unmasked

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Today, understandings of the roots of CFS are coming thick andfast. The focus is now on what is making our bodies weak rather thanwhat is menacing them from outside. Yet outside menaces are not unimportant. Ten people may walk along a lane sprayed with paraquat. Two may feel unwell for a little while. Only one will go on to develop chronic illhealth of the CFS sort. Researchers are now looking at why that one person was unable to recover from the exposure to the toxic chemical. Dr Gerald Poesnecker, a Pennsylvania chiropractor and naturopath, looks at what makes our bodies weak. He argues strongly that it is the cumulative effects of many negative factors on the immune system - in particular, the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and the adrenal glands - that is bringing people to their knees. So far much of the CFS medical establishment would agree. But unlike the establishment, he is unequivocal in his argument that STRESS is the basic cause. He draws heavily on the work of the great Canadian physiologist, Hans Selye, who first outlined the theory of the biological reaction to stress. His arguments appeal to me, in that when I wrote my book on CFS (Overload: Beating M.E./CFS) in 1985/86, I too felt that Hans Selye's research fitted CFS like a glove. But at that time, it was politically correct to postulate some mystery virus or bacteria, and though I found no evidence for such, I had neither the moral courage nor the physiological understanding to follow up the stress processes. Dr Poesnecker has both courage and understanding. He has worked with over CFS patients over a period of about 40 years. But understanding the progression of the illness is one thing. It is another thing altogether to offer an answer as to a cure. He admits he does not have this, because every person is different; making CFS probably the most difficult of all illnesses to cure. Over and over again he makes the point that patients must educate themselves in every possible way about their illness, and that they are ultimately responsible for the outcome. "Only the CFS patient himself can obtain ultimate mastery of his condition. The physician must provide a certain segment of the treatment. His part is essential and vital, but by itself is not sufficient for the total correction of the ailment. Full recovery from CFS is possible only if the patient assumes his part of the responsibility. If he does not, all help will be slow, arduous and eventually incomplete." He describes the processes of CFS as creating an `Ominous Triad .. a condition of the neurohormonal system which can be produced in an hereditarily weakened structure by a multitude of possible stresses which, in turn, cause a variety of symptom patterns which can in themselves eventually become stresses, thus creating a self-perpetuating disease - one that is able to feed upon its own symptoms." Dr Poesnecker explains almost all of the underlying CFS problems in relation to underactivity of the adrenals. He takes some of the malignant mystery from the monster, and from this point of view, the book is very comforting. It helps to know WHY! The chapter headings give an idea of the range of topics covered: the nature of the disease; history of the disease; nature of the patient (sensitive); patient and family responsibilities: the Hans Selye Chart and the Adrenal Stress Index (ASI); the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis; Treatment ; Life-Style Counselling; Nutritional Imbalances and Deficiencies; Environmental Stresses; Sex and the CFS patient; Diets; Environmental Toxicities, and various monographs. He makes interesting observations about how some individual develop unconscious techniques of stimulating adrenal function by creating arguments and dissension. The problem with this method of adrenal stimulation are the increasing degrees of rage necessary to get the individual going (pp.55-56). This could be relevant to people who are perpetually "bloody-minded", to crime, violence and hyperactivity. The 28pp chapter on treatment covers: evaluating adrenal stress; diet - and supplements (amino acids, special multi formulations, raw concentrates of adrenal, spleen and thymus); gentle massage to remove toxic build-up; bio-energetic therapies; stress counselling, and so on. He details several vibrational therapies and some bio-energetic devices which are unfamiliar to me. These are available at his two Pennsylvania healing centres. Dr Poesnecker also has a web site and runs a diagnostic and therapeutic service for those who are unable to attend in person. Dr Poesnecker's attitude is one of great sympathy for those with ME/CFS, great frustration with the medical profession for so misunderstanding and mistreating them, and of real anger at the way in which so many trends in society are damaging to human life and happiness. Though the style is somewhat longwinded, the content is, to my mind, first-class. I would thoroughly recommend this book. END

I am currently reading this book and find it to fit me exactly. I have been ill for 2 years now with not exactly sure what. Everything in the book relates to me, my life, my history, my illness and it is written where anyone can understand. I would highly recommend it to someone who feels they may be suffering from CFS.

Best book out there on the subject.

(1999 Edition) It doesn't take long to recognize that Dr. Poesnecker understands Adrenal Fatigue/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome inside and out. His many decades treating this one condition made him a leading expert in the field. This caring, compassionate doctor believed the two causes are hereditary weakness of the glandular system and overwhelming, unremitting stress. Generally, the two overlap. Those born with a strong and vital adrenal gland are capable of handling almost anything Life can throw at them while those with a poorly functioning adrenal gland will increasing lose the ability to function productively in our stress-filled society after a triggering stressful event. History, symptoms, treatments, lifestyle adjustments and patient responsibilities/attitudes are all addressed in this comprehensive book.

Essential reading.

This book was initially recommended to me by my naturalistic doctor and it was so impressive, this one was purchased via Amazon for a friend who also suffers from being "over-stressed." In our world today, most folks would benefit from reading this book and incorporating many of it's suggested lifestyle and nutritional changes.