Customer Reviews

Tuning the Brain: Principles and Practice of Neurosomatic Medicine

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I was housebound and often bedridden for 15 years with severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I tried many treatment approaches but nothing had any beneficial effect. I began working with Dr. Goldstein in 2001, following the experimental drug protocol set forth in this book. I was on the meds he prescribed for 3 years. During that time, I gradually recovered. I am now off the meds, working fulltime, and living a normal life. I know this approach does not work for everyone, but it has worked for many people with CFS, and I would recommend giving it serious consideration. Dr. Goldstein's hypothesis is that CFS is the result of a malfunction of the nervous system in which the neurons are over-responsive to stimuli. Sounds, smells, bright lights, stress, etc. all over-stimulate the over-reactive nervous system, causing fatigue and adrenal exhaustion. This is certainly consistent with my own experience of the illness. The meds reduce synaptic transmission. Over time, they can restore the nervous system to normal functioning.

My only complaint is that you have to read the whole thing cover to cover to make sure you don't miss anything. The book is less organized than its predecessor "Betrayal by the Brain" and the index, while at first glance appearing to be thorough, is quite incomplete.

I concur with another reviewer's statement about the information density. My notes on the book are book-length themselves. I especially love the 90 color figures that aid in understanding the anatomy and biochemistry involved.

Tuning the Brain

Two paragraphs of this book contain more neurochemical information than two pages of most books. Although I feel uncomfortable with the minimal attention Goldstein pays to detecting and treating the numerous viral, bacterial and fungal infections involved in Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel and Interstitial Cystitis, I feel his understanding of neurochemistry may be unparalleled. I would like to have read more about his experiences with intravenous Vitamin C treatment, which I believe may be the single most effective treatment for these disorders.

His diagnostic concept of quickly reaching the brain, by applying medications via ophthalmic, nasal and sublingual routes appears to have merit, since some of these sensory organs are only removed from the brain by two or three neurosynapses. The dramatically rapid improvements he describes using Naphazoline eyedrops, Nifedipine calcium channel blockers, sublingual Ketamine and other prescription medications are intrigueing.

Unfortunately Abecarnil and some of the other medications he discusses are not available in the United States, while others including Adenosine, with a ten second half life, would be of limited value, for chronic disease treatment.

Tragically, this brilliant, dedicated, devoted, unselfish physician reports he was unable to earn a living, testing and treating these very sick, labor intensive, exhausting patients, who have so many medical problems, requiring intervention after intervention. Health insurers and most patients do not want to pay for the level of care necessary to effectively treat these difficult patients for their numerous medical problems. Unfortunately, some of his patients were very selfish, demanding, manipulative and dishonest.

I recommend reading Betrayal by the Brain, before attempting to digest the incredible wealth of complex biochemical and neurochemical information in Tuning the Brain. I would not be surprised to learn that Dr. Jay Goldstein is awarded a Lasker or Nobel Prize when sufficient scientists succeed in comprehending the information he has written in this incredible book.

I was saddened to learn Dr. Jay Goldstein has retired, but am grateful for the outstanding contributions he has made to our understanding of neurochemistry, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, irritable bowel, interstitial cystitis, insomnia, anxiety, addiction and chronic fatigue treatment.

Steven Sponaugle