Explaining 'Unexplained Illnesses': Disease Paradigm for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Gulf War Syndrome (Paperback)

by Martin L. Pall (Author) "The chronic, overlapping illnesses chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), fibromyalgia (FM), and post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD) are suggested by several researchers..." (more)
Key Phrases: energy metabolism dysfunction, vanilloid activity, sanilloid receptor, United States, Gull War, United Kingdom (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
A brilliant treatise that brings us closer to a 'unified field theory' explaining the underlying causes and pathophysiology behind CFS, FMS, and many other poorly understood syndromes . . . and also closer to effective treatment! My thanks and appreciation to Professor Pall for his excellent and ground-breaking work. -- Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, author of From Fatigued to Fantastic and Pain Free 1-2-3; Medical Director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers Inc

A stunning expose on what is surely a central thesis of chronic, unexplained and fatiguing illness; namely, that oxidative stress mechanisms hold the key to any holistic viewpoint. He writes as a truth-seeker and as a biological scientist with a well reasoned and well documented style. This book could easily mark the end of the beginning of a more complete understanding of this complex field which is a trillion dollar nightmare of human misery and bio-political inattention. -- Paul R. Cheney, MD, PhD

Dr. Pall has put together as insightful and detailed view of a significant form of inflammatory biochemistry, in a manner that makes important contributions toward science-based treatment. . . . One can only hope that doctors and others with the sacred duty of care for the body/mind/spirit of another human being will read this book carefully. -- Grace Ziem, MD, PhD

Has clearly demonstrated the weight of the molecular evidence regarding these targeted diseases: chemical hypersensitivities, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and post-traumatic stress, and that their causation and progression implicates redox imbalances, or in other words, electronic imbalances. His model is unique in explaining the overlapping nature of these diseases (comorbidity), and explaining why they were previously so difficult to understand, diagnose and effectively treat. Dr. Pall has integrated a massive amount of molecular/biochemical data (this feat is astonishing to me) in order to present a well crafted model, which should convince serious minded scientists and doctors that these conditions are strongly associated with reactive molecular fragments, oxidative species and that inflammation and immune abnormalities are the consequences. The options for therapy are intriguingly varied, generally with attractive safety profiles. The political/environmental implications of this work are vast, and must be embraced for the health of all of us across the globe -- Stephen A. Levine, PhD; president and CEO of Allergy Research Group; co- author of Antioxidant Adaptation: Its Role in Free Radical Pathology

Product Description
Explaining “Unexplained Illnesses” provides long-sought explanations for the properties of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), fibromyalgia, and posttraumatic stress disorder. This groundbreaking book examines common symptoms and signs; short-term stressors such as infection, chemical exposure, physical trauma, and severe psychological stress; why people are often diagnosed as having more than one of these illnesses, and approaches for treating the cause of each disease, rather than the symptoms. The book presents a detailed and well-supported mechanism (the NO/ONOO- cycle) that provides consistent explanations for many of the puzzling elements of these diseases.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 446 pages
• Publisher: Informa HealthCare; 1 edition (April 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078902389X
• ISBN-13: 978-0789023896
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #177,587 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Groundbreaking New Disease Paradigm, September 6, 2007

By	Southern Reader (South Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

In the groundbreaking new book "Explaining 'Unexplained Illnesses'", Dr. Martin Pall has proposed a new paradigm of human disease, the NO/ONOO- vicious cycle, which now explains CFS, MCS, FM, PTSD and GWS, bringing new hope for successful treatment and eventually a long hoped for cure. This paradigm also encompasses important illnesses such as asthma, autism, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and ALS, offering explanation and direction for research and treatment.

Dr. Pall clearly explains his new paradigm and the deranged biochemistry behind it. While the mechanism is complex, he gives hope to the millions who are suffering from these illnesses with an excellent chapter (Chapter 15) on treatment, mainly citing natural supplements as opposed to pharmaceuticals for disrupting this vicious cycle and returning the biochemistry to normal. He further explains the need for more research to develop the best treatment protocol and eventual cure.

Chapter 13, titled "What About Those Who Say It Is All in Your Head or That It All Starts in Your Head?", is a well-researched, heavily documented, pointed response to those who accuse these patients (of CFS and MCS particularly) of suffering from psychological/mental illness (or of being malingerers) rather than a physiological disease. As Dr. Pall points out, the chemical industry and insurance industry have vested interest in this issue, so as to avoid devastating liability lawsuits, payouts for disability, medical care and treatment.

As a former health care professional, I highly recommend this book as required reading for all people engaged in any aspect of the health care industry and all health care providers (from physicians to nurses to dentists) as well as for anyone who suffers from any of the illnesses impacted by this new disease paradigm. This book's importance cannot be overstressed.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Protocols for Treating Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, etc. Explained, September 2, 2007

By	Elaine Tomko (Wilkes Barre, PA) - See all my reviews

I hope you will make the time to read Dr. Pall's book and find it as inspirational and educational as I did. I was very excited to read about this NO/ONOO theory and explanation underlying these inflammatory illnesses: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Fibromyalgia (FM), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Gulf War Syndrome (GWS), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), etc. Take this book to your treating physician and discuss the protocols which fit your medical needs.
This book is dense with information - read the first chapter - The NO/ONOO Cycle and the Cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. If you find it too technical, skip to the section about your illness, then go back and see if the chemistry is easier to understand. But everyone should read this book - even if they don't understand the chemistry - just for the supportive information which validates their experience with their illness.
Referring to MCS, Dr. Pall writes," MCS initiation commonly involves chemical exposure, either a single high-level exposure or multiple lower-level exposures. The chemicals involved in initiation of MCS fall mainly into four classes, organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides and two other classes of pesticides, and volatile organic solvents." Page 4
The chapter on therapies is most helpful as it provides detailed information on agents expected to down-regulate the vicious NO/ONOO cycle. "At least 30 therapeutic agents or classes of agents are available today that are expected to down-regulate cycle biochemistry." Page 265 Dr. Pall lists the various protocols of Drs. Paul Cheney, Jacob Teitlebaum, Garth Nicolson, Nash Petrovic, and Grace Ziem. He explains how each therapy and protocol acts to lower the NO/ONOO cycle or lowers NMDA activity, or acts as a nitric oxide scavenger or vanilloid antagonist.
These two statements stood out in the Chapter on MCS: "I estimated based on both, anecdotal reports and controlled exposure study, that MCS sufferers are at least 100 times more sensitive than normals and are probably more on the order of 1000 times more sensitive." 2 Page 114
And,"In one of my papers, I estimated that the prevalence of MCS from epidemiological studies is similar to that of diabetes, but the funding available for its study has been only about 1/1000th as much." 2 Page 113
Footnote 2. Pall ML. NMDA sensitization and stimulation by peroxynitrite, nitric oxide and organic solvents as the mechanism of chemical sensitivity in multiple chemical sensitivity, FASEB J 2002; 16:1407-1417
In the Therapy chapter discussing Dr. Grace Ziem's protocols, Dr. Pall writes: "Patients are advised to use environmental controls to reduce exposure to volatile organic solvents, pesticides and other irritant chemicals wherever possible. The therapeutic agents are not a substitute for avoidance of irritant chemicals, but rather are only effective in these chemically injured patients when used along with environmental controls." Page 312
My message to everyone suffering and disabled from the affects of MCS, FM, CFS, PTSD and other inflammatory illnesses is never give up hope - there is some treatment or protocol which will help you and your physician manage your illness.
Reading Dr. Pall's book has, personally, given me great hope for the future - for more successful treatments for MCS tailored to individual needs. We are hopeful that the protocols developed with this NO/ONOO theory in mind will be of great benefit to the health and healing of people with MCS and other inflammatory illnesses.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A novel idea, with ground-breaking potential. , July 25, 2007

By	Kimberly A. Russo (Moscow, ID USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dr. Martin Pall's book, Explaining "Unexplained Illnesses," proposes an insightful and carefully constructed theory for the cause of such mysterious illnesses as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Gulf War Syndrome. It is a must-read for those in the health care profession as well as any individual who has, or knows someone who has, the afore mentioned illnesses.

The theory is somewhat complicated as it proposes an entirely new paradigm for disease, yet Dr. Pall presents the material in such a way that even an undergraduate like myself can understand it. Each chapter includes an introduction to help ease the reader into the topic, as well as take-home lessons to summaries the material in a digestible way. For those interested in going into greater detail on any of the particular diseases, there is an entire chapter devoted to each one. The book provides concise summaries as well as unabridged, through explanation. Basically, there is something for every type of reader.