ABSTRACT

Discover the answer to the mysteries of these debilitating illnesses

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.

At least a dozen scientists have proposed that chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and fibromyalgia must share a common mechanism; others have suggested posttraumatic stress disorder may belong to this group as well. This unique book provides explanations for their previously unexplained properties with more than 1,500 references to scientific literature, creating a whole new approach to therapy and treatment of these illnesses.

Explaining "Unexplained Illnesses" provides answers to these questions:

  • how do short-term stressors initiate chronic illness?
  • how does the biochemistry of the NO/ONOO- cycle produce chronic illness?
  • how can the diverse symptoms and signs of these illnesses be generated as a consequence of their common biochemistry?
  • why is there so much variation in symptoms from one sufferer to another?
  • what are the principles underlying the NO/ONOO- cycle mechanism?
  • how does the NO/ONOO- cycle provide explanations for a dozen previously unexplained properties of these illnesses?
  • how might 14

Acknowledgments, Chapter 1. The NO/ONOO- Cycle and the Cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Chapter 2. Important Components and Their Properties, Chapter 3. Generation of Symptoms and Signs of Multisystem Illnesses, Chapter 4. The Local versus Systemic Nature of the NO/ONOO- Cycle Mechanism and Its Implications for Nomenclature and Treatment, Chapter 5. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chapter 6. Agents That Lower Nitric Oxide Levels Are Useful in the Treatment of Multisystem Illnesses: Hydroxocobalamin (Vitamin B12) and Paroxetine, Chapter 7. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Chapter 8. Fibromyalgia, Chapter 9. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Chapter 10. Gulf War Syndrome: A Combination of All Four (CFS, MCS, FM, and PTSD), Chapter 11. The Toll of Multisystem Illnesses, Chapter 12. Overall Evidence, and What Else Is Needed?, Chapter 13. What About Those Who Say It Is All in Your Head or That It All Starts in Your Head?, Chapter 14. A Major New Paradigm of Human Disease?, Chapter 15. Therapy, Chapter 16. Overview, References, Index ,