The Website for Sufferers of
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and ME
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The Website for Sufferers of |
Home David & Jen's Story Information ME Workshops Action Packs Links/Books Symptoms Treatment Contact
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Action Pack 1 The main focus of Action Pack 1 is getting the brain circulation and the body’s circulation better. Once this circulation has improved, oxygen, nutrients and any medication can be transported where they are needed. Good circulation is also necessary to start removing some of the toxic waste products. Progress you should expect from improved circulation · Be able to think and do things you haven’t been able to do for some time · Find the quality of your thoughts and emotions improving · Feel emotionally more relaxed and able to concentrate more easily · Your coordination and balance should improve · Your ability to read, listen and remember things should improve Action Pack 1 contains 1 booklet (63 pages) and 2 audiotapes (150 minutes). The booklet outlines the reasoning behind Dr Mason Browns approach and details each of the treatments he recommends. The booklet is intended as a resource that can be referred to throughout this initial stage and later stages. Tape 1 discusses the topics covered in the booklet with real life stories and examples added. These have been built up over the years from Dr Mason Brown’s personal experience of CFS/ME and that of the patients he has helped. The second tape is devoted to Mind-Body Medicine. Side 1 of the second tape describes Mind Body Medicine and its importance in recovery from CFS/ME, side 2 contains exercises specifically formulated for the CFS/ME sufferer at the initial stages of getting well. ACTIONS IN STAGE 1
Motivating yourself Dr Mason Brown is passionate about the use of desire as a motivator. He has succeeded where others have failed by inspiring patients to dream of what they desire. Mind-Body medicine is a key factor in the treatment of any chronic illness. Studies show that you cannot help but gravitate towards what you think about. Psychologists have completed thousands of studies and experiments to prove the benefits of positive thinking and placebo effects. The relaxation section of the audiotapes has been prepared to help you to habitually think about a future you desire. The booklet contains information on Mind-Body medicine and 1 full tape is devoted to it. Pacing Yourself Learning to pace is a crucial part of the recovery. The body will send signs as to whether it is coping or not and one of the most important things to learn in any treatment is that the body knows what it likes and what it doesn’t like. Listening to these signals is an integral part of gaining control over this condition. Understanding and Prevention of CFS/ME Although understanding CFS/ME is important, the key area here is working towards minimising the effects of these potential causes and moving towards long term prevention. All of the following potential causes can be and are often interlinked:
Each of the above causes is discussed in turn in Action Pack 1. Once understood, the causes can be used to help prevent future recurrences of the condition, suggestions of how to do this are also included. Improving blood circulationAs mentioned previously the circulation has to be improved as it acts as the body’s transport system. Improved circulation will remove neurotoxins from the brain and other toxins from the rest of the body allowing nutrients and supplements to reach the parts of the brain and body where they are required. Actions which improve blood circulation: · Taking a controlled course of nimodipine tablets · Taking Ginkgo Biloba · Drinking the right amount of water every day Nimodipine Nimodipine is a calcium channel blocker. It works by normalising the blood circulation in the brain, especially through the smallest blood vessels. It also works by relieving areas of localised vessel spasm in the brain decreasing the vascular headaches sometimes associated with CFS/ME. In CFS/ME there can be reduced blood pressure due to the neurally mediated hypotension found in many patients. Neurally mediated hypotension is where the blood drains from the head causing parts of the brain to have inadequate circulation. This is why ‘brain fog’ often occurs. The re-stabilisation of the brain circulation releases the neurotoxins, which have become trapped in the brain in a controlled fashion. Restoring the circulation to the brain and to the pituitary gland allows hormones to reach various glands in the body. This enables the body’s distribution system to work as intended, which is vital in order to take oxygen, nutrients and any medication where it is needed. This is analogous to clearing blockages from a railway track to allow the trains to operate again. Ginkgo Biloba Ginkgo Biloba and nimodipine are probably the two most important treatments for normalising brain circulation in CFS/ME. The Ginkgo Biloba works by countering the viscosity produced by excess production of Platelet Activating Factor (which thickens the blood). Water Sufficient water must be drunk in order to flush out the toxins from wherever they have been trapped. If insufficient water is drunk the toxins released by the Nimodipine remain in the body rather than being flushed away. This can be compared to trying to shower under only a trickle of water when covered in mud. The mud is simply moved around. Supplements for stage 1
L-GLUTAMINE The amino acid glutamine is used by the brain for energy. By supplementing with glutamine, regulation of the level of glucose is improved. This helps intellectual and cognitive behaviour, and the functioning of the whole of the rest of the brain. These are areas that are often affected by CFS/ME, so it is important to try to improve by supplementing. Researchers have discovered that if a stressed person is given glutamine, the breakdown and wasting of muscle is prevented. This has implications for anyone who is under stress mentally or physically. Taking supplemental glutamine at these times could help maintain the body’s glutamine stores and prevent muscle breakdown and fatigue. This is very relevant in CFS/ME as muscle breakdown and fatigue are often very severe. Glutamine also works on our stomach, the large bowel, and especially the small intestine. The small intestine is the only part of the body that solely uses glutamine for energy. Lack of glutamine leads to ‘leaky gut syndrome’. By using glutamine over a period of up to six months, these allergies can decrease. EVENING PRIMROSE OIL Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) contains a high amount of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). GLA is an important constituent of prostaglandin E1, which is used to relieve inflammation and decrease pain in CFS/ME. It especially helps the brain and those with the worst muscle symptoms. PRIME DIRECTIVE It has been found that in societies where people have not taken antibiotics each person has about 4 pounds of bacteria in their gut. These bacteria are responsible for many important functions that maximise gastrointestinal function and nutrient absorption. Many CFS/ME sufferers have taken antibiotics and other medication over the years that have killed these ‘good’ bacteria. By taking Prime Directive these bacteria can be replaced. Prime Directive also contains the nutrients that are required for these ‘good’ bacteria to grow. The nutrients also help increase energy levels. Prime Directive can also reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion and candida and thrush. This Action Pack also provides information on supplements which can help specific symptoms such as mouth ulcers, inflammation etc. These supplements include: · WELEDA GARGLE
· CALCIUM · MAGNESIUM · ZINC · BORON · SELENIUM Action Pack 1 is currently out of stock - we will keep this page updated with further information soon. |
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