Ashok Gupta’s experience with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome while in university and subsequent self-recovery gave him the insight and firsthand knowledge needed to develop his Amygdala Retraining™ Programme* that helps those with CFS, ME, Fibromyalgia, MCS and related conditions to re-set a chronic over-stimulation of the “fight or flight” center of the brain. He hopes to attract funding for a double-blind medical study and further research. He explains his theory below:

I have suffered from ‘chronic fatigue syndrome’ (ME/CFS) myself. Around 10 years ago, I developed it while studying at University.”

Since then, I have dedicated my life to finding an effective treatment for ME/CFS and associated conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities, Gulf War Syndrome, etc. I have been completely well for years, and I successfully treat patients at my clinic in Harley Street in Central London (guptaprogram.com*; e-mail: info@guptaprogramme.com).

To help you understand the process that I believe has helped me and many others to improve, I will look at:

* An overview of The Amygdala Hypothesis – a “vicious cycle” that, once triggered by severe stressors in people with certain risk factors can perpetuate neurological overstimulation, physiological dysfunction, and many physical symptoms.

* An explanation of major symptoms in the context of this hypothesis.

* A brief summary of Amygdala Retraining™ concepts – how patients may break the vicious cycle by applying techniques that encourage the amygdala and associated brain structures to discontinue the hypothesized overstimulation – and pilot results observed at one year.

* Links to six free YouTube videos from the Retraining Program DVDs, which cover the entire hypothesis in depth.

THE AMYGDALA HYPOTHESIS

My medical research seems to indicate that ME/CFS is a neurological condition, and may be caused by abnormalities in a brain structure called the “amygdala,” which is deep in the unconscious brain.

One of the amygdala’s roles is to protect the body from potential threats.

* Research on the amygdala has traditionally focused on physiological or emotional threats,

* Whereas recent research is showing that the amygdala is involved in protection mechanisms related to chemical and immunological threats as well.

This hypothesis serves as a potential unifying model for the various observations in patients. I published my hypothesis in the peer reviewed journal Medical Hypotheses in 2002. (It is available to read online here: guptaprogramme.com/html/medicalPaper.asp)

read the full article
read the appendix

*As of January 25, 2010, Planet Thrive is participating in an affiliate program for the Gupta Amygdala Retraining Programme™ after observing over 30 members of the Planet Thrive Gupta Support Group, who reported many benefits over several months time.