<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Hi Everyone, I have been recently been doing some research on the Human Endocrine system via the WEB. I have come to some conclusions which may be of use. I have considered three types of scenarios. First type relates to the Celiac who has an intolerance to Gluten. Second type relates to a person who is suffering from poisoning eg from an mercury amalgam filling.(I fall into this category) Third type is the person who has sustained some form of brain damage/interference in some way e.g. sufferers of Gulf War Syndrome. In the case of the Celiac frequent immune responses occur when gluten is consumed This is a food intolerance or allergy. The response leads to damage of the stomach lining or mucosa such that it results in other intolerance such as lactose intolerance and subsequently malabsorption. It may also lead to yeast overgrowth which causes more problems by producing toxins which then overwhelm the immune system and lead to stress.This leads to undigested food matter which then creates havens for harmful bacteria leading to IBS, Colitis, Crohns, etc. There is fatigue and weakness. There is also I think mental fog and sleepiness. In the case of the person who has a defective mercury amalgam filling mercury poison seeps into the stomach via saliva and into the lungs and then also into the brain via the bloodstream. Yeast converts the elemental mercury into toxin which is 100 times more toxic. Overtime this poison builds up and the immune response is also frequently triggered. This leads to more and more food intolerance. Mercury resistant bacteria take over thus depleting the digestion system of other useful bugs. Bugs needed to digest and absorb certain food items such as dairy products, etc Defective fillings also provide another problem. They generate an electrical charge which is above the normal charge. The mercury poisoning affects the brain, digestion system, lungs and kidneys. The kidneys start to accumulate the mercury. Since it is so toxic it will destroy kidney cells. It also leads to mental fog and Alzheimer's. There is also chronic fatigue and tiredness, etc. In the case of CFS/CFIDS or sufferers of Gulf War Syndrome(PWCs) Something such as a virus or a physical knock has affected the brain. This has resulted in chronic fatigue and immune system problems. It can only be diagnosed, because of the cerebral factor, by eliminating all other causes of fatigue such as Lymes, iron deficiency, Thyroid problems, MS, etc. There is also mental fog and depression. In the case of the Celiac blood/stool tests, biopsy as well as gene test can help provide a firm diagnosis of a problem with gluten. In the case of the person being poisoned a skin test can detect mercury poisoning levels. Also skin test can detect yeast overgrowth. In the case of PWCs there is as yet no such test. In this case one must INFER CFS by eliminating all other possibilities. The main reason being that we know so little about the brain. All these conditions despite their differences also have their similarities. They have some immune system dysfunction,. They have fatigue, tiredness, weakness symptoms. i.e.METABOLIC problems. They have food intolerance problems. They have sleep disorders. Waking up problems i.e. body rhythms and internal clock problems. They have mood swing type problems. i.e. HORMONAL problems They are debilitated. They have a developmental effect on children. They have peculiar symptoms which seem to have no apparent cause. They often result in people suffering for many years without doctors really grasping the nature of the illness. They can lead to secondary problems such as diabetes, kidney failure, suicidal depression, etc. The illness can also be acquired later on in life with no set age. For the celiac staying away from gluten can make life a lot better. For the person with a filling problem replacing it with plastic or composite maybe the answer. However for the PWCs there is no obvious solution. Each person's predicament being their own ordeal. They have to keep trying out different things to get some partial and temporary relief. I think that the tiredness or metabolic problems stem from faults in the brains metabolic hormonal and electrical signalling ability. A disruption in this causes an imbalance resulting in fatigue, tiredness, weakness, etc. It also means that current tests will have a very tough time establishing a firm diagnosis There is a reciprocal relationship between each organ and the brain. The relationship has a protocol whereby one signal from the organ will tell the brain to generate another signal to counterbalance an imbalance. Thus for the metabolism to be in near perfect equilibrium this system of metabolic control communications is essential. Any one factor which is slightly out will result in an imbalance instantly and lead to loss of energy and power. These communications depend upon the body and brain's production of hormones and transmission of electrical signals. So what disrupts these signals? Firstly if the brain fails to produce the signals due to some damage either to the glands which release the signals or if the communication to those glands is somehow impaired. Alternatively the organ which is needs to signal the brain is itself failing to release the signal. It may be failing to receive the signal from the brain also which would tell it to produce hormone. This hormone would then travel to some other organ where it becomes a signal to tell that organ to produce hormone. This is the hormonal cascade effect. Kidneys being damaged by mercury poison may not stop the kidney from doing its major work of filtering, but it may stop it from sending out or receiving signals properly. This would explain why simple tests do not show up anything wrong with the kidneys. It also explains why there is no serious short-term permanent damage. What if there was another source of hormone which acts out of sync upsetting the balance also? These signals do not just rely on hormones but also on proteins such as peptides. Gluten e.g. is a peptide as is Casein. They also rely on electrical signalling via neurotransmitters. Hormonal imbalance may come from food intolerance. The immune response not only damages the mucosa but it also leads to leaky gut syndrome. There is the possibility of substances not fully digested leaking into the bloodstream. This could provide a source of unwanted signals which in turn upset the smooth running of the metabolism. Also sometimes substances may be released which are beneficial. They may cause imbalances to reverse. The hormonal function is one of constant rebalancing. Diet therefore could play an important role in this balancing act. Perhaps when considering one's diet one should consider what hormonal properties may exist in certain food items and drinks? Some research needs to be done on this!!! Personally I have found that many processed/complex food items contribute to adverse signalling. e.g. most alcohol, cream, salt, beans, seasoning, chocolate/sweets, etc. I have also found some items which reverse their effect. e.g. pure filtered coffee, pineapple juice, carbonated water, slices of lemon, garlic, spicy Indian curries, strong mints, Bacardi white rum, Red Square's Reloaded Gold drink, etc. Pure coffee seems to have several beneficial properties:- 1)It inhibits bad stuff from leaking into the blood stream. 2)It cancels out bad stuff already in the bloodstream. 3)It leaks into the bloodstream providing the brain with a clear and smooth buzz which is not followed by withdrawal/crashing 4)It aids digestion process during periods of food intolerance 5)It clears the head, drowsiness and tiredness. 6)It realigns signalling until the next release of bad stuff. These benefits only occur if there is some food intolerance taking place. (Please Note do NOT use instant coffee or coated coffee beans!) It is therefore very important to keep a food diary and establish which items have which properties to combat metabolic imbalance leading to fatigue, etc. Some of us are more sensitive than others. In the case of PWCs a different approach is needed. If there is physical brain damage then perhaps OP-1, which is a growth factor, maybe the answer. This encourages the growth of dendrites which will rewire the COMMS network in the brain leading to better signalling and rerouting of brain function http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/endocrine.html http://www.antiagingresearch.com/Article3.html http://www.neuroinvestment.com/neural%20implant.html Cheers, Anand. PS There are other sources of these signals such as paint, molds, fungi, waste areas, plastics/synthetics, insecticides/pesticides, harbours, fuel, industrial/municipal waste, agricultural waste, plants and animals, paint and household chemicals, air pollution, prosthetics, perfume, etc, etc.