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Understanding ME/CFS & Strategies for Healing
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) might - at last - have been explained and demystified.
Recent research has mapped out the central, interlinking mechanisms which can create an illness of exercise intolerance and post-exertional malaise. Those mechanisms include low blood volume, vascular and cardiac autoimmunity, dysfunctions in the cells and mitochondria, microclots and, in general, a reduction in blood perfusion throughout the body.
In particular, research from Germany has mapped out a convincing model for how all of these dysfunctions inter-relate and how they are likely part of one big vicious cycle. For the first time, this provides a ‘unifying model’ of what ME/CFS probably is. Aimed at a patient audience, this book offers accessible explanations of this crucial, breakthrough research by Prof. Klaus Wirth and Prof. Carmen Scheibenbogen.
This book also focusses on healing strategies and solutions. This includes discussion of various conventional medical procedures and treatments as well as
- the Buteyko method (to improve bodily oxygenation)
- ancestral approaches to nutrition and diet (to improve gut health and energy production)
- the Perrin technique
- treatments for microclots
- the potential strengths - and limitations - of neuroplasticity interventions.
Possible future medications are also discussed, including the ‘Mitodicure’ pill. Based on the research of Wirth, this pill could become the world’s first ME/CFS-specific medication and one which could be capable of profoundly reducing the suffering of millions worldwide. It could even be a medicine which leads to recovery.
Patrick Ussher, an ME/CFS patient, weaves together the personal and theoretical in this book, unravelling the most exciting research ‘in plain English’ but also talking about his own personal experience with various treatments to improve quality of life. He also shares advice on how to construct a life of hope and meaning, despite having a chronic illness.
This is primarily intended to be a guide and handbook for ME/CFS and Long Covid patients (although it will also likely be of interest to patients with the closely related Fibromyalgia and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)). It will help many sufferers understand the true physical nature of their illness and provide them with a range of healing strategies.
But most importantly, this is a book which inspires hope for a future in which ME/CFS patients are at last treated with the dignity they deserve and in ways which truly do diminish their suffering.
The book has a foreword written by Prof. Klaus Wirth in which he describes his encounter with ME/CFS, subsequent research and initial work on developing the ‘Mitodicure’ drug.
Recent research has mapped out the central, interlinking mechanisms which can create an illness of exercise intolerance and post-exertional malaise. Those mechanisms include low blood volume, vascular and cardiac autoimmunity, dysfunctions in the cells and mitochondria, microclots and, in general, a reduction in blood perfusion throughout the body.
In particular, research from Germany has mapped out a convincing model for how all of these dysfunctions inter-relate and how they are likely part of one big vicious cycle. For the first time, this provides a ‘unifying model’ of what ME/CFS probably is. Aimed at a patient audience, this book offers accessible explanations of this crucial, breakthrough research by Prof. Klaus Wirth and Prof. Carmen Scheibenbogen.
This book also focusses on healing strategies and solutions. This includes discussion of various conventional medical procedures and treatments as well as
- the Buteyko method (to improve bodily oxygenation)
- ancestral approaches to nutrition and diet (to improve gut health and energy production)
- the Perrin technique
- treatments for microclots
- the potential strengths - and limitations - of neuroplasticity interventions.
Possible future medications are also discussed, including the ‘Mitodicure’ pill. Based on the research of Wirth, this pill could become the world’s first ME/CFS-specific medication and one which could be capable of profoundly reducing the suffering of millions worldwide. It could even be a medicine which leads to recovery.
Patrick Ussher, an ME/CFS patient, weaves together the personal and theoretical in this book, unravelling the most exciting research ‘in plain English’ but also talking about his own personal experience with various treatments to improve quality of life. He also shares advice on how to construct a life of hope and meaning, despite having a chronic illness.
This is primarily intended to be a guide and handbook for ME/CFS and Long Covid patients (although it will also likely be of interest to patients with the closely related Fibromyalgia and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)). It will help many sufferers understand the true physical nature of their illness and provide them with a range of healing strategies.
But most importantly, this is a book which inspires hope for a future in which ME/CFS patients are at last treated with the dignity they deserve and in ways which truly do diminish their suffering.
The book has a foreword written by Prof. Klaus Wirth in which he describes his encounter with ME/CFS, subsequent research and initial work on developing the ‘Mitodicure’ drug.
- GenresHealth
442 pages, Paperback
Published January 31, 2025
5 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Ussher
6 books16 followersPatrick Ussher has had ME/CFS for seven years. He has a YouTube channel, 'Understanding ME-CFS', in which he talks about the research into ME/CFS and Long Covid in an accessible way and in which he shares treatment strategies that he has tried. He has also written a medical hypothesis on the potential causes of excessive thirst in ME/CFS and Long Covid and why this symptom has likely been historically misdiagnosed as 'psychogenic water drinking' ('The Myth of Primary Polydipsia'). He also gives regular talks to patient groups such as The Irish ME Trust and has written for the ME/CFS blog, Health Rising, on various topics.
Patrick has also written a book which compares Stoicism and Buddhism (Stoicism and Western Buddhism: A Reflection on Two Philosophical Ways of Life) and edited several books on modern-day applications of Stoic philosophy (Stoicism Today: Selected Writings, Volumes One & Two). In 2018, he worked with Columba Press to publish a new version of his late mother's book on coping with breast cancer, titled: 'Following the Pink Ribbon Path'. He has a BA and MA in Classics (Ancient Greek and Latin) from The University of Exeter.
He is also the composer of music in a contemporary classical style and is part of the online Artlist catalogue. His music can be listened to on Spotify. Patrick is from Ireland and has lived in both Ireland and France over the course of his illness.
His website is: www.patrickussher.com
Patrick has also written a book which compares Stoicism and Buddhism (Stoicism and Western Buddhism: A Reflection on Two Philosophical Ways of Life) and edited several books on modern-day applications of Stoic philosophy (Stoicism Today: Selected Writings, Volumes One & Two). In 2018, he worked with Columba Press to publish a new version of his late mother's book on coping with breast cancer, titled: 'Following the Pink Ribbon Path'. He has a BA and MA in Classics (Ancient Greek and Latin) from The University of Exeter.
He is also the composer of music in a contemporary classical style and is part of the online Artlist catalogue. His music can be listened to on Spotify. Patrick is from Ireland and has lived in both Ireland and France over the course of his illness.
His website is: www.patrickussher.com
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 17, 2025
Excellent book has finally helped me to understand the “stranger’s body” I now inhabit. One Covid infection has led to a Long Covid and ME diagnosis. Myalgic encephalomyletitis is not a new illness- but it is understudied and funded. Patrick Ussher speaks from his own experience as an ME/CFS patient researcher. Heavily influenced by the work of Wirth and Scheibenbogen- he describes this as an illness of global hyper perfusion. When I began reading the book, I could not understand that term. I spent the spring learning from Ussher’s book- what is orthostatic intolerance and why am I unable to stand without pain/ malaise? What role does auto immunity play? What is the cause of exercise intolerance? He even tackles the thorny topic of brain retraining- finding benefit in some elements- but clearly stating our illness is not psychosomatic. With a mix of detailed research and plain language summaries- I found this to be incredibly helpful to my healing journey. I will reread it.; like many with long Covid and ME- my memory and cognition is impacted. Knowledge is power. While I watch the reach search- I understand I need to save myself. This book gives me a foundation to do so.
Displaying 1 of 1 review