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 of: - 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. Please visit www.patrickussher.com for an accompanying PDF to the audiobook (with diagrams, images, bibliography etc). This audiobook is narrated using synthesised voice. Praise for the Book 'I have been strongly impressed by the high scientific level of Patrick's writings on ME/CFS, particularly considering his non-medical background and the short time that he could have worked on this area. I welcome the publication of his book which seeks particularly to explain the research by myself and Prof. Scheibenbogen in an accessible way for a patient audience, as well as talking about other facets of the illness and ways to improve quality of life.' --- Prof. Klaus Wirth, Chief Scientific Officer of Mitodicure & Adjunct Professor in Pharmacology, Goethe University, Frankfurt (from the Foreword) " In Understanding ME/CFS & Strategies for Healing, Patrick Ussher skillfully integrates a huge amount of research that at first glance looks unrelated. From it, he communicates a unique and compelling hypothesis about what is going on in ME/CFS and how to recover. Ussher supplements the science with his own personal journey of improvement and that of other patients. Understanding ME/CFS is a respectful, balanced and very readable book for both practitioners and lay readers". --- Dr. Eleanor Stein MD FRCP(C), Canadian physician with 35+ years-experience in the field and former ME/CFS patient. Online educator for ME/CFS and related illnesses ( "In a field where the mechanisms of ME/CFS remain unclear and many potential therapies abound, Patrick's approach stands out. Combining his critical thinking and logical reasoning, he fearlessly embarked on a journey of self-discovery to uncover what genuinely works for him. Through rigorous self-experimentation-challenging his body, testing therapies, and meticulously analyzing the results-he not only improved his own life but also gained a deeper understanding of the underlying biology at play. In this book, Patrick shares these transformative experiences alongside key
