Does anyone have any experience of doing this programme by Ashok Gupta about retraining the Amygdala (part of our brain that is responsible for the “fight or flight” response, or the stress response).
guptaprogramme.com/treatmen...
My functional nutritionist has recommended this programme for me, but I am not sure of its true benefits.
Any insights are greatly appreciated 
It's not something ive come across. Is your nutritionist medically qualified and what does your GP think?
Hi Dismal,
My nutritionist is functional medicine approach BANT registered and is very good. However I do query whether these courses do have any benefit and I suppose it is bio-individual thing! Cost is making me hestitate too!
I don't think my GP actually embraces the thinking verb ...
LOL
Ooh I see it has come down in price since last time I looked into it
My gp mentioned it to me ages ago, she wasn't endorsing it but she has another patient who has m.e who had tried it and it had helped her. I couldn't afford it at the time.
My fatigue has got a lot worse over the past year so even if it only helps a bit it would be worth it to help me cope a bit better
It's a little reassuring they offer a money back guarantee but I do struggle to understand how it works.
some of the reviews online are encouraging. I am tempted to give it a try
Jo
I agree Jo ... I will dive more into the general online feedback and weigh it all up. Cost is causing me to hesitate as well as effectiveness ... I do wonder why CFS/ME clinics don't offer something like this if ti is beneficial! I have another appointment with my OT CFS/ME on Tuesday and will ask her for any experience of the Gupta Programme.
Best wishes
Following... I came across it, found the idea very interesting but reservations were he is not medically qualified and it felt overall a bit too far in the camp of its psychological not physical for me. And the marketing all a bit too salesy / pseudosciencey / miracle curey. Perhaps in particular for a CFS sub section where stress is the root cause (rather than viral onset ME) which from memory I think may have been his own experience it may well be especially useful.
Certainly a programme of relaxation and NLP is never going to do anyone any harm and stress does wreak physical changes on the body.
Thank you Starry for your considered reply, I do feel cautious of falling into another purchase of something that just simply benefits their pockets and - yes! - buys into the notion that its "all in my head" (I have a few flowery words to say to that ... which cannot be published ). I would love a time machine and to travel 30 -40 years hence to find out how medicine approaches our condition in the future. I know for me yoga/walking is helping as well dietary choices and supplementation.
Its helluva journey!
It sure is xx
Do let us know what your OT thinks of it.
I probably in general err a little on the cynical side of such things. Ive seen so much quakkery around my other incurable condition i tend to start out suspicious.
Will do Starry! I reckon discernment is a good thing!
If you think you are affected by stress then it may help. I have done LP but don't have a problem with stress and depression so it was a complete waste of money and energy.
Karen
Thank you for your advice klr31, I do walking/cycling in nature, yoga and meditation to alleviate stress, so the more I think about it the less I think The Gupta Programme will benefit me!
Future readers may find this link of interest.
It seems the ASA recently concluded the medical evidence supporting the marketing claims to 'treat' ME and fibro made by Gupta to be on the weak side. Issues included quantity of substantiating evidence, consistency with advertised programme, plus lack of scale, controls, randomisation, blind methodology, other competing interventions and independence. (one of 3 substantiations being an internal audit)
meassociation.org.uk/2018/0...
And have you looked into the validity of the ASA? An unaccountable organisation, who are rather opaque and cherry pick their investigations. Often take verbatim what the pharmaceutical lobbyists feed them.
Just because something doesn't have expensive studies doesn't mean it doesn't work. Just like having studies doesn't prove it works. Those who can afford studies can also afford to twist the findings or cherry pick like the ASA.
From what I recall the Gupta programme was the first time I heard the amygdyla mentioned and subsequently learned of its importance. I recall he was an Oxbridge student and did his own research after falling ill.
I felt he had hit upon the cause but that doesn't mean the cure will work for all the people all the time.
I didn't pursue it further.
See my above post, I didn't say I think it doesnt work.
The problem is the marketing in question clearly did imply it does work for all and for multiple conditions too. That is dangerous territory to be making big promises to vulnerable ill people.
I have no axe to grind. I think gupta is perfectly harmless, if as i mentioned in my first, balanced post, not an option for my situation.
The ASA decision relates just to one ad and is fact based on the evidence the company gave to it.
The ASA is indedependent. It responds to individual complaints it receives and has plenty of bigger fish to fry if it chose its targets.
Being an oxbridge student does not automatically entail intellect, medical qualifications, good (marketing) ethics or impartiality.
There is is no agenda here. I work in marketing and personally think they should know better as marketing law is very clear.
If people want to give it a whirl and have the money, good for them and I truly hope it helps.
I do however think it is highly relevant information to any visitors forming a view of the organisation and its behaviour. If i were looking to shell out that sum I would want to know of this verdict and the research evidence ig relates to.
Where have I suggested you said anything about whether it works?
It's your opinion that you wrote a balanced post. It wasn't mine and hence my points about the ASA. You state it is independent, well that doesn't necessarily mean impartial. If it has bigger fish to fry, why did it choose what appears to be a one man band? Could it be easy pickings?
I mentioned Oxbridge as a point of fact, not a value judgement. Clearly you do have an axe to gripe about it. And whilst not universally true I'd say most Oxbridge students would easily fit in the 1% camp of intelligence. Since when is a medical degree mandatory for finding the solution to anything, including a medical condition?
If someone wanted to shell out the money I'd suggest not to rely on the opinion of an unregulated organisation like the ASA. Instead they should do a cost benefit exercise and see if it will help them. I understand a money back guarantee is offered, which addresses fully issues of risk. Given there are no pills to swallow I don't think harm is likely.
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