Gupta program

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The Gupta Program or Gupta Programme or Amydala and Insula Retraining describes itself as "brain retraining" techniques designed "to alter amygdala and insula activity" in order to treat or cure chronic diseases including chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.[1][2][3] The Gupta program is based on the amygdala hypothesis of chronic fatigue syndrome, which is not peer reviewed, is unproven, and has not been a focus of research.[1][2]

In 2018, the Gupta Program was found to be making unproven advertising claims including wrongly claiming that it can be used to treat fibromyalgia, electrical sensitivities, and ME/CFS by the Advertising Standards Authority.[3] The UK's ME Association charity does not accept adverts for the Gupta Program.[4][5]

Alternative names[edit | edit source]

Other names used for the Gupta Program include:

  • Amygdala Retraining Techniques (ART)
  • Amygdala Retraining Program (ARP)[6]
  • Amygdala and Insula Retraining (AIR)
  • Gupta Amygdala Retraining[3]
  • Gupta Programme[3]

The randomized controlled trial of "Mindfulness-Based Program Plus Amygdala and Insula Retraining" (MAIR) involved using part of the Gupta Program but delivered face to face by a qualified psychologist and includes additional mindfulness for stress, plus "treatment as usual" (for example medication), but the trial did not show evidence of the effectiveness for the Gupta Program.[2]

Theory[edit | edit source]

The hypothesis behind the Gupta Program is that amygdala overactivation and insula involvement lead to symptoms; that ME/CFS and other diseases are caused by problematic or dysfunctional patterns or activity in the amygdala and insula parts of the brain.[7][2][8][9]

Content of the Gupta Program[edit | edit source]

The Gupta Program is a brain retraining, mindfulness, and holistic health program accessible via website and a mobile app marketed to people with ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS). It contains 15 video-based modules.

The program includes breathing exercises, meditations, mindset insights, light yoga and stretching, somatic experiencing exercises, holistic health advice, laughter workshops, and brain retraining exercises including their seven-step brain retraining technique. The Gupta Program also provides shorter options for brain retraining.

The Gupta Program initially mails participants a floor chart and a workbook. There is a dedicated section on how to deal with "dips" and setbacks. Ashok Gupta recommends "doing your best and leaving the rest" if you are experiencing a "dip."

The program also gives advice on pacing, diet, sleep, posits that being in nature is essential to healing the body. The Gupta Program encourages members to not wait until they are in perfect health to engage in activities they love. The Gupta Program encourages pacing within one's energy level and to not go beyond one's energy boundaries.[10] However, some have reported that the way they applied the Gupta Program resulted in them experiencing a "crash" and/or setback.

There are two modules on "parts" work. The Gupta Program posits that there are sub-personalities that are trying to protect us or stimulate the nervous system with stress, including the "achiever," "perfectionist," or the "protector", and encourages participants to imagine them as beings, shapes, or colors. He discusses why we develop these "parts," and how we one work with them as if they were friends and even find value in what they can teach.

The Gupta Program features meditation, acceptance, pacing, diet, mindfulness, and sleep hygiene as well. The program points participants to other possible areas to explore such as trauma healing.

Evidence[edit | edit source]

Evidence is largely limited to patient self-reports. The UK's Advertising Standards Authority upheld a complaint in 2018 claiming that the Gupta Program was falsely advertised as a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome/ME, fibromyalgia and electrical sensitivities due to the lack of scientific evidence supporting this claim.[3]

Amygdala and insula activity hypothesis[edit | edit source]

There is no scientific evidence to support the Gupta Program claims that chronic diseases including ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia are caused by problematic or dysfunctional patterns or activity in the amygdala and insula parts of the brain.[7]

Amygdala and insula activity changes[edit | edit source]

There is no evidence that the Gupta Program alters amygdala or insula activity.

Notable studies[edit | edit source]

  • 2022, Amygdala and Insula Retraining (AIR) Significantly Reduces Fatigue and Increases Energy in People with Long COVID - (Full text)
  • 2020, Mindfulness-Based Program Plus Amygdala and Insula Retraining (MAIR) for the Treatment of Women with Fibro[2] - (Full text)
Conflict of interest not declared: Author and investigator Virginia Gasión (Virginia Gasión Royo) had been a Gupta coach since 2014, which means she earns from people doing the Gupta Program, giving a direct final financial conflict of interest.[11]
  • 2012, A mind-body technique for symptoms related to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue[12] - (Full text)
The Advertising Standards Authority rejected this as evidence of effectiveness of the Gupta Program.[3]
This was open to patients with chronic fatigue syndrome but none completed it. Of the 32 patients randomly assigned to Amygdala and Insula Retraining (AIR) plus standard care, 19% (6 patients) dropped out before starting, 19% (6 patients) did not complete baseline measures but did AIR, 41% (13 patients) did AIR but not the follow-up assessments, 22% (7 patients) did AIR and completed follow-up assessments. Twice as many patients completed standard care, including both assessments - 56% (14 out of 25).[12]

Articles not peer reviewed or from non-academic journals[edit | edit source]

  • 2010, Can amygdala retraining techniques improve the wellbeing of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome? A clinical audit of subjective outcomes in a small sample[13] - (Full text)
The Advertising Standards Authority rejected this as evidence of effectiveness of the Gupta Program.[3]
This was not published in an academic journal[14]
  • 2002, Unconscious amygdalar fear conditioning in a subset of chronic fatigue syndrome patients[1] - (Full text)
The Medical Hypotheses journal that published this is reported to be the world's most controversial journal,[15] and describes itself as publishing hypothesis that are "radical, speculative and non-mainstream scientific ideas" and some "where experimental support is yet fragmentary".[16][17] It is peer-reviewed.

Personal experiences[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Gupta, Ashok (2002). "Unconscious amygdalar fear conditioning in a subset of chronic fatigue syndrome patients" (PDF). Medical Hypotheses. 59 (6): 727–735.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Sanabria-Mazo, Juan P.; Montero-Marin, Jesus; Feliu-Soler, Albert; Gasión, Virginia; Navarro-Gil, Mayte; Morillo-Sarto, Héctor; Colomer-Carbonell, Ariadna; Borràs, Xavier; Tops, Mattie; Luciano, Juan V.; García-Campayo, Javier (October 2020). "Mindfulness-Based Program Plus Amygdala and Insula Retraining (MAIR) for the Treatment of Women with Fibromyalgia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial". Journal of Clinical Medicine. 9 (10): 3246. doi:10.3390/jcm9103246. ISSN 2077-0383. PMC 7599726. PMID 33050630.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Advertising Standards Authority | Committee of Advertising Practice (April 11, 2018). "Harley Street Solutions Ltd". Advertising Standards Authority. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  4. ↑ ME Association (September 19, 2012). "New advertising feature started on MEA website | 19 September 2012". ME Association. Retrieved June 3, 2022. We respectfully decline any contact from practitioners offering the Lightning Process, Gupta Programme, Mickel Therapy, or any similar training courses.
  5. ↑ Shepherd, Charles (May 30, 2015). "Alternative and complementary approaches to management" (PDF). ME Association. Retrieved June 3, 2022. Publicity for these approaches often includes glowing reports from people who have gained benefit – some of whom then go on to become therapists. However, none of these approaches has so far been subjected to proper clinical trials to assess their efficacy and safety. The MEA does not therefore endorse or recommend any of these treatments.
  6. ↑ "12th Biennial Conference Syllabus" (PDF). IACFS/ME. October 2016.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018). "Possible Causes | Information for Healthcare Providers | Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS". CDC. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  8. ↑ Gupta, Ashok. "Gupta Program | The Secret of Amygdala Retraining". The Gupta Program. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  9. ↑ Gupta, Ashok (February 2021). "Medical Pager Final Version" (PDF). The Gupta Program. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  10. ↑ Ashok. "ME/CFS And Fibro | The Gupta Program". https://guptaprogram.com/. Retrieved June 3, 2024. External link in |website= (help)
  11. ↑ "Our Professional Team of Coaches". Gupta Program. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Toussaint, Loren L.; Whipple, Mary O.; Abboud, Lana L.; Vincent, Ann; Wahner-Roedler, Dietlind L. (March 2012). "A mind-body technique for symptoms related to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue". Explore (New York, N.Y.). 8 (2): 92–98. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2011.12.003. ISSN 1878-7541. PMID 22385563.
  13. ↑ Gupta, A (September 2010). "Can amygdala retraining techniques improve the wellbeing of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome? A clinical audit of subjective outcomes in a small sample" (PDF). Journal of Holistic Healthcare. 7 (2): 12–15. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Journal - information for contributors". British Holistic Medical Association. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  15. ↑ Cressey, Daniel (March 18, 2010). "Editor says no to peer review for controversial journal". Nature. doi:10.1038/news.2010.132. ISSN 1476-4687.
  16. ↑ "Guide for authors - Medical Hypotheses - ISSN 0306-9877". Elsevier. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Medical Hypotheses | Journal". ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier. Retrieved June 3, 2022.

amygdala Part of the brain, within the temporal lobe. Related to memory and emotional behavior.

amygdala Part of the brain, within the temporal lobe. Related to memory and emotional behavior.

holistic Treating mind, body and spirit together, with the aim of achieving wellness and good health. May be within modern medicine or alternative / traditional medicine.

somatic An adjective relating to the physical body or physical symptoms. It is often contrasted with the adjective "psychological", which refers to the human mind or mental symptoms. In biology, "somatic cells" refer to all the cells of the body, except those which form an egg or sperm.

flare-up A symptoms flare in ME/CFS is a temporary increase in symptoms, alternatively known as experiencing post-exertional malaise. May be referred to as a "crash" or "collapse".

chronic disease a disease or condition that usually lasts for 3 months or longer and may get worse over time. Chronic diseases are long-term (typically incurable and requiring long-term management) but are not necessarily severe.

subjective outcome An outcome of a clinical trial that depends on the judgement or opinion of the assessor or patient, e.g. asking if fatigue has increased or decreased "a little" or "a lot", patient questionnaires like the Chalder Fatigue Scale, and other patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a U.S. government agency dedicated to epidemiology and public health. It operates under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services.

holistic Treating mind, body and spirit together, with the aim of achieving wellness and good health. May be within modern medicine or alternative / traditional medicine.

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