Archive for July, 2009

Jul 31 2009

Tiebetan Healing for Parkinson’s

Published by admin under herbs

Question:

Have you ever heard of Tiebetan Healing for Parkinson’s? It is an herbal pill. If so, do you recommend taking it?

Response:

I have heard no feedback about this particular herbal product from anyone.  From a reading of the website, it  apparently is a combination of herbs that are configured to rejuvenate the neural system in the body.  

I should add that I am not a medical doctor, so I am not qualified to make recommendations with regard to supplements or medicines.  I would love to interview anyone who has had an experience with using these herbs. 

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

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Jul 30 2009

Resistance to Change

Published by admin under how family reacts

There is usually one black sheep in any family. Black sheep insist on doing things differently. Their family believes their way is weird, unsafe, unsound and just plain stupid.

I am the black sheep of my family. I am always trying out new therapies of one type or another. My current goal is to reverse the color of my graying hair back to black.

New therapies are continuously being introduced. It is likely that some of them will help. I figure, why not give them a try? They are natural, noninvasive and safe to try. What is there to lose? I have only one life to live and it does not last forever.

Reactions I get are blank stares and questions.

Is there any research to indicate this will help?

Why do you want to pursue a therapy that your doctor
does not even know about?

In short, there is usually significant criticism from family members if the black sheep of the family decides to branch out and try out treatments or therapies other than prescription drugs and/or surgeries.

Are you the black sheep of your family? If so, I need to clue you in to the reactions you can expect from your family when you announce you are pursuing therapies that re not familiar to medical doctors or approved by the FDA.

So you are going to try tai chi? Isn’t that a weird
eastern thing?

You want to eat differently? What is this? You don’t like
my cooking?

You really shouldn’t exercise. You may hurt yourself.

Sound familiar?

From my extensive interviews with persons who have the symptoms of Parkinson’s, a family drama often unfolds when the black sheep announces they are branching out of the family mold and trying other things.

Why do family members get so upset with the black sheep of the family in such cases, especially when the treatments they have been trying are not working? My answer to this puzzle is that you are challenging their limiting beliefs about illness and recovery.

Family members may very well have bothersome symptoms of their own.  They hopefully have taken the smart step by seeking the advice from the specialty of western medicine. If  they are not considering other specialties that have the potential to provide relief however, they have given up their power of control over their own destiny. They have resigned themselves to being told what to do.

It is frighting for anyone to acknowledge they have given up the power of choice, especially when it comes to their own health and well being. Learning that someone else in the family
is stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility for their own health elicits deep questions about the decisions they have made regarding their own health care.  It is tough for all of us to face the truth of our actions. Denial runs deep in everyone.

Of course people in your family will react strongly if a black sheep of the family branches out of the grip of mainstream medical care and begins to take control over their own health.  This act in itself raises questions about the power of choice everyone else has given up with regard to their own health care. No one likes to confront the reality they have given up all power of choice to someone else.

Incidentally, the color is my hear is turning back to black from gray. I am doing it naturally – no dyes involved. Isn’t that cool? I suppose I could turn it back to black with hair dyes, but then I would be giving myself an overdose of toxins.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
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© 2009 Parkinsons Recovery

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Jul 29 2009

Medical Specialities for Parkinson’s

There are many alternatives to consider when searching for therapies and treatments that provide relief from the symptoms of Parkinson’s. I will preview several by way of opening up ideas for where you can search to find relief.

One of the places that is familiar to most people today is western medicine, a specialty among many other possible specialties that can be considered. Western medicine treats symptoms with prescription drugs and surgery. This approach for treating illness has become a commonly accepted method of treating disease for about 100 years now.

It is losing some of its popularity because of the side effects of the medicines and the consequences of surgeries. It is important to remember,  however, that the mainstream medication specialty is precisely what some people need to jump start their recovery program.

Thank goodness the western medicine specialty is stringently regulated. Prescription medicines make molecular changes to the cellular structure of the body.  Most prescription medicines have significant side effects. This is why Federal Drug Administration (or a similar agency in other countries) legally regulates the prescription and sale of all prescription drugs. Stringent certifications are required for the medical doctors who prescribe the meditations and for the pharmacists who sell them.

The standard treatment approach in western medicine is to perform diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the symptom.  Unfortunately administration of the tests can of course take months and require considerable expense. Unfortunately, the diagnostic tests sometimes cause illnesses in their own right.

After determining a diagnosis, the standard approach is to prescribe medications or surgery. If the medications and/or surgery succeed in alleviating the symptoms, the treatment is declared a success. If  unsuccessful, the treatment is suspended in search of an alternative drugs or surgeries that are hoped will provide relief.  Sometimes medical doctors have to go back to the drawing board to consider other diagnoses. Some people have a long list of diagnoses for a variety of symptom sets.

The western approach to medicine works beautifully for some people and some symptoms. For other people and other symptoms, such treatments can be disappointing. Many people prefer this specialty over other alternatives. Others use both.

There are also a wide variety of other specialties that offer the potential to provide relief which rely on natural methods to heal the body. An  advantage of such specialties is that they have been practiced for many thousands of years with great success. The worst side effect you are likely to  experience when using natural therapies is improved health on some level.

The number of specialties other than western medicine is extensive: homeopathy, acupuncture, herbs, meditation, energy healing, physical therapy, tai chi, chi gung, naturopathy, exercise, hypnosis, counseling therapy, nutrition, body work – you name it. This is the short list.  Most of these specialties have been practiced for thousands and thousands of years. The standard approach to illness in the United States was to use homeopathic remedies until the beginning of the 20th century, a time when most of us today were not living.

Many people get a huge advantage when they use a combination of specialties.  Why? When used in combination, the benefits from using the treatments from more than one specialty are usually synergistic.

In the countless interviews I do with individuals who have the symptoms of Parkinson’s I am overwhelmed with what people do that helps – not just a little – but a lot.

May you open the door to consider what all specialties have to offer. That is what I have been doing with my own research strategy and I am unearthing unbelievable discoveries which you can read about in the Parkinsons Recovery newsletters and hear on the Parkinsons Recovery radio program.

Join me with investigating other specialties that have the potential to help you feel a lot better. The people who are getting great relief from their symptoms are willing to experiment with many different specialties. The sky is the limit. The potential for healing is limitless.

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Jul 28 2009

Laser Light Therapy

Published by admin under laser light therapy

Comment and Question:

I really enjoyed the Psychic Healing radio broadcast with Lenore. In listening to the dialogue between you two, ( during your “healing”), I could sense a warm flow of glowing healing energy, going back and forth between you, through you. Yes, I am serious.  Conversation was kindled by kindness and respect and a sense of fun. I guess one might call it good karma.

I particularly liked some comments that I think Lenore made about ownership of change. She alluded to the fact, that while she is able to counsel or direct a person in certain areas of  life and make suggestions of change, that it really is the  individual’s  call. The individual has to  want to make that change.  Ideas about  the universe being  open and ready for us were interesting. And, that sometimes when we stew over a decision that it is often right there in front of us, we just need to recognize it.

It would seem then, that it is ok if we make a  change that does not “pan out,”  just to feel free to keep slugging away, keep trying. After a bit of trial and error we are bound to get something right? Ha.

Anyway thanks to Lenore and yourself Robert, the broadcast did help me so much. I too, have grown to know, that with Parkinsons Disease symptoms being so different  from one individual to another, that we need to look at our own case scenario and go from there, looking at the changes that we can make for ourselves that will improve our condition.

And that leads me into my question today. Have you heard of Low Level Light Laser Therapy for Parkinson’s?  I am interested in hearing if any of your followers have used  it?

Keep up your wonderful work! ( But take some time for you too. Psychic Lenore’s orders.)

Linda

Response:

Your kind words warm my heart. Thanks for writing in.

I have not received comments from anyone who has used Light Laser Therapy. I have personally experienced light therapy which is very powerful. Light therapy exposes you to the healing effects of the frequencies associated with different colors. Through such exposure, the various frequencies are strengthened and supported.

I have no personal experience with laser light therapy though I understand it is used for pain, acne, hair loss and other conditions.

In a recent research article by Patricia A. Trimmer, Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and her coauthors reported promising results from using Laser Light Therapy to rejuvenate mitochondrial activity which is the source of energy in our cells for persons with Parkinson’s.

The mitochondria in PD tissues are “metabolically and functionally compromised.” Any treatment that nourishes the mitochondria will help with the symptoms of Parkinson’s.

This study exposed neuronal cells to near-infrared laser light to determine whether the velocity of mitochondrial movement can be restored by low level light therapy (LLLT) .

The results of their study supported their hypothesis. A single treatment with low level light therapy did restore axonal transport. The authors conclude that LLLT may be used as a novel treatment to improve neuronal function in patients with Parkinsons Disease. Of course, the exciting news is that laser light therapy is also safe and noninvasive to use.

Anyone with experience with laser light therapy is warmly invited to write in and tell us all about your experience. I will contact Dr. Trimmer for an interview. This therapy sounds promising.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.

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© 2009 Parkinsons Recovery

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Jul 27 2009

ADA Protections and Parkinson’s Disease

Published by admin under ada

Question:

Hi Robert,

I have a question: can I postpone the memory training for a couple of months as I currently overwhelmed with an urgent problem which occupies all my time. My employer is going to fire me no later than September “due to a combination of factors and my illness.”

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease two and half years ago; but the employer doesn’t know what my diagnose is. I’ve got a very bad but unfair performance evaluation this week to obviously lay grounds for my firing. So I need to urgently find out what options may I have under the circumstances: am I protected by the ADA, can I stay or should I go, can I get the employer’s permanent disability insurance, and so on.

I am currently looking for a good lawyer in the disability/job problem area preferably with experience in PD cases. I wonder if different Parkinson foundations/associations may have appropriate attorneys. Excuse me for bothering you with my problem, at the same time I would very much appreciate your advice.

Thank you very much.

Best regards,

Gene

Response:

Thanks so much for your e mail. What a formidable challenge the universe has concocted for you! I do know that the provisions of the American Disability Act provide strong protections. The employer must have 15 employees. If they are large enough, they must provide special equipment if needed, extra breaks, alter the work environment, adjust schedules, etc.

If you haven’t already done so, type in the words “ADA protection Parkinsons Disease” in your search engine and see what comes up. I sense getting the assistance of a lawyer at this point would be strongly advisable.

I also know that there are advocates who have Parkinsons and have become experts in this area. If you would like, I can post your question on the blog. Maybe we will get a comment or two from advocates.

As for the memory training – yes. It will remain on the member website for several months, so you can access it later, though it will not remain there down the line. You can always download the recordings. If you sign up for a free 30 Parkinsons Recovery membership by July 30th you will have full access to the training program. You can always download all of the exercises and meditations and listen later if you do not have the time to listen now.

Another way to look at the memory exercises is that the meditations and memory training should help with the symptoms. I would especially invite you to listen to the meditations each day. Listen to the long one (30 minutes) and the short ones each day. The idea is to get relief now.

The best outcome is to resolve the symptoms so that the issue becomes mute. Stress aggravates them, so with the stress you are under, it will be a challenge to see relief from your symptoms until you see relief on the horizon.

It feels like you have sunk into the template that you are stuck with the symptoms. It is easy to sink into that dark and dreary place. Use your intention to shift into a better place, a place where you know in your heart that you can heal. Of course, the other issue the universe may be confronting you with – is this the job of your dreams? Or, is there something else you are being called to do?

All the best,

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Resources
Memberships

John Coleman’s 12 Step Recovery Program

Books

© 2009 Parkinsons Recovery

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Jul 25 2009

Progesterone Cream and Parkinson’s

Question:

I really wanted to do the tracking info before tomorrow’s memory training. How do I do it?

I am happy to have finally joined Parkinson’s Recovery. I have been trying alternative methods for years and I realized quite some time ago after seeing various practitioners and doing online research, including your newsletter which is great- that it is a combination of diet, exercise, etc. that may be different for each individual’s recovery. I had worked on diet especially because a naturopathic doctor had told me how important it was to balance my ph.which was dangerously acidic. I tried diet, yoga, supplements, etc. for @ 6 months and was doing somewhat better symptom wise but still was not able to balance my ph. I realized after buying a friend with hot flashes progesterone cream that I too was in need of the cream

I think sometimes as a pder we block all feelings and symptoms into, one category -

“It’s pd that is making me feel this way.”

After using the cream for a week I was surprised by my dyskinesia reduction, I had been “flopping” violently sometimes for more than an hour with every going off/coming on medication withdrawal and dosing. Now about 3 weeks into the use of the cream which I felt my body just soaking up and screaming -

“Finally! you figured it out”

I am down to minimal flopping. Also I have gotten my appetite back and have gained 4.5 lbs since starting the cream. Another pleasant suprise is my ph has been balanced both urine and saliva 7 out of 9 days past.

This is one of the reasons I am very interested in the memory training. I had no idea that memory training could influence hormone balancing. So I have been improving rather quickly over the past 3-4 weeks. Today, after trying some of your exercises and listening to and trying some of the have you considered ideas I have so far had a “flopless day”

It could be the placebo effect as I usually react positively to new ideas or treatments rather quickly but I want to believe it is more than that. I am excited about having all of this information in one central location and being able to track my progress as I have a habit when I have been going through a bad time to feel helpless and give into negative thinking.

Your website has restored my hope in recovery – if I can just stay disciplined enough to visit everyday – I know that is the trick. I had been falling a lot since December and have really been in a funk lately and realized I hadn’t done any yoga for the past 5 months, making excuses to not do much at all besides eating healthy sporadically and cutting down on my medication, taking more mucuna than sinemet, etc.

So, the cream gave me a real jump start and I feel with a combination of things that I can recover. Anyway I hadn’t planned on such a long letter but sometimes you wind me up and on I go. Well thanks again for all your doing and I hope to get an answer soon to my question about the symptom tracking.

Turtle

Response:

You can track your symptoms whenever you are inspired. You first have to register which means you have to provide a user name and password and that is all there is to it. No names are requested since tracking is entirely anonymous.

Symptom tracker is free. After getting a baseline, you get to see a plot of how your symptoms shift over time. Most people are unaware of their improvements, so this is a way of celebrating your progress.

To register at symptom tracker visit:

http://www.symptomtracker.info/parkinsons/login.php

First register, and then you are good to go.

Anyone can join Parkinsons Recovery and participate in the memory exercises this month. Membership is free for thirty days if you sign up by July 30th so anyone who wishes can participate in the memory exercises.

http://www.parkinsonsrecovery.org

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
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Jul 20 2009

Pain and Parkinson’s Disease

Question:

Although this topic may have come up before, we haven’t gotten yet a satisfactory answer.  The question is whether you have found pain to be a significant symptom in people with other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, and if so, what they do to find relief.

The second question is whether in people who take L-dopa, it is common for them to feel worse 20-45 min after taking the medication before finding relief.  Any suggestions or information you have on these two related questions would be very much appreciated.

Response:

Pain:

Yes, I have received many reports from people who report pain is a very troubling symptom for them among others. First, from what I have learned, people get relief from pain by meditating. Meditation allows them to override all of the thinking that surrounds the “meaning” of the pain. We all put a head on top of our head, which makes the experience worse. That is one reason I have been motivated to record the weekly series of meditations.

Second, my observation is that there is typically a thought form that is buried beneath the pain. Once that is cleared and released, the pain resolves. I will be interviewing Deborah Russell on the radio program next month who will be explaining how quantum healing is useful in this regard.

Third, a source of the pain is often unreleased trauma. Using one body therapy or another (we use cranio-sacral) helps with releasing trauma. Other therapies are helpful as well. Once the trauma is released, the pain resolves (if trauma is the primary causal factor)

Fourth, I just interviewed Lee Bender this morning who has had a considerble challenge with pain over the years. It is interesting you just happened to write in today! Go to Lee’s website and you will see what he does to get relief from his pain. I will be airing his interview next month.

Timing of Medications

As for the timing of the medications – this  is a tough one. Most people tell me that when they work closely with their doctor, they can adjust their medications so that the down time is minimized. I wonder about the reason for the emergence of pain before the meditations kick in. Perhaps the body is in a suspended state of withdrawal until the  new dose starts to work. Perhaps there is a temporary flare up of inflammation.

I hope others have their own two cents to offer so we can shed some light on this particular challenge.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
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Jul 18 2009

Toxins in the Body

Published by admin under Toxins in the Body

Comment.

Our bodies got sick because of some type of toxicity at least that is my belief.

Response:

That is certainly my belief too. it’s not for 100% of the individuals who have Parkinson’s but from our extensive work it is clearly true for a pretty significant proportion of individuals there are toxins that directly contribute to the symptoms and again is like huge body of research that has unequivocally shown that toxins do contribute to the symptoms of Parkinson’s.

Question:

How do we get rid of the toxicity that is making us sick?

Response:

That’s actually a question that I am addressing in my interviews with naturopath doctors and other health professionals who have sharp insights into how we can eliminate the toxins in our bodies. There is no a simple answer to the question. In part it depends on the nature of the toxicity that is present in the body. When you know what toxin(s) are most troublesome, you will have a better idea of what detox approaches are going to be most successful. Once the toxins are eliminated, the neural pathways can be rejuvenated. Toxins do a good job of glogging them up.

Detoxing is not a one-day event. It is not a one-week event. I believe it needs to be a lifetime event. Eliminating toxins from our bodies is something that we need to work on continuously. The good news is that there are many possibilities that can be very effective. Your body will thank you for detoxing and show its appreciation through a reduction in symptoms.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

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Jul 15 2009

All About Parkinson’s Disease

Published by admin under radio program

Question:

I would love to listen to your station. how do I go about that?  I live in Phoenix, AZ and have had Parkinson’s Disease since I was 54. U have had the symptoms about 10 years before being diagnosed by the medical industry. Have no clue how I got this disease. Of course my life as I knew is no longer.  Medications help a little but the side effects are the pits.

I have not met any-one in the Phoenix market that will help with out wanting a lot of monies.  As you know any chronic medical problem will financially break you. The naturpath’s I have gone too have really no recovery steps.  Of course the medical industrial and insurance companies do not recognizes this recovery path, which is a mistake.

Response:

The radio station is an internet station which means you can listen from anywhere in the world. There are two  ways to listen.

First, you can call 347-945-5358 and listen in during the show.  The call in number always stays the same and the program airs  every Thursday at 11:00 am pacific time.

Second, you can connect through your computer by visiting the following web address:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/parkinsons-recovery

There is also a link to the radio program on the right side of this posting. If you miss the live program you can always download any of the programs to your computer (the MP3 files) for listening at a later time. Or, you can download the MP3 file to your IPOD and listen while exercising (or doing other things).

The radio program Thursday (July 16th) is a question and answer session with John Coleman. John is a naturopath doctor from Australia who himself was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1995. He is symptom free today and helps other people now find relief from their symptoms.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

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Jul 14 2009

The Outer Limits

Published by admin under decision making

If our lives are indeed the sum total of the choices we’ve made, then we cannot change who we are. But with every new choice we’re given, we can change who we’re going to be.

The Outer Limits
Television Series

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

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