Healing Parkinsons

Hello, I am so happy to have received the link to this website..VERY INSPIRATIONAL!!
I am an Energy Practitioner and Motivational Coach. I am presently healing Parkinsons with 2 clients who have been diagnosed with PD.

My 1st client, after 3 years since diagnosed, he has been doing incredible work/ inner work on himself and is transforming and shifting to a higher level of consciousness, awareness and spirituality- which is bringing him much trust, faith and hope in his recovery. His attitude is very Positive and he is feeling GOOD more than not!!! NO DRUGS!!! HE IS RECOVERING!!

On the other hand, my second client , also has been about 3 years since diagnosed.. still very depressed and closed to any new thing that I bring to him to help his attitude to guide him in the right direction of his recovery. I have directed him to this website, the blog etc.. He refuses.. but every week I continue to see him to do energy work, massage and coaching.

There are times that he gets very inspired and makes a couple of steps forward, but the majority of the time, he goes backwards. He is not getting any support or encouragement from his family- and lives in a very stressful household. I am getting frustrated as a practitioner but know only too well that everyone chooses to either heal or not.. It is in their own time and I can not force anything..

Do I continue with my therapy healing Parkinsons? I have been working with him now for about 1 1/2 years. He said that he was going to give himself til November 2008, with doing alternative work before he chooses medication.

His family wants him to go on medication, he really does not want to go on medication but does not want to do the work that will get him on the path to recovery. He is resistant to healing Parkinsons. It is a catch 22- He does not feel good, there fore he does not have the energy or motivation to do the work- but not understanding that if he does the work (yes- will be hard at first) but by continuing, he will feel better. He eats well and takes all of the supplements that is suggested but not moving his body and has become VERY STIFF AND SORE- CAN NOT MOVE.

Can you offer to me any words of advise or encouragement or support for me. If the only thing that I can do at this time is just to be there for support for him, then that is what I will continue to do, but it is frustrating watching this 36 year old man going down hill when he does not have to be. He wants to see PROOF.. Like I said, I have directed him to this website for proof but he is not looking.

Choices for Healing Parkinsons

Warm congratulations to the one client of yours who is feeling so much better. He is clearly on the path of recovery. It is a bumpy ride, so having you there will make all the difference in the world.

Your deep concern of course lies with your second client who is getting worse. Your question is : how do I help him? Your experience is very similar to my experience. Some people are deeply committed to heal and are willing to experiment until they find what approaches work for them. They do get better. I can assure you and your clients that there are many people on the path to recovery.

The second person would prefer to have someone fix them, to make the symptoms magically vanish. I don’t blame them one bit. When I have an ache – I feel the same way. Of course – no such “cure” exists with Parkinson’s, yet many people prefer to believe it will happen to them.

There are many very deep, unconscious reasons why your second client will not do anything to help himself. On the most basic level he does not have the energy to do anything but see you. A nutritional IV can help persons in such situations.

A nutritional IV is a direct infusion of essential vitamins and minerals directly into the body. It is not a chelation. It is mainlining food the body is not getting. Some naturopaths and medical doctors specialize in nutritional IV’s. It helps people get back on their feet and give a much needed burst of energy.

Second, I would recommend you suggest to him that the reasons for his symptoms may in part lie in the area of toxins. There are many gentle ways to detox the body. It sounds like to me he is not ready to address any of the stresses in his life or traumas which sound like are a key reason for the symptoms from your description. He may be open to doing a little detox work.

Third, some people – and he may be one of them – take on a condition from another family member out of love. Sometimes it is a parent or a grandparent. Sometimes it is a brother  or sister. It depends. This is an unconscious entrapment into disease (his happens  to be Parkinson’s). This is a larger family system issue that keeps people sick until they address the issue. He is unlikely to go there now, but maybe later.

Fourth, when people get stuck in the mud so to speak, I have a very counterintuitive suggestion to make. Give him a mantra to say three times a day for a week. The mantra is

I refuse to get better. I like my life just the way it is.

If he can connect that that place within himself  that refuses to heal, he may be able to move forward.  We all get stuck sometimes.

Why might he resist healing Parkinson’s? There may be negative pleasure in having the debilitating symptoms. This too is unconscious. He is not doing anything about his situation because having the disease gives him something.The condition defines his role in his family and the roles of all the other family members. If he gets better, it puts all of that delicate balance out of whack.

The point here is to make explicit his moment to moment choice to feel worse and worse.   You can talk about all the things that will happen like nursing homes and wheel chairs so the truth is spoken out loud. We all make choices in our lives. Maybe the truth of the matter is that his true (though unconscious) choice is to check out of living and die.

Having said all of this, I think the job of a therapist is to honor whatever choice a client makes. Who is to judge that his choices are not the best for him, whatever they may be? When you ask what you can do for him, I would suggest you now put this back on him.

Ask him what he needs from you. Is he interested in healing Parkinson’s? Then give it to him in a loving way – honoring whatever choices he makes. You can facilitate his journey on whatever path he choices to take. Sometimes the most loving thing to do for a client is to honor their choice to get worse.

Keep up the wonderful work healing Parkinsons.  Know in your heart that you are the perfect healer for him at this time in his life.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

© 2024 Parkinsons Recovery

Stress and Parkinson’s Disease

I know stress and Parkinsons disease is a major player in my symptoms. I have chronic pain and suffering from a surgery to my face that developed into what is referred to as a central pain disorder. Meaning, the central nervous system has become involved. I think it interesting that where this takes place is in the vicinity of the Substantia Nigra area of the brain where Parkinson’s develops. I’ve always thought there might be a connection.

I take 2 anti-epileptic (dangerous) drugs in order to function but this still leaves me with unbelievable discomfort that registers on my consciousness at all times. This, I see, as one of my greatest challenges to any kind of recovery. The others are :

    1.  Subtle stress in most everything I do (I just realized this) and
    2.  Negative thought patterns even though I see myself as a positive person.

I had childhood trauma and trauma as a young woman. I developed an autoimmune disease at age 22 that most often is not manifested in anyone younger than 50. I attribute this to a sensitive body that could not handle the devastation of estrogen packed birth control pills manufactured in the early 70’s.

Anita

My research concurs with both of your observations. Reducing anxieties and transforming negative thoughts offer welcome relief from symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Stress and Parkinson’s Disease

After conducting extensive research on methods that quiet symptoms, I have concluded that there is one step that helps the most. When anxiety and anxiety attacks are shut down, symptoms are significantly reduced. When anxiety flares its ugly head, symptoms become problematic. This is why I developed a three month online course to shut down anxiety so that symptoms become far less problematic.

My online course Shut Down Anxiety  introduces methods, strategies and techniques that have been proven by research and practice to reduce anxiety. They turn down the volume of the overactive flight-fight  sympathetic nervous system that inflames neurological difficulties.

I did not invent these techniques. They have been extracted and simplified from an extensive body of contributions by experienced practitioners and researchers. So, check out the online course and begin taking action on the methods suggested. They really will make a huge difference. Enrollment in the course is available here: Shut Down Anxiety.

Negative Thoughts Fuel Symptoms

The first online course I created focused on the transformation of thoughts that are not in our best and highest good. An explanation of the course and enrollment is available at:
Five Steps to Recovery.

Stress and Parkinson’s Disease Summary

Of course symptoms of Parkinson’s can be suppressed with medications and supplement.  A more direct approach that does not trigger the cost of side effects is to Shut Down Anxiety which it flares up. It also pays handsomely to transform negative thoughts that road block any recovery program by taking Five Steps to Recovery.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

 

Symptoms and Treatments for Parkinsons

After reading a number of your helpful articles, I am writing to ask your opinion regarding a difficult case of Parkinson’s disease or similar disorder (as described below, the symptoms and treatments for Parkinsons are somewhat atypical for classical PD).

The person in question, now 63 years old, was diagnosed in mid-2005. The symptoms include right arm/shoulder pain, which has worsened over time, along with a mild tremor in the right hand. This is accompanied by a feeling of internal tremor or other unpleasant sensations which are difficult to describe but are all the same extremely and increasingly difficult to experience, sometimes like a feeling that his entire body is disintegrating (but he is otherwise healthy).

On observation, he has a slow or shuffling gait and decreased facial expression at rest and mild tremor of the right hand, but otherwise few other noticeable signs to indicate PD.

This person has been on Dopicar (L-dopa/carbidopa combination) for over a year, which helped for the first 3-4 months. However, over a short time the beneficial effects of L-dopa have diminished greatly, so that now it sometimes doesn’t help at all, and when it does, only for a very short period of time (an hour or less).

The present dose of L-dopa varies between 300 and 600 mg 2-3 times daily, depending on the particular symptoms and feelings on a given day. When the effect of the L-dopa wears off, the right arm becomes stiff like a log and very painful (worse than before taking it) This means that most of the day he is feeling bad, with little relief from L-dopa.

He has also been taking Azilect with little noticeable benefit. This was stopped recently after hearing John Coleman’s teleconference, but pain and other symptoms have worsened since that time.

My questions are 1) have you ever seen anyone like this who responds very poorly to medications after such a short period of time, and whose primary symptoms are pain and a very unpleasant internal tremor or other sensation, and if so 2) what helped, or what treatment or other plan would you recommend?

At the top of my response to your fascinating question is a brief explanation of my qualifications. It is true that I am a doctor, but I am not a medical doctor. I have a Ph.D. and am a researcher. I need to be clear that I am not a medical doctor and so I am not qualified to diagnose or treat any disease.

I regularly interview people with Parkinson’s (like John Coleman) and conduct interviews with experts in various modalities regularly, so I am in a position to provide insights based on the research I am doing. Please do not interpret anything I might say as medical advice but rather as simply information. It is always important to check with your doctor or health care provider for taking making any changes to a health care program.

Symptoms and Treatments for Parkinsons Questions

Have you ever seen anyone like this who responds very poorly to medications after such a short period of time?

From my research, your report of getting relief from medication after 3-4 months is typical, but at the low end of the range. I do not have enough data now to give you a good estimate, but qualitatively speaking, the average time appears to me to be around 7-8 months. Some people get no relief. Some get good relief for 2 years or more. I hear many reports of good relief for at least 6 months. Everyone is different.

Regardless of the length of the honeymoon, I have not interviewed anyone yet who has been on medication and not had to increase the dose after a period of time. The brief honeymoon suggests to me that the primary cause of symptoms may be rooted in factors that are not directly connected to the level of dopamine in the body.

Have you ever seen anyone like this who whose primary symptoms are pain and a very unpleasant internal tremor or other sensation?

If I have learned anything from my research on symptoms and treatments for Parkinsons,  it is that each person’s symptoms are entirely unique to them. I interviewed a man recently whose primary symptom was pain. Internal tremors are very common among the many people I have interviewed. It is a clue that the neurological system is not functioning at full capacity.

You  mention that his symptoms have been worse after going off the medication. This too is very typical from the people I interview. Some people who try and stop cold turkey without gradually reducing the dosage wind up eventually deciding to start  taking the medication again at an even higher dose.

You can probably expect a period of time for the body to adjust. From my research on symptoms and treatments for Parkinsons, what has happened to him is typical and very difficult to deal with.

You also ask what treatment plan would I recommend.The honest answer to your question is that a person can begin feeling better slowly and gradually when they make certain changes in how they eat and exercise. Finding ways to reduce stress and release trauma have also helped many people.

Finding ways to help the body release toxins has certainly helped many people with Parkinson’s. I am beginning a series of interviews with naturopaths and other doctors who offer different approaches for helping people detox their body. I would recommend that you might consider these many different options and see if one calls to you and him.

Another place to look is his digestive system. Research studies point to the problems with Parkinson’s originate in the gut. My guess would be that his digestive system may be compromised. Ayurveda has offered some people with Parkinson’s wonderful relief. Please note that I say some.

I suggest he experiment. Check out what is working for other people. Try out something that calls to him (a herb, a form of body work, a detox method, etc.). If it begins help, stick with it. If not, turn to something else. The people who are having the greatest success with recovery do just this. They are always experimenting.

I might mention that this is precisely what John Coleman did. He experimented with a number of therapies. Some helped and some did not. He continued with the therapies that were helpful and ditched those which did not help.

Give any option time to take effect.  Most people are not aware they are getting better, so they abandon therapies too early because they falsely convince themselves the therapy is not helping. If a therapy like detox is succeeding, a person may feel much worse before they feel better.

We do know now that it takes time for the body to heal from the symptoms of Parkinson’s. The range I now have is a minimum of two years to a maximum of 6 years. Recovery is a slow process.

The one thing that will help him the most is to acknowledge no single therapy, medicine or pill exists that can fix the problem. The causes of the symptoms are far too complicated and delicate for this to be true. It takes a dedicated commitment to give the body all that it needs to heal itself.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

© 2024 Parkinsons Recovery

Does CoQ10 Slow Down Parkinson’s?

Does coq10 slow down Parkinson’s?

Stephen

Response:

The framing of your question is fascinating- Does CoQ10 slow down Parkinson’s? There is an implicit assumption behind the framing of your question that Parkinson’s disease is a race in a download direction. I fully realize that many people hold the belief that Parkinson’s is a degenerative disease – meaning that anyone who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease is destined to deteriorate over time, with no hope of recovery.

The mission of Parkinsons Recovery is to provide compelling evidence from across the globe that the assumption Parkinson’s is “degenerative” is misguided and wrong. In support of this mission, I have been interviewing people for the past several decades who successfully reversed their own Parkinson’s symptoms. Stories of former guests on my radio show are featured contributors in Pioneers of Recovery. We are documenting more and more cases of recovery every week now.

There are many treatments and modalities of one form or another that help reverse the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Some supplements will help depending on the factors that are causing the symptoms. After all, a supplement is simply food for the body. You can feed your body with the nutrients it needs by eating healthy, live food or you can acquire the nutrition you need through supplements.

There is a controversy in the research studies concerning the use of CoQ10 to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s.  The difference in study outcomes (some studies report positive effects and others do not) is due to the type of Co-Q10 that is used. In the video below I provide an explanation that speaks to your question : Does CoQ10 slow down Parkinson’s.

There are independent benefits of two supplements: Creatine and CoQ10. First I summarize the benefits of taking each supplement independent of the other, then present evidence when both are taken together.

Benefits of Creatine for Parkinsons

People with Parkinson disease have decreased muscular fitness, including decreased muscle mass, muscle strength, and increased fatigue.  Taking creatine has been found to improve exercise capacity and overall endurance.

Creatine supplements have also been found to boost mood and reduce the need for medication.

Benefits of CoQ10 for Parkinson’s

Has your doctor recommended that you take Coenzyme Q10 along with your regular medications? Some doctors do. CoQ10 has been found deficient in persons diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Some health care professionals I have interviewed also report medications can deplete availability of CoQ10 in the body which increases the importance of supplementation.

What do you get when you take both Creatine and CoQ10?

The research reports taking both creatine and CoQ10 improves cognitive function and is neuro-protective.

But which brand of Co10 is best? There are so many!

There are so many choices on the market today. Many of them have limited potency.

Natural compounding pharmacist Ross Pelton directed me to a source of CoQ10 that is worth taking seriously. It is produced by Pharmanord of Denmark.

Most Coenzyme Q10 products sold today have negligible absorption rates. We are talking 1% at best. Why is this so? The melting point of CoQ10 is 10 degrees above body temperature. Most of the supplements you buy – even those in oil, have crystallized and cannot be absorbed by the body

Why Bioavailability of CoQ10 Matters 

Bioavailability measures the ability to absorb and utilize a substance like CoQ10 in the tissues and blood of the body. CoQ10 is fat soluble with a high molecular weight which is why its absorption is very limited.

Pharma Nord https://www.pharmanord.com has developed the most studied brand of CoQ10 globally. A proprietary heat treatment process greatly facilitates its absorption. The molecular structure of the Pharmanord CoQ10 is transformed from rough crystals to a snowflake like shape. More than 75 studies have now been published that document its superior absorption when compared to other brands.

The price is also reasonable. You can order the Pharmanord CoQ10 directly on their website. Their professional staff generously set up a 20% discount for members of my audience. You can claim this discount only if you ship to a USA destination. Enter the coupon code “PRQ10WEB“ to claim a 20% discount (not case sensitive).

CoQ10 Research

Eur Neurol . 2015;73(3-4):205-211. The effect of creatine and coenzyme q10 combination therapy on mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease Zhenguang Li, Pengfei Wang, Zhancai Yu, Yannan Cong, Hairong Sun, Jiangshan Zhang, Jinbiao Zhang, Chao Sun, Yong Zhang, Xiaohua Ju

Abstract

Background: To investigate the effect of creatine and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) combination therapy on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Parkinson’s disease (PD; PD-MCI) and its influences on plasma phospholipid (PL) levels in PD-MCI.

Methods: The demographic data of 75 PD-MCI patients who enrolled in this collaborative PD study were collected. These patients were evaluated using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). These 75 PD-MCI patients were randomly treated with creatine monohydrate 5 g b.i.d. and CoQ10 100 mg t.i.d. orally or placebo. MoCA evaluation and PL level measurements were performed after 12 and 18 months of treatment.

Results: After 12 and 18 months of treatment, the differences in the MoCA scores of the combination therapy and control groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05 at 12 months and p < 0.01 at 18 months), and the plasma PL levels of the combination therapy group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p < 0.01 at 12 months and p < 0.001 at 18 months).

Conclusions: Combination therapy with creatine and CoQ10 could delay the decline of cognitive function in PD-MCI patients and could lower their plasma PL levels; therefore, this combination therapy may have a neuroprotective function.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
Pioneers of Recovery

Cure for Parkinson’s

Outside of John Coleman and Nathan Zakheim, have you interviewed or met anyone else who found a cure for Parkinson’s? Has anyone fully recovered (symptom free) from PD? If so, could you tell me who they are and what they did to recover.

Thanks.

Carl

As you state above, I have interviewed two people who declare they are “symptom free” after having advanced symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. They are John Coleman, ND and Nathan Zakheim. I included interviews with both persons in Pioneers of Recovery.

I document many other stories of recovery here on the blog and on my radio program. Generally, most people report symptoms that fluctuate widely that involve symptom free periods and periods when symptoms flare (usually connected to stress).

I talk with many people who are feeling much better, but I do not have their permission to tell their stories or even add them to the count. The only stories I can report during the radio program interviews and the e mails are by people who give me permission to post them (with their first names only).

Thanks to your question, I have decided not to construct a “count” on the basis of symptoms as a function of whether they fully or partially resolved. I realize now that such a “count” would place the emphasis on the wrong side of the coin – on the goal of becoming symptom free.

What is the problem with this emphasis? You are most likely thinking, “Isn’t that the whole point of recovery?”

All successful recovery programs hinge on maintaining a healthy inventory of positive thoughts. The challenge for all of us is that our egos entangle us in a nightmare of negative thoughts throughout the day which trips us up and creates mobility difficulties. There are good reasons we choose to wait for a cure for Parkinson’s.

We get angry:

Why am I not feeling better today?

We get frustrated:

Why did a new symptom flare up today? I have suffered long enough.

We get impatient:

Why do I have nothing to show from my hard work?

We get fearful:

Why does my family believe I will get worse and worse. Is it true Parkinson’s is “progressive”?

We get depressed:

Why should I bother trying anything new? Nothing is working out.

We get mental:

Where is the evidence for recovery?

This is why we demand there be a cure for Parkinson’s now.

I could continue with 100 pages of questions inspired by our cleaver egos, but you get the point from the short list above. Our egos keep us stuck in the mud. It happens to all of us. No one in a body escapes.

Here is the rub. When our thoughts throughout the day are intent on eliminating symptoms or becoming “symptom free” we give energy to what we do not wish to manifest. If we agonize about becoming symptom free, any hope of recovery will inevitably backfire. We get the opposite of what we want. We give energy to what we do not want. If a majority of thoughts during the day focus on becoming symptom free, we nurture the symptoms, guaranteeing they will continue to pester us.

I admit this sounds counter intuitive, so let me explain. Focusing on becoming “symptom free” suspends you in a space of negative thinking that hangs out in collective consciousness. Every thought has a frequency. Those that center around “eliminating symptoms” are low frequency thoughts that can never manifest health and wellness. Rather, such thoughts sustain disease and illness. The thought

I want to be symptom free”

focuses on what you do not want rather than what you do want to manifest.

A key to recovery is to take control over our thoughts moment to moment. As I wrote Five Steps to Recovery (which is all about transforming our thoughts),  I monitored my own thoughts each day.

Geez. I could not believe what I discovered. I roll the same negative thoughts around my head every day. The number of new thoughts was unbelievably tiny when compared to the thousands of negative thoughts I recycled every day. It was if I was living the same day over and over as I  listened to the same  record of depressing songs.

Have you ever seen the movie Groundhog Day where Bill Murray re-lives the same day every fricking day? The trap of negative thinking is just like the nightmare Bill Murray faced every day. You might as well read the same book every day of your life, year after year. The first day the book is interesting. After several months (much less decades) the book gets pretty darn boring. The juices of life get drained very quickly.

When I keep recycling the same negative thoughts, I have no prayer of changing any circumstance in my life. I certainly have no hope of reversing a chronic set of symptoms.

Among those who occupy a body, who is “symptom free”? I suggest that the honest answer is no one. Not me. Not you. Not anyone who occupies a human body. Everyone experiences symptoms most days: perhaps a new ache, perhaps a familiar digestive challenge, perhaps depression, perhaps low energy, perhaps a sprain, perhaps anxiety.

What is the Count of Your Symptoms?

When I preview the list of symptoms that are associated with people who have the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, they include just about everything wrong that can happen to a person. Perhaps this sounds outrageous, but it is true. It is why so many hold out the hope there will be a cure for Parkinson’s soon.

Below is a streamlined list of symptoms reported by persons who have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. A “streamlined list” means I have not included every symptom that people with Parkinson’s tell me they have experienced. As you read down the list, make a mental count of  which ones you have experienced at some point in your life time.

  • Stiffness
  • Numbness
  • Cramps
  • Balance
  • Depression
  • Repeating yourself
  • Anxiety
  • Apathy
  • Swallowing
  • Walking difficulties
  • Standing up straight
  • Constipation
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea
  • Urinating
  • Tremors
  • Drooling
  • Faintness on rising
  • Dizziness
  • Excessive sweating
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Insomnia
  • Memory loss
  • Weight loss
  • Skin rashes
  • Restlessness
  • Memory challenges
  • Rigid muscles
  • Muscle spasms
  • Joint pain
  • Nightmares
  • Hallucinations
  • Bruising
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Speech/voice changes
  • Difficulty with stairs
  • Frequent urination
  • Circulation issues
  • Haggard look
  • Headaches
  • Arm/leg heaviness
  • Muscle spasms
  • Full body weakness
  • Pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Red rash
  • Arm/leg rigidity
  • Social smiling
  • Swollen ankles
  • Chest tightness
  • Tingling
  • Tremors
  • Warmth in body parts
  • Weak muscles

I do not know what your count is, but I have personally experienced all of the symptoms in the list above at one point or another in my lifetime. I do not have the diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease.

How about now – in this very moment as I write these words? What symptoms am I experiencing in this moment?

  1. I have incredible stiffness in my shoulders which always happens when I write every day.
  2. I have ringing in my ears which I have learned to ignore.
  3. I have an ache in the middle of my spine (T4-T5).
  4. My throat is restricted.
  5. I had memory loss a few minutes ago when I could not remember how to spell a word.
  6. I had a tinge of tingling in my left little finger a few moments ago.

My list of symptoms above pertains only to this single moment. I will not bore you with a list of my personal symptoms from this morning or yesterday, but I can assure you my list of symptoms differs from day to day.

This is normal for most people unless you are superman or superwoman. (I do not have any research evidence on Bat Man or Bat Woman).

The body gives us a continuous feed of information. When we listen to the moment to moment information our bodies send us, we are in a much better position to make the adjustments that are needed for our body come back into balance. Instead of wishing I want to be “symptom free”, the better wish in my book of wishes is to be “symptom rich”.

If I were “symptom free” for one day, the likelihood my body would be out of balance is reasonably high. If I were symptom free for two days the likelihood my body would be out of balance is extremely high. If I were symptom free for a week, I dare say the probability my body would be out of balance would be assured.

Might I suggest a mantra that is diametrically opposed to waiting on a  cure for Parkinson’s? The mantra I suggest is:

Bring the symptoms on.

Don’t get me wrong. I do not like them one bit. I also do not know what I would do without them. I need the information they give me to hang around the earth for a little longer.

If all of my thoughts zero in on the goal of becoming “symptom free,, there is no time or energy left to think about what I want to create in my life. I really do want to figure out what my soul needs to do in my life before my time is up. But if I choose to spend the rest of my day worrying about just one of my symptoms – say not being able to spell a word this morning – there will be no time in my day to ask my soul what it needs for nourishment. I am choosing to spend my time luxuriating in Worry Land which I visit frequently.

Of course the process is repeated tomorrow as I worry about not being able to remember what I was worrying about the day before. And so the process unfolds day after day as my enthusiasm for life diminishes.

If I focus my thoughts on becoming “symptom free”,

  • I am not listening to my body.
  • I am detached from my body.
  • I am not connecting with the essence of who I am.

Because I am disconnected with my body, my symptoms in the moment will be sure to fester as other symptoms surface.

As I write this paragraph, I am not even aware of any of the symptoms that I listed a few minutes ago that were pestering me. I am not aware of them because my attention is focused in the moment on writing which is a true love of my life. Focus on writing and my energy sores. Focus on getting rid of my symptoms and my energy slides into the sewer.

How to Shift Thinking Away from Hoping for a Cure for Parkinson’s 

Bodies get out of balance. It happens. It happens to everyone. The body always strives to return to balance. The natural state for the body is health and wellness, not disease and illness. How do I shift my hamster wheel of negative thinking which I have been riding on since childhood?

First, I recognize I can choose the thoughts I wish to think. I am the master of my own thoughts. I can spend my day fighting against the symptoms of the day because I am determined to be “symptom free.” Yes, I can wait patiently on a cure for Parkinson’s.

Or, I can nourish my body with positive thoughts that will nourish my life force. I can write. I can dream. I can forward plan my life so that I am living the life I choose to live.

Second, I change my thinking habits. I can forward plan my day as the first activity of my day. It is 7:30 am. I have just woken up.

  • How do I want to spend my time today?
  • What do I want to accomplish?
  • What do I want to see happen?
  • What do I want to see happen in my life today?
  • What do I want to see happen in my life this month?
  • What do I want to see happen in my life this year and next year?

The more I can detail out what I want my future to look like, the more I can

  • sense it,
  • feel it,
  • taste it,
  • hear it,
  • see it,

The more energy the thought will manifest. If I spend my day contemplating what I do not want to experience (like symptoms), my life lacks focus. My energy is drained. My life force is diminished. My body feels clogged down with dead energy. I am able to manifest nothing other than feed the entrapment of my own ego which fuels my illness.

So thanks for whether they will ever be a cure for Parkinson’s.  It has helped my realize that if I begin counting the number of people who are “symptom free”, I will be oiling everyone’s hamster wheel of negative thinking. When suspended in a space of negative thought forms, no one is in a position to manifest balance and harmony in their life.

I get energy from forward planning my life. I lose energy from addicting myself to negative, depressing thoughts that drag me down into the pit of dark depression. My ego is always inviting me into the “mind sewer” of negative thinking.

I have decided it is my best interest to refuse the invitations. Mind sewers smell bad. Mind sewers are stagnant. Mind sewers breed disease. Mind sewers promote illness. They are not a good place to live.

I choose to whisk away all the negativity in my thoughts. I do not have any control over ending wars in the middle east or curbing drug related deaths in New York City. I can control what I choose to think.

When I choose to focus my thoughts during the day on what I want to accomplish during my lifetime, I feel lighter, more alive, more energetic and more powerful. When my mind becomes a fertile garden of positive thoughts, miracles do happen. Often. This feeds my life force and is a far better choice than waiting on a cure for Parkinson’s.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

© 2024 Parkinsons Recovery

Mind Versus Body

When symptoms are unrelenting it is easy to feel at odds and uneasy. It becomes a Mind Versus Body War. My poem was inspired by this understandable dichotomy between the “you” of the body and the “I”of the mind.

Body Talk
Robert Rodgers

Just as you twitch and flutter out of control
  So I too am lost and restless

Just as you freeze without warning
  So I too am stuck in a lifeless glob of concrete

Just as you talk in a silent whisper
  So I too think thoughts that are timid

Just as you soak my shirt with sweat and wet
  So I too am drenched with the tears of trauma

Just as you wear a mask on your face
  So I too mask my full power

Just as you swallow food with gargles and coughs
  So I too find my sorrow and grief hard to swallow

Just as you endure pain that never forgives
  So I too endure the relentless pain of heartache and regret

Just as you flop and flutter from one step to the next
  So I too rattle thoughts through my rusty hamster wheel

Just as you are tormented by confusion and forgetfulness
  So I too puzzle over what step to take next 

 Just as you collapse to the ground without a heads up
  So I too give up and give out with my head down

Just as you are numb to the pleasures of life
  So I too reject its deliciousness

There is you see only one solution
One road to recovery
One path to health
For you and for me  
We must become one you and I
For I am just like you.

© Robert Rodgers PhD

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

 

 

Parkinsons and Anxiety

Robert :I spoke with you several weeks ago
and I am having difficulty with Parkinsons and anxiety.
 Would sure like some advice.

Norma

Parkinsons disease and anxiety go hand in hand. When anxiety rears its ugly
head, symptoms inevitably flare up. A wise step that offers relief from symptoms is to
embrace methods, therapies and techniques to get anxiety under control.

People with Parkinson’s experience anxiety in part due to the unpredictability of their symptoms and the challenges of living with a chronic condition.

Everyone knows when they have anxiety. Familiar symptoms of anxiety in people with Parkinson’s include:

  • Excessive worry
  • Restlessness
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Physical symptoms like increased heart rate or sweating

When it comes to finding relief from anxiety, Craniosacral
therapy and Bowen therapy can be very beneficial. They both invite
traumas that are embedded in the body at the cellular level
to release. Once released, the potential for anxiety is brought under
control.

I have also developed a three month Shut Down Anxiety
online course that covers proven methods and therapies that
covers proven methods and therapies that
do in fact shut down anxiety. Visit the link below for
more information about Parkinsons and anxiety and to register.

Shut Down Anxiety

Once anxiety is under control, a welcome reduction of
symptom severity follow.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

© 2024 Parkinsons Recovery

Holistic Healing

  • How long does it really take to become symptom free with holistic healing?
  • Can I feel better if I embrace a holistic healing approach designed to reverse my symptoms?
  • Is it really possible for anyone to become symptom free?
  • I do not want to experience pain in my recovery process. Doesn’t pain mean I am doing something wrong?

These are the questions members of my audience have been asking for many years. I have included below a clip with my interview with Howard Shifke who addresses all of these questions. He succeeded in becoming symptom free by embracing holistic healing.

If you have been asking any of these questions, please listen to this clip of my interview on Parkinsons Recovery Radio with Howard Shift. He addresses them all.

Howard’s Website and Blog:

As Howard so eloquently explains,  holistic healing for Parkinson’s disease focuses on addressing the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—rather than just the physical symptoms. Here are some of the approaches involved with this natural approach to healing from the inside out.

1. Nutrition

  • Balanced Diet: Emphasize whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Foods rich in antioxidants, like berries and leafy greens, may help combat oxidative stress.
  • Hydration: Staying well-hydrated is essential for overall health.

2. Exercise

  • Physical Activity: Regular exercise can improve mobility, balance, and overall quality of life. Activities like walking, swimming, and cycling are beneficial.
  • Strength and Flexibility Training: Yoga and tai chi can enhance flexibility, balance, and mental well-being.

3. Mindfulness and Stress Management

  • Meditation and Mindfulness: Practices can reduce stress and improve emotional well-being.
  • Breathing Exercises: Techniques like deep breathing can help manage anxiety.

4. Massage and Bodywork

  • Therapeutic Massage: Can help reduce muscle tension and improve circulation.
  • Acupuncture: Some people find relief from symptoms through acupuncture treatments.

Bottom Line to Holistic Healing

Is it really possible to become symptom free if a person confronts symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Howard Shifke’s answer is – simply put – yes. Does it take time and patience? Yes. Will you get discouraged? Yes. Will you want to give up? Yes. Will it be worth it in the end even if it seems to take forever to succeed. Yes indeed.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

 

How Voice Profiling Determines the Cause of Parkinson’s

In this amazing video, Sharry Edwards from Sound Health Options explains how voice profiling determines the cause of Parkinson’s. Her approach has revealed fascinating insights into the various reasons people develop symptoms of Parkinsons disease.

This presentation follows up voice profiles Sharry did for four guests on one of my Parkinsons Recovery radio shows last month. Sharry identifies surprising commonalities across the persons she profiled during the show.

Even more interesting is her analysis of the reason Michael J. Fox currently experiences the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Are you at all curious about the cause of his symptoms? You can get the answer by watching this video.

Sharry takes you through the process of voice profiling step by step to demonstration how voice profiling determines the cause of Parkinson’s. She also offers an amazing explanation of the many reasons symptoms can evolve and what you can do about them when they do.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

Declaration of Independence for Parkinsons

My invitation for you this week is to sign and post a declaration of independence for Parkinsons. Many people (myself included) have throughout much of our life looked outside of our inner wisdom for answers.  We have referred to the experts, persons in white coats or fancy suits or dresses, individuals with fancy initials beside their name, initials like PhD, MD, ND … You can list for yourself the assortment of initials that you have seen listed beside people’s names who you have sought consultations from. My own list fills up two sheets of paper.

Because power was acceded to others, we, you, I and many others gave up our own sense of independence, our own ability to make decisions that are in our best and highest good.

Loss of control is the underlying frustration that underpins symptoms of Parkinson’s. The secret to recovery is to take control back. And why wait? Do it now.

Clearly it makes good sense to seek out advice from the experts.  To see what people recommend is often a wise and smart course of action.  Yet many of us, and I say again myself included, have many times wanted someone else to fix us, to make it all right.  In so doing, we acceded our power, our inner wisdom and our ability to know what is right for us.

It is one thing to say that the body knows how to heal itself. That is certainly a mindful statement.  It is also one thing to be sensitive to the signals that our body sends to us.

Yet, it is also easy to slip out of that mindful space and to seek relief without checking in with our bodies; without asking whether or not this is in fact what our body truly needs in order to come back into balance and harmony.

Your body, my body, any body contains limitless wisdom.  We have the power and the ability to know what is in our best interest.  Becoming mindful of that wisdom is the key to recovery. Our body is the one and only resource that knows what is best for us.

Declaration of Independence for Parkinsons

I invite you on this day and this hour to print out the declaration of independence below, sign it, then post it on your refrigerator or your bathroom mirror. Read the declaration out loud to yourself for 21 days. If you happen to neglect to read the statement, start the count of 21 days all over again. It is time to honor the body’s ability to heal from the inside out.

You can print a copy on this post: Copy of Declaration of Independence for Parkinsons 

In the beginning, one cell was formed inside the womb of my mother that captured the wisdom of all that I am today. The wisdom of one is 10 billion times seven fold  today as I am equipped today with a mind to organize my thoughts, a heart to evaluate them and a voice to express them.

At this time and this hour I declare my mind, heart and voice to be independent of any and all control over the health and well being of my body.

I acknowledge the miracle of life itself.

I celebrate the ability of my body to rejuvenate despite any and all limitations I currently experience.

I see limitless possibilities to manifest any and all of my dreams.

I cast off any and all limitations for recovery I have imposed on myself and imposed by others.

I assert the independent responsibility to decide what actions are in my best and highest good.

I acknowledge that the conditions which foster imbalances in my body are complex and multi-faceted.

On this day I ask for and openly receive healing.

I pledge from this day forward to listen to the wisdom of my body.

I commit to take any and all actions that are needed and necessary to bring my body back into balance.

I welcome the opportunity to transform bad habits that have been making me ill.

I refute the oppressive and dehumanizing claims that recovery is not possible.

I accept and welcome full responsibility for the health and wellness of my body.

I acknowledge that a therapy or treatment that helps one person may not necessarily be helpful to others or myself.

I commit to continue my journey down the road to recovery with the intention to persevere despite any and all setbacks and challenges I encounter along the way.

By affixing my signature below, I join with others who honor the power of the body to heal itself as I restore, rejuvenate and regenerate the inner wisdom of my body to heal itself.

_____________________                     _______
Signature                                                       Date

To Register for the Healing from the Inside Out Online Course visit:
Healing from the Inside Out

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery 

 

 

Light Therapy for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)

As summarized in my video below, studies have reported promising results using photobiomodulation light therapy for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).  Posted below are short abstracts of a selection of studies that focus on traumatic brain injury. Anyone with a TBI challenge should take this option to facilitate recovery seriously.

To put this in perspective, photobiomodulation (previously known as low level laser therapy) was little known five years ago. Researchers who explore its application to a wide range of health conditions has skyrocketed over recent years.

Included  below small sampling of the dozens of studies that recommend photobiomodulation as a treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Research Studies on Photobiomodulation Light Therapy for TBI 

J Neurotrauma. .2023 Feb;40(3-4):210-227. Photobiomodulation in Acute Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Photobiomodulation is a therapeutic modality that has gained increasing interest in neuroscience applications, including acute traumatic brain injury (TBI). Its proposed mechanisms for therapeutic effect when delivered to the injured brain include antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Eighteen published articles were identified for inclusion: seventeen pre-clinical studies of in vivo animal models and one clinical study in human patients. The available human study supports safety and feasibility of Photobiomodulation in acute moderate TBI.

This systematic review provides substantial meta-analysis evidence of the benefits of PBM on functional and histological outcomes of TBI.

****************

Cells. 2024 Feb 23;13(5):385. Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery with Photobiomodulation: Cellular Mechanisms, Clinical Evidence, and Future Potential. Lew Lim

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze transcranial photobiomodulation which employs specific red to near-infrared light wavelengths to modulate brain functions, as a promising therapy to address TBI’s complex pathophysiology in a single intervention. This study reviews the feasibility of this therapy, firstly by synthesizing PBM’s cellular mechanisms with each identified TBI’s pathophysiological aspect. The outcomes in human clinical studies are then reviewed.

The findings support PBM’s potential for treating TBI, notwithstanding variations in parameters such as wavelength, power density, dose, light source positioning, and pulse frequencies. In summary, transcranial PBM represents a multifaceted therapeutic intervention for TBI with vast potential which may be fulfilled by optimizing the parameters.

****************

J Lasers Med Sci. 2022 Dec 13:13:e65. Transcranial Infrared Laser Stimulation for the Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Series

Abstract

Introduction:
This study intended to evaluate the safety and possible therapeutic effect of photobiomodulation among patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: Eleven participants who were diagnosed with TBI after full neurological examination and MRI evaluation by a board-certified neurologist completed five to eight 20-minute sessions

Results: All patients enrolled in this study protocol were able to tolerate the study procedures. Nine out of eleven participants had clinically significant improvements in GRC score (? +2). Neuropsychological testing and mood questionnaire outcomes also suggested a positive therapeutic effect.

Conclusion: This study provides preliminary evidence supporting the safety and potential efficacy of photobiomodulation as a non-invasive clinical intervention for individuals with TBI.

****************

Ageing Res Rev. 2023 Jan:83:101786. Can transcranial photobiomodulation improve cognitive function? A systematic review of human studies

Abstract

Background:
Transcranial photobiomodulation has been studied for over a decade as a possible cognitive intervention.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of photobiomodulation for enhancing human cognitive function in healthy adults and remediating impaired cognitive function in adults with cognitive disorders.

Methods: A systematic literature search from three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) was conducted from 1987 to May 2022. The cognitive function being evaluated included learning and memory, attention, executive function, language, and global cognitive function.

Results: Of the 35 studies identified, 29 (82.9 %) studies reported positive improvement in cognitive functions after tPBM. All nine studies on participants with subjective memory complaints, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia, showed positive outcomes. Seven (87.5 %) studies on traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients also showed positive results.

Conclusions: Photobiomodulation seems to improve cognitive function

****************

Photomed Laser Surg. 2018 Nov 28. Pulsed Transcranial Red/Near-Infrared Light Therapy Using Light-Emitting Diodes Improves Cerebral Blood Flow and Cognitive Function in Veterans with Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Series

Abstract

Objective: This study explored the outcome of applying red/near-infrared light therapy using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) pulsed with three different frequencies transcranially to treat traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Veterans.

Background: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) using LEDs has been shown to have positive effects on TBI in humans and animal models.

Methods: Twelve symptomatic military Veterans diagnosed with chronic TBI >18 months post-trauma received pulsed transcranial photobiomodulation using two neoprene therapy pads containing 220 infrared and 180 red LEDs over 6 weeks.

Results: Photobiomodulation significantly improved neuropsychological scores in 6 of 15 subscales (40.0%; p < 0.05; two tailed). SPECT analysis showed increase in rCBF in 8 of 12 (66.7%) study participants. Quantitative SPECT analysis revealed a significant increase in rCBF in this subgroup of study participants and a significant difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment.

Conclusions: Photobiomodulation using LEDs shows promise in improving cognitive function and Cerebral Blood Flow several years after TBI.

****************

Front Psychol. 2024 Jun 17:15:1378570. Can transcranial photobiomodulation improve cognitive function in TBI patients? A systematic review

Abstract

Introduction:
Transcranial photobiomodulation is a non-invasive neuromodulation technology which has become a promising therapy for treating many brain diseases. Although it has been confirmed in studies targeting neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s that photobiomodulation can improve cognitive function, the effectiveness of interventions targeting TBI patients remains to be determined. This systematic review examines the cognitive outcomes of clinical trials concerning photobiomodulation in the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review, following the PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched before October 31, 2023.

Results: The initial search retrieved 131 articles, and a total of 6 studies were finally included for full text-analysis after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Conclusion: Results showed improvements in cognition for patients with chronic TBI after photobiomodulation intervention. The mechanism may be that photobiomodulation increases the volume of total cortical gray matter, subcortical gray matter, and thalamic, improves cerebral blood flow, functional connectivity, and cerebral oxygenation, improving brain function.

About Vielight Photobiomodulation Devices

The company, Vielight, has generously offered followers of Parkinsons Recovery a 10% discount off orders of any of their devices including Neuro Gamma device. Enter the coupon code healing4me on the shopping cart. The website: www.vielight.com 
Do not hesitate to call the company. They always provide four star service and are happy to answer all of your questions. 1-877-355-8012 (Main line). The company is located in Toronto Canada.

Warranty

Vielight is so confident in its new product that you get six (6) months to try out their newly invented photobiomodulation therapy. If for any reason you are not satisfied, you can return it for a 80% refund. I have never heard of a company that is so confident in their product that such a generous warranty can be extended. They obviously have high confidence in their new invention.

Experience of hundreds of members of my audience is certainly positive. Nine out of ten users retain their units. Only one out of ten return them to claim the 80% refund.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence

In the beginning, one cell was formed inside the womb of my mother that captured the wisdom of all that I am today. The wisdom of one is 10 billion times seven fold  today as I am equipped today with a mind to organize my thoughts, a heart to evaluate them and a voice to express them.

At this time and this hour I declare my mind, heart and voice to be independent of any and all control over the health and well being of my body.

I acknowledge the miracle of life itself.

I celebrate the ability of my body to rejuvenate despite any and all limitations I currently experience.

I see limitless possibilities to manifest any and all of my dreams.

I cast off any and all limitations for recovery I have imposed on myself and imposed by others.

I assert the independent responsibility to decide what actions are in my best and highest good.

I acknowledge that the conditions which foster imbalances in my body are complex and multi-faceted.

On this day I ask for and openly receive healing.

I pledge from this day forward to listen to the wisdom of my body.

I commit to take any and all actions that are needed and necessary to bring my body back into balance.

I welcome the opportunity to transform bad habits that have been making me ill.

I refute the oppressive and dehumanizing claims that recovery is not possible.

I accept and welcome full responsibility for the health and wellness of my body.

I acknowledge that a therapy or treatment that helps one person may not necessarily be helpful to others or myself.

I commit to continue my journey down the road to recovery with the intention to persevere despite any and all setbacks and challenges I encounter along the way.

By affixing my signature below, I join with others who honor the power of the body to heal itself as I restore, rejuvenate and regenerate the inner wisdom of my body to heal itself.

_____________________                     _______
Signature                                                       Date

Groundbreaking Discovery for Autism

I have exciting news about a groundbreaking discovery for autism. It can be reversed.

For more information about the Vielight Duo photobiomodulation device visit: https://www.vielight.com/devices/vielight-neuro-duo-brain/

A 10 percent discount is available with coupon code healing4me. If your child does not show the improvement anticipated after 6 months of daily use, you can return the Duo device for an 80% refund

Ground Breaking Discovery for Autism Using  the Vielight Neuro Duo 

YouTube player

As the world’s only transcranial-intranasal brain photobiomodulation device, the Vielight Neuro Duo is the result of years of engineering and research.

Groundbreaking discovery for autism research with the Vielight technology produced improvements in cognitionmemory and blood flow.

The Vielight Neuro Duo comes with both Alpha and Gamma modes.

  • Gamma (40Hz): focus, memory, brain energy.
  • Alpha (10 Hz): relaxation and sleep improvement.

Summary for the  Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Study 

Children (BASEL). 2022 May 20;9(5):755. Transcranial Photobiomodulation for the Treatment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Retrospective Study

Data were reported and analyzed for 21 children, 13 males and 8 females with an average age of 9.1. The age range is 5 to 15 years old. The study was conducted over six months in the home setting.

Participants used the Vielight Neuro Duo with its two protocols, the Alpha 10 hertz protocol and the Gamma 40 hertz protocol.

Both Alpha and Gamma protocols were administered each day, one in the morning and one in the evening. Each session had a duration of 20 minutes, during which children were involved in stimulating activities such drawing, coloring, reading, playing games or doing homework.

Findings

After 6 months, transcranial-intranasal photobiomodulation was associated with:

  • reduction in ASD severity, as shown by a decrease in CARS scores (p < 0.001).
  • reduction in noncompliant behavior
  • reduction in parental stress
  • reduction in behavioral and cognitive rigidity
  • improvement in attentional functions and in sleep quality.

These remarkable improvements not only enhanced the lives of the patients but also greatly reduced stress among their parents, as measured by the SDAG scale, creating a more peaceful and effective environment for growth.

How Photobiomodulation Reverses Austism

How does the Vielight Neuro Duo photobiomodulation device work? It emits an optimal irradiance, amongst the highest in the industry with the 810 nanometer wavelength to penetrate the skull and reach the brain, transcranially and intranasally. The Vielight Neuro Duo’s design specifically targets the Default Mode Network to improve connectivity between its nodes.

The default mode network is crucial in understanding autism. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder have been observed to have alterations in their default mode network, contributing to difficulties in social interactions and understanding others’ perspectives.

Research has revealed that atypical connectivity within the default mode network underlies the characteristic challenges in social communication and repetitive behaviors seen in autism.

The two different pulsing modes, Alpha and Gamma have complementary effects.  The alpha protocol promotes relaxation, reducing rigidity and improving sleep. The gamma protocol boosts cognitive functions which facilitates improved focus and attention.”

Safety and Future Directions

From a safety perspective the treatment has been well-tolerated with minimal side effects, making it a safe option.

Front Neurol. 2024 Apr 26:15:1221193. Transcranial photobiomodulation in children aged 2-6 years: a randomized sham-controlled clinical trial assessing safety, efficacy, and impact on autism spectrum disorder symptoms and brain electrophysiology

Abstract

Background: Small pilot studies have suggested that transcranial photobiomodulation  could help reduce symptoms of neurological conditions, such as depression, traumatic brain injury, and autism spectrum disorder.

Objective: To examine the impact of photobiomodulation on the symptoms of Autism in children aged two to six years. (The study listed above is based on older subjects 5-15 years in age).

Method: This study ran a randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial involving thirty children aged two to six years with a prior diagnosis of ASD. Pulses of near-infrared light (40 Hz, 850 nm) noninvasively were delivered to selected brain areas twice a week for eight weeks, using an investigational medical device designed for this purpose. We used the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) to assess and compare the Autism symptoms of participants before and after the treatment course. Electroencephalogram data during each session were collected from participants who tolerated wearing the cap.

Results: The difference in the change in CARS scores between the two groups was 7.23 (95% CI 2.357 to 12.107, p = 0.011). Seventeen of the thirty participants completed at least two EEGs and time-dependent trends were detected. In addition, an interaction between Active versus Sham and Scaled Time was observed in delta power (Coefficient = 7.521, 95% CI -0.517 to 15.559, p = 0.07) and theta power (Coefficient = -8.287, 95% CI -17.199 to 0.626, p = 0.07), indicating a potential trend towards a greater reduction in delta power and an increase in theta power over time with treatment in the Active group, compared to the Sham group. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the condition (Treatment vs. Sham) in the power of theta waves (net_theta) (Coefficient = 9.547, 95% CI 0.027 to 19.067, p = 0.049). No moderate or severe side effects or adverse effects were reported or observed during the trial.

Groundbreaking Discovery for Autism Conclusion:

Findings of these two studies taken together indicate that photobiomodulation is a safe and effective treatment for Autism. The Vielight Neuro Duo offers a groundbreaking treatment for Autism.

For more information about the Vielight Duo photobiomodulation device visit: https://www.vielight.com/devices/vielight-neuro-duo-brain/

A 10 percent discount is available with coupon code healing4me. If your child does not show the improvement anticipated after 6 months of daily use, you can return the Duo device for an 80% refund.

Call Vielight to get answers to your questions. The company is located in Toronto Canada: 1-877-355-8012 (Main line)

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

Photobiomodulation for Parkinson’s Disease

Photobiomodulation for Parkinson’s Disease

Finally! I have been eagerly waiting to learn results of a 3 year Australian photobiomodulation for Parkinson’s disease study that examined the impact of light therapy (using Vielight.com devices – 10% coupon code healing4me – as a treatment for persons diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Results are now published.

Documented reductions in Parkinson’s symptoms far exceeded my expectations. Measures of mobility, cognition, dynamic balance and fine motor skill for the 12 Parkinson’s research subjects were significantly improved (p < 0.05) with photobiomodulation treatment for 12 weeks and up to one year.

Many individual improvements were above the minimal clinically important differences, the threshold judged to be meaningful for participants. Individual improvements varied but many continued for up to one year with sustained home treatment.

The design of this study was eloquent. Participants were assessed for mobility, fine motor skills, balance and cognition before treatment began, after 4 weeks of treatment, then after 12 weeks of treatment and then at the end of the home treatment period.

Researchers drew the following conclusions:

“PBM (photobiomodulation) was shown to be a safe and potentially effective treatment for a range of clinical signs and symptoms of PD. Improvements were maintained for as long as treatment continued, for up to one year in a neurodegenerative disease where decline is typically expected.”

The abstract of the study follows:

BMC Neurol. 2021 Jul 2;21(1):256. Improvements in clinical signs of Parkinson’s disease using photobiomodulation: a prospective proof-of-concept study. Ann LiebertBrian BicknellE-Liisa LaaksoGillian HellerParastoo JalilitabaeiSharon TilleyJohn MitrofanisHosen Kiat

Abstract

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no cure and few treatment options. Its incidence is increasing due to aging populations, longer disease duration and potentially as a COVID-19 sequela. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has been successfully used in animal models to reduce the signs of PD and to protect dopaminergic neurons.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of PBM to mitigate clinical signs of PD in a prospective proof-of-concept study, using a combination of transcranial and remote treatment, in order to inform on best practice for a larger randomized placebo-controlled trial (RCT).

Methods: Twelve participants with idiopathic PD were recruited. Six were randomly chosen to begin 12 weeks of transcranial, intranasal, neck and abdominal PBM. The remaining 6 were waitlisted for 14 weeks before commencing the same treatment. After the 12-week treatment period, all participants were supplied with PBM devices to continue home treatment. Participants were assessed for mobility, fine motor skills, balance and cognition before treatment began, after 4 weeks of treatment, after 12 weeks of treatment and the end of the home treatment period. A Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used to assess treatment effectiveness at a significance level of 5%.

Results: Measures of mobility, cognition, dynamic balance and fine motor skill were significantly improved (p < 0.05) with PBM treatment for 12 weeks and up to one year. Many individual improvements were above the minimal clinically important difference, the threshold judged to be meaningful for participants. Individual improvements varied but many continued for up to one year with sustained home treatment. There was a demonstrable Hawthorne Effect that was below the treatment effect. No side effects of the treatment were observed.

Conclusions: PBM was shown to be a safe and potentially effective treatment for a range of clinical signs and symptoms of PD. Improvements were maintained for as long as treatment continued, for up to one year in a neurodegenerative disease where decline is typically expected. Home treatment of PD by the person themselves or with the help of a carer might be an effective therapy option. The results of this study indicate that a large RCT is warranted.

The Future of Medicine has Arrived

Click on the link below to hear my interview on Parkinsons Recovery Radio with Dr. Lew Lim, CEO of Vielight photobiomodulation devices. This interview was conducted before publication of the photobiomodulation Parkinson’s study.

The future of medicine rests with innovative therapies that utilize light and sound to bring the body back into balance and harmony. Neurons are cells that contain mitochondria. Photobiomodulation energizes neuronal mitochondria, triggering a cascade of beneficial cellular functions. Potential benefits are:

  • Neuroprotective effects.
  • Self-repair mechanisms
  • Enhanced functionality.

Results of this photobiomodulation Parkinson’s study affirm these expectations.

YouTube player

Vielight Warranty

Use any of the Vielight devices for up to six months. If you do not celebrate the relief in symptoms expected, you can return the device for an 80% refund. The company, located in Toronto Canada, obviously has confidence that users will be delighted with the result. Use coupon code healing4me to claim a 10% discount when ordering. https://www.vielight.com.

Call them to get your questions answered. Their staff are incredible.
1-877-355-8012 (Main line). Phone-in hours are from 9 am – 5 pm EST, Monday to Friday.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

 

 

Incontinence Natural Treatment

Exercises that tighten your pelvic floor muscles reduce urinary incontinence symptoms. The Kegel exercise is an incontinence natural treatment that helps you celebrate uninterrupted nights of sleep.

Tighten your pelvic floor several times a day whether sitting or standing.

  • Identify your pelvic floor muscles that are what you use to stop the flow of urine.
  • Tighten these muscles and hold for 3 seconds. Then …
  • Relax these muscles for 3 seconds.
  • Repeat 10 times.

Recommended Daily Routine for the Kegel Incontinence Natural Treatment

Aim for a total of 30 pelvic floor contractions each day.
Spread the exercises throughout the day rather than doing them all at once.
Consider doing both short and long contractions

It may take a month or longer to celebrate an interrupted night of sleep.

Additional Benefits

* Improves blood circulation to the pelvic floor and vagina, potentially enhancing arousal and lubrication.
* Helps tighten the vagina after childbirth.
* Benefits men with overactive bladder symptoms or post-prostate surgery incontinence.

Make Kegel exercises a part of your daily routine and celebrate hours of interrupted sleepIncontinence natural treatment because the urgency to pee does not wake you up every two hours.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

 

Triumph Over Tremors

Do you currently experience worrisome tremors? If so, I invite you to watch my short video below and listen to my 30 minutes interview with Bobby Krause, founder of Be Still Foundation, on his triumph over tremors.

Bobby Krause discusses how Focused Ultrasound changed his life below:

www.bestill.foundation 

Below is Bobby’s story

As a college athlete turned sales executive and father of two, I loved to live large and make the most of every moment. This was until a “nervous tick” began to occur in my left arm. After a series of doctor’s appointments, MRI’s and a pivotal appointment with a neurologist in 2016, my and my family’s lives were forever altered when I was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 42.

After my diagnosis, the harmless tick evolved into a relentless, debilitating tremor throughout the left side of my body. These tremors caused constant pain, embarrassment and a significant decline in my quality of life. I struggled to focus on life happening around me. I could not conduct business meetings without distraction. The tremors escalated greatly under the pressure of intense situations like coaching my son’s basketball games. I wondered how life could go on this way.

My Triumph Over Tremors

In 2020, a glimmer of hope emerged when I learned of clinical trials underway for a groundbreaking tremor treatment, called Focused Ultrasound. Thanks to an incredibly generous employer, along with an exceptional medical team at the University of Penn, my life-changing therapy was scheduled for June of 2022.

June 9, 2022, is a day I will never forget. While traveling to the University of Penn for my Focused Ultrasound therapy, I was full of hope, yet I could see my tremors intensify and feel my muscles tighten from the stress of it all. Little did I know, the profound physical and emotional impact the next two hours in the MRI tube would have on my life.

Laying fully conscious on the MRI table was surreal and incomprehensible. In real time, I communicated with the medical staff how and what I was feeling during the five sonication’s I underwent that day. While inside the tube during the third sonication, for the first time in nearly a decade, my body surrendered the tremors, my muscles eased, and the rigid tension melted away and I was finally able to…Be Still!

I’ve had the distinct honor of sharing my journey with Parkinson’s Disease and my Focused Ultrasound therapy experience at prestigious venues like Capitol Hill, Princeton University and within communities such as Rock Steady Boxing. Through these interactions, I’ve witnessed firsthand the hope my story instills. However, this optimism is tempered by the lack of awareness, availability and financial hurdles many face in accessing this treatment. These exchanges with those full of hope but greatly in need, are what sparked the start of Be Still Foundation.

Below are listed the questions I ask him during the interview as he discusses his triumph over tremors.

    1. Tell me about yourself Pre-Parkinson
    2. When were you officially diagnosed with Parkinson’s and what were your symptoms?
    3. How did you initially treat your symptoms and what were the pros and cons of those treatments?
    4. How and when did you become aware of Focused Ultrasound?
    5. Once you learned about focused ultrasound what were your next steps with your family and medical team?
    6. Can you take me through the day of your scheduled treatment?
    7. What side effects did you experience from the procedure?
    8. I understand it’s now been two years since your procedure, are you experiencing tremors again?
    9. What led you to create the Be Still Foundation?
    10. For those interested how can they support the Be Still Foundation?

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons disease

5HTP for Depression

The following is an inspiring interview about 5HTP for depression with John Schappi in 2011. John was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in September, 2009 at age 80.

John discusses his remedies for sleep, incontinence and depression in this inspiring interview with him. Below is a marvelous review of his life. Sadly, John died in 2018. This post is celebrates his life and commitment to helping persons diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

JOHN V. SCHAPPI (Age 88) is a 1952 graduate of Cornell University, John spent nearly 40 years helping build the Bureau of National Affairs (now Bloomberg BNA) into a leading legal publisher. Hired in 1955, he later became associate editor overseeing BNA’s human resource (HR) publications. He also authored Improving Job Attendance, named to Princeton University’s 1988 list of Noteworthy Books in Industrial Relations and Labor Economics.

He retired as BNA’s HR vice president in 1994 but stayed on the company’s board of directors until 1998, completing 20 years on the largely employee-elected board. Outside of BNA, John was active in the Washington, DC, community. From 1982 – 1992, he served on the Whitman-Walker Clinic’s board of directors and as board president in 1990-1991. He was selected for the 1990-1991 class of Leadership Greater Washington and served on its board in 1993-1994.

During his retirement, John enjoyed biking, playing bridge, gardening, and attending theater and dance shows. He travelled frequently and collected friends around the globe, especially in Nepal. He continued to write, sharing his experiences on his blog, Aging, Parkinson’s and Me where is highlighted the value to him of taking 5HTP for depression.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2024
Parkinsons Recovery
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
https://www.parkinsonsdisease.me

Reclaiming Independence

The Parkinsons Recovery Reclaiming Independence Intensive provides one on one support to help transform walking difficulties.

Have you been falling, freezing or shuffling when walking?

Has walking become problematic?

If  your answers are yes, watch my short video right now to convert wobbly walking to one that is rock solid.

My passion is to help individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease transform any and all beliefs that recovery cannot happen for them.

The goal of the Reclaiming Independence Intensive is to develop a plan of recovery thatReclaiming Independence Intensive will transform problematic mobility into one that is rock solid. Once the plan is set, we review, monitor and adjust the plan as needed over the course of individual sessions with me.

My commitment to you involves a commitment that sets in motion a recovery program that can succeed for you.

I have been asked by many of you to offer an intensive, so here it is!

Visit the Intensive link below for more information and to register.

Reclaiming Independence Intensive

The Intensive Enhances Sound Decision Making

When it comes to a successful recovery program, choices are important.  Robert provides information about the benefits and risks of pursuing  recovery options. He helps you sort through the dozens of recovery options  to identify the ones that are perfect for your interests, goals and lifestyle.

Stress Reduction

Confronting health challenges is stressful day in and day out.  The Intensive helps reduce stress by creating structured plans and realistic goals. It also provides strategies for coping with disappointments and overcoming obstacles.

Motivation and Inspiration

At times, we all need a bit of inspiration and motivation to keep moving forward. Robert offers ongoing  encouragement and helps you stay motivated even when faced with setbacks. He celebrates your successes  with you and helps reignite your passion and drive when enthusiasm wanes. You are not alone.

Visit the Intensive link below for more information and to register.

Reclaiming Independence Intensive

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

 

Parkinson’s disease dopamine

Two L-dopa sources for Parkinson’s disease dopamine are the prescription medication Sinemet and the over the counter supplement Mucuna. Compounding Pharmacist Randy Mentzer answers the following question:

“Can both be taken and if so can there be unwanted side effects?”

Treatment of Parkinson’s disease symptoms often involves taking medications aimed at increasing Parkinson’s disease dopamine levels in the body. Among the various treatment options, Sinemet (a combination of levodopa and carbidopa) is prescribed by doctors to help alleviate motor symptoms by replenishing dopamine.

Patients and practitioners sometimes add  mucuna pruriens, a natural supplement, to the treatment regimen. While mucuna does not require a prescription from a doctor it is, like Sinemet, a medicine that  contains L-dopa. The body converts the L-dopa to dopamine.

Understanding Sinemet

Sinemet is a prescribed medication for Parkinson’s disease that combines two drugs:

  • Levodopa: This precursor to dopamine is converted into the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, which is crucial for regulating movement and coordination.
  • Carbidopa: This component prevents levodopa from being converted into dopamine before it reaches the brain, which helps to maximize the effectiveness of levodopa and reduce side effects like nausea.

While Sinemet is effective, its impact usually diminishes over time. Patients usually need to take higher and higher doses to achieve the desired result.

Enter Mucuna Pruriens

Mucuna pruriens, often referred to as velvet bean, is a natural source of levodopa. It’s been used in traditional medicine for centuries and is now gaining attention in the context of Parkinson’s disease treatment. The beans of the mucuna plant contain L-dopa, the same compound found in Sinemet.

Potential Benefits of Combining Mucuna with Sinemet for Parkinson’s Disease Dopamine

  1. Enhanced Dopamine Levels: Since mucuna contains l-dopa, it may potentially boost dopamine levels in the brain, complementing the effects of Sinemet. Some studies suggest that mucuna could offer a more rapid or sustained increase in dopamine levels compared to synthetic levodopa.
  2. Reduced Motor Fluctuations: Mucuna might help in smoothing out the “on-off” fluctuations experienced by some Parkinson’s patients on Sinemet alone. The natural levodopa in mucuna might work more consistently to help manage symptoms throughout the day.
  3. Possible Reduction in Side Effects: Some users report fewer side effects with mucuna compared to synthetic levodopa preparations. This could be due to the natural formulation of mucuna.

Considerations and Risks

  1. Lack of Standardization: Unlike prescription medications, the potency and purity of mucuna supplements can vary widely. This lack of standardization means that the exact dose of levodopa can be unpredictable.
  2. Drug Interactions: Mucuna may interact with Sinemet, potentially altering the effectiveness of either medication. It’s crucial to monitor any changes in symptoms and adjust dosages under medical supervision.
  3. Side Effects: While mucuna might have fewer side effects for some, it’s not without risks. Potential side effects include dyskinesia (the side effect Randy mentions in his answer to the question posed to him above), nausea, dizziness, or digestive issues. Always discuss these possibilities with your healthcare provider.

Practical Tips for Combining Mucuna with Sinemet

Consult Your Doctor: Before introducing mucuna into your regimen, have a thorough discussion with your neurologist or primary care physician. They can provide personalized advice based on your specific condition and treatment goals.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

How Parkinsons Disease is Caused

How Parkinsons disease is caused winds up being the question many people believe has already been answered. Simple. It is all about a deficiency of dopamine.

Really I say? Is the body really that simple? Are we like a car? When our car stops running we need only fill it up with more gas and bingo – it runs again?

The body transmits thousands of  instructions every second to keep us alive. It truly is a miracle. When symptoms emerge, there is no simple fix. If we were like a car, we could simply fill ourselves up with gas.

Compounding Pharmacist Randy Mentzer explains the cascading array of factors that contribute to the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

 

By way of further explanation, studies show that one answer to the question “how Parkinsons disease is caused” is exposure to certain pesticides. Many people know this and get tested for the presence of these toxins in their body. Often, the tests are positive.

Great. So now the person knows the cause is pesticides. Of course, a regimen is then initiated to detox the pesticides. But wait a minute here.

Why are pesticides stored and stuck in the body which is eloquently equipped to get rid of any and all toxins. What happened here?

Are kidneys compromised? Maybe an origin of the  problem is not pesticides but a kidney which is not functioning a full capacity.

Or, perhaps the liver is compromised? Maybe the origin of the problem is not pesticides but a liver problem which is not functioning at full capacity.

Let’s assume we know the problem is the liver. Why is the liver compromised?

Is it because of an alcoholic addiction? That will inevitably cause liver problems. If in fact this is the case, the contributing cause is not the pesticides per say or a liver that is diseased but an addiction to alcohol.

Or, is it because of the side effects of multiple medications that are taken?  It is well documented that certain medications cause liver damage.

Or, is it because of a Hepatitis C infection? A hepatitis infection can cause liver disease.

The point of course is that when a decision is make that the cause is pesticides, treatments will focus on detoxing the pesticides. But wait here. Can the liver tolerate the chelation of the pesticide toxin?

  • Not if there is a Hepatitis infection.
  • Not if the side effects of medications have caused liver disease.
  • Not if an alcoholic refuses to stop drinking alcohol.

I have talked with dozens of persons with Parkinson’s symptoms who have pursued methods to detox toxins with limited success. Why are they unable to succeed with getting the toxins out of their body? One or more of their elimination  organs (kidneys, liver, colon, skin) are compromised.  These organs have to be brought back to full functionality before any detox regime can succeed.

The above possibilities illustrate what I have presented in the video and what Randy Menzter discussed in the clip of my interview with him.

When symptoms emerge, most people conclude that their body is broken. The body’s natural state is one of harmony, balance and wellness. We simply need to support its ability to succeed at helping us heal from the inside out.

Check out my online course that introduces cutting edge methods and therapies that support the body’s ability to heal from the inside out.

Healing from Inside Out Online Course

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery