This interview of Sandra (otherwise known as Aunt Bean) about using her fava bean tincture for Parkinsons was over 15 years ago now. She discusses her invention of a tincture make from the tips of fava bean plants she grows. I have edited and am posting this interview for one simple reason.

She continues to find making the tincture from plants she grows in her garden and taking a few drops when symptoms flare to continue to offer her welcome relief from her Parkinsons symptoms.  

The Parkinsons Recovery Fava Bean website: https://www.favabeans.parkinsonsrecovery.com

These are Aunt Bean’s instructions for making her home made fava bean tincture for Parkinsons and sprouting fava beans as natural sources of L-dopa.

Fava Bean Tincture

You first need to grow a few fava bean plants in the spring.  Favas are in the pea family and need a cool growing season. In Tennessee,  Aunt Bean usually starts planting the first of March. Beans will start being ready to harvest the first part of June.

The “tops” or “bud clusters” of the fava bean plants will start to form approximately 6 weeks after planting. This is the part that “Aunt Bean” uses to make her home made tincture.

She dries the bud cluster in a common dehydrator and then places them in a glass jar covered with brandy,which extracts the natural l-dopa. She only uses brandy. The brandy should just cover the plant material.

This jar should be kept in a dark place for 3 to 4 weeks and shaken several times a day if possible. To strain: Place a fine mesh tea strainer over another jar and press to get liquid out of plant material. Let this liquid set (tightly covered) overnight then siphon off without disturbing the sediment on the bottom of the jar with a turkey baster.

Put this clear liquid into a dark bottle / label and keep in a dark place for long shelf life. The sediment can be left in the bottom of jar and used first.

Aunt Bean carries a small dropper bottle of tincture with her to use when symptoms arise during the day.

Fava Bean Sprouts

“Measure into a large bowl 2 Cups of organic, sproutable fava beans 5 Cups of filtered water Let them soak at room temperature 24 hours.

Rinse them well and place beans in a colander and rinse 3 times a day (let drain into sink) for three days. Then peel off the outer skins and cut away any bad places.

After the final rinse. Peel the beans, cut away black spots (beans should be white) they can have a light brown spot around where the little white point of the sprout emerges though, that’s ok. Rinse beans again and steam for 5 minutes until tender enough to eat. You will lose some dopamine if you steam them too long.

Quick freeze on cookie sheets in the freezer then pour into ziplock bags. Steamed sprouts can be eaten as needed or used in recipes. One sprout = approx 2 mg l-dopa.

A report sent to me by a researcher said that the 4th day of sprouting is generally the highest in l-dopa content. Some varieties peak at day 3. My guess is the ones that sprout a day before the others would peak first. The beans do not need a leaf.

Does size or the color of dried beans affect L-dopa amount?

The size and color of the fava beans does not matter, though they will all have different amounts of L-dopa content. It would be best if you can find a source for the one you like best and use it consistently so each one does not effect your dopamine levels differently. You need to try to keep this as level as possible , and only take the smallest amount that you can to control symptoms.

I think the more you take, the less your body thinks it needs to keep making and you want to just give it what it is lacking and not any more.

If you are going the route of making food your medicine like I am….also supply it with nuts for thiamine, apples, strawberries, blueberries, watermelon and especially papaya (if you do not have a latex allergy). Gets lots of exercise and sunshine, breath deep , laugh, dance etc…

You might keep a smaller bag of beans in freezer to keep from getting into the big one several times a day, or grind the beans and take out a tablespoon or what ever you need / or the amount you will use each day and put that in the refrigerator.

DO NOT USE FAVAS IF:

You test positive for favism or, if you take an MAOI drug… it could possibly cause a sudden raise in blood pressure EXAMPLES of MAOI drugs: Selegiline (Eldepryl,Carbex, Deprenyl, Zelepar) Rasagiline (Azilect) Isocaroxazid (Marplan) Phenelzine (Nardil) Tranylcypromine (Parnate) When taking an MAOI drug….avoid eating fermented foods such as wine, aged cheeses, pickles, saurkraut (and possibly fermented papaya)’

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery ®
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
https://www.parkinsonsdisease.me