Category Archives: cause of Parkinsons disease

What Causes Parkinsons?

Below I have posted a clip of my 2009 interview with Naturopath Daniel Newman ND who answers my question: what causes Parkinsons?

He offers the common sense observation that environmental toxins cause them. Nonetheless, the conventional treatment protocol focuses on putting new substances and medications into the body, not eliminating the toxins that have created the problem.

Do most medical professionals focus on detoxing their patients who experience Parkinson’s symptoms? You know that answer to this question!

Detoxing is typically not a benign process. If the detoxification process overwhelms the elimination organs (the liver, kidney, large intestine, skin) you can become very ill indeed. Some members of my global audience tell me they were rushed to intensive care at their local hospital because symptoms became so severe.

Before a detox program is undertaken, all the organs required for a successful detox regimen need to be supported and fully functional.

If your elimination organs are not equipped to process the excess of toxins a process of “re-distribution” takes place. A toxic substance residing in a harmless location (like for example your buttock) is mobilized into circulation. Where does it land?

The body does not deposit the circulating toxin in the heart or lungs. These organs are  critical to survival. No. The body wisely deposits the circulating toxin to the extremities – the hands, feet and guess what? The brain. What was originally a harmless toxin lodged in a harmless tissue becomes a toxin that does considerable harm.

Daniel Newman points like that a successful detox program is just like cooking a delicious soup. You need to right ingredients in the right amounts introduced at the right time. Slow cooking is preferred over microwave blasts!

Summary: Is detoxing important for a person experiencing Parkinsons symptoms? Of course! Do you want to get rid of the toxins quickly? Of course. Should you? Duh. No. Best to collaborate with a qualified health care practitioner skilled with successful detox protocols.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
Twenty Five Cent Wisdom
Olympia Washington

Food Can Fix Things that Drugs Cant

Click the arrow below to hear my interview with Bill McAnalley PhD who discusses why food can fix things that drugs can’t. His discussion focuses on explaining the causes of Parkinson’s and lists the foods needed to treat each cause.

Information about Dr. McAnballey’s company, is accessed by visiting  Aroga

Below are the talking points that Dr. McAnalley prepared for my  interview with him on Parkinsons Recovery Radio where he explains why food can fix things drugs cant  

Parkinson’s disease (PD), characterized with bradykinesia, static tremor, rigidity and disturbances in balance, is the second most common neuro-degenerative disorder.  Alzheimer disease is first.

With the global trends in aging, the incidence of PD has increased year by year and the prevalence rate is up to 1–2% among the elderly over the age of 65 years. So far, there is still no exact cure for PD due to its diversity of etiology and complexity of symptoms.

Currently, Parkinson’s disease is treated with Levodopa and maybe Monamine, Oxidase Inhibitors (MOAs) or Acetylcholine inhibitors. Levodopa makes more Dopamine available for the dopamine receptor, MOAs increase the amount norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin at their prospective receptors and acetylcholine inhibitors make more acetylcholine available to its receptor.

None of which address the physical cause of the disease.

The cause of PD has not been completely elucidated, but it has been generally acknowledged that the improvement of oxidative stress is one of the most important patho-physiological mechanisms.

Dr. Bill’s research has focused on stopping the causes of diseases like Parkinson’s by:

  • The inhibition of oxidative stress:

PD patients are in a state of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is caused by the increase of free radicals in the organism, while the ability to eliminate free radicals is decreased at the same time. A large amount of lipid peroxide, such as Malondialdehyde (MDA), hydroxyl, carbonyl, etc., will cause cell death, which leads to neuronal apoptosis ultimately.

The mitochondria is the “power plant” and “energy conversion station” of cells. It also regulates the process of gene expression and apoptosis. Recent reports have suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction is closely related to a variety of neuro-degenerative diseases including PD.

  • The reduction of toxic Excitatory Amino Acids (EAA): 

Glutamate (Glu), Also, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and enkephalin can can produce excitotoxicity effects on nerve cells. Glutamate creates an excitatory effect on nerve cells, and is toxic when Dopa Amine neurons are fully or partially degenerated.

  • The inhibition of neuroinflammation:

Neuroinflammation is a common and important pathological mechanism in nervous system diseases and different neurological diseases are involved in neuroinflammation at some stage. At present, it is believed that neuroinflammation was involved in an important cascade reaction in neuronal degeneration of PD.

When the central nervous system suffers from exogenous antigens stimulus, such as pathogenic microorganisms or foreign bodies, microglia will be rapidly activated. Then, the activated microglia cells can secrete various cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, etc. The cytokines cause neuroinflammation.

  • The inhibition of neuronal apoptosis:

Parkinson’s is caused by the premature death of dopaminergic neurons by abnormal apoptosis activation. Energy for normal activities of brain cells comes directly from aerobic energy, and there is little energy storage. However once brain damage occurs, it will cause nerve cell apoptosis or death.

The Bcl-2 family of proteins regulate apoptosis. It is divided into two categories: anti-apoptosis gene (such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bcl-w, Bcl-1, etc.) and pro-apoptosis gene (such as Bax, Bak, Bad, Bid, etc.). Their ratio regulates apoptosis.

  • The inhibition of abnormal protein aggregation:

Misfolded and aggregated proteins play a key role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease. Protein aggregates differ from disease to disease. This common characteristic shows that protein deposition is toxic to neurons.

Studies confirmed that the activity of the proteasome dropped substantially in substantia nigra of patients with PD, which weakened the ability of the substantia nigra to degrade α-syn and other proteins.

  • Targeting Nrf2 to Suppress Ferroptosis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Neurodegeneration:

Nrf2 is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) protein that regulates the expression of antioxidant proteins that protect against oxidative damage triggered by injury and inflammation. Several drugs that stimulate the NFE2L2 pathway are being studied for treatment of diseases that are caused by oxidative stress.

Listing of Core Food Ingredients that Address the Structure and Functional Causes of the Disease

  1. The inhibition of oxidative stress:

Brahmi, Bacopa monnieri

Maca root powder, Lepidium meyenii (Walp.)

Tongkat Ali (Longjack), Eurycoma Longifolia

Turmeric root powder, Curcuma longa

  1. The reduction of toxic Excitatory Amino Acids EAA:

Brahmi, Bacopa monnieri

  1. The inhibition of neuroinflammation:

Turmeric root powder, Curcuma longa

Wild Yam root, Dioscorea villosa

  1. The inhibition of neuronal apoptosis:

Noni Fruit, Morinda citrifolia

  1. The inhibition of abnormal protein aggregation:

Amia powder, Emblica officinalis

Turmeric root powder, Curcuma longa

  1. Targeting Nrf2 to Suppress Ferroptosis and

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Neurodegeneration.

Chaga Mushroom, Inonotus Obliquus

Milk Thistle Seed Extract, Silybum marianum.

Tongkat Ali (Longjack), Eurycoma Longifolia

Aroga

Dr. Bill offered suggestions on the products he recommended for persons diagnosed with Parkinson’s.  He recommended three
Aroga products: (1) the Core (2) the Plus Brain and Nerve and (3) the Bone, Joint and Endocrine (which supports hormones). At a minimum. the Core would take top priority.

Information about these products and the opportunity to order is available at:

https://arogalife.com/parkinsons-recovery

Sadly, Aroga products can only be shipped to locations in the United States.

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

References:

Front Pharmacol. 2017; 8: 634. The Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine Underlying the Prevention and Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease.

Front Neurosci. 2018 Jul 10;12:466. Targeting Nrf2 to Suppress Ferroptosis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Neurodegeneration.

Functional Medicine: A New Paradigm in Medicine

Dr. Jennifer Kessman MD discusses how to heal from disease. Functional Medicine has been around for a number of years and began with Dr. Jeffery Bland’s motivation to look at medicine in a different way. Now the field of Functional
Medicine is ever expanding and a center at the Cleveland Clinic has opened its doors for care. It is becoming more widely accepted and parts of functional medicine have been integrated into a wide variety of disciplines in medicine.

Here is a list of questions she answered during my interview with her:

1. What is Functional Medicine?
2. How did you come to get involved?
3. What are the root causes of disease?
4. So, if inflammation is the basis of disease how does functional medicine help with inflammation?
5. Tell me about your experience with Environmental Medicine?
6. Dr. Dale Bredesen and others have found ways to reverse early brain dysfunction and reverse dementia. How are they doing this?
7. Do you think this can apply to Parkinson’s?
8. The immune system is a big actor in most diseases we know- how can we calm our immune system?
9. What has been your experience with environmental impact of electromagnetic fields and brain dysfunction?
10. What is the influence of stress on disease?

Solutions for Parkinson’s Symptoms

On Parkinsons Recovery Radio today. Fred Phillips offered his insights into how he gets immediate relief from a variety of his Parkinson’s symptoms.  His solutions for Parkinson’s symptoms are novel and profound. Do you ever have difficulty when walking with:

  • Freezing?
  • Standing up?
  • Shuffling?
  • Slowness?
  • Leg Cramps?

If so, I strongly recommend that You listen to my interview with Fred today. Click the arrow below to hear the replay. Fred has discovered some powerful, yet simple solutions to these
symptoms that have helped him enormously.

One of now over 70 pioneers of recovery I have hosted on Parkinsons Recovery radio, Fred also previews his 10 step protocol for recovery.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

 

 

 

Relief for Tremors

“What can I do to relieve me of my hand, foot, and inner head tremors or, at least, reduce the tremors?  The tremors are in my left hand, left foot, and upper, inner, left side of my head. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2014.  I declined prescription  medications.”  

Robert Rodgers PhD
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

P.S.: Still time to claim the early bird special for Jump Start to Recovery.

Recovery from Parkinson’s: Candida

When I launched my research program into the causes of Parkinson’s symptoms, I expected to identify one or two that accounted for most of the problem. To my surprise, it did not take long to identify a wide variety of factors that contribute to Parkinson’s Disease.

One such factor that surprised me was candida. Here is a short video that captures a clip from my interview with Lydia Epp who found candida was the cause of her symptoms.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

What is Wrong with Me?

I recently aired a radio show with guest Ivy Faber, ND, who discussed her approach for ascertaining and treating the cause of chronic illness. Dr. Faber has been my doctor for the past decade, so I am partial to her approach. Why? I have succeeded in reversing whatever symptoms I have experienced over the past 10 years.

Dr. Faber uses a computerized testing approach known as a Bioenergetic Assessment which analyzes a sample of the patient’s saliva. Bioenergetic assessments differ from standard medical testing for many reasons, so I decided to write a book which outlines the differences. The assessment was originally conceived 50 years ago so it is anything but new. Yet, many people are not familiar with this approach to figuring out possible causes of symptoms. Sp, I decided to write a book which explains the assessment approach which has been so beneficial to me and my family.

After months of research and writing. my book, titled What is Wrong with Me: Holistic Health at Its Best, is finally published. Hooray for me!

Order the paperback from Amazon, Kindle or get a download.

Click Here to order the paperback

Click Here to order the download

Click Here to order the Kindle version

Robert Rodgers PhD
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons Recovery

Treating Parkinson’s Symptoms Versus Addressing Causes

Today, October 26th at 2:00 pm Pacific time (5 pm eastern) I will discuss two approaches for treating Parkinson’s symptoms: treating symptoms or addressing the causes.
Join me today on the program”:

Attend by Phone:
Guest pin code: 200414#
Primary dial in number: (425) 440-5100
Secondary dial in number: (323) 476-3997

Attend by Web:
http://InstantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=61566276

Robert Rodgers PhD
Parkinsons Recovery
www.parkinsonsrecovery.me
www.parkinsonsrecovery.com
Olympia Washington

 

Causes of Parkinson’s

When you step away from any diagnosis such as Parkinson’s  disease you are in a position to acknowledge there are likely to be many systems which are compromised. The causes of Parkinson’s as evidence in neurological challenges are multi-faceted. This is why symptoms manifest so differently in people.

Pouring more dopamine in your body may provide a temporary relief from your symptoms. Great.  If that is all you expect or want, fine. But, why not dig a little deeper and ask the question:

What are some of the the potential causes of my symptoms?

My research over the past decade as reported in part in Pioneers of Recovery reveals that there are many potential causes.

Causes of Parkinson’s

  •  Perhaps you have an infection from a tetanus inoculation.
  • Perhaps your liver is clogged with toxins.
  • Perhaps your gall bladder is bloated.
  • Perhaps the healthy flora in your intestines is absent.
  • Perhaps your appendix is infected.
  • Perhaps your tonsils are filled with bacteria.
  • Perhaps your organs are infested with Candida.
  • Perhaps you have a bacterial infection (like Lyme).
  • Perhaps you have manganese in the delicate tissues cells of your brain.
  • Perhaps you have mercury in your kidneys.
  • Perhaps your muscles (not your bones) have too many calcium deposits.

Of course, the above list is a cursory preview of dozens of possible causes. When you
acknowledge that there exist many potential causes, it is easy to understand why talk
of a “cure” for Parkinson’s symptoms is silly. Any “cure” depends on the cause.
Once you know the cause or causes of your symptoms, you can engage a set of therapies
that can potentially help your body heal.

How can infusing your body with more dopamine help your body release manganese in your brain or infection in your liver or bacterial in your tonsils? It obviously cannot.

 Most people have a good idea of some of the primary causes of their symptoms.  Again, ask yourself this simple question:

What is causing my symptoms?

Become your own doctor. Act on your own hunches whether they come from a PhD (like myself) or anyone else for that matter. Celebrate the result when you focus your attention on addressing a specific reason for the symptoms rather than suppressing them with medications.

Robert Rodgers, PhD
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

Big Picture Science Beats Out Little Picture Science

Is big picture science or little picture science the best strategy to pursue if you are determined to reverse the symptoms associated with Parkinson’s Disease? There are two sides to this curious coin of choices.

Little Picture Science

I initially began my research career in the gold standard tradition of all academic research. I constructed a narrowly focused program of research – one that only a few other academics were pursing. The strategy worked for me as it does for all other successful academics – I published in the best journals, worked in excellent universities, was promoted and tenured.

There are two sides to every coin. On the one side of this coin of choices, my narrowly focused research program led to success in an academic setting. On the other side of my coin of choices, my research was so narrowly defined that I investigated a tiny piece of a
very complex puzzle. Yes, I was successful but my university funded research
did not have the impact I had envisioned when I went to all the trouble to earn a Ph.D.

Big Picture Science

Discouraged that the best of my energy and efforts resulted in outcomes of little consequence I quit my academic position a decade ago to pursue big picture science.  I did not want to waste my life away studying narrowly constrained questions.
I chose the most difficult of all diseases to research by setting my research
agenda to investigate what causes Parkinson’s symptoms and what people had done to reverse them.

Having opened the opportunity to consider any and every possibility, I have unearthed many exciting discoveries over the past decade which are documented in my radio shows, blog and books. I could not have done this work in a university setting while engage in Little Picture Science.

I believe the reason my research has been far more successful this past decade than was the case before then is that I refused to focus my attention on a tiny piece of the big picture. Tackling the big picture is a strategy that produces the most rewarding
outcomes.

Big Picture Science for Parkinson’s Disease

So much for my story. Have you been narrowly focused in your thinking? Have you been chasing after a pill or therapy that will fix  everything? Such an approach engages a narrowly focused strategy that, as with my experience, promises a feeble result in most cases.

In this place and at this hour I encourage you to pause and take a step backward for a moment. Ask yourself big picture questions.

  • What is the origin of your symptoms?
  • What happened to you six months to a year before your symptoms became problematic?

By asking yourself big picture science questions like these you will likely discover answers that will help guide you down a steady course to recovery.

Think big.
Ask big questions.
Get big answers.

There is nothing wrong with the small picture scientific approach, but it promises to produce disappointing results. That has certainly been my experience. I expect the same will be true for you.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Parkinsons Recovery

 

Causes of Parkinson’s Disease Can Be Multi-Faceted

Many people wonder what causes the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. What follows is a letter to Howard Shifke from Tom who gave me permission to post it today. Tom’s letter is a true testimonial to the multi-faceted factors that cause the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

There is a second theme in Tom’s letter. The recovery process often involves a period of time when symptoms get worse. Many people believe that when a  therapy is pursued, the immediate result should be an improvement in symptoms. If the therapy (whatever it might be) is effective, it is often the case that symptoms will initially get worse before they improve. If the therapy is abandoned prematurely, you are not giving it an opportunity to have the positive effect you had intended.

If you are trying out new therapeutic options which have led to a worsening of  conditions, consider having a party to celebrate this (unwanted) outcome. Of course, a therapeutic option may be harming your body and should be abandoned. But if the therapy has no side effects, consider the possibility it is doing precisely what you had hoped for.

A flare up of symptoms may simply mean your body is being cleansed from toxins. Give your body a little time to do this work since toxins can be nasty substances to eliminate from the delicate tissues of the body.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Pioneers of Recovery
http://www.pioneersofrecovery.com

What follows is Tom’s letter to Howard Shifke:

Since we talked last month I reduced my use of supplements my physical and mental  functions have been reduced quite a lot.  Not only my PD symptoms increased but a new complication surfaced, daily unexplained vertigo.

This and other factors led to me missing my daily Qigong exercises more and more frequently.  I have continued to spiral downward until at now the bottom I have recommitted to a new paradigm:

“A stronger dedicated commitment to recover”

As this was happening several issues pointed me to the premise that my PD is also affected by my diet/nutrition.  So I have had some specific tests run. The results were amazing:

  1. The first test was an Alcat food sensitivity panel which showed I was mildly to moderately sensitive to 54 food, spices or  additives.
  2. Next I had a 5MTHF panel which showed I am missing two genes (rare to have both sets missing, 1 from father, 1 from mother) which help in the metabolizing of folic acid, a precursor to glutathione production
  3. Next I had Heidelberg test performed.  This measures the HCl content, as well as, the rate of return to an acid state in the stomach when a food is introduced.  In my case my stomach does not produce HCL in a manner that allows for the breakdown of trace elements.  So I’m digesting only  small percentage of my food’s nutrients
  4. Next I was tested on how many elements ( calcium, magnesium, potassium, chromium, etc. ) I was missing.  Three critically low elements is considered very serious.  I am critically low in 10. I’m currently on an IV replacement  routine.
  5. Next I was tested and found I also have ‘Leaky gut syndrome’  This means nutrients are lost and/or not absorbed by my intestines. Also toxins can be let into my bloodstream. Not only am I not absorbing my less than normal  trace elements, but my intestines are allowing toxins to be introduced back into my body.

My naturopath feels that once these issues are addressed/repaired I may make substantial improvement with my PD symptoms.  It’s my belief that as well.

It’s my plan to introduce repair/relief from gut issues, eat as healthy as possible, reintroduce consistent Qigong (with your  help), biking and walking exercises, continue to build a support network and continue to document my recovery.

As you can see I have a way to go but I think I’m on the right path for me

THANK YOU for your support

Tom

Cause of Parkinson’s Disease

Questions

What correlation is there between Candida and Parkinson’s Disease?

There is no direct evidence of a connection, but I personally believe there is a significant link. Thought forms have a pronounced influence on symptoms. When we carry consciously or unconsciously many negative thought forms, it will be virtually impossible to recover.

The little, live critters that reside in our bodies from candida are nourished by negative thought forms. Get rid of the candida and it will be a whole lot easier to dump your negative thought forms. There are marvelous gentle detox programs that can help release candida. Why not go for it?

How much do genetics play in a disease such as PD? I was diagnosed with PD two years ago. I lost a son to suicide and a year later had all of my amalgam dental fillings removed and replaced with porcelain fillings? About 6 months after, I began noticing symptoms that concerned me. My father had PD following a fall where he hit his head pretty hard. He had a long fierce battle with PD for 20 years, and I took care of him for much of that time.

Estimates vary, but fro 12-17% of people with Parkinsons’s are found to have a genetic link. Researchers have found over 10 genes that have some link to Parkinsons. There is a lot of interest in one gene in particular.

The question for you is the possibility that you may have taken on the diseases of prior family members out of love. I will be interviewing soon Dee Yoh, a family constellation facilitator, who will explain to everyone how the process of taking on disease out of love works. I hope you can join us for that discussion. If you would like to be a guest for that teleseminar, let me know.

I am so grateful for the information I have come to read about the possibility of full recovery of PD symptoms by getting the body back into balance. I have enjoyed this site immensely and appreciate the wealth of information it contains, and the fact that it is updated continuously.

Thanks for your kind words. That make my day and help to keep my own thoughts positive.

I would like to begin tracking my symptoms so that I can begin the 12 step program and track my progress, however the tracking program is not up and running? Do you know when that will be available?

Oh yes, the tracking program is up and running. Go to http://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com and click on symptom tracker icon. Click register. Enter a username and password. You are good to go.

Thank you so much for all you have done to give those of us HOPE where none was thought possible.

With faith anything is possible!

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery

© 2009 Parkinsons Recovery