About Parkinsons Disease

Natural Options that Reverse Symptoms

Page 38 of 38

Report of Success with Mucuna

What follows is a report of success with Mucuna.
Max reports his experience taking both Sinemet and
Mucuna to address his symptoms.

Max forwarded the following

account to me this week and gave me permission

to make it public. Max has Parkinsons and

lives in Canada. 


Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

“I’m 53 years old (or young). I was diagnosed
with PD back in March 2001. I had a minimal
exposure to PD meds back then, just long
enough (one month on Sinemet) to see an
improvement. That convinced me that I have PD.
Whatever PD is.

“I started taking lots of vitamins, antioxidants,

eating better, exercising the best I can,

meditating, acupuncture, Ti-Chi,

Chi-Gong, visualizing techniques, energy work,

etc. etc. I’m sure it all helped, but eventually

I needed a walker and could barely take care

of myself.”


“By February of 2006, 5 years later, I was having

a hard time using a walker and was looking

into getting a wheelchair. I couldn’t take it any

longer, so I regrettably broke down and decided

to take Sinemet.”

 

“In about a week, Sinemet started to work. And in

about a month, I was a completely different person.

I could walk, got my balance back, started to gain

back my normal weight and I could even ride my

mountain bike again.””
 

“But in only 6 months of taking Sinemet, I found

it was taking longer and longer to kick in, not lasting

as long and sometimes it wouldn’t kick in at all.

Sometimes I would take 1 1/2 tablets of

Sinemet CR 200/50, at a time, with no effect at all.”

 

“Talk about being scared all over again. I knew

getting on Sinemet would be a limited ride,

but I never thought it could be this short for me.”
 

What follows is my report of report of success with Mucuna.

“When I heard about “Mucuna Pruriens”

(Zandopa also called HP-200), a natural herb from

India, in the fall of 2006, I got very interested.

The first time I tried it, I felt some improvement.

In about two months, I gradually reduced my

Sinemet CR 200/50 from 5 tablets a day to

only 1 tablet a day (break it into 1/3s) and

I take it with Mucuna.”

 

“I feel like this “Mucuna” (Zandopa) is

REALLY HELPING me a lot. I take it

3 or 4 times a day and can pretty well

function normally when the herbs kick in –

not bad considering that I was ready

for a wheelchair. When the herbs wear off,

my PD symptoms still come back,

but not nearly as bad as before.”
 

“I have been taking Mucuna and Sinemet for

the past 1 1/2 years. I am currently taking

1/2 a tablet of Sinemet (200/50) with

1 tsp of powdered Mucuna (Zandopa)

3 or 4 times a day. In 3 hour intervals.

I also take Ashwaganda & Brahmi. I try

not to take anything in the evening or

before I go to bed. I like to give my body

a break and give it a chance to build up

its own dopamine over night. It seems

to work because I can go for an hour

walk in the morning before I take my herbs.”

 

“From my own personal experience,

if anyone with pd wants to try Mucuna,

I recommend that you take it slowly.

You might want to get some small

measuring spoons, the kind used for

cooking. I have started taking a level

1/4 tsp of powered Mucuna (Zandopa)

3 times a day for the first week.

A 1/2 tsp 3 times a day for the second week.

And I worked my way to 3/4 tbsp 4 times a day

by the 4th week.”

 

“I also gradually reduced my Sinemet

from 4 (200/50) tablets per day to only

one pill a day in a couple of months.

I break the Sinemet pill into quarters.

I take the Sinemet at the same time as

the Zandopa 4 times a day.”
 

“It works best if you take it at least

1/2 hour before meals or at least

1 1/2 hours after a meal. I mix the

Zandopa in half a glass of water.

I use a small hand held blender to

mix it, it gets rid of the sludge at the

bottom. Personally I do not mind the

taste, but I do add some juice to it

(cranberry, etc.)”

 

“I’m doing all this on my own right now,

but you should let your doctor know

what you’re doing. I keep a record

(date, time of day, amount, when it

kicked in, faded out, and effects

(good or bad) meals time, etc.”
 

“Just take it slowly. If you feel anxious,

hyper, antsy, or have a lot more energy

than normal, you know you’re taking too

much.”

 

“I space the doses by three hour ’till

the next one. I take just enough to be

normal without feeling anxious. It works

extremely well for me; I’m really surprised

more people with pd don’t take it.”
 

“My pd has not gotten any worse in the past

1 1/2 years of taking Mucuna. If anything

I have gotten better in some areas.

I no longer have any balance problems,

have not been constipated for over a year now.

No longer have any tremors unless I am stressed.

Can ride a bike, jog, walk normal etc. when

the herbs are in my system. But I did have to

increase my intake of Mucuna. I am now taking

1 level tsp. And 1/2 a tablet of Sinemet (200/500)

3 or 4 times a day.”
 

“This then is my report of success with Mucuna.
I am not having any negative side effects at all

from taking Mucuna. My body has adapted to it.

I believe the body can repair itself, taking Mucuna

is a natural plant product. It helps me regain my

strength so I can take care of myself. 


Max

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery


© Parkinsons Recovery

Has Anyone Improved Enough to Discontinue Sinemet?

Has Anyone Improved Enough to Discontinue Sinemet?

The most encouraging news I have heard comes from John Coleman ND who is from Australia. He is a naturopath who himself had Parkinson’s in the mid 90’s and has now fully recovered. John has now helped many others do the same. What follows is John Coleman’s answer to this question in his own words.

“I chose not to take any western medication during my journey. There were a number of reasons for that, mainly around the way doctors treated me. But that was my choice, and I’m glad of it.”

“However, all my clients who have recovered were taking western medication (Sinemet, Madopar, and/or others) until they got better. The first was taking around 1500 mg of levodopa per day, and gradually weaned himself of it over two years. Another was on Sinemet 100/25 three times daily and reduced that to 0 over about 18 months. Another was on Madopar and went cold turkey (I don’t advise that) after three years or so and has stayed well. Others have started on high medication and reduced to very low doses while they still work towards recovery.

“I saw a client this week who just gave up Sinement in January because he didn’t like the way it made him feel. He is a little stiffer without it, but feels better in himself and has more energy to work towards wellness. He is improving in health steadily.”

At Parkinsons Recovery we are hearing more and more stories from people who have successfully reduced the dose of the medications they have been taking under the close supervision of their doctor. The answer from John Coleman ND to the question: Has anyone improved enough to discontinue Sinemet – is yes.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

© Parkinsons Recovery

Dose and Timing of Medications

Most people have problems figuring out the best
timing and dose of their Parkinson’s medications. I
am not a medical doctor, so I am not qualified or
trained to be able to help you with this problem.
Clearly, the best thing you can do is to consult with
your doctor with these type of issues..

I do want to comment on the energy behind trying
to figure out the right timing and dose of medications.
The energy behind this effort is intentional (which is good),
forceful (which can be good) and controlling (which is bad).
So what is so wrong with the energy behind control? After all,
control is what makes things happen in the world, right?

Most people we work with who have Parkinson’s have
been successful in their various jobs
because they know how to use the energy of control
effectively and efficiently. So again you are probably
wondering why is control in this case “bad”?

Controlling behavior can be bad for people with the
symptoms of Parkinson’s. Controlling
behavior  pumps out adrenaline which sustains
hormonal imbalances in the body.
If you are trying to control the timing of your medications,
every day (and even making different decisions every
hour about what do to) there is an energy of control
which is continuously present. The hormonal imbalance
in the body is continuously present, making balance an
ever present challenge for the body.

What do you do about the energy behind control?
Make it conscious, so that you come to a place where
evaluating your dose and timing become effortless
(as opposed to forced) as you listen to the needs of
your own body.

I always recommend that your muscle test these
questions. They are many methods that can be used
to access the wisdom of your body, or you can simply
honor your own intuition and instincts. I use both
actually.

In summary, there is a curious tension between
the energy of “control” (which involves doing
something every day to your body) versus being
able to relax and let go. When you attempt to force
relaxation, it just doesn’t work. The body just
becomes more alert and even more adrenaline
is pumped out.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery

© 2024 Parkinsons Recovery

John Coleman ND

How does John Coleman ND fit into your work here in the United States?

John Coleman is a naturopathic doctor from Australia who himself was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1995. Using a unique combination of natural approaches, John fully recovered after three and a half years. He now helps other people find relief from their symptoms as a naturopath doctor.

We collaborate closely with John Coleman ND. Zero Point Healers was doing work with Parkinsons in Washington state beginning in 2004. John had been working with Parkinson’s clients for 10 years.John came to Washington state to do a clinic on Parkinson’s which we attended. At the clinic, John talked about everything we were talking about here in the Washington state to help people find relief from the symptoms of Parkinson’s.

So, I concluded we must have gotten it all right. We must have figured out the answer. After all, how could the two of us working independently on opposite sides of the globe have come up with the same set of ideas? It is highly implausible unless the ideas themselves are intrinsically correct.

John’s has had a profound influence on my own work here in the United States. His recent
book is Rethinking Parkinson’s Disease: The definitive guide to the known causes of Parkinson’s disease and proven reversal strategies

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

© Parkinsons Recovery

How to Stop Tremors in Stressful Situations

Question:

I start getting tremors in my jaw and left arm every time I am in a difficult or new situation. It doesn’t make any difference if I have just taken my Sinemet medication or not. I need to know how to stop tremors in stressful situations.

Response

Stress has a huge impact on symptoms. The husband of one client was having serious health challenges himself. Her symptoms deteriorated rapidly during this period. When his health problems resolved, her symptoms immediately improved. The correlation between the stress and her symptoms was near perfect.

Stress clearly is the trigger for the symptoms.There are helpful responses you can initiate in new situations to relieve the stress. A solid connection with yourself and the earth helps relieve the stress. Regardless of the technique, they all invite a connection with yourself and to the earth.

My online course developed over 20 years of research documents ways that reveal the secrets for how to stop tremors in stressful situations. Highly effective ways that reduce anxieties provoked by stress are  covered in this course : Tame Tremors.

When we go into fear in a new situation – everyone does -our energy tends to dissipate and scatter. We feel unsafe, some of us more so than others. Our energy begins to bounce around our heads and not our feet. The key to reducing the stress is to shift the energy down to your feet so that you can feel the support of mother earth and feel safer.

When we are able to move out of feeling fear in the moment and shift into a place of feeling secure and safe, the stress is relieved and the symptoms do not flare up. It is really a moment to moment thing.

It helps to remember that the stress is created moment to moment. We control the symptoms when we control our reactions in the moment.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
Tame Tremors

© 2024 Parkinsons Recovery

 

Diagnosis of Parkinsons Disease

Before three years, I was diagnosed Parkinson with rigidity in neck, shoulders and back, less arm swing slowness. I am wondering if my diagnosis of Parkinsons disease is correct. 

I consulted a number of neurologists who diagnosed as stiff person syndrome or drug induced parkinsonism or due to depression.

Currently, I have following symptoms

1. Rigidity in arms, shoulders, neck back and whole body.
2. Within last one month intensity of muscle spasm in right shoulder increased which spread over neck, back with increase in rigidity.
3. Heavy legs, difficult to walk; body is dragged while walking
4. Spasm in right shoulder and upper back as a result the head is slightly bend over right shoulder.
5. Rigidity in right shoulder, upper back and neck create pain and very uncomfortable spasm like sensations which aggravate as day progresses.
6. Some times uncomfortable sensations in legs.
7. Anxiety with depressed mood.
8. Low energy level.
9. Restricted painful neck movement.
10 .Slowness in hand writing; no much change in size of letters
11 .Less arm swing

Things which I can not do:

Can not walk normally
Can not stand for long 
Can not lift heavy luggage
Can not drive car
Can not concentrate
Do not like to read , mix with people
Can not sit for long

Family history :

I have not undergone any surgery so far.
Congenital fusion of C6 to D1 vertebra
My mother had breast cancer and has undergone by pass surgery.
No PD in family.

Summary of health:

Lipid profile Normal
Renal profile Normal
Blood sugar Normal
BP Normal
Ultrasound of KUB Normal
ESR High
MRI of cervical spine Presence of Arachnoid cyst at C7- D1 level;
size appox. 11x15x13 mm
Congenital fusion of C6 to D1 vertebra
MRI Brain Normal
Glutamic acid decarboxylase test IgG Antibody serum Positive
Neurophysiology report Chronic partial lower motor neuron type of degeneration in the anal sphincter muscle with normal tone preserved
Thyroid profile Normal
Vitamin B 12 High

Facts :
No tremor
Near to normal gait
All of a sudden muscle spasm increased in last month.
Balance near normal, never fallen
Hand eye coordination good
Can cut vegetables, button shirt and handle coins
Can ride scooter
Normal 6-7 hrs sleep
No urination at night.

Current medication
1. Lelodopa + Carnidopa 2 tab a
day
2.Premipexaxole 05 mg three times a day
3. Lioceutical glutathione
4.Co enzyme Q 10 100 mg/ day
5. Vitamin B complex

I feel continuous feelings of rigidity in neck, shoulders, back and whole body. My legs have become heavy.

Please let me know whether my diagnosis of PD is correct and what should be the line of action..I wanted to do brain scan and dopamine absorption test but they are not possible here.

I am not a medical doctor so I am not qualified or trained to diagnose
or treat disease or even speculate on whether your diagnosis is right or
wrong. Diagnosis of Parkinsons disease needs to reside in the hands of the
medical doctors. My perspective differs from the conventional approach of
diagnosis and treatment of disease. Let me explain myself.

Parkinson’s is what we call a garbage can diagnosis.
Because there is no definitive test for Parkinson’s
it is terribly difficult for even highly trained neurologists to
diagnose Parkinson’s. Some researchers
even speculate that one third of the people with Parkinson’s
are misdiagnosed. Sometimes a neurologist will even
tell a patient:

“I am not sure whether you have Parkinson’s or not.”

So, let’s say there is a two thirds chance your diagnosis is correct
and a one third chance it is wrong. What does it matter whether
the diagnosis is correct or wrong? With a “diagnose then treat”
approach the key question turns on “what is wrong with
me and how do I fix it?”

I want to be fixed as much as anyone, but I also
know there is something inherently wrong with this
mindset. If I hold onto the thought that something is wrong
with my body then that belief will eventually become true. I will
become sick. I will become my thoughts.

How do I know this is true? Easy. Just think about what happened
when you were first conceived. There was only one cell in the beginning.
How did that one cell become two cells? Answer: the consciousness
and thought forms of the first cell created the second cell. And so forth.
These thought forms work their way up the chain as cells multiply
and we are fully materialized in human form.

How about considering a different way to think and respond
to your symptoms? How about acknowledging that your body is
actually working perfectly, exactly the way it was designed
to function?

Pain is a gift that is given by the body. Receive
the gift with open arms. Your body is simply giving you
signals that it needs a little help in returning to a
state of balance and health.

After all, most of the cells in your body are functioning perfectly.
Why not focus your attention on giving your healthy cells the
support they need to become stronger? Bodies with healthy cells
grow other healthy cells. The good news is that the body can
always rejuvenate itself.

I believe the key is to listen to what your body is telling you.
Best in my opinion is not to worry about whether a diagnosis of
Parkinsons disease is correct or not. Doctors have to declare a
diagnosis before medications can be prescribed so they have to
start somewhere.

By the description of some of your symptoms it might be the case
that your body is very, very stressed and traumatized.

In our newsletter I regularly offer information about many
different ways you can consider to address the stress and trauma
that is trapped inside your body (if that, in fact, is the issue at hand).

All the best. May you find relief from your symptoms soon.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

©  Parkinsons Recovery

Newer posts »