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Sugar Cravings

December 3, 2008 / manabunnow4zph / 1 Comment

Are your sugar cravings up?
The holidays are a great excuse
for indulging yourself in sweats
and other pleasurable pastimes.

I always think so anyway. But
of course, sugar is just as deadly
to your neural networks during the
holidays as it is on your birthday
(unless your birthday falls on the
holidays. Then it is deadlier).

In most cases sugar cravings are
not eating disorders but rather a signal
of hormonal imbalances. If you regularly
answer the body’s call for more sugar,
your symptoms will worsen and you will
feel increasingly lousy.

Let me be clear about the logic here.

Sugar cravings are triggered by hormonal
imbalances.
The symptoms of Parkinson’s are triggered
by hormonal imbalances.
There is very likely a connection between
the intensity of your cravings for sugar and
the severity of your symptoms.

Sugar cravings suggest that the signaling
system in the body has been short circuited.
When we are tired or depressed — sounds
like the holidays, eh? — our blood sugar
and serotonin levels are too low.

Serotonin is the perfect quick fix for
feeling warm and cozy again. The body
lets us know it needs an immediate
serotonin boast. Sugars and carbohydrates
are the perfect quick fix. They release a
brief burst of serotonin.

Unfortunately, the burst of euphoria is
short lived. Sugar cravings always return.
We eat more sweets to get a serotonin hit.
Remember, this is a sure bet to fix the
problem of being down in the dumps.

Over time, larger doses of sugar are needed
to sustain a tolerable level of serotonin
in the body. It is a downward slope headed
for the valley of depression, disease and
illness.

Why does this happen? The body begins to
produce more and more insulin in response
to the artificially high level of sugar
that is mainlined into the body from the
sweet cravings. As levels of insulin
rise, the body’s resistance to the effects
of insulin increases.

A vicious cycle is born. Increased insulin
resistance causes insulin levels to rise
higher and higher which in turn trigger
stronger and more frequent cravings for
sweets.

Another cause of sweet cravings is adrenal
fatigue which is created by sustained levels
of stress and trauma. Most people with the
symptoms of Parkinson’s have adrenal fatigue.
For some it is a chronic condition. Adrenal
fatigue also signals to the body that it
needs a sugar hit.

I suspect that anyone with the symptoms of
Parkinson’s is especially susceptible to the
seductiveness of sugar and the attraction of
sweets during the holidays.

So you say, so what? What in the world do
I do about it? I have the answer, really.

Sugar cravings are a tough addition
to break. It is not a question of
exerting will over desire. It is a
problem rooted in hormonal imbalances
in the body The solution involves
addressing hormonal imbalances.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery®

Parkinson’s and Stress

November 30, 2008 / manabunnow4zph / 2 Comments

I was diagnosed with PD 8 years ago. I completely agree that
the major cause is related to stress and stress hormones.
Dealing with Parkinson’s and stress is the key.

Can the body be convinced to produce dopamine after its total
depletion?

Has any body been convinced and by what means?

I would be grateful to receive some help and advice for myself
and other PD sufferers in Lithuania.

Responses

Here are my responses to your questions in the
order they have been asked:

Can the body be convinced to produce dopamine after its total
depletion?

I believe the body can always heal itself when given the
proper support and nutrition. Yes, the body does
know how to heal itself. It just needs a little help
from time to time re-remembering how.

I am well aware that most medical professionals frame the
the cause of Parkinson’s solely in terms of a dopamine
deficiency. If there is a severe head injury this is
probably a meaningful and useful frame of the problem.
But for a vast majority of people with the symptoms of
Parkinson’s, the problem is far more complicated
than a simple deficiency of dopamine. There are over
40 hormones in the body which are out of balance.
Dopamine is only one among these 40 interrelated
hormones that are out of balance.

Has any body been convinced and by what means?

The good news here is yes! Some people are symptom free
today. Many people are finding good relief by a wide variety
of modalities and approaches.

I have learned that there is considerable variation in what
works for people when it comes to addressing Parkinson’s
and stress..There is no universal list of things you
can do that will guarantee that you will feel better. It really
depends on the specific factors that happen to be causing your
symptoms.

I have spent the past year interviewing people who have
fully recovered or who are finding ways to get
relief from their symptoms. I will soon be launching a
Parkinsons Recovery member website where all of this
incredibly fascinating information will be posted.

I would be grateful to receive some help and advice for myself
and other PD sufferers in Lithuania.

There are a wide variety of natural methods you can
use to get relief from the effects of stress. The idea
behind all of these methods is to release fear that is trapped
at the cellular level so our bodies can produce neurotransmitters
and reduce the production of stress hormones. Strategies that
are useful on a daily basis are:

Meditation
Relaxation
Walking
Sitting
Dreaming
Singing
Sleeping
Listening to music

Body therapies are also useful in this regard.
If you click on the link below, do a search
for craniosacral therapists in Lithuania. Three were
listed when I did the search, though only one had
contact information.

https://www.iahp.com/pages/search/index.php

Essential oils can be very effective, as can Emotional
Freedom Technique (EFT). I will soon be posting an interview with
an aroma therapist who explains how essential oils can
provide great release from the effects of stress. I recently
wrote a newsletter with a link showing the effects of
EFT on veterans of war.

Breathwork can also be very powerful. This involves continuous
breathing (in and out) for a period of 5 minutes or longer.
We bury the effects of stress on our bodies by not breathing.
When we do breathwork, we release the effects of stress that
has been trapped in our bodies, sometimes for decades.

These are just a few of the approaches that you can do
yourself. They are safe and noninvasive.

With a little experimentation, you should be able to
discover the methods, techniques, therapies and modalities
that work for you. Use them daily and you will gradually
see relief from your symptoms.

The true cause of the hormonal imbalance in
Parkinson’s lies with an overabundance of stress hormones:
It obviously will take time to convince the body otherwise
-to produce dopamine.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery®

Parkinson’s Symptoms and Medications

September 8, 2008 / manabunnow4zph / 0 Comments

My Parkinson’s symptoms and medications are going on with me now for 4 months and the strongest is my slowness of movements,
speech and the way my face looks so sad. Today I just felt
fatigued and some feeling in my brain like a flush or a wave of slowness.

I am seeing a neurologist for the second time for
further evaluation. I have yet to be formally diagnosed
with Parkinsonism. In a small corner in my mind I carry
he thought that these symptoms are temporary and it is
not Parkinson’s. Do others that you may know of have
similar symptoms like my self that turn out not to be Parkinson’s
and they are well again?

Thank you for letting me update you on what is going on
with my health. I am reaching out as far as I can for help
and guidance on all I can do. My life has changed l00%
this past 4 months.

I was taking SAMe for three months for depression.
It elevated my mood and I was feeling 80 percent better
so I stopped taking it one week ago. I weaned myself off
in a week. Now I am wondering if stopping SAMe is
the reason I do not feel so good now.
Are you familiar with SAMe?

Well – you have been on a roller coaster these past few months.

The question you ask is: Do I know of people who have symptoms like
yours who have been able to recover or feel better?

The encouraging answer is yes! I interview people all the time with symptoms like yours – give them any name you wish – who have figured out ways to feel better.

John Coleman, a naturopath doctor from Australia who had Parkinson’s in 1995 but has fully recovered.

You can hear a replay of his interview by clicking on the link below:

About Parkinson’s Symptoms and Medications

I personally believe there are two basic ways to
approach problems like yours. First, many people
spend a great deal of energy and time trying to figure
out what is wrong. From my experience, this approach
tends to sustain a great deal of fear and makes sure that
you will experience the symptoms of Parkinson’s because
fear triggers hormonal imbalances in the body.

The second approach is to say – OK – my body is giving
me some information. It is working perfectly – as it always does.
It must be the case that my body needs something I am not
giving it – perhaps good food, exercise, mind challenges,
levity, relaxation, detoxing, etc., etc.). With this approach
a person can begin to make some changes in their life and
eventually turn their health around. It does take time and trust.

As for tests revealing problems with lesions and tumors and
cancers and – you name it – my personal feeling is (and remember
this is only my personal feeling) – everyone has things like this
in their bodies. Everyone has cancers in their body at one time or
another. Most people have lesions of one type or another. Etc.

Clearly it is a good idea to get things checked out by doctors
and consider their recommendations. Medicine sometimes
works miracles for people.

The challenge for anyone in a situation like yours is that
if you spend most of your time focusing your attention on
what is wrong with your body – if those thought forms
dominate your thinking – you will be guaranteed to manifest
something wrong. Our thoughts create our reality.

As for the drug you asked about – I stay away from making
any comments about drugs since I am not a medical doctor
and I am not qualified to do so.

I am hoping for good news from the doctors for you…

All the best,

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery®

Listing of Bowen Therapists in the USA

August 30, 2008 / manabunnow4zph / 1 Comment

A website that provides a Listing of Bowen Therapists in the USA
is provided below.

John Coleman ND recommends Bowen therapy
as an effective way to release trauma and stress from tissues in
the body as one way of finding relief from the symptoms
of Parkinson’s.

Bowen therapy originated in Australia, but
there are many therapists who are trained in
Bowen therapy who practice in the United States.

If you click on the link below you can do a search of
Bowen therapists by region. This is a very useful resource
because it gives the level of training for each therapist
and their phone number to call for further information.

Bowen Therapists in the USA

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery ®

Living Well With Parkinsons

July 25, 2008 / manabunnow4zph / 1 Comment

Do external interventions (supplements,
massage, cranial sacral therapy, body
work, etc.) undermine the body’s ability
to function? How does one go about living
well with Parkinsons?

These questions hinge on the very essence
of healing. What can we do to support the
body’s natural ability to heal itself and
what are we doing to undermine it?

The answer is tied to identifying what we
need to heal. A bare bones answer is:
nourishment, touching, connection
with others, feeling of safety, sense of
accomplishment and belonging.

The body needs a well established
group of vitamins mineral and
nutrients. Without them our cells
die and our energy depletes. They make
Living well with Parkinsons a reality.
If we are deficient in any one of the essential
nutrients, our bodies let us know
they are unhappy with troublesome symptoms.

Vitamin B6. For example, the body
is not designed to manufacture Vitamin
B6 internally. If it has a vitamin B6
deficiency, the body will enthusiastically
welcome a B6 supplement. B6 supports
the body’s natural ability to balance
hormones.

Stress. We need to feel safe and secure in
the world. If we are spinning about
in fear all the time, our bodies pump
out adrenaline continuously which
alters the balance of hormones.

Any intervention that invites a release
of stress and trauma from the tissues
of the body (e.g: medication, centered
prayer, energy healing) supports the
body’s natural capacity to heal.
Releasing fear and trauma re-establishes
a sense that it is safe to be here on the
earth.

Toxin Removal. Interventions that help
the body release toxins and pathogens
are always welcome. They unclog
obstructions in the neural pathways and
cleanse the waste that has been trapped at
the cellular level and that is lodged in the
digestive track, liver, kidneys and spleen.

Dopamine. Let’s cut to the quick and address
dopamine. Prescription medications have saved
some people’s lives. Sometimes
it is the best choice a person can make.

I do not think the important question
is whether to begin taking prescription
medications or not. Nor is the important
choice whether to take prescription
medications or herbs substitutes
for dopamine. The key question turns on
a commitment to support your body with
the nutrients it needs to heal

Support for Living.

I believe the most important
choice is to do everything necessary
to bring all systems of the body back
on line. The systems need to be readied
for a marathon. If you have symptoms
that are troublesome it is a sign that
one or more systems in your body
are limping along.

I believe a plan that works well for the body
is to work on strengthening all of the basic
building blocks of the body to make living well
with Parkinsons a reality. They consist of …

eating well (which means fresh food)
eliminating toxins
eliminating pathogens (including bacteria and viruses)
releasing trauma
strengthening the immune system
moving lymph out of the body through exercise
having fun
laughing
challenging your mind

It may be the case that to do justice to
everything on the list every day, certain
hormonal deficiencies will need to be
supplemented: Perhaps dopamine,
perhaps CoQ10 or whatever. This of
course is what medical doctors are trained
to help with.

As long as you focus on bringing
all of the systems and organs in your
body back on line, your body will reach
a point when it will be able to
manufacture most – if not all – of the
essential hormones you need without
any outside intervention. Then again,
sometimes infusions of certain
hormones are needed over the long
term.

The best intent is to support
the body so that it can do as much
work in producing the hormones
itself as possible. Set a new vision
of the future for yourself. Consider
the possibility that instead of having
to take more and more medication
or supplements in the future, you
will be able to gradually and ever
so gently be able to maintain or
even reduce the dose of your
current medications.

Why is that? Because all of the organs
systems in your body are now healthy
so there is enough energy and resources
to manufacture the hormones your
body needs. Sure it takes time to bring
every system back on line. Who is in
a big rush here?

Remember that any changes you
make to the dose and/or timing of
your medications should only be
taken in close consultation with
your doctor.

I am fully aware than most people
wind up taking more medications
over time. I would like to consider
a different future to manifest living
well with Parkinsons.

The body knows how to heal itself.
Give it a chance to heal and be
pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery®

Natural Remedies

July 10, 2008 / manabunnow4zph / 0 Comments

I am 52 years old and I have been
experiencing Parkinsonian symptoms
for over a year now. I am interested
in knowing all about natural remedies.
I went to a neurologist and he said I did show
early stages of parkinsons i.e. trembling
in left foot, cramped/small handwriting,
left hand has trouble touching thumb
to middle finger at a fast pace; I feel I
talk slower; I have constipation
(I thought the constipation was from
my acid reflux condition) and I recently
fell into a depression cause of some
events in my life…

I am taking SAMe now for three weeks
and feel somewhat better but not l00%…
I am scheduled to see this neurologist
again in September to see if my condition
is true and or progressed and at that time
he will discuss taking medication for
Parkinson’s.

I am praying that these symptoms I
am experiencing are due to another
situation like menopause and or my
depression/stress.

I am reaching out to you for any input
on where I am at and also any natural
remedies I might start doing now to
improve my health and well being.

Thank you for sending in your question
to Parkinsons Recovery. You will find
my newsletter, this blog and our website
contains information and resources that
offer many choices you can consider.

You will always find cutting edge information
posted on this blog. The newsletter
covers a wide range of topics, all
related to natural remedies.

I document natural remedies people report
have helped them, so we are very
practical in our approach here. Our
mission is to provide you with a
wealth of information about natural
approaches and remedies so you
can make the choices that are
right for you.

I interview people with Parkinson’s
who tell me what has worked for them.
And, I also interview experts in their
various fields (e.g.: process psychologists,
physical therapists, herbalists, craniosacral
therapists, Neural Linguistic Programming
experts, biofeedback therapists, acupuncturists,
etc., etc.) who tell me about how their
respective modalities can potentially help people with
Parkinson’s feel better.

The good news is that I hear
reports every week from
people with Parkinsons who are
feeling better. You can too, though
you will have to make some
changes in your life.

Speaking generally, the natural
approaches that people tell me offer
relief from symptoms are: a healthy
diet, daily exercise, detoxing heavy
metals and other harmful substances
that reside in the body, awareness of
what stress does to the body, release
of traumas, meditation, laughter,
social contact and dedication to a purpose
in life.

The theme at Parkinsons Recovery is
to emphasize health and well being rather
than to dwell on “disease.” We believe
the body knows how to heal itself. It just
needs a little help remembering how sometimes.

Welcome aboard.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery®

Exercises for Persons with Limited Mobility

June 29, 2008 / manabunnow4zph / 0 Comments

I need a listing of exercises for persons with
limited mobility. John Coleman, ND, has exercises for those who
have limited mobility and for those who are a bit
mobile. He has about 15 pages of exercises in his
book Stop Parkin’ and Start Livin’.

Which ones are suitable for a mobile person and
how many or how long should a mobile person
exercise?

I asked Dr. John Coleman the question about exercises
Suitable Persons with Limited Mobility. Here is
his answer:

“Mobile people need to exercise to the extent of
their ability without causing exhaustion. All the
exercises in the book are suitable, plus walking,
swimming, cycling, Pilates, Yoga, light weights,
NIA (dance exercise), etc. She needs to set
goals with regard to her strength and flexibility,
and see an improvement each month. If not,
she can up the ante and increase her exercise.”

“If she finds any particular movement difficult,
then that is the one to practice the most. The
harder it is, the more we practice it.”

You may want to check out
www.parkinsonsrecoveryprogram.com
and see if this is your cup of tea.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery®

Testimonial for Centering Prayer, Meditation and Massage

May 29, 2008 / manabunnow4zph / 1 Comment

What follows is a testimonial for centering prayer, meditation and massage from Stan who is recently diagnosed with Parkinsons.

“While I’m new to the PD world (diagnosed 12/07),
I’ve been “experimenting” with meditative and
action techniques to help me cope…
Brief background: I hold a pair of Masters
degrees, was, until recently, Head Librarian
at Ohio University-Chillicothe (Ohio) campus,
and have an extensive background in
Zen meditation/Martial Arts–I hold Dan
rank in Karate-do, have been a member of
US teams in international MA competitions,
etc.

“My feelings/findings, so far:”

1. “Karate or any other “hard” art is “out”–
I get dizzy, confused, even while performing
a kata!”

2. “Zazen (meditation) is effective, as long as my discomfort
level with PD and its effects doesn’t prevent
me from “going deep”.”

3. “My wife and I have joined a local Lutheran
“Centering Prayer” group; the combination of
Zazen and Do-Zen, sitting in meditative prayer,
then moving silently, is effective in helping me
to “forget” the PD and its effects and to
relax… While moving in the Sanctuary of the
church, I have had good results from
“gathering Chi” and “spinning Chi” with my
hands while walking.”

4. “I have started getting massages, which
help to relax my body IMMENSELY. The
massager is tuned in to MA theories and
practices, by the way, which helps…
He has commented that my high tolerance
for pain helps him perform the massages,
since I don’t flinch (MANY years of MA
“torture” to account for that!).”

“Oh, I’m 60 years of age…”

Stan

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery®

Report of Success with Mucuna

May 24, 2008 / manabunnow4zph / 3 Comments

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®

John Coleman ND

May 12, 2008 / manabunnow4zph / 1 Comment

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

John Coleman ND 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. Parkinsons Recovery was conducting focused research on Parkinsons beginning in 2004. John had been working with Parkinson’s clients for 10 years. He 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 to support the recovery of persons currently diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

I concluded we must be on track with identifying natural options to help persons with Parkinsons get well. 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®