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Grain Brain author David Perlmutter, M.D., reveals which eating habits may be toxic to your noggin

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It’s estimated that 5.2 million people in the U.S. currently have Alzheimer’s disease, and there is no cure—but what if we told you that what you’re putting on your plate could be increasing your risk of dementia, as well as a host of other neurological problems? That’s the concept behind the bestseller Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar—Your Brain’s Silent Killers, by neurologist David Perlmutter, M.D.

Perlmutter points to a growing body of research that shows higher-than-normal fasting blood sugar levels may be toxic to your brain, even at readings previously thought to be safe: A study published in October in the journal Neurology shows that having an elevated fasting blood sugar is associated with a shrinkage of the brain’s memory center, even in individuals who don’t have type 2 diabetes. Other research published in August in the New England Journal of Medicine finds, similarly, that high fasting blood sugar levels are linked to a higher risk of becoming demented, whether you have a reading that qualifies you as diabetic or not.

“Pretty scary stuff on the one hand,” says Perlmutter, “but on the other hand, it’s empowering because you don’t have to go down that road.” Here’s why: Just as your diet can increase your odds of Alzheimer’s, it may also help decrease it if you follow certain guidelines. “What Grain Brain is bringing to the public’s attention is that preventive medicine really applies to the brain,” says Perlmutter. “No one’s ever talked about that, and now it’s time to bring the idea of diet and lifestyle choices to brain health.”

MORE: Food for Thought

To reap the benefits of a brain-friendly diet, Perlmutter suggests eliminating gluten altogether (which he says can be harmful to your brain even if you don’t have Celiac disease) and limiting your carb consumption to 60-80 grams per day—max. These recommendations are pretty strict (to put it in perspective, the USDA’s recommended daily allowance for carbs is 130 grams for adults), and many experts disagree with Perlmutter’s assertion that gluten is toxic and that complex carbohydrate intake should be so severely limited. But even if going that low-carb is unrealistic for you, there are still some do-able dietary changes you can make to promote healthy brain functioning:

Start Eating More Fat
Yup, you read that right. “In 1992, we were told [by the USDA], ‘You’ve got to go low-fat, no-fat—that’s what’s best for your heart,'” says Perlmutter. “Within 10 years, the rate of diabetes in America went up threefold, and diabetes doubles your Alzheimer’s risk.” In fact, in a 2012 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Research, participants in the top quartile of fat consumption (more than 35 percent of their calories came from fat) showed a 35 percent decreased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia (as compared to the bottom quartile, who consumed fewer than 17 percent of their calories from fat). Granted, as you likely know, not all fats are created equal: “Your brain is 60-70 percent fat,” says Perlmutter. “That fat has to come from somewhere, and to build a better brain you need good fats, not damaged or modified fats.” He suggests loading up on healthy monounsaturated fats from sources like olive oil and avocados.

Watch Out for Hidden Sources of Carbs
You may not be willing or able to ditch gluten and limit yourself to 60-80 grams of carbohydrates a day (which, as we mentioned previously, many nutritionists don’t necessarily recommend). But it is worth noting that the same Journal of Alzheimer’s Research study found participants in the highest quartile of carb consumption (more than 58 percent of their calories came from carbs) showed almost double the risk of developing MCI or dementia when compared to the bottom quartile (fewer than 47 percent of their calories came from carbs). And while it’s certainly smart to watch your intake of bread and pasta, you may not even realize some of the big sources of carbs in your diet. A cup of orange juice, for example, contains more than 33 grams of carbs—and can set you up for even more carb cravings later, thanks to the blood sugar spike then crash it brings on. “The sugar [in an actual orange] is released more slowly in a measured way,” says Perlmutter.

MORE: Curb Your Sweet Tooth

Eating whole fruits is better than drinking fruit juices (especially ones with added sweeteners), but eating too many fruits can dramatically increase your carb intake, too (one large apple, for example, has about 31 grams of carbs). Root vegetables also tend to have higher carb counts than veggies grown above ground. The takeaway? While you certainly don’t have to avoid good-for-you foods like quinoa, bananas, or spaghetti squash, it’s important to remember that they can add to your overall carb intake—so serving size, as always, is key.

When In Doubt, Choose Foods That Aren’t Processed
It may be a no-brainer (pardon the pun), but it’s also one of the best things you can do for your noggin, says Perlmutter. “Our most well respected peer-reviewed medical literature today is clearly indicating that blood sugar is a cornerstone pivotal player in terms of determining whether you become demented or not,” he says. And since so many foods that come in a bag or a box have been linked to an increased fasting blood sugar, choosing more whole foods and fewer packaged ones is crucial to keeping your brain healthy. “If you live to be age 85, your risk for becoming an Alzheimer’s patient is 50/50—the flip of a coin,” says Perlmutter. “Let’s change that today and improve your odds dramatically by simply making these lifestyle changes.”

WHAT IS PARKINSON’S DISEASE- CHIROPRACTIC, FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGY IN SARASOTA FLORIDA

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What is Parkinson’s Disease?

  A neurodegenerative brain disorder that progresses slowly in most people. What this means is that individuals with PD will be living with PD for twenty years or more from the time of diagnosis. However, having PD does not mean you cannot have a good quality of life. Because there is no cure, your doctors will be focused and dedicated to finding treatments that help control the symptoms of PD and enable you to manage your PD.

Normally, there are brain cells (neurons) in the human brain that produce dopamine. These neurons concentrate in a particular area of the brain, called the substantia nigra. Dopamine is a chemical that relays messages between the substantia nigra and other parts of the brain to control movements of the human body. Dopamine helps humans to have smooth coordinated muscle movements. When approximately 60 to 80% of the dopamine-producing cells are damaged, and do not produce enough dopamine, the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear. This process of impairment of brain cells is called neurodegeneration.
The current theory (so-called Braak’s hypothesis) is that the earliest signs of Parkinson’s are found in the enteric nervous system, the medulla and in particular, the olfactory bulb, which controls your sense of smell. Under this theory, Parkinson’s only progresses to the substantia nigra and cortex over the years. This theory is increasingly borne out by evidence that non-motor symptoms, such as a loss of sense of smell, hyposmia, sleep disorders and constipation may precede the motor features of the disease by several years. For this reason, researchers are increasingly focused on these “non-motor” symptoms to both detect PD as early as possible and to look for ways to stop its
Early Stage Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
  • Change in facial expression (staring, lack of blinking)
  • Failure to swing one arm when walking
  • Flexion (stooped) posture
  • “Frozen” painful shoulder
  • Limping or dragging of one leg
  • Numbness, tingling, achiness or discomfort of the neck or limbs
  • Softness of the voice
  • Subjective sensation of internal trembling
  • A tremor when limb is relaxed (about 25% of patients, however, will not have a tremor)
  • Symptoms on one side of the body
  • Loss of sense of smell
  • Constipation
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
If you are having any of these early symptoms schedule a free consultation today! By combining functional neurological care, nutrition, and cranial manipulations we have had success providing supporting care and management for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

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Here are some alternative medicine ideas that may help people with Parkinson’s disease.

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Some types of alternative medicine may help people with Parkinson’s disease, including:

  • Coenzyme Q10. People with Parkinson’s disease tend to have low levels of a fat-soluble compound called coenzyme Q10, and some research has suggested it may be beneficial for people in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. You can buy coenzyme Q10 without a prescription in drugstores and natural food stores. Talk with your doctor before taking this supplement to ensure that it won’t interfere with any medication you may be taking.
  • Massage. Massage therapy can reduce muscle tension and promote relaxation, which may be helpful to people experiencing movement problems associated with Parkinson’s disease. These services, however, are rarely covered by health insurance.
  • Acupuncture. During an acupuncture session, a trained practitioner inserts tiny needles into many specific points on your body, which may reduce your pain.
  • Tai chi. An ancient form of Chinese exercise, tai chi employs slow, flowing motions that may help improve flexibility, balance and muscle strength. Several forms of tai chi are tailored for people of any age or physical condition.
  • Yoga. In yoga, gentle stretching movements and poses may increase your flexibility and balance. Most poses can be modified, depending on your physical abilities.
  • Alexander technique. This technique, which focuses on muscle posture, balance and thinking about how you use muscles, may help reduce muscle tension and pain.
  • Meditation. In meditation, you quietly reflect and focus your mind on an idea or image. Meditation may reduce stress and pain, and help improve your well-being.
  • Music therapy. Music therapy may help you to relax. It may help some people with Parkinson’s disease to improve their walking and speech.
  • Functional Neurology. By activation of area’s of the brain to create more stability in the areaScreen Shot 2011-12-26 at 5.03.28 PM‘s targeted during treatment. Usually with PD the Functional Neurologist will focus on the basal ganglia and the dopamine producing structures as well as stabilizing collicular maps that may stabilize the brain through neural networks that also stabilize the substatia nigra.

 

Nicotine from edible Solanaceae and risk of Parkinson disease.

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New research reveals that Solanaceae — a flowering plant family with some species producing foods that are edible sources of nicotine — may provide a protective effect against Parkinson’s disease. The study appearing today inAnnals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society, suggests that eating foods that contain even a small amount of nicotine, such as peppers and tomatoes, may reduce risk of developing Parkinson’s.

Nicotine from edible Solanaceae and risk of Parkinson disease.
Nielsen SS, Franklin GM, Longstreth WT, Swanson PD, Checkoway H.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To test whether risk of Parkinson disease (PD) is associated with consumption of nicotine-containing edibles from the same botanical family as tobacco, Solanaceae, including peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes.
METHODS:
In a population-based study with 490 newly diagnosed idiopathic PD cases diagnosed during 1992-2008 at the University of Washington Neurology Clinic or Group Health Cooperative in western Washington State and 644 unrelated, neurologically normal controls, we examined whether PD was associated with self-reported typical frequency of consumption of peppers, tomatoes, tomato juice, and potatoes during adulthood, while adjusting for consumption of other vegetables, age, sex, race/ethnicity, tobacco use, and caffeine.
RESULTS:
PD was inversely associated with consumption of all edible Solanaceae combined (relative risk [RR] = 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.65-1.01 per time per day), but not consumption of all other vegetables combined (RR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.92-1.10). The trend strengthened when we weighted edible Solanaceae by nicotine concentration (ptrend  = 0.004). An inverse association was also evident for peppers specifically (ptrend  = 0.005). The potentially protective effect of edible Solanaceae largely occurred in men and women who had never used tobacco or who had smoked cigarettes.

INTERPRETATION:
Dietary nicotine or other constituents of tobacco and peppers may reduce PD risk. However, confirmation and extension of these findings are needed to strengthen causal inferences that could suggest possible dietary or pharmaceutical interventions for PD prevention. Ann Neurol 2013.

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Chiropractic for Parkinson’s? Be Cautious By Dean P. Sutherland, M.D. Ph.D.

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Below see a article from Dean P. Sutherland, M.D. Ph.D. You can then read my response to his article. It’s sad to see the medical community discount things they aren’t familiar with or understand.

Many patients are interested alternative therapy for medical diseases, with at least 80% of adults taking some form of vitamins, herbal preparations, acupuncture, biofeedback, Tai Chi, Yoga, etc. With regard to PD, data from small studies show that PD patients have improvement in sense of well-being and stiffness with both Tai Chi and Yoga, but no changes in motor performance. Data regarding chiropractic treatment for PD has not been available or reliable.
My approach to PD has always been “as long as it will not hurt you, it’s probably okay, as long as you don’t use it as your sole method of treatment.” By “hurt you” I mean physical damage or injury, worsening of PD, significant pain, or mental/psychological damage. I would include giving false hope or making unfounded claims as being harmful to patients, emotionally, financially, and often physically.
There are clearly some well-educated, conservative chiropracters who offer treatments locally for a variety of well-established conditions. As long as PD patients are aware that there is no good scientific evidence either way regarding effectiveness for PD and they look carefully at what is being offered or claimed by the chiropracter, then they may choose to try it.
Of particular concern, however, is when fantastical, non-scientific claims are being made. These can be found locally as well as nationally. I would caution patients to avoid some treatments in particular, especially those that are invasive. “Functional Cranial Release,” for instance, is a non-scientific and somewhat risky procedure that is being touted as a treatment for just about everything, including PD. It involves a balloon being inserted into the nasal passages, then expanded, then contracted and removed, with claims that it is restoring or correcting cranial abnormalities. It is further claimed that this procedure treats Alzheimer’s, headaches, migraines, ringing in the ears, fibromyalgia, and the list goes on and on. The purported mechanism of patient improvement is by “improving blood flow and oxygenation” to the brain and “releasing nerves.” Patients are reportedly dramatically improved and, sometimes, told they can stop taking their medications. Nasal damage has been clearly documented in some patients who underwent this procedure.
This meets the classic criteria for a scam: unproven claims, lack of scientific evidence, miraculous reversal of degenerative processes, panacea (good for anything), aggressive marketing with glowing testimonials, lack of anatomical/physiological basis in reality. See http://www.quackwatch.com/
To summarize, patients should not avoid chiropracters as a group, but, just as in any profession, there are a few practitioners and treatments who should be avoided at all cost.

DR John Lieurance says:Your comment is awaiting moderation.

January 16, 2013 at 9:53 pm

I’m flattered that you have mentioned my work in your blog. The endo-nasal work is a very small part of our treatment with PD. Although compared to many of the other modalities I use it can have some profound effects on brain function and creating positive plastic changes centrally in the brain as well as helping many patients absorb NO2 through he sinus’ and improve nasal breathing in mouth breathers. It is by no means a panacea and is not presented such at my office as you state in your blog. Much of the work I do with PD and TBI uses basic neurology applications based on principles of the individual metabolic capacity and the specific presynaptic pools I am looking to fire. I would hate for you to mis lead your readers as to what I am doing for PD. I would be interested in lunch anytime to discuss how we can work together in our community to serve the PD patients. Also the endo-nasal is extremely safe. Certainly not a risk for any patient to have this treatment based on almost 20 years of performing thousands of treatment.

 

Sincerely

Dr. John Lieurance

Voice Recognition Software Can Diagnose Parkinson’s!

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Voice Recognition Software Can Diagnose Parkinson’s

“Siri, do I have Parkinson’s?” That might sound flippant, but actually new research shows that it’s possible to detect Parkinson’s symptoms simply by using algorithms to detect changes in voice recordings. {Siri is the iphone voice recognition app.}

Parkinson’s, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, is usually diagnosed through analysis of symptoms along with expensive medical imaging to rule out other conditions—though there is currently no concrete method for detecting it.

Max Little, from the University of Oxford, has different ideas. He’s been developing software that learns to detect differences in voice patterns, in order to spot distinctive clues associated with Parkinson’s. Little explains to the BBC:

“This is machine learning. We are collecting a large amount of data when we know if someone has the disease or not and we train the database to learn how to separate out the true symptoms of the disease from other factors.”

Using data from 50 patients with Parkinson’s, who had their voices recorded once a week for six months, Little was able to develop an algorithm to detect changes in voice purely associated with Parkinson’s. In recent tests, the software accurately picked out Parkinson’s patients from a random population with 86 percent accuracy.

Now, Little is taking things further. Today, he is announcing at TEDGlobal that the project is extending, by inviting members of the general public to phone in and leave voice recordings to help him improve the software. The aim is to collect up to 10,000 voices, and people fromaround the world are encouraged to contribute.

If all goes well, Little hopes to roll out the technology for use by doctors in two years, and is adamant that it will help in the diagnosis of the disease. Again speaking to the BBC, he explained:

“We’re not intending this to be a replacement for clinical experts, rather, it can very cheaply help identify people who might be at high risk of having the disease and for those with the disease, it can augment treatment decisions by providing data about how symptoms are changing in-between check-ups with the neurologist.”

It’s an impressive achievement to take a relatively young technology and turn it into a system capable of detecting a disease like Parkinson’s. Now, if you excuse me, I have an important phone call to make. [Parkinson’s Voice Initiative via BBC]

NeuroDegeneration and Preserving the most Important Organ…The Brain!

Neurodegeneration is the umbrella term for the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, including death of neurons. We are all suffering this process from birth. Some of use at a much accellerated rate than others. Glutathione plays a vital role in the stabilization of the NeuroDegenerative process. Glutathione protects the brain and nerves from oxidative stress. The oxidative stress that leads to the loss of the function of the brain. Many neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s occur as a result of neurodegenerative processes. As research progresses, many similarities appear which relate these diseases to one another on a sub-cellular level. Discovering these similarities offers hope for therapeutic advances that could ameliorate many diseases simultaneously. There are many parallels between different neurodegenerative disorders including atypical protein assemblies as well as induced cell death. Neurodegeneration can be found in many different levels of neuronal circuitry ranging from molecular to systemic.

The Oxidata™ Test

Click Here to Learn how to Test Your Free Radical Level in 5 Minutes – at Home!

Testing for Brain Degeneration with the Oxidata test. A Way to Measure Parkinson’s Progression.

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Test Your Free Radical Level in 5 Minutes – at Home!

ORDER A 4 MONTH OXIDATA TEST KIT HERE

The Oxidata™ Test enables you to determine the level of stress on your body caused by free radical activity.  People of all ages can benefit from knowing if they are getting enough antioxidants in their diets and nutritional supplements to effectively counteract free radical cell damage.

The Oxidata Test™ provides a useful nutritional guide in the form of a color chart that helps determine the amount of oxidative activity in the body and can be helpful in making appropriate lifestyle and dietary changes as well as monitoring Glutathione levels.

This one-time use, at-home urine test kitmeasures the level of free radicals in your system. Too many free radicals over a period of time leads to chronic diseases, cell damage and faster aging. Keeping track of your oxidation is really a measure of your Glutathione as Glutathione is your master antioxidant.

Causes of free radical damage

  • Heavy metals and petrochemicals in the environment and in our foods
  • Over-the-counter and prescription drugs
  • Cooked oils and fats
  • Radiation
  • Viruses, yeast and bacteria in the system
  • Low dietary anti-oxidants
  • Mental/emotional stress
  • Low Glutathione Levels

Everyone has heard of free radicals and the importance of antioxidants in the diet.  The Oxidata™ Test enables the user to measure the amount of oxidative stress the body is enduring and the results of antioxidant intervention.

Many, if not all disease, afflict the body through oxidative damage.  The free radical theory of aging says that it is the primary cause of aging itself.

Free radicals are like fire.  It is only when free radicals become unconfined and excessive and start attacking normal, healthy tissue that disease takes place.  This happens when antioxidant / Glutathione activity is inadequate.

ORDER A 4 MONTH OXIDATA TEST KIT HERE

Discover Your Need for Antioxidants

  • The Oxidata™ Test is the world’s first and only non-invasive urine test that measures the amount of free radicals or oxidants in the body within five minutes.
  • The Oxidata™ Test is an advanced patented technology available through GlutaGenic.com

Features

  • In-Office or At-Home Convenience
  • Quick 5-minute test
  • Scientifically Developed
  • This urine test provides higher accuracy than an MDA (malondialdehyde) blood test.  Accuracy is within the range of 90%.

The Oxidata Test Kit Includes:

  • Free Radical Activity Evaluation Color Chart
  • Evaluation Explanation
  • Urine cup, the testing vial, a pipette to add urine to the vial, and specific directions.
  • Each kit contains one test vial for one-time use.

Instructions

Supplemental Dietary Restrictions Prior To Using Your Oxidata Test:  The day before you use the test, do not take supplemental vitamins, such as vitamin C, vitamin B complex, or vitamin B-1 (thiamine), vitamin B-2 (riboflavin), vitamin B-3 (niacin, also known as pyridoxamine). Any oral intake of vitamins or medication that turns your urine to an excessively yellow color (Riboflavin) may interfere with your ability to interpret the reading of your value. If you are currently taking any medications consult with your physician about the results of this test. Also don’t take your Glutathione the day before.

Use the test at least once a week if the initial test shows high oxidative stress then reduce to once or twice a month after antioxidant supplementation has reduced it to a normal level. For optimal results, consult your healthcare practitioner before taking nutritional supplementation.

Place urine in cup and draw up one milliliter with the dropper. Break top off of ampoule and squeeze urine from dropper into ampoule. Wait five minutes; then hold ampoule up to evaluation chart to match colors. Record your reading on our Oxidata™ Test chart.

Frequency of Test

The frequency for the Oxidata™ Test varies with each individual. If an individual test color is in the high free radical range, the person should begin or increase antioxidant supplementation and retest at least twice a month until free radical activity has been reduced. The Oxidata™ Test should be taken once a month thereafter.

ORDER A 4 MONTH OXIDATA TEST KIT HERE

Your Test Results

If your score is high we recommend that you consider Signing up for the “7 Secrets to Raising Glutathione” as well as Glutathione Supplementation.

Thank You for Joining me Today! 

Parkinson’s Disease Alternative Medicine

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Parkinson’s Disease Alternative Medicine

Hope is a powerful thing. Without hope for a better future, the will to live is lost and recovery, no matter what the affliction, is impossible.

Imagine then, being told by your doctor that you have a progressive and degenerative disease that robs you of the ability to control your own body. A disease for which there is no cure.

This is the reality for those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Hope is offered in the form of medication such as Levodopa. Levodopa acts to restore levels of dopamine in the brain. The lack of dopamine is the primary reason for the symptoms associated with the condition. Since it first began being administered in the 1960’s, it has lessened much of the suffering experienced by millions of people throughout the world, and is recognised as the “gold standard” in medical treatment of the disease. However, it can not completely reverse the symptoms, and like all drugs, is more effective in some than others.

Consequently many have sought hope in alternative treatments. Parkinson’s disease has been a recognised ailment in virtually all cultures since ancient times. Many of these ancient treatments are becoming popular in the west and are increasingly validated by western medicine.

Ayurvedic medicine – This has been practiced in India for 5000 years. Parkinson’s symptoms are mentioned in ancient text under the name Kampavata. Ayurvedic medicine is a comprehensive system placing equal emphasis on diet, exercise, meditation, massage and herbs. One such herb, Mucuna Puriens, is gaining attention in conventional circles as its effects mimic synthetic Levodopa, with fewer side effects.

Broad beans– Australian researchers discovered that broad beans are also an extremely effective natural source of L-dopa. The highest concentration of L-dopa is found in the pod so they are most effective when consumed whole.

St John’s Wort– Dopamine influences positive feelings in the brain, and since dopamine levels are low in Parkinson’s patients, depression is often a symptom. St John’s Wort is a herb that has been used in Europe for many years. It has been proven to be effective in alleviating depression and insomnia.

Botulinum toxin A– This is a bacterium that causes food poisoning (botulism) but has proven to be effective in reducing hand, head and voice tremors when in a weak solution.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) – This has been shown to have an effect on the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, however it is unclear whether it actually slows the disease or simply temporarily alleviates symptoms. The drawback is the massive dose required. The effective dose is approximately 1,200 milligrams a day, well above the 60 to 90 milligrams recommended by many alternative therapy advocates.

Accupuncture– Used for centuries in China to correct energy disturbances in the body. It has become a popular method of treatment for Parkinson’s sufferers the world over. So far there are no placebo controlled studies that show acupuncture can treat the motor control symptoms of the disease, but there is some evidence that it can assist with sleep disturbances. There is much anecdotal evidence to suggest that it may be effective in increasing feelings of well being and relaxation.

Massage– While not treating the symptoms directly, it can help reduce some of the discomfort associated with muscle stiffness that is commonly experienced by patients.

Alternative treatments for many diseases come and go. Some become fashionable for a short while only to be discredited and discarded. Others accumulate a growing body of scientific and popular support. It is to a large extent simply a matter of trial and error. Most alternative treatments are harmless, but some herbal remedies may interfere with medication, so be sure to consult your health practitioner for advice.

Glutathione- Glutathione is the brains master antioxidant. Stress in the nervous system shows up and oxidation and Parkinson’s patients are shown to not only have low Glutathione levels but they also have more oxidation. this oxidation breaks down the brain causes poor function leading to an acceleration and worsening of the symptoms of Parkinsons. Glutathione supplementation can help improve this. Taking Glutathione in pills does not work so suppositories and nebulization offers a powerful way to improve brain glutathione levels.

ORDER GLUTATHIONE HERE

Ayurvedic medicine uses Mucuna Pruriens for Parkinson`s disease.

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Parkinson`s disease is a devastating illness that generally afflicts people when they have reached their golden years, only to be robbed of enjoying them. A practice of medicine with thousands of years of successfully treating illnesses may open the door to a natural remedy for the alleviation of symptoms of this insidious disease. One of the most popular herbs in Ayurvedic medicine that is used for a wide range of conditions, including Parkinson`s disease, is Mucuna Pruriens.

Parkinson`s is a cruel disease that robs victims of their ability to control their own bodies. It is considered an age-related neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopamine in specific areas of the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is essential for proper functioning of the brain. It is most notably involved in regulating mood, libido, and movement. In Parkinson`s disease, the levels of dopamine are depressed and the ability to control movement is compromised. It`s the lack of dopamine that causes muscles to become tense and tremble; whereas, in a healthy person, dopamine serves to dampen neural transmissions so that muscles relax.

Dopamine does not cross the blood-brain barrier and, for this reason, it cannot be used directly as a treatment. The typical Western medicine approach for Parkinson`s is to use a synthetic version of L-dopa, a precursor to dopamine. L-dopa, or levodopa, can gain access to the brain, where it is converted to dopamine. However, this synthetic substitute for natural L-dopa is associated with some of the usual side effects of taking pharmaceutical medications (nausea, headaches), and it has shown to lose effectiveness over the long term.

Ayurvedic medicine, which originates in India, is a 5,000 year old system of medicine that emphasizes a comprehensive approach to nutrition and overcoming disease. Included in this approach are exercise, massage, meditation, diet, and herbs. One particular herb, Mucuna Pruriens, has been used for many generations in India to help treat Parkinson`s disease. It is also known to increase testosterone levels, treat depression, stimulate growth hormone production, improve mental alertness, and increase libido in both men and women. Mucuna Pruriens, also known as velvet bean, is a vining plant native to India, Africa, the Pacific islands, the West Indies, and other areas of the tropics. The name “Pruriens” in Latin means “itching sensation,” which results from touching the exterior hairs found on the pods containing the seeds on the plant.

Mucuna Pruriens contains high concentrations of natural L-dopa, as well as trace amounts of serotonin and nicotine. It is gaining attention for the treatment of Parkinson`s disease in conventional circles, most notably because there are fewer side effects associated with taking it than its synthetic counterpart. It has also shown to slow the progression of symptoms of Parkinson`s disease, such as tremors, rigidity, and problems with balance.

Clinical studies have indicated that using Mucuna Pruriens for a natural source of L-dopa induces a more rapid onset of symptom relief compared to the synthetic alternative. One of the criticisms of the synthetic version of L-dopa is that it loses its effectiveness in the long term. It should be noted that there are no long term efficacy studies for use of natural L-dopa from Mucuna Pruriens.

Caution: Mucuna Pruriens should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Consult a naturopath or other qualified health practitioner before using this product. Mucuna Pruriens may interact with prescription medications, antidepressants, MAO inhibitors, or Parkinson specific drugs.