Naturopathic Treatments for Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that causes shaking and trouble with walking, movement and coordination. It is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders among older people; however, younger adults and children are sometimes affected. There is a progressive breakdown of the nerve cells in the brain that control movement. The chemical dopamine is responsible for the neurotransmitters that send messages from the brain to regulate movement. As dopamine becomes depleted, muscle control breaks down. At this point it time, it does not seem possible to fully treat Parkinson's disease with naturopathic treatments alone, but they can alleviate a lot of the symptoms of the disease and reduce side effects from medication as well as having a mild effect on the balance of neurotransmitters.

Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

• Symptoms include tremors, rigid muscles, stiffness, bending the arms and legs and a slumped posture. People may also have trouble making facial expressions and experience a loss of motor skills. They are also more likely to get colds and flu, and gastrointestinal problems, especially heartburn and constipation.

Beneficial Herbs

• Suggested dosages of herbs and pharmaceutical agents are based on one of their most important pharmacological properties: therapeutic range. Therapeutic range is from the smallest dose that provides benefit to the largest dose safe for people to use. Generally, herbs are safe and nontoxic, and overdosing or serious reactions are unlikely. However, adhere to recommended guidelines, because larger doses are unlikely to provide additional benefit and may cause negative side effects.

  Acerola is a quality source of vitamin C for the brain. Take as directed on the label. Milk thistle maintains the supply of the antioxidant glutathione to the brain. It may also relieve heartburn and constipation. Take 360 mg daily. Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) may help prevent the blood vessel changes that can complicate the disease. Take 200 mg daily. Yellowdock cleanses the blood and liver. Use in capsule or tea form and follow directions on the label.

Diet

• Have no more than four to five servings of protein daily. Protein provides a variety of amino acids which compete with tyrosine to enter the brain. Tyrosine is necessary for dopamine production. Try to adhere to a 75 percent raw diet, concentrating on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains. If there is a family history of the condition and you do not yet have it, limit or completely cut out animal fat from your diet. A study led by Dr. Checkoway at the University of Washington found that eating a diet high in animal fat increased the risk of Parkinson's disease.

Supplementation

• A balanced antioxidant formula can help maintain mental function. A supplement such as this would include powerful antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E, selenium, coenzyme Q10 and green tea compounds. Take as directed on the label. Iron supplements may be beneficial because iron may stimulate production of dopa, the precursor to dopamine. However, a physician should always be consulted before supplementing with iron. Take 200 to 400 IU of vitamin D daily if on Deprenyl. Normally, adequate sun exposure is enough to stimulate production, but the sun speeds the breakdown of this important medicine.

Other Suggestions

• Try to get adequate exercise, modifying your routine as necessary depending on your energy level. A well-thought-out program of therapy, exercise and rest can improve symptoms. Stress aggravates this condition, so relaxation therapy and anything else that promotes relaxation will be beneficial.

Things to Avoid

• Choline supplements cause deterioration of dopamine. Avoid aluminum and manganese compounds as they can accelerate the course of the disease. If taking levodopa, avoid vitamin B6. Levodopa is a medication used in the advanced stages of the disease. However, supplementing with B6 may be helpful if you are not taking this medicine, because adequate supplies are necessary to produce dopamine. Kava interferes with levodopa as well, so avoid this herb