PARKINSON'S DISEASE
A Holistic Therapy
By Walter Last
Parkinson's
disease, formerly also called Paralysis agitans or Shaking palsy, is a disease
of the central nervous system. Characteristic symptoms are tremors or shaking
of one or both arms and sometimes of other muscles. Generally muscles are weak
and rigid, movements slow and the face expressionless, also the voice becomes
weak. Typically the walk is with slow, short, shuffling steps, the arms held
stiffly at the sides and the trunk slightly bent forward, the patient may
spontaneously break into a shuffling run.
The
onset of the disease is gradual and progression of symptoms usually slow. It
may start with a mild shaking of the hands or involuntary nodding of the head.
The mental abilities usually remain unimpaired, however, as the disease
progresses there may be frequent mood changes, withdrawal and depression. The
disease commonly starts in middle-aged and elderly individuals and seems to
affect predominantly males. However, high exposure to environmental chemicals
and drugs, such as certain tranquillisers and antihypertensives, inorganic
iron, aluminium and carbon monoxide can induce an early onset of Parkinson-like
symptoms. The symptoms of Parkinson's disease are partly due to a loss of brain
cells in specific areas and partly to a lack of the neurotransmitter dopamine
that helps to transmit signals across the tiny gaps between neighbouring nerve
cells.
The
medical cause of these brain changes is not known. The main medical treatment
consists in providing a drug, L-dopa or levodopa, which can be converted in the
brain to dopamine. In addition, there are a variety of dopamine-sparing drugs
and others that stimulate dopamine receptors. However, this treatment is not
always effective, especially in advanced conditions and the long-term
deterioration continues unchecked or may even be speeded up. Side effects
include involuntary jerky movements, hypotension, nausea, anorexia, vomiting
and disturbance of the mental equilibrium. Long-term treatment may result in
neurotic and psychotic symptoms. These are probably due to an oxidation product
of L-dopa, dopachrome, accumulating in the brain; for
a similar reason schizophrenics deteriorate when given L-dopa.
A
new and somewhat controversial operation has been used to graft part of an
adrenal gland into the brain. This temporarily stimulates the dopamine
production in the brain. However, frequent side effects are even more severe
psychotic and neurotic symptoms and personality changes than with L-dopa
treatment. The reason is assumed to be the accumulation of adrenochrome, an
oxidation product of adrenalin, in addition to the dopachrome.
Adrenochrome is an even stronger hallucinogen than dopachrome.
As in schizophrenia, high doses of niacin and ascorbic acid can minimise or
prevent hallucinogenic symptoms. Another type of brain surgery has been
experimentally used to reduce excessive shaking and involuntary movements.
Besides
L-dopa also other drugs, including benserazide, carbidopa and isonizid have been
reported to produce symptoms, which respond to increased niacin intake.
Parkinsonism can also result from brain arteriosclerosis, stroke, head injury
and after encephalitis or influenza. However, no such causative factors are
known for the classical Parkinson's disease that is, therefore, called
idiopathic.
NUTRITIONAL
FACTORS
The
neurotransmitter dopamine is formed in the nerve cells of the brain from the
amino acid tyrosine with L-dopa as an intermediary stage. Tyrosine can be
obtained from food or synthesised from another amino acid, phenylalanine.
Therefore, tyrosine and phenylalanine can be used as nutritional supplements to
ensure that the brain has sufficient raw material for the synthesis of
dopamine.
In
an experimental study it has been shown that supplementation with 100 mg /kg
/day or about 6 - 7 g of tyrosine increased the dopamine formation in the brain
of patients with Parkinson' s disease. Also supplementation with
D-phenylalanine helped: 15 patients received 100 - 250 mg twice daily and
examination after 4 weeks revealed significant improvement in rigidity,
walking, speech and depression but not with tremors.
L-dopa
treatment tends to create a brain deficiency of the amino acid tryptophan,
which results in depression and other side effects. Several studies show that
patients benefit with mood improvement and functional abilities when given
tryptophan in addition to L-dopa.
Also
ascorbic acid helps to counteract the severe side effects of L-dopa. A
double-blind study is described of a patient who could not tolerate L-dopa
because of severe nausea. If the drug was supplemented with ascorbic acid his
condition greatly improved while every time he received a placebo instead of
vitamin C his condition rapidly deteriorated.
Other
studies also show the benefits of vitamin E supplementation. Even better is the
result if several antioxidants are used together. In one study the time until
levodopa treatment became necessary was delayed for 5.5 years in a group of
newly diagnosed patients receiving 3000 mg per day each of vitamin C and E as
compared to a group without supplementation.
Vitamin
B6 is essential for the synthesis of dopamine. Therefore, this vitamin,
together with its cofactor zinc, should be provided in high amounts to overcome
long-term deficiency symptoms and stimulate the production of dopamine. While
there is also a negative report, various other studies show varying degrees of
benefits from vitamin B6 supplements. In one study supplementation of 10 – 100
mg of vitamin B6 daily resulted in decreased cramps, rigidity and tremors and
improvement in 8 cases out of 19 in walking and bladder control. In another
study 5 out of 11 patients improved and out of 90 cases 10% had permanent
improvement, another report found improvement in 9 cases out of 10. Improvement
generally was more frequent in cases of shorter duration and least pronounced
in long-standing conditions. Of course, improvements from vitamin B6
supplementation would be limited by existing deficiencies in zinc and tyrosine or
phenylalanine as well as other cofactors in dopamine synthesis.
In
addition, it should be noted that when taken together with L-dopa, vitamin B6
stimulates production of dopamine from the provided L-dopa in other parts of
the body with less L-dopa reaching the brain and a decreased effectiveness.
This may be a factor causing negative findings in some experimental studies.
However, this less of a problem if L-dopa is used together with a decarboxylase
inhibitor as in Madopar or Sinemet. Nevertheless, with higher doses of vitamin
B6 it is advisable to take the vitamin either at the end of the day after the
last levodopa or during the day in smaller amounts about an hour after taking
levodopa and several hours before the next lot.
While
the level of dopamine in the brain of aging individuals and especially with
Parkinson's disease declines to about half its normal level, the coloured
oxidation products of dopamine and of other neurotransmitters increasingly
accumulate. In one study very high amounts of such coloured deposits were found
in a specific area of the brain after L-dopa treatment as compared to Parkinson
patients without L-dopa treatment.
In
addition, other oxidised substances, especially lipids and proteins, accumulate
in cells, including nerve cells. These accumulations of oxidation products in
the skin are known as 'age spots' or 'liver spots'. Such age pigments are
composed of lipofuscin, ceroid and amyloid and begin filling up the nerve cells
until they are killed when residue levels reach up to 70%. Accumulations of age
pigments may be an important factor in the decline of the numbers of nerve cell
in the brain of Parkinson patients. An additional factor is suspected to be the
autoxidation of dopamine, which also yields hydrogen peroxide and free radicals,
which damage the dopamine receptors. The accumulation of age pigments can be
largely prevented and partially reversed by long-term supplementation with high
amounts of antioxidants; preferably combined with periodic cleansing diets.
Manganese
is important for muscle and brain functions. A case has been reported of an
elderly male with initial signs of lupus erythematosus developing Parkinson's
disease and some years later also signs of myasthenia gravis. With a therapy
based on manganese and vitamin E symptoms of all three diseases quickly
disappeared. However, a prolonged overload of manganese resulting in manganese
poisoning has the opposite effect; it causes Parkinson-like symptoms.
Besides
stimulation of dopamine production, vitamin B6 has a beneficial effect on
tremors. In one study all 60 patients with Parkinson's disease had a
significant decrease and 12 a complete disappearance of tremors with 300 - 400
mg of vitamin B6. The same applies to magnesium, which has been reported to
relieve or stop severe trembling and twitching. In addition, magnesium relieves
muscle rigidity and cramps. Magnesium is the classical relaxation mineral. The
sulphur amino acid taurine works together with magnesium and seems to have a
sedating effect on the overstimulated movement center
in the brain that causes shaking.
Some
other supplements with reported benefits in Parkinson's disease are L-carnitine, octacosanol and
evening primrose oil. L-carnitine helps to increase energy production by
channelling fatty acids into cells; it also improves memory and possibly other
brain functions. Octacosanol is a long-chain lipid
concentrated from wheat-germ oil. It generally increases endurance and some
Parkinson patients responded with improvement in their daily living activities
and mood. Evening primrose oil, on the other hand, may help to reduce tremors.
Involuntary movements may be reduced with antioxidants, lecithin and manganese.
Recently
reported research suggests that Parkinson patients release too much of the
neurotransmitter nitric oxide. This is a small molecule produced from the amino
acid arginine and is vital in the regulation of blood flow and blood pressure.
This appears to be an important finding, and efforts have started to develop a
drug to correct this. However, the amino acid L-lysine is in an antagonistic
balance with L-arginine. Increased lysine levels will generally reduce the
amount of released nitric oxide. Therefore I would experimentally use
supplemental lysine, say about 1 g three times daily before meals. You may also
try smaller and larger amounts. I do not expect this to interfere with the
simultaneous use of levodopa.
For
patients on L-dopa the meal composition is important. With meals high in
protein less l-dopa reaches the brain through the blood-brain barrier and
Parkinson-like symptoms may result. After a meal high in carbohydrates, on the
other hand, more L-dopa reaches the brain and dyskinesia (uncontrolled
movements) may develop. Therefore, drug intake should be adjusted to the type
of the meal. The best way is to eat the main protein meal in the evening after
the last daily dose of levodopa. Increased levels of ascorbic acid and vitamin
B6 increase dopamine levels in the brain.
CHEMICALS
AND ENDOTOXINS
Evidence
is now accumulating which supports the view that Parkinson's disease can
originate from long-term subclinical damage to the nervous system from
environmental chemicals. Initial reports linked the development of some forms
of Parkinson's disease mainly to medical drugs and to industrial workers
exposed to chemicals. This includes especially the exposure to industrial
solvents.
More
recent reports also show a link between the use of pesticides and herbicides on
farms and this disease. Development of symptoms due to low-level chronic exposure
is gradual. For instance the symptoms of a farmer ascribed to chemical spraying
progressed over an eight-year period to bilateral Parkinsonism. Researchers
have suggested that long-term exposure to sub-toxic levels of chemicals is much
more likely to lead to neurological disorders, such as Parkinsonism, than to
physically based diseases.
A
recent study found that mice developed symptoms of Parkinson's disease when
injected with low levels of two common farm chemicals, the herbicide paraquat
and the fungicide maneb. Neither of these on their own caused any problems.
A
study at Stanford University reported in May 2000 questioned 496 individuals
during their diagnosis for Parkinson's disease about pesticide exposure in the
home. It was found that people who had been exposed to pesticides were twice as
likely to develop Parkinson's disease as people not exposed to pesticides.
Several
studies also found that patients with Parkinson's disease have much lower
levels of detoxifying enzymes than healthy individuals, only about 30% of
normal levels were present. This means that toxic chemicals in such individuals
accumulate much more than in those with normal liver functions. These chemicals
are fat-soluble and, therefore, are stored in lipid structures such as the
brain.
A
contributing factor greatly facilitating the passage of toxic chemicals into
the brain is aluminium. The brain is normally protected from undesirable
chemicals in the bloodstream by a filter barrier. High aluminium levels have
been shown to allow toxic chemicals to cross this barrier, which would
otherwise be kept out. In addition, aluminium itself has neurotoxic properties.
Aluminium inhibits the synthesis of important brain chemicals and it has the
potential to block nucleic acid metabolism within nerve cells and to interfere
with magnesium in the regulation of neurotransmitter receptors. The brain
deterioration in Alzheimer's disease is strongly linked to aluminium
accumulations in brain cells.
The
injection of aluminium salts into the fluid surrounding the brain initiates
degenerative brain changes, and aluminium levels in the brain of cats similar
to the levels in Alzheimer's disease causes learning difficulties for the cats.
There is an unusually high rate of motoneuron disease and Parkinson's disease
in the indigenous population of Guam in the Western Pacific. The soil and
drinking water in this area is unusually high in aluminium and low in magnesium
and calcium.
Our
main intake of aluminium comes from cooking utensils, antacids, some baking
powders, municipal water supplies and aerosol sprays. Encephalopathy has been
clinically induced in dialysis patients through aluminium overload with mental
deterioration and the EEG suggesting movement disorders.
Further
brain deterioration can be caused by accumulations of the heavy metals cadmium,
lead and mercury. Of these, mercury is generally the greatest brain hazard,
coming mainly from amalgam tooth fillings. Organic mercury compounds are strong
nerve poisons, which may kill nerve cells, cause tremors and reportedly also
symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The problem is worse with two or more different
kinds of metal in the mouth which cause micro-currents that interfere with
nerve functions, and also the presence of different toxic metals in the brain
greatly potentises their harmful effects. Finally,
iron overload, especially in inorganic form, can intensify Parkinson problems.
Hidden
food allergies and chemical sensitivities contribute to most degenerative
diseases. However, in Parkinson's disease the body generally is insensitive and
does not readily react even when specifically testing for hidden allergies.
Nevertheless, it has been shown that the intestinal barrier becomes increasingly
inefficient with advancing age and degenerative diseases. This allows only
partly digested protein fragments or peptides to enter the bloodstream and
reach the brain, causing chronic Inflammation and long-term degeneration of
brain cells.
Instead
of reacting directly to allergy testing, food allergies and chemical
sensitivities may be noticed as higher L-dopa requirements, gradual worsening
of symptoms or increase of dysfunctional periods. After many years on levodopa,
I noticed one patient being sensitive to the blue colouring of the standard
Sinemet tablets with pronounced improvement when other tablets with a different
colour were used. I suspect that many patients of all kinds of diseases
deteriorate because of the unbiological colours and preservatives used in
tablet making.
A
study found that copper levels are significantly higher in the cerebrospinal
fluid of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease than in a control group.
While the specific reason for the elevated copper levels are not known, these
are generally high when there is a chronic inflammation as caused by
auto-immune and hidden allergy reactions. Furthermore, a copper enzyme is
required to convert tyrosine into levodopa and elevated brain copper levels may
be an attempt to stimulate levodopa production. However, high copper levels in
the presence of antioxidant deficiencies tend to cause increased free-radical
damage to the DNA of nerve cells.
These
considerations show the importance of adopting a long-term low-allergy diet in
the treatment of Parkinson's disease and to have a high intake of antioxidant
nutrients that prevent free-radical damage. Endotoxins are toxic chemicals
produced by harmful intestinal bacteria. Undesirable changes in the composition
of the intestinal flora and resulting overgrowth of the small intestine with
undesirable bacteria and fungi commonly results from antibiotics and other
immune-suppressive drugs, from low gastric acidity and from frequently drinking
alcohol.
In
addition drugs, such as aspirin and also alcohol as well as allergic
inflammations of the intestinal walls allow not only partly digested food
fragments but also bacterial endotoxins to pass into the bloodstream and
eventually into the brain where they act as neurotoxins. If the body is still sufficiently
sensitive as usually in younger individuals neurotoxins tend to produce acute
psychotic symptoms while with advancing age and insensitive bodies neurotoxins
cause chronic nerve degeneration from the destruction of nerve and brain cells.
Normally,
the liver acts as am additional filter and barrier against the invasion of
internal organs by endotoxins. However, a persistently high influx of
endotoxins combined with either food or chemical allergies or deficiencies of
protective nutrients cause the liver to degenerate, thereby losing its
detoxifying abilities. There are many studies showing the connection between
intestinal bacteria, endotoxins, liver damage and finally diseases of the
central nervous system. Therefore, the central medical feature of Parkinson's
disease may well be liver damage caused either by environmental chemicals and
drugs by hidden allergies and endotoxins or by a combination of these factors.
This
means that the treatment of Parkinson's disease should focus on improving liver
functions by substituting the outlined negative factors for positive ones. This
entails the living in an unpolluted environment, eating low-allergy food which
is free of agricultural and added food chemicals, avoiding alcohol and
unnecessary drugs, drinking clean water, normalising the intestinal flora with
a high intake of raw food and additional cultures of acidophilus and
bifido-bacteria and using a high level of antioxidant and detoxifying nutrients
in addition to specific natural therapies to regenerate the liver. Furthermore
the blood circulation to the brain should be improved. A diet high in
chlorinated water, sugar, fat and oxidised cholesterol leads to
arteriosclerosis while even a single fatty meal impairs the blood airflow to
the brain for several hours after the meal.
A
MORE EFFECTIVE LEVODOPA THERAPY
After
several years levodopa usually begins to lose its effectiveness and higher and
higher doses are required with increasing side effects. This becomes a vicious
cycle in which after 10 to 20 years the drug becomes more or less ineffective,
causing either spastic uncontrolled movements or long periods of rigidity. This
negative spiral can be avoided or reversed by a different way of administering
levodopa.
The
eventual loss of effectiveness and increasing side effects appear to result
mainly from the oxidation of dopamine and storage of these toxic products in
brain cells, possibly blocking dopamine receptors. By trying to use always
enough levodopa to prevent off-periods, the brain becomes overloaded with toxic
or obstructive breakdown products.
Therefore,
to prevent the accumulation of breakdown products, the brain needs regular rest
periods from levodopa. This may be done by withholding levodopa every day at
bedtime and re-introducing it the following morning when the body seems to
require it. With low and moderate requirements for levodopa this is no problem
and many patients may do it like this anyway. The main problem is, of course,
with those on high levodopa intakes and frequent on - off periods. Try the
following method.
Take
the last levodopa of the day so that you can expect withdrawal symptoms or an
off period to start when you want to go to bed. To ease symptoms take the
following supplements together with the last levodopa of the day. Start with
the indicated doses but if not fully effective, experiment with different
dosages and combinations as well as different ingredients that you may want to
try out.
·
For relaxation
take 500 mg of magnesium as chelated magnesium or magnesium chloride. Try
keeping a crushed magnesium orotate (400 mg) in the mouth when going to bed.
·
1 g of
L-tryptophane or 500 mg of niacinamide help to relax
·
Antioxidants: 1-3
g of vitamin C, 500 mg of natural vitamin E tablet, grape seed extract and any
other desired antioxidant.
·
1 - 2 teaspoons
of lecithin granules (or several capsules) for relaxation and movement control.
·
Herbal sleeping
and relaxation tablets or tea.
·
Experiment with
calcium orotate and calcium EAP.
In
advanced conditions you may initially experience a period of uncontrolled
movements followed by a period of rigidity. After an hour or two your body
should relax and you hopefully fall asleep. During the night and in the morning
you may be fully mobile without any disabling side effects. However, your
energy level will be lower then when switched on levodopa and it will
progressively get lower during the morning. During this time the body operates
on dopamine stored in the brain from excess levodopa levels while being
switched on.
As
an alternative method you may take sufficient levodopa before bedtime that your
withdrawal occurs when you are asleep. If you can fall asleep in this way and
do not wake up during the night with withdrawal symptoms, then this might be
the preferred method for you.
As
soon as possible after rising have a strong coffee and the
following supplements, all designed to stimulate natural dopamine production in
order to delay the start of the daily levodopa therapy.
·
A
multivitamin-mineral tablet providing about 20 mg of vitamin B6.
·
100 - 200 mg of
magnesium as chelate or chloride.
·
1 g of
L-tyrosine.
·
Ginkgo biloba or brahmi, equivalent 2 g
of dried leaf.
·
1 g or more of
vitamin C, 500 mg vitamin E (natural tablet or mixed tocopherols), grape seed
extract, and any other antioxidants.
·
If available try
5 - 10 mg of 'activated vitamin B3' or Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD).
·
One teaspoon of
spirulina and 2 teaspoons of bee pollen dissolved in liquid.
·
Try 1 or 2 g of
L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10, ginseng, lecithin and any other supplement or remedy
that you want to try to increase energy.
Try
to delay the first levodopa tablet of the day for as long as possible, but once
started take it in sufficiently close intervals to prevent any unexpected
withdrawal symptoms before the scheduled nightly withdrawal.
With
continued therapy withdrawal symptoms hopefully will ease and ideally you may
just fall asleep without noticing distressing symptoms. Also tremors during the
day and psychiatric and behavioural problems should gradually ease or
disappear. Sufficient magnesium helps to overcome rigidity, tremors,
constipation and insomnia while sufficient antioxidants combined with nightly
withdrawal of levodopa help to overcome psychiatric and behavioural problems.
In
order to keep the nightly withdrawal period as short as possible, it may be
important to let the levodopa level drop steeply after the last tablet. It
appears that there is a range of brain levodopa levels within which
uncontrolled movements are most likely. To move quickly through this range, do
not take the last tablet after a longer time interval than previous tablets, do
not take a lower dose with the last tablet, do not take a long-acting tablet in
the afternoon and avoid any unscheduled withdrawal during the day. However,
conditions may be different for you, just experiment. Any of these, as well as
emotional, nutritional or chemical stress can increase symptoms.
Parkinson's
disease is strongly linked to pesticides and food additives, especially
synthetic colouring. Therefore, make an overall effort to live as chemical-free
as possible, but in addition have a test period for several weeks where you are
very strict in avoiding all potentially harmful influences. Buy and use only
organically grown food and use filtered or distilled water. Minimise any
chemical air pollution, including cigarette smoke. Instead of taking coloured
tablets, use capsules with white powder. That means if you are on Sinemet
tablets, switch temporarily to Madopar 200/50 capsules and ingest only the
powder itself without the coloured gelatine capsules. Alternatively,
temporarily replace the blue 250 mg Sinemet tablets with the yellow 100 mg
tablets. If you improve during this time, re-introduce your usual foods one by
one to find out which items cause problems and avoid these in future.
Annetta
Freeman cured herself of Parkinson's disease with an extensive (and expensive)
supplement program. Unfortunately, some of the supplements are no longer
available due to the action of health authorities. Nevertheless see her
articles on www.ceri.com and specifically www.ceri.com/parkpage.htm .
Drug
Holiday
The
best way to improve advanced Parkinson's disease, especially if levodopa
therapy is no longer effective, is to have a 'drug holiday'. This should
improve the response to levodopa and reduce any side effects. It may ideally be
done in a health retreat but is possible at home. It is best to wait with this
until the proposed drug, supplement and diet program is already in effect for
several weeks or months. For up to one week try to leave off all levodopa,
while continuing with a high intake of supplements and fresh vegetable juice,
preferably including ample grass juice or alternatively barley grass juice
powder.
Oxygen
therapy may be helpful, especially in the form of a good or medical type air
ioniser. Also an oxygen mask can be very helpful when not on daily levodopa
therapy, and may greatly reduce the need for levodopa; however it is
detrimental while on daily levodopa, as it causes dopamine to be oxidised at an
increased rate, thereby intensifying drug side effects.
Deprenyl or Selegeline
Deprenyl
is a selective mono-amine oxidase inhibitor that slows the breakdown of
dopamine in the brain, thereby reducing the need for levodopa by up to 30% and
greatly extending the time after diagnosis of Parkinson's disease before
levodopa therapy is required. However, this levodopa-sparing effect gradually
diminishes with long-term use. There is also evidence that it has a protective
effect on brain cells as compared to levodopa, which appears to lead to more
rapid deterioration. I prefer deprenyl to any of the
other Parkinson drugs.
Deprenyl
got a bad press from a report in 1995 by the P.D. Research Group of the U.K.
that showed an increased mortality from taking levodopa
combined with deprenyl. This finding is very strange
in that the increased death rate occurred only for about 6 - 12 months in the
middle of the 6-year study. A more recent study published by the American
Academy of Neurology demonstrated that deprenyl in
combination with levodopa is safe and the death rate with this combination was
lower than with levodopa alone.
THE
DIET
The
following diet recommendations are offered as an ideal to show in which
direction to proceed. It is up to you to decide how fast and how far to move in
the indicated direction.
The
main principle is to use an abundance of nutrients with the ability to
regenerate the body, and especially the brain. This means the diet should be
predominantly fresh, raw and organic. Most of the brain, nervous system and
cell walls consist of unsaturated fatty acids and other lipids, such as lecithin.
Therefore, unheated fats and oils are a top priority. Most beneficial are the
omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils, and arachidonic acid and phospholipids in raw
egg yolk. Also good are high-quality linseed or flaxseed oil, extra virgin
olive oil and fresh coconut milk. Raw fats and oils also help to detoxify the
body in a gentle way.
Next in importance
are unheated proteins, including (minced) meat from free-ranging or organically
raised animals, fish and other seafood, sprouted or fermented seeds, spirulina,
pollen and ground linseed. For details see the High-Quality
Diet and the Raw Food Diet. As protein can
interfere with the absorption of levodopa, it is best to have just protein
snacks or small protein portions during the day and a bigger protein meal in
the evening after taking the last levodopa of the day. Always take levodopa 20
to 30 minutes before any protein. Other beneficial foods are bone broth (see Recipes), purple
foods and fresh vegetable and grass juice, use
uncontaminated water. Avoid or minimize foods that are restricted in the
High-Quality Diet.
Supplements
You
may try the following supplement program, and adjust it to your needs. Soon
after rising take a multivitamin-mineral tablet, 1 g of the amino acid
L-tyrosine (before any food), 1-3 g of vitamin C, 500 mg of natural vitamin E
as tablet, grape seed extract, L-carnitine, the herbs ginkgo biloba, brahmi, ginseng, and any
other remedy that may increase energy levels. Shortly afterwards take a
spoonful of spirulina with 2 spoonfuls of bee pollen in some juice.
At
lunchtime again take vitamin C, E, grape seed extract and possibly ginkgo biloba, brahmi and ginseng. With
the evening meal or with the last levodopa of the day take 500 mg of magnesium
as chelate or magnesium chloride, 1 g of the amino acid L-tryptophane (take
before food), 1-3 g of vitamin C, 500 mg of vitamin E and grape seed extract.
Instead of tryptophane you may get similar benefit from 500 mg of niacinamide.
As
a general rule, take 500 - 1000 mg of the amino acid tyrosine before meals
whenever you are not on levodopa at the time in order to stimulate dopamine
production. Experiment with a multivitamin-mineral tablet with lunch and
evening meal; continue using it only if it seems to be beneficial.
Shaking
may improve with high amounts of vitamin B6 (up to 500 mg daily) and magnesium
(up to 1000 mg) in divided doses and gradually increasing amounts. However,
high amounts of vitamin B6 interfere with levodopa medication, and you may need
to stop using it while experimenting with vitamin B6. During stressful periods
you may keep a lightly chewed tablet of 400 mg magnesium orotate in the mouth.
Various
other supplements may be tried to improve vigour and wellbeing. Take a capsule
of shark or halibut liver oil with most meals; additional magnesium as well as
kelp, lecithin and ground linseed (keep refrigerated). Use additional selenium
if it is not provided with the trace mineral supplement.
The
herb milk thistle helps to improve liver functions. In advanced conditions
vitamin B12 (1000 mcg) may initially be injected once a week, or a vitamin B12
tablet may be absorbed under the tongue. Royal Jelly may help regenerating the
body; take it before meals. Coenzyme Q10 improves energy production; the herbs
Ginkgo biloba, Brahmi and Fo-ti-tieng are specific brain and gland tonics. Not all of
these need to be taken, just try out what is available and see what works best
for you. Also experiment with other supplements that appeal to you.
Increase
amount and variety of supplements gradually and after improvement reduce to a
comfortable maintenance dose. The more you adopt the suggested raw food diet
the less supplements may be required. Various Bach Flower Remedies and other
Flower Remedies may be used to improve the emotional response. Also see www.ceri.com/parkpage.htm for a
comprehensive and successful supplement program.
ADDITIONAL
THERAPY
Clean
your body of microbes and parasites by using a Beck-type electronic zapper and
magnetic pulser; see the article Electronic Zapper
& Magnetic Pulser. Initially use the pulser for only a few pulses on
the spine and top of the head, as this may produce a strong reaction. Gradually
extend the exposure time depending on your body reactions.
To
ease tremors and muscle rigidity have a hot magnesium chloride or Epsom salts
bath about once a week. Buy a fertiliser bag of magnesium salts and use half to
one kg of it for each bath. Use just enough water to cover the body to make it
as strong as possible. After the bath it is beneficial to wrap yourself in
sheets and blankets and induce sweating. At other times have a foot bath with a
hot and strong magnesium chloride solution before bedtime to help relax and
make it easier to fall asleep. This foot bath may be re-heated on subsequent
evenings.
Preferably
have regular professional deep tissue massage, alternatively a friend or
relative may press hard into tense muscles, hold the pressure for a minute or
two and knead tense muscles. In addition have gentle relaxing massages. Also
have foot reflexology done, especially pressing the brain and neck areas around
the big toes, all of the spine, the liver and abdominal reflex areas (see Reflexology) and wherever you find a spot that is
tender when pressed. Repeat this once or twice a week.
To
improve the blood flow to the brain try sleeping with the head lower than the
feet, e.g. raise the foot end of the bed by the height of one or two bricks.
Also build or acquire a slant-board on which you can rest and meditate with the
head considerably lower than the strapped feet. Alternatively, you may acquire
inversion equipment to hang upside down.
Frequently
do deep breathing-tensing exercises: inhale deeply while tensing all muscles,
hold for several seconds and exhale while fully relaxing. Repeat this
frequently during the day. Another important exercise is to circle the head 10
- 20 times in each direction, also try to let the head drop with a jerk to each
side.
Preferably
have your neck vertebrae and spine checked by an osteopath or chiropractor and
adjusted if required. Intentional vigorous shaking exercises help to reduce
involuntary shaking or tremors. You may do it with the arms, head and torso,
but also in a sitting or lying position with the legs in addition. At the same
time breathe very deep and fast. This will release a lot of built-up tension.
However, when you are resting, it helps you to relax if you intentionally
breathe deeply but very slowly with a long drawn-out exhalation and a pause
between inhalation and exhalation. After intentionally shaking and stopping the
shaking, you may be able to learn intentionally stopping involuntary shaking in
the same way.
Practise
meditation - mind exercises daily, see Mind Tools.
At first meditate for 15 - 30 minutes or do a deep relaxation exercise and then
visualise intense white healing energy entering the top of your head, filling
and revitalising your brain. Imagine this healing energy repairing all faulty
brain cells. You may visualise the substantia nigra, where most of the dopamine
is produced, as a small, grey area deep within your brain. As you look more
closely, you see a mixture of white and black cells, the black ones producing
dopamine and the white cells being unable to produce it. Now, as the healing
energy lights up and fills your brain, more and more of the white cells become
black while starting to produce dopamine until the whole of the substantia
nigra is now black instead of grey.
In
addition, see my articles The Love Cure and Bio-Energies and try to learn and do the
recommended exercises, especially energising the brain, the crown chakra and
circulating the energies. Either do your own form of energising exercise or learn
one of the various forms of Qigong.
Then
you imagine doing various tasks that are usually causing problems. Visualise
doing these tasks in a perfect way, as you would like to do them that is
without any tremors and with good muscle coordination. During the day, whenever
you encounter problems, or want to perform a difficult task, close your eyes
for a short period and several times envisage performing the task in a perfect
way. Then confidently do it.
Janice
Walton-Hadlock claims several complete cures and a
large number of substantial improvements using a Chinese type of bio-energy
treatment combined with acupuncture to restore proper energy flows along
acupuncture meridians. She believes the original cause of this energy blockage
to be a foot injury, but this blockage could also be due to emotional problems
and that is what I believe. Anyway, restoring the energy flows also seems to
cure the emotional problems as patients typically experience conscious panic
attacks in the final stages of recovery. From her website www.pdtreatment.com you may download a
book with instructions for therapists and another one for patients. I also
found the article by Clement Meadmore
very good about learning to move without the need for dopamine.
In
order to normalise the flow of energy through the acupuncture system you may
experiment with meridian therapy, tracing acupuncture meridians with your
fingers, with magnets or with your mind, see Acupressure
& Meridian Therapy. Most important appear to be the stomach, bladder
and governing meridian. Furthermore, deep needling of point DU16 (or Gv16) of
the governing meridian at the top of the spine (near the Atlas vertebra) was
reported to be of great benefit with Parkinson's disease. However, this point
is very difficult and dangerous to needle. Therefore you may try laser
acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, magnet treatment (try each pole separately
for some time and see which gives the better response) and press therapy on
this point.
THE
EMOTIONAL CAUSE & CURE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE
I
regard the emotional component as the key to the cause and cure of genuine or
idiopathic Parkinson's disease. I have come to the conclusion that the real
underlying cause is an inappropriate response to panic situations. Instead of
fighting or running away in a situation of extreme danger, the Parkinson
personality will freeze up and 'play dead'. One may be born with this trait or
it may be acquired in this lifetime.
If
born with it, then in a frightening situation already as a baby or small child
this personality type will freeze rather than scream and thresh about with arms
and legs. There is a 'frozen panic' at the bottom of this personality, which
causes them to move fearfully through life. However, the affected individual or
friends and family members are usually not aware of this. Commonly it is
covered by a rather rigid and inflexible personality that tries to control
events and conditions in order not to be suddenly confronted by unexpected and
potentially frightening situations.
The
following case history may be typical for an acquired 'freeze-response'. This
individual was a bomber pilot during the Second World War. Over the Strait of
Dover his plane was hit and started burning. He was extremely frightened but
remained outwardly calm at the controls. Several years later he started
developing signs of Parkinson's disease.
In
the case of an 'inherited' freeze-response regression therapy revealed an
experience in which the patient was being burnt as a witch at the stake. Lately
she had been so afraid of fire that she even froze when just watching a fire on
television. After I suggested during regression that she mentally free herself
of the ropes and run away, she was no longer afraid of fire and her Parkinson
symptoms considerably improved. Another patient recalled during regression
having been killed in the previous incarnation by frightened bolting horses.
My
understanding of the connection between an inappropriate panic response and
Parkinson's disease is about as follows. There is a two-way communication between
the movement centres in the brain and related muscles. While dopamine dependent
nerve impulses stimulate and control muscle action, there is also a
communication from the muscles to the brain, relating the responsiveness or
ability of the muscles to move. Muscles, like every other part of the body,
retain a memory of past traumas. This can be shown with regression and similar
therapies. However, in this case it is not just a mental memory, the real
damage is done by 'frozen emotions'.
The
emotions are the connecting link between the mental level and the bio-energy
flows in the acupuncture meridians. The frozen emotional energy slows the
meridian flows in the affected muscles and leads to increased rigidity and
spasticity by affecting neuromuscular receptors and other biochemical
parameters. This in turn leads to a reduced communication from the muscles to
the brain, thus weakening the energetic as well as biochemical structures of
the muscle control centres in the brain.
This
makes these control centres susceptible to other harmful influences, be it
emotional stress, vitamin-mineral deficiencies, endotoxins and microbes as well
as chemical toxicity from the environment. I also noticed a connection with
dislocations in the spine, which interfere with the movements of cerebrospinal
fluid and energies within the spine. A combination of all of these factors may
gradually lead to the degeneration of the substantia nigra and related
structures.
Furthermore,
it is known from Reichian or bio-energetic bodywork that
the freezing of one important segment of the emotions leads to a general
suppression or inappropriate response to all emotions. If the affected
individual would start to feel strong negative emotions and especially anxiety,
there would be an imminent danger that the memory of the frozen panic could
awaken and emotionally overwhelm the mind and body. This must not happen and
the only way the individual can keep suppressing any arising strong and
potentially terrifying emotions is by tensing the affected muscles. While this
gradually leads to more and more emotional and bodily rigidity and maintains
the inappropriate body responses in the face of danger, this is the price that
the individual subconsciously is willing to pay for keeping the panic memory from
becoming conscious.
This
basic underlying cause of P.D. needs to be removed if one wants to have any
real chance of overcoming the disease. The key to removing the memory of the
frozen panic from the body is to become conscious of it and emotionally relive
it. This may be done with regression therapy, although one needs to be aware
that there may be several incidents in different time frames. As the
subconscious mind is very reluctant to revisit traumatic incidents, it needs to
be firmly guided in the desired direction and many attempts may have to be
made. Most promising is likely to be the exploration of the death experience in
the previous incarnation. If successful, then initially the panic-causing
incident will only be contacted at the mental or intellectual level. Repeated
regressions need to lead deeper and deeper into the emotional aspects of it
until the full emotional impact can be felt. This will be a terrifying
experience with possibly strong bodily manifestations and requires the presence
of a competent therapist, guide or helper.
Normally
it will be necessary to get a professional therapist who is experienced with
regression work. However, you may do some preliminary or additional work with
the help of a reliable friend as described in Mind
Tools. After a panic situation has been made conscious, it is equally
important to relive it again during regression with the suggestion to act
appropriately now and to use guided imagery for this purpose. In addition, use
guided imagery during relaxation or meditation periods to imagine using the
body appropriately in a variety of dangerous situations.
Until
the individual becomes fully aware of the hidden panic, he or she will continue
to prevent actually feeling anxiety and other negative emotions by increasing
muscle tension which in turn reinforces the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
With this, the severity of Parkinson symptoms can fluctuate very much according
to the momentary emotional condition. While good nutrition and supplements can
more or less remove most of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and improve the
overall energy level, a real or complete cure should include both, emotional as
well as nutritional therapy.
Mark
Hurni made a great contribution to the understanding
of the emotional component of Parkinson's disease by observing his bodily
reactions to emotional challenges. He started developing symptoms of
Parkinson's disease in 1990. Instead of using drugs, he decided to try
body-based psychological therapies to heal his emotions. His web site makes
interesting reading, see www.parkinsonforum.com.
However,
the primary mechanism by which frozen emotions cause Parkinson's disease is by
blocking or distorting energy flows in the acupuncture meridians and the crown
chakra. Regression in a case that I investigated more closely revealed freezing
up already as a baby in response to fearful situations. However, the symptoms
of Parkinson's disease appeared in adult life shortly after chiropractic
manipulation of the top vertebra or Atlas.
This
close connection between emotions and energy flows gives us the additional
possibility to cure this disease with acupuncture and bio-energy treatment as
demonstrated by Janice Walton-Hadlock. Instead of or
in addition to her methods you may experiment with acupressure, reflexology,
meridian therapy, Reiki and other types of energy healing. Whatever method you
use, I believe that it will be best to start with removing the blockage at the
foot end of the stomach meridian (St42) as identified by Janice. This involves
gently holding the patients ankles with opposite hands (right hand to left
ankle and left hand around right ankle) for extended periods. I believe it is
best for a female to work with a male patient and vice versa for a more
effective exchange of energy. Eventually the increased energy flows will
automatically bring the suppressed emotions up to the conscious level and thus
remove their blocking effect on the free flow of energies. Ideally, you may
combine regression and other mind therapies with bio-energy work, nutrition,
suitable remedies and cleansing for a concerted effort of holistic healing.
Warning: As Janice Walton-Hadlock
found and I can confirm it is very dangerous to continue using levodopa after
the patient has greatly improved. As long as there is a genuine deficiency of
dopamine there is no problem, but when the patient has improved to a point
where he or she can live without levodopa, even if there is still profound
weakness, then this drug becomes highly addictive and it will be nearly
impossible to withdraw from it. Dopamine is the most addictive substance in the
world.
I
had a patient who came back from “terminal” PD with 2500 mg of levodopa daily,
to be for 6 weeks without the drug. But to get well quicker she started again
taking it. Now she was her normal self moving around freely in the morning
before taking levodopa, and afterwards she was a disabled PD patient with changed
personality. The more she increased the amount of levodopa the more she
deteriorated. Her relatives tried to get her into hospital for a drug
withdrawal under sedation. Her psychiatrist insisted that she first try EFEXOR,
an antidepressant, although she was not depressed. The first tablet that she
took caused strong uncontrolled movements and a few hours later she was
dead.
SUMMARY
The original cause of
Parkinson's disease appears to be a blockage of energy flows in the acupuncture
meridians to and from the brain, mainly involving the governing and the stomach
meridians. Typically, this blockage was caused by an inappropriate panic
response, by freezing up instead of acting appropriately. However, it may also
be caused by an accident to the back of the head or the spine that more or less
blocks the energy flow up the spine along the governing meridian, commonly
involving injury to or displacement of the Atlas or top vertebra. In addition
there may be chemical injury to the movement centers
of the brain. Assessment of the emotional condition of the patient should be
able to determine whether the original cause was mainly emotional, chemical or
accidental.
In
any case, restoring the proper energy flows in the acupuncture meridians to and
from the brain is able to remove the emotional blockage as well. This process
may be aided by suitable emotional therapies. With proper nutritional support
the brain may then begin to regenerate. During recovery, symptoms may change.
Tremors may disappear and freezing up may be replaced by periods when the body
appears to experience panic attacks but without any inner feelings of anxiety
or fear. These will only be felt in the last stages of recovery.
In
conclusion we may state the main rule of Parkinson's disease as follows: Until
anxiety and panic can be felt at the emotional level and lead to appropriate
physical action, they will continue to manifest as the bodily symptoms of
Parkinson's disease. To summarise the main steps to reverse this disease:
·
Use regression to
become conscious of incidents of frozen panic in your past.
·
Use bio-energy
work, including acupuncture, acupressure, meridian therapy, to restore energy
flows.
·
Use guided
imagery to train your body to react appropriately in dangerous situations.
·
Use guided
imagery to circulate the energies and visualise regenerating your brain.
·
Use chakra
meditation to activate the chakras, focusing especially on the crown
chakra.
·
Do appropriate
bodywork to learn feeling and expressing your negative emotions, especially anxiety.
·
Use levodopa in
minimum dosage with nightly withdrawal periods.
·
Use appropriate
remedies and supplements, especially antioxidants, brain chemicals and
magnesium.
·
Aim to detoxify
the body with a Juice Diet or a similar cleansing method.
·
Use increasing
amounts of bee pollen, sprouted seeds, spirulina and fresh (or dried) juice of
young grasses.
·
Use antimicrobial
therapy, including Beck-type electronic zapper and possibly magnetic pulser.
·
Have spinal
therapy and plenty of massage.
Update
November 2011
I am now convinced that PD is an autoimmune disease.
This is supported by the latest research findings (e.g. Genetic
link shows PD is autoimmune disease). An autoimmune attack typically
involves the weakest organ or gland, one that has already deteriorated because
of pre-existing problems such as emotional and other factors discussed in this
article. Therefore, in addition to improving these other factors, a suitable
anti-microbial therapy needs to be adopted. My article Pleomorphic Microbes - The Hidden Cause of
Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases explains the importance of cleaning and vitalizing the blood by removing
an overgrowth of pathological microbes. This then allows the immune system to
remove such microbes also from other affected organs and glands and with this
end the immune attack. Finally, with the support of emotional healing and a
high-quality diet the dopamine-producing cells can gradually be regenerated. For
further information also see How to
Overcome Chronic and Autoimmune Diseases – a blueprint for all chronic
diseases, and The Ultimate
Cleanse for systematic antimicrobial therapy.