| Home > Conditions / Ailments > Parkinsons Disease >Parkinsons Disease ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Back to Top ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ General Description
Parkinsons disease affects about 50,000 Americans annually. It is characterized by a severe shortage of dopamine. Parkinsons is due to degeneration of brain cells in an area of the brain known as the substantia nigra, which produces dopamine, a chemical messengeralso called a neurotransmitter. Dopamine relays the command to move from the brain to the body. It carries the message between synapses in the brain and tells the body how and where to move, it enables people to move normally. Without dopamine, people develop various movement problems, including slow movements, tremors, especially in the hands, and muscle stiffness or rigidity. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Back to Top ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Possible Causes
A defective gene was recently found in families with high incidences of Parkinsons disease. Researchers believe that in most cases, genetic factors may not be completely responsible for causing the disease. They believe that Parkinsons is usually the results of a combination of a genetic predisposition and exposure to a yet unidentified environmental trigger.
As a person ages there is a natural loss of some dopamine producing cells. In some cases however, for unknown reasons, there is a drastic reduction of these cells. When the reduction in dopamine reaches 80% symptoms of Parkinsons develop.
Liver toxicity may underpin this condition, the liver processes the blood which flows to the brain, detoxifying the liver will eliminate chemicals and environmental toxins. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Back to Top ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Possible Symptoms and Complications
Rigidity and an increased stiffness in the muscles. A mask-like expression of the face. In some, rigidity leads to pain, especially in the arms and shoulders.
Tremors are the symptom which is typically associated with Parkinsons. When it is present, the tremor may be worse on one side of the body. Tremors affects the limbs, hands, head, neck, face, and jaw.
Sluggishness or slowness of movement also called Bradykinesia. Characterized by a delay in movements, caused by the brain slowly transmitting the necessary instructions to the involved parts of the body.
Poor balance, and walking problems, usually develop, particularly when there is a sudden change in the position of the body. Some people with Parkinsons experience repeated falls and broken bones due to poor balance. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Back to Top ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Possible Treatments
- Drugs, mainly Levodopa a dopamine precursor, it is transformed into dopamine by the brain. Unfortunately, there are debilitating side effects, including severe nausea and vomiting.
- Other drugs Symmetrel (amantadine hydrochloride), originally an anti-flu medication, is though to work by blocking the reuptake of dopamine. Anticholinergics (trihexyphenidyl, benztropine mesylate, procyclidine, etc.) work by decreasing the cholinergic system to equal that of the dopaminergic system. Dopamine agonists, bromocriptine (Parlodel), pergolide (Permax), pramipexole (Mirapex) andropinirole (Requip), drugs that activate the dopamine receptor directly.
- Surgery to relieve the symptoms of Parkinsons. Called deep brain stimulation, it must be done while the patient remain awake and mostly consists of destroying tiny parts of the brain with electricity.
- Brain tissue transplants have produced exceptional results. Researches began these experiments using fetal tissue called stem cells, (in the news as an unethical practice), but now scientists are also working with genetically engineered cells and a variety of animal cells that can be made to produce dopamine.
- Avoid chlorinated water, sugar, iron, fat and oxidized cholesterol which encourages arteriosclerotic changes with reduced blood supply to the brain and even a single fatty meal can impair the blood flow to the brain for several hours.
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Important Supplements
- Antioxidants Antioxidants are very important supplements as they slow the progress of Parkinsons Alpha-lipoic acid, CoQ10, grape seed extract, vitamin C, vitamin E, and the trace mineral selenium are powerful antioxidants.
- Vitamin B and Folic Acid Research in people with Parkinsons disease has shown that they often have low levels of folic acid and high levels of homocysteine in their blood. Folic Acid and B-Vitamins to help reduce homocysteine levels. Researchers were able to finger homocysteine as the likely culprit behind the loss of brain cells.
- Choline Choline increases brain function; various forms include lecithin, choline/insotol, and DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol).
- Lecithin Lecithin is needed by every living cell in the human body. Cell membranes, regulate which nutrients may leave or enter the cell, and are largely composed of lecithin. Lecithin is rich in phosphatidylcholine which is the precursor for acetylcholine. Acetylcholine helps the body build and protect the neurotransmitter, like dopamine, in the brain and nervous system. Researchers are looking towards the use of lecithin to treat neurological disorders such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases due to its ability to enhance acetylcholine function.
- Passion flower Was found to improve the effectiveness of the drug L-dpa (levodopa).
- Herbs for tremors Hops, Scullcap, Passion flower, Valerian root, and Spirulina.
- Massage oils Containing Melatonin, CoQ10, or MSM, for stiff sore muscles.
- Essential fatty acids Are anti-inflammatory . Deficiency of essential fatty acids have been linked to Parkinsons. Evening primrose, black currant, borage, pumpkin seed, flax seed and fish oils.
- Amino acids Glutamic acid and GABA (Gamma-aminobutyricacid) are essential to form Neurotransmitters.
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