Guest guest Posted July 1, 2003 Report Share Posted July 1, 2003 Hello, I am interested to hear how ayurveda can help people with Parkinson's Disease. My mother was recently diagnosed and I am actively looking for alternative treatments. I look forward to receiving any advice you may be able to give me. Kindest Regards, Karen Butler Dublin - Ireland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 2, 2003 Report Share Posted July 2, 2003 Dear Karen, There are several excellent alternatives to conventional Parkinsonism therapy. Ayurvedic physicians might use a combination of cleansing therapies initially (i.e. pancha karma), followed by specific herbs and supplements to correct Vata. Among the more promising herbs is Mucuna pruriens, or Kapikachu, which has the greatest level of naturally occurring L-dopa among any plants, as well as herbs that have a stabilizing effect on CNS function, like Ashvagandha (Withania somnifera) and Bala (Sida cordifolia). Antioxidants (Amla, Brahmi, Bilberry) and cerebrovascular restoratives (e.g. Ginkgo, Brahmi, Rosemary etc) are also indicated. There are also some potentially toxic herbs that act as anticholinergics that can be helpful as well. All this is part of a comprehensive, individualized approach. While I'm not sure about Ayurvedic physicians in the UK, I know you can seek out a qualified and experienced herbalist, perhaps Ayurvedically-inclined, from the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (http://www.nimh.org.uk/). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 once again, it is important to stress that a discussion group like this is not a place to get a "cure" for anything, let alone a serious brain disorder like Parkinson's (PD) any treatment is part of a holistic approach that includes diet, herbs, supplements, drugs and lifestyle changes while it probably isn't possible to completely reverse PD (at least i haven't seen it), it is definitely possible to halt or slow its progression - claims of success should be carefully scrutinized, because "success rates" can mean anything from minor to major improvements in Ayurveda PD is called kampavata, and is as the name suggests it is primarily a disorder of vata - thus therapies that help to reduce vata generally will be helpful in PD one thing i would caution is going on to l-dopa too soon - it appears to be a one way ticket to dyskinesia there are a number of herbs that can potentiate the body's own production of l-dopa, and foods that are naturally rich in l-dopa such as fava beans - herbal sources include kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens) and astragalus - however, i would avoid the very strong kapikacchu extract that is standardized to >15% l-dopa until much later in the disease, when synthetic L-dopa is prescribed by the doctor besides this, i would recommend a number of herbs to strengthen the brain, including ashwagandha, brahmi, mandukaparni, amla, bala etc., as well as herbs to protect it from the oxidative damage that plays a role in neuronal degeneration, e.g. haridra, guggulu, bhumyamalaki, arjuna, and shilajitu etc. - half-sweet antioxidant fruits such as blueberries and raspberries, or guava and mangosteen, as well as vegetables such as garlic, onion, and leafy green vegetables are all important to eat to protect the brain - i also use some chinese herbs as well, such as reishi, astragalus and various ginsengs - organic, clean and pure foods and water is essential - avoid sweets and refined foods important supplements includes vitamins A,B,C,and E, minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, chromium and selenium, and special accessory nutrients such as coenzyme q10, omega 3 fatty acids, alpha lipoic acid and grapeseed extract topically, formulas such as balashvagandha taila as abhyanga and/or shirodhara of special note: hyperglycemia seems to be an issue in the progression of PD, and thus sweets and refined foods should be avoided - this is an important issue when later on protein is restriction is implemented to ensure the proper uptake of l-dopa- i have had patients where chronic hyperglycemia appears to be a causative factor in the development of the disease, but in whom its really to late to prevent it because the patient is on a high carb diet because of l-dopa best... todd caldecott Caldecott todd www.toddcaldecott.com On 16-Jun-05, at 2:50 AM, ayurveda wrote: > "mail_manu_unam" <mail_manu_unam > Parkinson Disease > > Friends, > > Do anyone know of cure for Parkinson Disease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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