Most people buy into the belief that once diagnosed, the Parkinson’s prognosis is that you are destined to get worse.
No hope.
No chance of recovery.
No chance to get your life back.
No wonder so many people are depressed!
But …. Is this really true? Everyone in the medical community claims it to be true, but I ask you, what evidence do they provide to support their depressing claim you will inevitably get worse? I have seen no evidence.
I have now provided compelling evidence for the past decade that the belief Parkinson’s is degenerative is false. People do recover. People do get their life back. Symptoms can be reversed.
In my holiday survey I ask the question: over the past year since the last holiday season, have you been feeling better, about the same or worse? There are three choices.
If the claim Parkinson’s is degenerative is true, 100% of the respondents to my survey would report they are worse. This is not the result reported this year or any of the past years of my survey. This year, as in past years, two thirds of respondents (66%) report that they have either been better or about the same.
People diagnosed with Parkinson’s have found ways to reverse their symptoms or at a minimum not get worse. They also elect to embrace a wide variety of natural therapies.
Many people ask me what is the one therapy they should embrace to reverse their symptoms. When the success stories of people who have reversed their symptoms are examined, there is no single successful therapy that works for all persons other than the strong and compelling belief that recovery is possible for anyone.
Despite frustrations and roadblocks, know that in your heart, mind and soul that recovery is possible. Make your Parkinson’s prognosis a positive one.
It would seem the delta variant of Covid is responsible for spreading the
disease more quickly that the original Covid 19. What can you do if you are infected with either virus?
Of course, check with your medical doctor immediately. I am not a medical doctor, but I wanted you to know what my own doctor recommended if I or a member of my family is infected.
Anti-histamines Help Knock Out the Delta Variant of Covid
My own doctor recommended that I take antihistamines if infected with the Delta Variant of the corona virus. There are a variety of over the counter options. My naturopath has some high quality anti-histamine options which I decided to order in case someone in my family is infected. I recommend you check with your own doctor about natural alternatives that might recommend or have available.
Changing your diet should also help. Incorporate fresh foods like fruits and vegetables, fresh meat seafood, and whole grains. I found this listing of foods on the internet that contain high histamines which should be avoided:
Fermented dairy products, such as cheese (especially aged), yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, and kefir.
Fermented vegetables, such as sauerkraut and kimchi.
Pickles or pickled veggies.
kombucha.
cured or fermented meats, such as sausages, salami, and fermented ham.
Summary
If you get infected with the Corona 19 virus or any of its spin offs, my doctor tells me taking anti-histamines and changing your diet can offer welcome relief from your symptoms. She said any over the counter anti-histamine product would likely help offer symptom relief. Most naturopaths have high quality anti-histamine supplements available, so no matter what, be sure and check with your doctor about any specific options they recommend.
John Coleman’s new book, Rethinking Parkinson’s Disease, is to date the most thorough exploration of the etiological pathways (causes) leading to diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease or similar neuro disorders.
This is the replay of my interview with John on Parkinsons Recovery radio last Saturday
John explains how and why trauma, toxins and stealth infections create symptoms diagnosed as a “disease” such as Parkinson’s and responds to a number of questions submitted by listeners of Parkinsons Recovery Radio.
A surprising number of persons diagnosed with Parkinson’s have spent their entire life caretaking others rather than taking care of themselves. Friends and family alike become familiar with the “always available and reliable” caretaker of the family who is too often you!
Since caretaking is such a huge issue for persons traveling down the road to recovery, here are critical rules of caretaking to always keep close to your chest.
Always – day in and day out – give to yourself the same care and attention that you give to others. This is the number one rule for a reason. Most caretakers violate it all the time.
You are not an endless resource for others to take advantage of anytime of the day or night. When you are not taking good care of yourself, you can be of little help to others. Why?
Your energy will deplete.
Your health will deteriorate.
You will resent taking care of others.
Your needs will be different from your family and friends.
You do not need to feel guilty about saying “no” to requests for assistance.
 Taking time for unwinding is time well spent. How do you best unwind? (Note the question is not how should you unwind or how do others unwind.) What helps you relax, chill out and have fun? Do it.
Not occasionally.
Every day.
You are not being selfish by taking time every day for yourself and only yourself. If you do not take time out of every day for yourself, you will do a lousy job when you are caretaking family and friends.
In summary, once a caretaker, always a caretaker. The recommendation here is simple: Just be a top notch caretaker of yourself.
The big picture: Light Therapy has the potential to address constipation.
Parkinson’s symptoms originate in the gut.
Heal gut issues and symptoms will begin to resolve
Do you have constipation? The constipation must be reversed for you to get relief from symptoms. There are many potential remedies for constipation. Most therapies infuse the gut with one form of probiotics or another. Certain foods can also promote healthy bacteria in the gut.
Light therapy may also offer the possibility of infusing the gut with good bacteria. No need to take a probiotic supplement here!
Animal Studies find that light therapy promotes healthy bacteria in the gut. If this happens with animals, I am guessing humans will achieve similar results.
Many of you have been using the X-Plus Vielight light therapy to address symptoms such as memory impairment.. The class encourages you to apply the X-Plus on your gut once a day in addition to applying the light to your mid brain.
If you do not have an X-Plus device, information is available on the Vielight website: https://www.vielight.com.
If you decide to acquire one, be sure to tell the customer representative you are a Parkinsons Recovery member. The will apply a 10% discount. If you order the device from their website, the 10% discount will be applied on the shopping cart if you enter the coupon code healing4me.
The company gives you 6 months to try out their devices. If it does not offer symptom relief, you can always return the used product for an 80% refund. The risk is minimal.
Studies now conclusively demonstrate that EMFs (electromagnetic fields) – which we are all exposed to – causes a wide range of illnesses including neuro-degenerative conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, autism, infertility, unwanted genetic mutations and even cancer. This is the health crisis of this century.
Most people do not take this problems seriously. Effects are not immediate nor are they felt by most people. They are cumulative.
EMF effects scramble the energy field which derails normal functions. Studies show that a modest exposure to smart phones clogs up blood cells. Blood transforms into cells that stick together like globs of jelly of different shapes//
Why is this a problem? Blood cells that stick together cannot pass through the small capillaries of the body which feed 75 percent of the cells. The size of the globs is too great to pass through the tiny passageways of capillaries.
Are you perplexed because your detox problem is not showing the results expected? There is no way toxins will be eliminated from the cells if your circulation cannot access them. One factor could well be your continuous exposure to EMFs.
In this video I emphasize one small step you can take to reduce EMF exposure from one source: your smart phone. Do not put the cell phone against your ear when you talk. Use headphones (not ear plugs and certainly not a blue tooth).
Dozens and dozens of natural therapies have been discovered that help reverse symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. I want you to know about several little known therapies in particular.You are invited to watch videos I prepared that explain them. To do so, click on the secure link below. Then, enter your first name and email address in the fields provided. I will then email you links to the videos I have prepared for you to watch over the coming week.
Results of the 2019 Holiday Parkinsons Symptoms Survey
Results of the 2019 Parkinsons Recovery Survey that asked about Parkinsons symptoms replicated results from previous annual surveys.
Bottom Line Result: Parkinson’s is not degenerative.
I asked members of the global Parkinsons Recovery audience who currently experience the symptoms of Parkinson’s to report how they were doing relative to one year ago. Here is the question:
Since last holiday season in 2018 have you been feeling better, the same or worse overall?
One hundred and five (105) individuals responded to the survey. If you happen to buy into the false belief that Parkinson’s is “degenerative” people should report feeling worse with each passing year. They will not report that they felt better or have been feeling about the same as last year.
More explicitly, if Parkinson’s is in fact “degenerative” the following results would be reported:
Number feeling better – 0
Number feeling the same 0
Number feeling worse- 105
Only such a result would confirm the false belief that Parkinson’s is “degenerative.” This false belief is never qualified: Everyone is “expected” to be worse off. Isn’t this what you have been told?
This was not – I repeat not – the result of the 2019 Parkinsons Recovery survey. Sixty four percent (64%) of the respondents reported that they were either feeling about the same or better than a year ago.
Number feeling Better – 19
Number feeling the same – 49
Number feeling worse- 37
Isn’t this result exciting news?
I also asked respondents to list any and all therapies that helped them feel better. Dozens of natural therapies were reported to help reverse symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. I want you to know about several in particular that were reported to have been helpful so I shot videos about a few of them.
To access these video presentations click on the secure link below. Then, enter your first name and email address in the fields provided. I will email you links to the videos
I have prepared for you to watch.
So, click on the secure link below then enter your first name and email address to receive links to the videos:
Since 2004 I have been documenting natural therapies for Parkinson’s disease that offer relief from Parkinsons symptoms. These discoveries have inspired the following conclusions:
Dozens of natural therapies are effective in reversing Parkinsons symptoms
No therapy helps everyone.
This week I administered a survey asking members of my global audience to report what natural therapies offer relief from their symptoms. Results re-confirmed my conclusions:
There are a surprising number of natural therapies that offer relief.
No therapy helps everyone.
Everyone discovers a unique set of therapies that work for them.
One respondent from Australia reported they had not tried any natural therapies. Is this also the case for you?
May the following summary of responses serve as an inspiration to try one or more of the natural therapies reported in this Parkinsons Recovery Survey.
Responses to the Parkinsons Recovery September 2019 survey are reported next. Informational resources that relate to the therapies reported to have been helpful are also included in this post.
Listing of Natural Therapies for Parkinsons Disease
Respondents were asked to list natural therapies that helped them experience relief from symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. What follows is an unedited listing of responses that were received. My analysis of responses is provided in the following clip.
Report from Germany: Photobiomodulation (vielight neuro gamm and x-plus), medical mushrooms (neuromykon of dr myko san, zagreb, croatia)
Report from Arizona: Herbal supplements, Emotion Code therapy
Report from New York: High dose vitamin B1 (thiamin hcl)
Report from Nevada: Mucuna. lithium orotate
Report from Italy: Cold water on hands
Report from Switzerland: Ayurveda
Report from Luxembourg: Turmeric
Report from Oklahoma: CBD OIL
Report from Alberta Canada: reflexology, coconut oil, drinking water, fellowship & interaction with others, distractions, meaningful work, spiritual time with God.
Report from Montana: neck decompression (PD bend)
Report from North Carolina: Eating nuts, all varieties, fava beans and tincture, exercise, good fresh organic fruits and veggies
Report from India: Diet , Vit b12, Vit D, exercise, yoga and meditation
Report from Australia: Bowen therapy, Castor oil packs to the abdomen, sunbaths, trans dermal magnesium, THC & THCA, mucuna puriens 98% Ldopa
Report from Virginia: exercise
Report from California: take control of your own recovery, avoid stressful situations and stressful people, adequate sleep, gentle exercise (stretching), stay active (keep moving) in your daily life, ketogenic diet (low carb, no grain, no dairy, no sugars), inclined bed therapy
Report from Minnesota: Arogalife supplements
Report from Ontario Canada: Theracycle
Report from Michigan: Manitol
Report from Quebec Canada: dancing with a smile, also gluten and dairy free, osteopathic
Report from Pennsylvania: B1
Report from United Kingdom: transcendental meditation, cranial sacral
Report from Oklahoma: CBD OIL
Report from California: Exercise
Report from United Kingdom: Cats Claw tincture
Report from California: Parkinson’s Recovery
Report from Australia: Qi Gong, Mucuna Puriens
Report from California: Wisdom healing Qigong
Report from Virginia: Fava beans and tincture, variety of nuts daily, okra, papaya, black cumin seed oil, exercise , sunshine
Report from Minnesota: Passion Flower
United States: Balance class for seniors -deep breathing- to help relax.-.
Texas: Prayer, GABA 250 mg., Qigong, yoga corpse pose, Tai Chi, cranial sacral massage, aloe vera juice, grounding feet
Report from Luxembourg: turmeric green tea
Report from Colorado: Syncolein.com
Report from California: Exercise, especially intense exercise, daily
Report from Michigan: Adherence to 7 dimensions of wellness
Report from California: Neurofeedback
Report from Michigan: fightingparkinsonsdrugfree.com has helped a lot
Report from Hawaii: Exercise daily, i.e. walking, yoga, body weight movements etc.
Report from Australia: Qigong
Report from United States: Mucuna Puriens powder, Homeopathic calming pills, enough rest, sleep
Report from Colorado: I am following the Hinz protocol (amino acids and extract of the velvet bean plant) with great success.
Report from California: PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy)
Report from Israel: Tai Chi, LDN, Rhodiola, low fat diet (almost vegan)
Report from United Kingdom: Exercise, vitamin B1 protocol, meditation
Report from Pennsylvania: supplements
Report from Pennsylvania: Meditation and yoga
Report from Minnesota: exercise
Report from Vermont: visualizing my brain and gut cells communicating instantaneously.
Report from Washington: Glutathione IV and intranasal
Report from Florida: Medical marijuana, both oils and smoking.
Report from Massachusetts: meditation and exercise, especially swimming and yoga
Report from India: i take dry coconut with turmeric and black pepper i feel this is giving me some help
Report from Vancouver Canada: Deep brain stimulator surgery
Report from Quebec Canada: swimming is a big help as well as yoga and pture
Report from California:
Parkinsons Recovery Web site-without doubt!! Hugely important keeping me on track with having positive attitude
Exercise-especially for my legs and feet
Eating healthy = NO SUGAR
Mars Venus brand Amino acid liquid shake to get protein between medication ingestions (I am on 25/100 carbidopa/levodopa)
Aquas to increase water absorption
Guided meditations daily.
Vielight neuro. This seems to loosen deep congestion in my upper head. The X seems too strong _ at least for now.
Being around special friend(s) who support me. Personally I do best with one or 2 at a time
Most people with Parkinson’s symptoms have a serious glutathione deficiency. Nasal sprays have been helpful to some people. Intravenous infusions have helped others. A new discovery reveals that glutathione can be made in the gut with the help of an enzyme called Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3.The Probiotic ME-3 Makes Glutathione in Your Gut
Natural Pharmacist Ross Pelton discussed the critical role of Glutathione for people who experience Parkinson’s symptoms during a recent radio show interview. The ME-3 new product development he discussed is previewed below.
Probiotic Research
Probiotic research is fast transforming our understanding of human health. Probiotics in general are invaluable for maintaining good health. We’re also learning we need certain strains that produce highly specified health benefits.
One of these strains is Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3. The startling probiotic breakthrough of ME-3 began in 1995. That’s when award-winning microbiologist Marika Mikelsaar, MD, PhD and her team of research scientists isolated the probiotic strain called Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3. This unique strain is able to produce the super antioxidant glutathione. Since then, Dr. Mikelsaar has dedicated herself to researching the numerous benefits of how the revolutionary probiotic ME3 makes glutathione in your gut.
What’s so Important about Glutathione?
Perhaps you’ve heard of glutathione. Every cell in the human body uses glutathione to maintain cellular health. Scientists call it the “Master Antioxidant” and it’s absolutely vital to:
Maintain a healthy immune system
Support the health of cardiovascular tissue
Promote healthy liver function
You need healthy glutathione levels. Research indicates that it breaks down during digestion. That’s where ME-3 comes in. You supplement with the ME-3 probiotic which produces the glutathione levels needed for optimal health. It’s a new paradigm.
The body makes the glutathione. It passes through the blood brain barrier because it is recognized as produced by body rather than injected from an outside source. May you enjoy learning about this discovery as much as I did.
What Is In A Name?
The brand name Reg´Activ® was created from the words “Active Regeneration. This expresses what occurs when the patented probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3 remarkably produces and recycles Glutathione, the Master Antioxidant resulting in higher levels of active glutathione functioning in the body for a longer period of time.
Cost
When you purchase from Parkinsons Recovery, 100% of the profits help subsidize the many free services that we offer. Help yourself and others by purchasing from Parkinsons Recovery.
One box lasts approximately one month when taking the recommended one capsule a day.
Click the arrow below to hear an interview with Vielight’s CEO and inventor Dr. Lew Lim who discusses his new X-Plus photobiomodulation device invention.
I want to make sure everyone knows about its availability in light of success with the previous Vielight Neuro Gamma device. First, I will offer a brief report on user’s experience with using the Neuro Gamma device which is why I am excited about Dr. Lim’s new invention – the X-Plus.
Neuro Gamma Device
Over seventy (70) members of my Parkinsons Recovery audience purchased and used
the Vielight Neuro Gamma device over the past year. The exciting news for me has been that it was one of the most frequently mentioned therapies reported to be helpful in responses to my 2018 Holiday Survey.
Vielight representatives tell me that only 1 out of 10 units were returned for an 80% refund. Nine out of ten users found the device to be beneficial. My conclusion: The Neuro Gamma has helped most – but not all users. Odds of success are clearly in your favor.
X-Plus
The new X-Plus Vielight device can be used in conjunction with the Neuro Gamma to irradiate the posterior brain with light. If you are already getting good results with using the Vielight Neuro Gamma device. consider using the X-Plus along with the Neuro Gamma. It just might provide a welcome boast to symptom relief.
The X-Plus can also be used as an independent device. The great news of the day is that the cost of the new X-Plus device is half the cost of the Neuro Gamma. It is listed as $749. The company has again agreed to offer members of Parkinsons Recovery a 10% discount on the X-Plus (as they did for the Neuro Gamma). To claim the discount enter the coupon code healing4me on the shopping cart. If you call in your order, simply tell the representative you are with Parkinsons Recovery.
I have no hesitation encouraging as many of you as possible to try the new X-Plus Device out. How come?
First, the Neuro Gamma has been a success. I am betting the X-Plus will follow suit. Dr. Lim is an amazing inventor.
Second, the company offers an 80% refund for any unit that is returned within six months of use. This gives you time to see if the therapy will prove helpful. The financial risk of trying it out is minimal since you are assured of getting 80% of your investment back.
More information about the new X-Plus Light Therapy device can be found on the Vielight website:
Can-C eye drops reduce inflammation which is the primary cause of many chronic eye diseases.
Having difficulty seeing clearly because of cataracts?
Concerned about being able to pass a vision test for a driver’s license?
Prefer to avoid cataract surgery?
If so, you need to know about Can-C eye drops. They are a natural eye drop formulated by researchers that clears cataracts for nine out of ten users according to the research studies. Here is my interview with a representative of Innovative Vision Products Jennifer Jones who answers all of my questions about these eye drops.
Studies using humans as subjects find application of Can-C cataract eye drops as recommended reverse cataracts for 90% of subjects studied who apply the drops as directed (a total of 4 drops a day).
Can-C does not show results for 100% of people, but odds of success are certainly in your favor.
It takes time to see results – an average of 3 months.
It gets inflammation in the eyes under control so the body can reverse the cataract naturally.
I have been getting feedback on these eye drops for two decades and can confirm that approximately 90-95% of users are pleased with the outcome. This is why I have no hesitation letting you know about this natural option.
In summary, if cataracts are an issue for you and you prefer to side step surgery check out these eye drops by visiting this secure website: https://www.can-c.me
Here is a list of questions about natural therapies for Parkinson’s disease that I addressed in the Q&A today:
What symptoms does the supplement 5htp address?
Is CBD oil recommended as a therapy for neurological symptoms?
Is it safe to take if I am also taking Parkinsons medications?
I have tightening in muscles in my arms and shoulders which
makes it difficult to breathe while walking. Has anyone had success
dealing with this problem?
I am taking mars venus superfood with minerals and detox lemonade. Has anyone had success with this protocol?
Had anyone ever tried near infrared saunas with any success for Parkinsons symptoms?
Please explain and compare the advantages of three therapies:
1) Electromagnetic Pulse Therapy
2) Photobiomodulation
3) Biontology
I have problems sticking with a program of recovery that is helping me
feel better. Have you witnessed this type of cycle? Please provide insights
in how to getting past this.
Why does Parkinsons progress in many Parkinsons patients? Is it psychological or is there an underling disease mechanism at play?
How about the title to this post – why do people die? It was inspired by my interview today posted above on Parkinsons Recovery Radio with Willem Visser, a craniosacral therapist.
Now, a big part of his presentation was to explain more about what craniosacral therapy is and why it helps with symptoms of Parkinsons disease. Some of you who receive regular craniosacral treatments may well conclude that you do not need to take 30 minutes out of your day to listen to this particular Parkinsons Recovery interview that I hosted today.
Well, might I encourage you to listen anyway. Why? Willem summarizes the work of Aubrey de Grey, an engineer, who is now focused on answering the question posted in the title above
Now, the interesting twist to Aubrey de Greys work is that he argues it is possible to live very long lives up to 200 to 300 years. How could that be possible?
Listen to the interview to discover the answer to the question – why do people die. Your interest will be tickled too. (hint: it all has to do with cellular death).
John Rollins PhD discusses the critical role that is played by Apoptosis and why it has such a critical influence on nervous system health. What is Apoptosis? It is the body’s natural process for repairing, regenerating and destroying damaged cells. Dozens of studies on Apoptosis are being published every day. It is one of the most researched topics out there right now.
Why is that? Researchers (including myself) have just realized that understanding Apoptosis offers a genuine understanding about what the body needs to heal at the cellular level. What is the bottom line of this understanding?
Most of us actually do not have access to some of the foods that are needed for cells to rejuvenate and regenerate. This explains why so many people who have launched an A+ recovery program have still not succeeded in reversing all of their symptoms.
Dr. Rollins discusses these issues in detail and offers a little history lesson about his longtime relationship with Dr. Bill McAnalley who was a recent guest on Parkinsons Recovery Radio and founder of Aroga.
Dr. Rollins explains how Aroga products and in particular the Core Pathways, Brain and Nerve Plus and Aloe 1 support and nurture neural tissue health. For more information about Aroga food products click on the link below.
Walter Mady discusses the importance of Physical Therapy for the Parkinson’s disease patient and the factors that have made the biggest difference in addressing his own Parkinson’s symptoms.
Walter Mady has been a Physical Therapist for 28 years in the private sector. Physical Therapists are healthcare specialists utilizing their knowledge of anatomy and physiology, therapeutic exercise, and ADL modifications when treating the Parkinson’s disease patient.
He specializes in manual therapy, orthopedic physical therapy, and is a specialist in exercise recreationally and therapeutically
Walter was diagnosed in 2008 with Parkinson’s Disease..
He will discuss and stress the importance of nutrition and exercise.
Click the arrow below to hear my interview with Chris Hageseth MD:
This Parkinsons Recovery interview about shifting Parkinson’s disease mindsets is with Chris Hageseth MD who dates his first non-motor symptoms to 2004 when his sense of smell disappeared. In 2008 he developed severe constipation which he has had ever since. In 2011 he saw the emergence of a tremor in his right hand which progressed over the following year to involve his entire right side.
It went on to include stooped posture, shuffling gait, and problems with balance. A neurologist confirmed his diagnosis in 2012. He tried three different medications over the next four months but discontinued each one due to side effects or lack of efficacy.
His neurologist gave him one piece of advice: EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE.
A year later many of his symptoms had regressed. He attributed his improvement to the intensity of his exercise and taking up yoga. He established his first website: Sweating Out Parkinsons Disease. He intended to encourage other PWPs to follow his example.
By 2014 he was doing so well that he had a DAT scan to confirm the diagnosis of PD. It was positive.
Over the last year and a half, he explored why more people are not doing better with PD. It was then that he started to examine how the mind may influence the course of PD. Exercise is the key to living a full life with PD, But if the mind does not believe the degree of improvement that exercise can achieve. Then improvement will only go so far.
Because of the problem of dyskinesia developing after five years on levodopa, he thinks newly diagnosed should pursue a program of great intensity and focus and manage their minds, so they realize they can live with PD and not require levodopa.
Dr. Hageseth offers marvelous insights into how he has been able to improve his gait significantly. Mindful walking has been a key to his recovery success which encompasses:
Standing straight
Pulling shoulders back
Pitching chest out
Directing eyes straight ahead (not down)
Walk swiftly always insuring safely
Focus on making the backward arm swing more vigorous (when arm swing is an issue).
What follows below is correspondence I received from Dovida about mucuna pruriens. She is the wife of Michael Day who shares a wealth of information about Michael’s experience taking mucuna to address his Parkinson’s symptoms.
Parkinsons Recovery provides information, support and resources to individuals interested in identifying natural therapies and treatments that offer the opportunity to celebrate symptom relief.
I am taking the time to write to you today to let you know about the death of my beloved partner Michael. You might remember us – we live in Venezuela.
Both of us love what you share with the Parkinsons community. We also love and appreciate the generous time you have spent with us on the phone several times over the past 6 years. Michael contributed a deeply thoughtful piece on his relationship to this health challenge which you published on your blog a number of years ago.
I am also writing because I want to contribute to your community through an update on Michaels experience using Mucuna, which remained a very positive one up until his death. I have also included some other things he had begun to experiment with. I was not sure where to post it so that it would be read by as many people as possible. Perhaps you could choose a way to share this?
Regarding his death: Last month Michael and I both caught a virulent flu that is going around. We almost never socialize and therefore pretty much always avoid the latest flu or cold. However, it was the birthday of the woman who takes care of our apartment building whom we adore. We had given her a gift and she came upstairs to thank us. 1 hug. That is all it took.
With Michaels challenged overall health, the flu quickly became double pneumonia and 2 weeks later he died on Saturday morning, July 21st. He was 64 yrs young. He died at home with me, our friend who lives with us, and a nurse who was taking care of him with IVs, antibiotics, oxygen etc. We had done our best to create a stay at home hospital experience for him.
Michael managed to tell me he loved me earlier that morning and our friend tells me I whispered the same in his ear just before he died. My memory is a blur of those last moments. Having the neurological challenges of Parkinsons made it harder for Michael to cough out the mucous that filled his lungs.
I ask people with the same challenge to please take extra care to avoid getting a chest infection. You may be at a disadvantage and not have as strong a capability of coughing than most people.
Robert, I believe that everything is Love/Consciousness, including the bacteria that killed Michael’s body. It is not possible for anything else to be true. There is nothing in existence that is not loving awareness. All of the universe worked in harmony to carry Michael into the next stage.
Even Michael himself had made some unusual choices in the prior few weeks that greatly weakened his body. He was doing some writing and became like a man possessed, not stopping to eat or drink. It was wrecking his neurology – making his whole body writhe and shake – yet he felt compelled to keep going. I could not convince him to stop and did not try that hard either because I implicitly have always trusted Michael and his own inner guidance. Now I can look back and see how the choices were lining up to bring him to this transition from in the body to outside the body.
I have had Michaels body cremated and at some point I will take the ashes to India, a place in the sacred river Ganges. I will be staying on Isla de Margarita for now. It is a gentle place with warm ocean water and it is incredibly inexpensive to live here. $150-$200/month is plenty, which is a blessing since my body is not yet in great health (fibromyalgia) and able to work.
Michael and I were together literally almost every day of the past 29 years. I keep wondering when I am going to fall apart. But instead of crumbling I feel tremendous love and spiritual energy pouring into me, no doubt a lot coming from Michael. He is a very highly evolved soul.
My focus now is doing everything I can to let go of the chronic body pain I have carried so many years. Also, waking up and becoming established in remembering my true Self – experiencing the Oneness that Is – that is forever on my plate, too.
Mucuna Pruriens
Here is the scoop on Mucuna Pruriens for Parkinsons and a detailed description of Michaels experience with it. Some people use it as an adjunct to medication like Sinemet in order to reduce the amount of medication, and then there are people like Michael who either want a more natural approach or have too many side effects with sinemet that use mucuna exclusively. Michael was never able to tolerate any of the medications and all natural strategies had failed up until what I describe below.
Michael had tried mucuna pruriens years ago – we bought some on Amazon. What we did not realize was that Michael needed a much higher extract of mucuna. The extract you can get from mucuna is L Dopa.The stuff we bought on amazon was only 15% L Dopa. Eventually we befriended a woman in the Netherlands that was getting great results with a 98% L Dopa extract of Mucuna that she was buying from someone in Australia (who got his supply from China).The 2 main source countries are India and China.
At the point that we learned this information, Michael was in very dire straits. This was the winter of 2016. He was 97% dependent- he needed help dressing, eating, turning over in bed, covering himself with the sheet, bathing and even wiping his butt. He was considered Stage IV Tremor Dominant Parkinsons by his neurologist. He could walk a little, falling forward and grabbing the walls for support. He could barely speak at an audible level and his diction was terrible.
He would have to whisper in my ear and I would decipher it. He also had constant tremendous pain due to muscle stiffening in his arms and legs. I had started interviewing 24/7 care because it was quickly becoming more than me and our friend who lived with us could handle.
I bought some of the 98% L Dopa and within 3 weeks of starting it Michael could go outside and walk. All pain left and all neurological symptoms improved. By 6 weeks he was 100% independent and he remained 100% independent until his death in July 2018 from a flu that progressed quickly into double pneumonia. His body had desperately needed L Dopa and this high potency mucuna gave it to him. He still had some tremor and low energy but everything was better. Even skin problems cleared up.
Eventually I found a source in the US that sells 99% extract and actually charges less than anyone else. Michael started with a dose of 300 mg just to see if he could tolerate it. He was always very sensitive. The effects initially lasted 3-4 hrs. This was January 2017.
Slowly we raised the dose to 700 mg 4-5x/day and eventually 850 mg 5x/day. Over time he did require more mucuna as well as more often – every 2-3 hours. He and got up to 1200 mg 5-6x/day this past year. Most people using mucuna do not get the horrible side effect of dyskinesias (uncontrollable movements) that many people get from the drugs. At about 1200 mg mucuna, Michael did have some dyskinesia and he cut back to 1100 mg which reduced them. I know a woman that manages with 650 mg 4x/day for many years and a woman who uses a large dose of 5000 mg 3x/day for many years. Neither experience dyskinesias.
Everyone is different in terms of dose. You just start low and experiment. I have also wondered about it being even more beneficial to add in some non-L-Dopa extract version of mucuna since the entire plant has many desirable healing properties. Places like Banyan Botanicals carry good quality organic whole plant mucuna if you want to try that along with the 98-99% L Dopa extract of Mucuna.
As a reference point – at Michael’s high dose of 1100-1200 mg 6x/day, a kg that costs $185 would last 2-3 months. In recent months Michael began experimenting with adding 5HTP and L-Tyrosine to better balance out his neurotransmitters and possibly increase the benefit of the mucuna.
He learned about these additions from John Greys work on improving brain health. Michael had yet to notice any difference but it really could have been too soon to judge plus he did not take these extra amino acids consistently.
Michael was also experimenting with taking mannitol to extend the effect of the mucuna. He took 1 beano-type capsule along with it to prevent gas and bloating which can happen with mannitol. It was a little soon to tell but Michael felt it was helping and he did not get bloating.
Many people who take Parkinsons medications have to contend with nausea from the drug. It is the L Dopa/ levodopa causing nausea. Michael did get nausea when he started on mucuna, but eventually we discovered that taking about 1000-2000mg of straight Vitamin C from ascorbic acid at the same time as the mucuna worked perfectly and he never had nausea again.
This is also working to prevent nausea for some friends who are also taking mucuna. It can not be buffered C- it needs to be ascorbic acid, which thankfully is very inexpensive. (You can get ascorbic acid at a great price at the same place that sells the mucuna).
Candied ginger can also work for nausea but then you are also getting a lot of sugar so we were really happy to discover the Vit C worked. Mucuna extract is a tasteless white to off-white powder. I mixed it along with the Vit C into some room temp herbal tea sweetened with honey (preferably raw honey that has more healing properties). Honey always helped Michael swallow.
Here is the US based company I bought mucuna from at a good price. We have also referred a number of people to this source and the mucuna is helping them, too. (I am not an affiliate and I get no financial benefit if you buy here).
You will also need a good mg scale so you can be exact in your dose. Here is a link to a scale that has worked well for me.
Scale: there are similar ones on Amazon that have even better reviews, but this one has always worked for me and has not needed recalibration even after 18 months of frequent use. https://amzn.to/2BbNr0l
One more thing to mention that may help your readers.There is a Chinese Herbal Formula that has helped many people with tremors. a friend of Michaels has used it for many months with great benefit. Michael had barely started it when he died so I can not comment on his experience.