Category Archives: About Parkinson’s Disease

Healing Parkinsons

About Parkinson's Disease, energy healing, Parkinsons, Parkinsons Disease Symptoms, Parkinsons Disease Treatment

Hello, I am so happy to have received the link to this website..VERY INSPIRATIONAL!!
I am an Energy Practitioner and Motivational Coach. I am presently healing Parkinsons with 2 clients who have been diagnosed with PD.

My 1st client, after 3 years since diagnosed, he has been doing incredible work/ inner work on himself and is transforming and shifting to a higher level of consciousness, awareness and spirituality- which is bringing him much trust, faith and hope in his recovery. His attitude is very Positive and he is feeling GOOD more than not!!! NO DRUGS!!! HE IS RECOVERING!!

On the other hand, my second client , also has been about 3 years since diagnosed.. still very depressed and closed to any new thing that I bring to him to help his attitude to guide him in the right direction of his recovery. I have directed him to this website, the blog etc.. He refuses.. but every week I continue to see him to do energy work, massage and coaching.

There are times that he gets very inspired and makes a couple of steps forward, but the majority of the time, he goes backwards. He is not getting any support or encouragement from his family- and lives in a very stressful household. I am getting frustrated as a practitioner but know only too well that everyone chooses to either heal or not.. It is in their own time and I can not force anything..

Do I continue with my therapy healing Parkinsons? I have been working with him now for about 1 1/2 years. He said that he was going to give himself til November 2008, with doing alternative work before he chooses medication.

His family wants him to go on medication, he really does not want to go on medication but does not want to do the work that will get him on the path to recovery. He is resistant to healing Parkinsons. It is a catch 22- He does not feel good, there fore he does not have the energy or motivation to do the work- but not understanding that if he does the work (yes- will be hard at first) but by continuing, he will feel better. He eats well and takes all of the supplements that is suggested but not moving his body and has become VERY STIFF AND SORE- CAN NOT MOVE.

Can you offer to me any words of advise or encouragement or support for me. If the only thing that I can do at this time is just to be there for support for him, then that is what I will continue to do, but it is frustrating watching this 36 year old man going down hill when he does not have to be. He wants to see PROOF.. Like I said, I have directed him to this website for proof but he is not looking.

Choices for Healing Parkinsons

Warm congratulations to the one client of yours who is feeling so much better. He is clearly on the path of recovery. It is a bumpy ride, so having you there will make all the difference in the world.

Your deep concern of course lies with your second client who is getting worse. Your question is : how do I help him? Your experience is very similar to my experience. Some people are deeply committed to heal and are willing to experiment until they find what approaches work for them. They do get better. I can assure you and your clients that there are many people on the path to recovery.

The second person would prefer to have someone fix them, to make the symptoms magically vanish. I don’t blame them one bit. When I have an ache – I feel the same way. Of course – no such “cure” exists with Parkinson’s, yet many people prefer to believe it will happen to them.

There are many very deep, unconscious reasons why your second client will not do anything to help himself. On the most basic level he does not have the energy to do anything but see you. A nutritional IV can help persons in such situations.

A nutritional IV is a direct infusion of essential vitamins and minerals directly into the body. It is not a chelation. It is mainlining food the body is not getting. Some naturopaths and medical doctors specialize in nutritional IV’s. It helps people get back on their feet and give a much needed burst of energy.

Second, I would recommend you suggest to him that the reasons for his symptoms may in part lie in the area of toxins. There are many gentle ways to detox the body. It sounds like to me he is not ready to address any of the stresses in his life or traumas which sound like are a key reason for the symptoms from your description. He may be open to doing a little detox work.

Third, some people – and he may be one of them – take on a condition from another family member out of love. Sometimes it is a parent or a grandparent. Sometimes it is a brother  or sister. It depends. This is an unconscious entrapment into disease (his happens  to be Parkinson’s). This is a larger family system issue that keeps people sick until they address the issue. He is unlikely to go there now, but maybe later.

Fourth, when people get stuck in the mud so to speak, I have a very counterintuitive suggestion to make. Give him a mantra to say three times a day for a week. The mantra is

I refuse to get better. I like my life just the way it is.

If he can connect that that place within himself  that refuses to heal, he may be able to move forward.  We all get stuck sometimes.

Why might he resist healing Parkinson’s? There may be negative pleasure in having the debilitating symptoms. This too is unconscious. He is not doing anything about his situation because having the disease gives him something.The condition defines his role in his family and the roles of all the other family members. If he gets better, it puts all of that delicate balance out of whack.

The point here is to make explicit his moment to moment choice to feel worse and worse.   You can talk about all the things that will happen like nursing homes and wheel chairs so the truth is spoken out loud. We all make choices in our lives. Maybe the truth of the matter is that his true (though unconscious) choice is to check out of living and die.

Having said all of this, I think the job of a therapist is to honor whatever choice a client makes. Who is to judge that his choices are not the best for him, whatever they may be? When you ask what you can do for him, I would suggest you now put this back on him.

Ask him what he needs from you. Is he interested in healing Parkinson’s? Then give it to him in a loving way – honoring whatever choices he makes. You can facilitate his journey on whatever path he choices to take. Sometimes the most loving thing to do for a client is to honor their choice to get worse.

Keep up the wonderful work healing Parkinsons.  Know in your heart that you are the perfect healer for him at this time in his life.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

© 2024 Parkinsons Recovery

5HTP for Depression

About Parkinson's Disease, Parkinsons 5htp, radio program

The following is an inspiring interview about 5HTP for depression with John Schappi in 2011. John was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in September, 2009 at age 80.

John discusses his remedies for sleep, incontinence and depression in this inspiring interview with him. Below is a marvelous review of his life. Sadly, John died in 2018. This post is celebrates his life and commitment to helping persons diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

JOHN V. SCHAPPI (Age 88) is a 1952 graduate of Cornell University, John spent nearly 40 years helping build the Bureau of National Affairs (now Bloomberg BNA) into a leading legal publisher. Hired in 1955, he later became associate editor overseeing BNA’s human resource (HR) publications. He also authored Improving Job Attendance, named to Princeton University’s 1988 list of Noteworthy Books in Industrial Relations and Labor Economics.

He retired as BNA’s HR vice president in 1994 but stayed on the company’s board of directors until 1998, completing 20 years on the largely employee-elected board. Outside of BNA, John was active in the Washington, DC, community. From 1982 – 1992, he served on the Whitman-Walker Clinic’s board of directors and as board president in 1990-1991. He was selected for the 1990-1991 class of Leadership Greater Washington and served on its board in 1993-1994.

During his retirement, John enjoyed biking, playing bridge, gardening, and attending theater and dance shows. He travelled frequently and collected friends around the globe, especially in Nepal. He continued to write, sharing his experiences on his blog, Aging, Parkinson’s and Me where is highlighted the value to him of taking 5HTP for depression.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2024
Parkinsons Recovery
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
https://www.parkinsonsdisease.me

Vicious Cycles of Parkinsons

About Parkinson's Disease, mindwork

Everyone can be trapped into vicious cycles of Parkinsons when confronted with  escalating symptoms. Here is how the process unfolds.

Symptoms tend to creep up gradually. Little signs pop up here and there – a twitch here or a muscle cramp there. Signs are ignored or dismissed as being minor annoyances. Symptoms gradually become more persistent.

A search is launched for therapies that have the potential to provide relief. The search for relief in itself is stressful. Stress from the search inflames symptoms further. A diagnosis is made which hammers away at the idea that recovery is no longer possible.

The person begins to believe that recovery will never be possible. Since our thoughts affect our health, the next step is obvious.

Other more troubling symptoms emerge. Movement becomes more challenging. Exercise becomes painful. Movement becomes more limited. Without physical exercise symptoms are destined to get worse.

Every day tasks become much more challenging . Hope of recovery begins to hang on a very thin thread.

The problem I have thus been working on is this: How can this vicious cycle be reversed? My answer is simple.

If you can’t exercise your body, you can always exercise your mind. Why not build new neural networks without lifting a finger?

Simply put, you do not have to exercise your body to get the benefits of exercise. Research suggests that you can actually get two thirds of the benefits of physical exercise by exercising your mind (without lifting a finger).

Isn’t that a cool idea? I think so.

We can exercise our mind through memory exercises and guided visualizations. This forms new neural networks. Memory exercises facilitate the body’s ability to make dopamine. As the symptoms subside, physical exercise becomes a viable option.

Presto. You are back on the road to recovery.

I call this approach recovery “Mindwork.” Memory exercises and guided visualizations are being posted on the Parkinsons Recovery member website every week now.  I am asking everyone who is participating in the Mindwork exercises to track their symptoms so we can all get an idea of how the recovery process unfolds when the mind is used as a form of exercise.

The good news is that Mindwork transforms the vicious cycles of Parkinsons. It is fun, non intrusive and safe. The only side effects are improved health on some level.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

 

Parkinson’s Treatment and Recovery

About Parkinson's Disease, drug interactions, Drug Side Effects, medications, Parkinsons treatments

I would like to know more about Parkinson’s treatment and recovery.

Tell me about your Parkinsons Recovery membership.

Do you recommend Zandopa? What homeopathic products can / should one use? I am considering the membership. Your-e-mails are excellent, I love to read them. I live in Canada BC and I might not have access to any resources which are similar to yours.

I really believe that my body can heal itself if I give it a chance and the right support.

Response to Parkinson’s Treatment and Recovery

Thanks for your email inquiring about Parkinson’s treatment and recovery options. As for the Parkinsons Recovery membership, I recommend that join and visit the 12 member websites daily for a month and just see if the visits are helpful. The subscription is only $10 a month.

Information is updated daily. Successful recoveries involve an ongoing process. When you visit the website every day, you are setting the intention to recover. More information is available at: https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com/parkinsons-recovery

As for recommendations of medications, I have to pass. I am not a medical doctor and so am not qualified to speak to that specific question. Rather, I am a researcher and can tell you a lot about what people do to get great relief from their symptoms.

Be sure to read the side effects of any medications you take. Often what you may think are the symptoms of Parkinsons are actually the side effects of medications you are taking. That news is a relief to many people!

I am so happy to hear you find my newsletters helpful. Also, I invite you to listen to the interviews on Parkinsons Recovery Radio.  There are now 280 replays of programs that I have hosted cover the full range of topics that address recovery options.

Recovery requires patience and commitment. It happens for people who are determined to make it happen.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
www.parkinsonsrecovery.com
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

Mucuna as Treatment for Parkinsons

About Parkinson's Disease, Natural Remedies Parkinsons treatment, Parkinsons, Parkinsons Disease Research, Parkinsons Disease Treatment

Question: What are your thoughts about using the mucuna to
treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s?

Answer:

There is an upside and a downside to taking Mucuna to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s.

The Upside

Macuna bean (or Mucuna Puriens) is derived from a plant
that grows in tropical climates. The Mucuna herb has been used
for generations in India and other eastern countries to treat
Parkinson’s with varying success. Mucuna is by no means
a new revelation.

People use Mucuna in part because it does not have the side effects of prescription medications.A number of people in my global audience who take prescription
medications for Parkinson’s have been pleased with the results they
get from taking Mucuna.  Others  have succeeded
in reducing the dose of their prescribed medications or
even weaning themselves off prescription medications altogether. 

No changes in the dosage of prescription medications should of course be made without consulting with your doctor first. Even though it is not a prescription medication, it is also just as important to consult with your doctor before taking any natural herb supplement like Mucuna to boost dopamine.

The Downside

It is clear from talking with other health professionals that
Mucuna is not a cure nor does it provide relief
for everyone. After all, if Mucuna were a panacea
everyone with Parkinson’s would be taking it and no one
today would be suffering from its symptoms.

Many people think of Parkinson’s simplistically as a
deficiency of dopamine. In fact, the “disease” is
described by most health care providers as such.
The truth of the matter is that reasons for
the symptoms of Parkinson’s are far, far more
complicated than this simple explanation. 

Symptoms of Parkinson’s are affected by an imbalance
of over 39 different neurotransmitters. When you take
Mucuna or any dopamine supplement for that matter
you are making a decision to focus on a tiny fraction
of the problem. 

The body is making fine adjustments to the production
and distribution of hormones continuously, second by
second, minute by minute. Consider the maze of
complicated adjustments your body makes to produce
and distribute the other 38 neurotransmitters when you take
any dopamine lookalike.

Ingesting a single synthetic hormone once a day creates an instant
adjustment the body must make to the delicate balance of hormones
in the body. The “adjustment” that comes from taking a dopamine
supplement (whether prescription or a supplement like Mucuna) is crude.The body produces and distributes hormones continuously each and every second of the day.

Do the math.

If the choice is between relying on the  body or any dopamine supplement I
am betting on the body any day of the week.

A second challenge you will encounter if you decide to
take Mucuna – and keep in mind this may be a good
choice for you – is that you are giving your body the
signal it does not need to expend the energy produce dopamine
on its own. Think like your body and you will understand
the long term consequences of what happens when
you take a dopamine producing supplements.

Here is the decision sequence:

1. Your body is busy with the work of adjusting and balancing hormones
which, after all, is one of its functions.

2. An external source of domaine mysteriously
appears in the digestive system.There is suddenly and
unexpectedly an external intrusion into the body.

3. The body begins to ponder: “Who is in charge here?” A critical function of the body is suddenly and unexpectedly being handled by an external intervention.

4. The body then concludes:  “If someone else is doing my job, why should I bother?”
Isn’t this just anyone of us do  when someone else takes on the burden of  doing
a job you thought was our responsibility? I mean, if someone else wants to do the work, why not let them?

A reason cells in the substantia nigra die is because
dopamine is being supplied by an external source. Cells
that produce dopamine are no longer needed since the supply is provided by an external source.  You either use it or lose it. In this case you lose it.
The body eventually surrenders responsibility for producing dopamine.

Prescription medications and Mucuna  are different delivery systems for
dopamine. For most people higher doses have to be take to experience symptom
relief.

John Coleman ND points out that most of the Macuna bean
that is packaged and sold in the marketplace is not actually
“natural.” It is a processed. The Mucuna pill capsules
are manufactured and refined, purified and converted to
powder. John Coleman ND has also observed in his clinic that
some forms of Macuna  induce the “same adverse effects as synthetic
levodopa if consumed in large quantities over a long period.

Coleman offers a different recommendation for his clients.
He suggests you hydrate your body by taking a
natural homeopathic remedy. The body has an easier
time producing and balancing hormones when the cells
are adequately hydrated.

Mucuna may provide welcome relief in the short term.
But if it is used as a lifetime remedy your body’s
incredibly intricate system for monitoring
hormones will be short circuited. Sensitivity of
the monitoring system is degraded and the system
itself is eventually disabled.

Your body gradually gives up its mandate at birth to maintain
health and wellness. You eventually begin to feel lousy.
Health deteriorates.

Why not give your body a chance to do its work whenever
possible? Wait. Be patient. Ask the most important question of all:
What is causing your symptoms?

Once you identify and address the cause, you will not necessarily
begin feeling  good every day. Some days you will may feel lousy.

Helping  the body re-remember how to balance hormones is not an
easy task but the rewards are worth it.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
Aquas

Rocky Recoveries

About Parkinson's Disease, recovery, Recovery that is Stuck in the Mud
  • Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, instead of rocky recoveries, the road to recovery is  smooth and uneventful?
  • How about – you only need to identify a handful of therapies, all of which offer symptom relief to some degree?
  • Then presto. Over time you are fully recovered.?

No doubt this describes the ideal and anticipated experience of recovery for everyone. Is it a fantasy? Is the road to recovery smooth with no twists, turns or roadblocks?

Please listen to the short clips below which describe a recovery process which is anything but smooth and effortless.

Information about Aquas: https://www.aquas.us

Information about Bowen Therapy: https://www.americanbowen.academy/find-a-practitioner

John Coleman’s website: http://www.returntostillness.com.au/

Robert Rodgers PhD
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons Recovery

 

Survey Results for the Question: Is Parkinson’s Disease Degenerative?

About Parkinson's Disease

Thank You For Providing Your Input to the Question:

“Over the past year, have you generally been feeling better, about the same or worse.”

Here is a summary of how other people have answered this same question: Your input will be added to the summary findings.

Response  Totals

Have you been feeling: NUMBER OF ANSWERS PERCENT
total resposes: 970 100%
BETTER 229 24%
ABOUT THE SAME 399 41%
WORSE 342 35%

Does This Result Surprise You?

I would suspect it does. Many people believe Parkinson’s disease is degenerative. If this were true, 100% of persons who answered this question would report they were doing worse. In stark contrast to this expectation, two thirds of persons who volunteered answers to this question reported they were either feeling “better” or “about the same.”

What Really Matters

Would you like to learn more about the therapies, techniques and methods that make it possible for people to celebrate relief from their symptoms and focus on what really matters? There are dozens of therapies purported to make a difference. Which ones do?

I have documented details on the therapies that have been helping people reverse their symptoms in my online course What Really Matters? If you would like to discover how others have been putting pieces of the puzzle together to reverse their symptoms click on the puzzle picture below to learn more about the course details.

What Really Matters

Robert Rodgers PhD
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
https://www.parkinsonsdisease.me

Robin Williams, Depression and Parkinson’s Disease

About Parkinson's Disease, causes of Parkinson's, Parkinsons Disease Information, treatment options

The wife of Robin Williams revealed today that he had Parkinson’s disease. The news of a Parkinson’s diagnosis sends most people into a tail spin. Engaging a willingness to live
when confronted with this type of news is a herculean task for most people.

Robin Williams was already prone to depression. He had struggled with drug addiction issues his entire life. Hearing the news that he had Parkinson’s disease may have struck the final blow to his interest in living on this earth.

I have interviewed hundreds and hundreds of persons who have just been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Without exception, everyone is devastated. They fear the worst. They foresee no hope of healing. Most people quickly hear that the condition is “degenerative” and prospects for recovery are nill.

No wonder people get so depressed with the news of a Parkinson’s diagnosis! No wonder
such news might well have been the final blow for Robin Williams.

I am immensely saddened if my speculation above is true about the trigger for his Robin
william’s death. Why? My research on Parkinson’s over the past decade reveals that Parkinson’s symptoms are indeed reversible. The condition is not “degenerative” or “progressive.”

This is what most people believe. My research shows it is not true.

  • First, a majority of persons who have been diagnosed with Parkinson”s disease probably have something else – toxins perhaps, bacteria perhaps, trauma perhaps – or perhaps a combination of all three.
  • Second, there are dozens of therapies and treatments that help people reverse  Parkinson’s symptoms. Once a person identifies the primary factor that causes the symptoms they can find a therapy that will help heal the condition.

The search for a cause is not simple. The pursuit of successful therapies does not promise a simple fix. But, a little patience, a great deal of focus and a clear determination
to heal are the magical combination that helps people reclaim their lives.

The world has lost a talent and a spirit that can never be replaced. To prevent such a tragedy from happening to others, please spread the word that Parkinson’s is not degenerative or progressive. It is only through thinking it is that the expectation becomes true.

The body really does know how to heal itself. I only wish Robin Williams had known this last week.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Parkinsons Recovery

Positive Energy is My Power Over Parkinson’s Disease

About Parkinson's Disease, Thoughts and Parkinsons

Positive energy is my power over Parkinson’s disease. Some times I want to give up, but when the tremor tries to take over I get the fight back in me.

A Doctor told me to give up my motor cycle. What did I do? I went out n bought a bigger one. Riding my Harley forces my mind to work harder. The tremor slows and my balance improves.

Think positive. I can do this. I have been fighting this for over 13 yrs. I can not stop as long as there is hope.

Malcolm

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

Parkinson’s Disease Prognosis

About Parkinson's Disease

It is now near the conclusion of 2009. I have spent the last year interviewing many people who have different backgrounds, different training, different approaches to treatment and different qualifications in the wide spectrum of medical specialties.  Here is summary of my discoveries:

  • Anyone, anywhere can employ therapies to get sustained relief from the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.
  • Many of the therapies that  help are not intrusive.
  • Many are natural and safe.
  • Many are free.
  • Therapies that help other people may not necessarily offer you relief. Everyone is different.
  • Anyone who claims their therapy or treatment can help everyone with the symptoms of Parkinson’s will not be able to justify their claim. Why? Because it can not be true.  Any particular therapy may certainly help some people, but not everyone.
  • People who are on the road to recovery experiment. They try different therapies to discover what works for them.
  • It is highly unlikely that any single treatment or therapy can ever address all symptoms.  A combination of therapies is needed.
  • Dopamine deficiency is a tiny part of the big picture. Focus on bringing back on line all systems in the body – the immune system, the digestive system, the lymph system as well as the neurological system – and you will begin to feel better. Pouring more dopamine in your body can certainly help you feel better in the short run, but in the long run the root cause of the symptoms has not been addressed.
  • Trauma lies at the root of the symptoms.
  • Negative thought forms feed the symptoms.
  • Commitment and focus are needed to recover.
  • If you are not taking charge of your health care, you probably have an unconscious resistance to healing. Little progress will be made until you release resistance to healing.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery

 

 

I Never Saw It Coming

About Parkinson's Disease, poem, Thoughts and Parkinsons

I never saw it coming.
My life’s been rearranged.
So altered, not original,
I’ll never be the same.

The breath I breathe reduced,
The functions that I had,
the limitations place on me,
sometimes, it makes me sad.

I struggle almost every day
to do those basic things.
Can never plan what I’ll do next,
not sure what next, life brings.

My heart still has the want to…
My head might misdirect,
but I get up, keep going.
My feelings I protect.

I’m not the kind to give up.
I’m not the kind to quit.
Sometimes, I’m very mobile.
Sometimes, I have to sit.

So, if your body’s healthy,
your mind is good and strong,
today’s the day, give life your all,
tomorrow, it could be gone.

Kenneth Allen Patrick
I Never Saw It Coming

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

Dopamine and Parkinson’s Disease

About Parkinson's Disease, Dopamine, recovery, Thoughts and Parkinsons

 

You do not believe that dopamine and Parkinson’s disease are factors?

Do you not believe that there is physical damage to the part of the brain that produces Dopamine?

Do you not believe that the damage has been verified by examining brain tissue from deceased Parkinson’s patients?

“The body is not broken. The body is not diseased. It is simply out of balance”

Is the brain not part of the body? Is the brain just “out of balance”?

Dennis

Thanks so much for your e mail and your question. I know many people think the same way you think.

I am not a medical doctor. I am a researcher. I find that the Road to Recovery involves examining our thinking about “disease.” – any disease. In this case of course it is Parkinson’s Disease. If we focus on the “disease,” we are holding very negative thoughts about what is happening by thinking:

“My body is broken.”

Since thoughts can manifest anything our heart desires, holding this thought will insure that our body will forever remain broken.

What percent of the body is “broken” in the case of Parkinson’s? I assure you that answer varies widely across persons. My hunch is that a tiny proportion of cells are problematic: perhaps 1%; maybe 3% for some people. At least 97% of the cells are working perfectly. I would say that is close enough for me to say that the body is working perfectly. Speaking for myself, I get much more energy by focusing on what is working than what is not working.

You say that damage has been verified by autopsies. This is certainly true, but only in a minority of autopsies. For a majority of autopsies, they find no substantia nigra damage. Don’t take my word for it. Do your own research on the matter. I have been surprised myself to see how low the percent actually is.

My point is that you are holding the belief that cells in your brain are dead. It may be the case that a tiny fraction of cells in your brain are dead, but cells are dying throughout the body all the  time.  It is the natural process of life and death.

It is also possible you are one of the majority where there is no damage to your substantia nigra. There is no way to tell without an autopsy.

A third of the people who have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s are misdiagnosed. It happens. There is no definitive test for it. Perhaps you are one of the one third who have been misdiagnosed? There are certainly many possible causes for the symptoms. For example – perhaps toxins are the culprit and not cell damage in the substantia nigra.

Let’s say all of these speculations are wrong and that yes, you do have neural damage in the substantia nigra and that yes, you do have Parkinson’s Disease.

New cells can be created anywhere in the body anytime. If you happen to have an overabundance of dead cells in the substantia nigra for the moment, you can set your intention to grow new ones. If the body can make new cells, I would say it is working perfectly.

Here is the rub: If you focus on the dead cells (assuming they even exist) you are assuring that new cells will not be created. Your  thoughts are centered in a negative sphere. If you focus on the reality that your body can heal itself, it will heal itself.

This is what I have learned from my research. At the core of all healing are our thought forms. If you think your body is broken I can assure you it will remain “broken” and become more “broken.” If you believe your body can heal itself, new cells will be born, hormones will be balanced, and your body will return to health and wellness.

The most powerful force in the universe are thoughts. When we change how we think, we change the course of our lives. This is what motivated me to write Five Steps to Recovery which is all about how to transform our thoughts.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

When Parkinsons Disease Started

About Parkinson's Disease

I wonder when Parkinsons Disease started? I wonder if it when the industrial revolution began, in the late 18th century, or before that?

Annette

The individual who is credited with isolating the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease is James Parkinson who wrote an article entitled “An Essay on the Shaking Palsy” in 1817. Forty years later the symptoms of Parkinson’s were identified as “Parkinson’s Disease” by Jean Martin Charcot. His name is thus now used as the diagnostic term neurological diagnosis of symptoms by medical doctors. As far as medicine is concerned this is the date when Parkinsons disease started.

Did the symptoms exist before then? Obviously we do not know for sure, but there is evidence in early writings of neurological problems that existed hundreds and hundreds of years previously. Since Parkinson’s is affected by stress, I suspect that the prevalence of Parkinson’s has been more pronounced during those periods of history which were tumultuous.

The neurological system is very delicate. It does not take much to challenge it. It would seem logical to me to conclude that the symptoms were present in one form or another throughout history.

Keep in mind also that there is a very long list of symptoms which overlap with many other “diseases.” It is obvious that many of these symptoms have been present throughout history (e.g.: speech impairments, masked face, depression, constipation, etc.)

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

 

Father and Son

About Parkinson's Disease, deep brain stimulation surgery

What follows is truly an amazing story about the power of  family systems and the connection between a father and son. It is a testament to the truth that Parkinson’s can inspire and motivate in ways that we could have never imagined or anticipated.  

Jeff Meyers wrote the following story to me in an e mail last week. He gave me permission to share it with everyone.  Get ready to be inspired. I was.  

What’s unique about my story is that my father divorced my mother when I was a very young child and I never saw or heard from him again. I knew nothing about the man.

At age 54 I decided that I wanted to do some volunteering and, being quite familiar with with computers, html, and content editing and writing, I came across an opportunity at the Parkinson’s disease Association of San Diego to update and maintain their website. I continued building the site for 2 years, at which time the executive director offered me a full-time position. Up until I came on the scene, their website had generated a mere $1421 in income. Since being hired 4 years ago, the pdasd.org site, the Tulip Tribute Funds site, and our Annual 5K Parkinson’s Walk & Fun Run site (both of which I created) have generated over $300,000 in income.

I also video taped our Parkinson’s educational seminars and, while viewing a live presentation through the video camera, I noticed that 2 of the presenters made reference to a Dr. Harold Russell Meyers, M.D. during their presentations. After the event I followed up with the two neurosurgeons, one of whom was very familiar with my father’s work. I did some research online and that’s how I found out who my dad was. My father did the pioneering work in the development of Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery (DBS). There was never any mention of him in our family all the years while I was growing up.

Now, isn’t that an incredible story! Who would ever have imagined that I would be “connected” to Parkinson’s–and my father–through this series of events? Life…what a mystery!

When I’d finished the Tulip Tribute Funds website, I told my only sister, who I had just recently heard from in over 40 years since the breakup of the family (her choice) and she revealed to me that she was the only child who maintained any contact with my dad in all the years of separation. Interestingly, she is the only child who ever finished college; in fact she earned 2 doctorates at McGill University in Montreal. She was the one who added the testimonial about Dr. Meyers on the Tulip Tribute Funds site. Hopefully, he’s beaming with pride from somewhere “above.”

It seems that my dad had received 32 honorary doctorate degrees, was a Seniors Olympics Champion sprinter through the age of 84, hung out with the likes of Alan Watts, Buckminster Fuller, S.I. Hayakawa, Alfred Korzybski and many other “high-level” intellectuals of his time. He had achieved many other professional accomplishments throughout his life, but being a father to his 6 children was not one of them. I am very blessed because I have a wonderful son who is so dear to my heart, and we are “best of buds” as the saying goes. Well, such are the possible “hands” one is dealt in life!

At any rate, here is where we are today…all of us together…fighting the “good fight” to find a cure for PD! I absolutely love the people I’m working with, and to add you to the mix…what a blessing!

Jeff Meyers

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

Toxins in the Body or Drug Interactions?

About Parkinson's Disease, drug interactions, Drug Side Effects, Toxins in the Body

Question:

A good friend is suffering from atypical
Parkinson’s – no more specific diagnosis yet:
Speech almost incomprehensible, weakness,
exhaustion, cramps, falls.

No tremor. Worsening very fast. She is 55
years old. She was on lithium for more than
25 years; Was weaned slowly and off completely
one week ago. Weaned off Depacote June 07.
Took other meds with lithium over the years
for bipolar swings.

She currently is off all meds except vitamin D
and some Bs. Randy Mentzer sounds like he might
have insight into whether and how drugs could
underlie, worsen or improve her condition. To
convince her to get a consult I need more
information about whether he has background
relevant to her specifics.

Please advise re Randy Mentzer or any other resource –
diagnostic or palliative – that might be useful.

Response:

My extensive experience in researching the
factors that produce the symptoms of Parkinsons
lead me to conclude that your friend’s quite
serious complications are caused by possible drug
interactions, drug depletions and/or toxicity.

Taking lithium for 25 years could have led to
chronic (or therapeutic) toxicity. The symptoms
of lithium poisoning are similar to those
that you describe. Drugs can remain in the
tissues of our body long after we stop
taking them.

As you state, she has also taken other medications
which might have exacerbated her symptoms. Thus,
there may be drug-drug interactions at play here.

Taking a medicine for a protracted period can
also induce mineral, vitamin and hormonal depletions.
So, on top of everything else, your friend may be
experiencing the effects of drug depletions.

For clients of ours with such problems, we always
refer them to Randy Menzer who does the research
necessary to figure out what might be causing the
symptoms. Some people give consultations by
talking off the top of their heads. Randy asks
a ton of questions, takes copious notes, researches
each person’s unique situation and prepares an
extensive report which you can take to your doctor
for review and further discussion. Every person’s
situation is unique and Randy treats it as such.

If this were me, I would get a consultation from
Randy. I strongly advise that your friend get a
drug consultation from someone who has expertise
in this area if they are not called to contact Randy.
Perhaps you can find a person in your area who has the
expertise to provide such a consultation.

I personally like Randy because he suggests ways
to address the problems that are created by
drug interactions. I have known him to spend
hours and hours doing research for a single
patient. I trust Randy and that is why I refer
people to him.

You can hear him talk about these issues here:

http://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com/randy.html

I also like the work of Dr. Ivy Faber. She uses
a diagnostic approach and then addresses the
problems that present themselves with
natural treatments that do not overwhelm the
capacity of the body to heal. You can check out
her information here:

http://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com/ivytest.html

In short, the symptoms that are presenting
themselves are clearly serious. They may also
be symptomatic of a drug withdrawal. Symptoms of
Parkinsons typically evolve much more slowly
than what you describe in your letter.

I hope my correspondence encourages your friend
to get a consultation with someone as soon as
possible who is knowledgeable about drug-drug
interactions, toxicity and drug depletions.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
www.Parkinsons Recovery

© 2008 Parkinsons Recovery

What is a Natural Substitute for Sugar?

About Parkinson's Disease, Parkinson's nutrition

Question:

What is a natural substitute for sugar? 

 Response:

What we put into our bodies is the most important
factor in finding relief from the symptoms
of Parkinson’s. It is no secret that sugar is not good for
our bodies, right?

Sugar is a neuro-toxin. You know this.  I know this. 
Everyone knows this.

Do you ever eat sugar? You can not see me now, but
I am raising my hand at the moment.  I eat sugar
sometimes. OK. Sometimes I eat too much sugar. 

Why? I am filling a hole deep inside. I can’t get enough. 
You know the list. Whatever.

No matter how much work I do “on myself” I still
eat sugar. So, if I come to the realization that my
preference for sweets will not abate anytime soon, 
what can I do about it? 

There are alternatives to sugar. Why not investigate
the alternatives that can be used in place of using raw cane
sugar. Then start using an alternative to pure sugar 
that is right for you?  

Know in advance that you may not be able to
tolerate one or more of the alternatives. That is,
the alternative may be worse for you than raw sugar
itself. But why  not celebrate in advance 
how much your body will thank you if you can find
a natural and safe substitute for sugar that your
body can tolerate?  

Three natural alternative substitutes for sugar are
agave, stevia and zylitol.  Here is a sketch of
information about each of the three alternatives.  

Agave syrup is a sweetener commercially produced
in Mexico. Agave syrup is sweeter than honey,
though less viscous. It consists primarily of fructose
and glucose. 

Agave has a fructose content that is higher than is found
in high-fructose corn syrup.  Agave is notable in that its
glycemic index and glycemic load are seemingly lower than
most other natural sweetener alternatives. 

Stevia is native to subtropical and tropical South America
and Central America. Known as sweetleaf, stevia is 
used as a sugar substitute. The taste has a 
longer duration than that of pure sugar. Stevia however
can be associated with a bitter after taste at high
concentrations.

Zylitol sounds like an expensive prescription
medication, but it is not. It is a five-carbon sugar
alcohol that is used as a sugar substitute.

Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweetener that can
be found in the fibers of fruits and vegetables such as 
berries, corn husks, oats, and even mushrooms. 
It is extracted from corn fibres, birch trees, raspberries,
plums, and even corn.  Xylitol is by all accounts as sweet
as regular sugar.

Zylitol has been around a long time. It is used as
a sweetner for diabetics in some countries and it
is used in various products like gums and toothpaste
to reduce tooth decay. 

Check out the possibilities. Do an extended search on
the internet for more information. Talk with your doctor.
Experiment.

You can buy zylitol, stevia and agave from most
health food stores, food co-ops and even some grocery
stores. 

I think a safe and natural food sweetener is a delightful
choice for people like myself who love to eat a delicious
dessert every now and then. If you are like me, consider
a switch from sugar to a natural substitute.

There is no direct research evidence to indicate that using
alternatives to sugar will help relieve the symptoms of
Parkinson’s. Base on pure logic, it makes sense to me that
using a natural substitute for sugar has the potential to
help unclog neural pathways.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery

 © 2008 Parkinsons Recovery

Control of Dopamine Systems and Dopamine Levels

About Parkinson's Disease, Parkinsons Disease Treatment

Question: 

Has Anyone Improved Enough to Discontinue Sinemet?

Response:

The most encouraging news I have heard comes from John Coleman who is from Australia. He is a naturopath who himself had Parkinson’s in the mid 90’s and has now fully recovered. John has now helped many others do the same.  Here is John Coleman’s answer to the question in his own words. 

“I chose not to take any western medication during my journey. There were a number of reasons for that, mainly around the way doctors treated me. But that was my choice, and I’m glad of it.”

“However, all my clients who have recovered were taking western medication (Sinemet, Madopar, and/or others) until they got better. The first was taking around 1500 mg of levodopa per day, and gradually weaned himself of it over two years. Another was on Sinemet 100/25 three times daily and reduced that to 0 over about 18 months. Another was on Madopar and went cold turkey (I don’t advise that) after three years or so and has stayed well. Others have started on high medication and reduced to very low doses while they still work towards recovery.

“I saw a client this week who just gave up Sinement in January because he didn’t like the way it made him feel. He is a little stiffer without it, but feels better in himself and has more energy to work towards wellness. He is improving in health steadily.”

At Parkinsons Recovery we are hearing more and more stories from people who have successfully reduced the dose of the medications they have been taking under the close supervision of their doctor. I will be posting these reports as they come through.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery

 © 2008 Parkinsons Recovery

How can I know what I need to do for myself to feel better?

About Parkinson's Disease, Parkinsons Disease Symptoms, Parkinsons Disease Treatment

Trust that your body knows what it needs to come
back into balance. I think there is a special skill
involved in being able to communicate with your
own body. The skill requires the ability to check in
regularly to see what your body needs.

I think it helps to think about what you can do
in the moment rather than trying to figure out
one single huge intervention that you can do
(such as visit clinic A or take supplement B or
see doctor C).

For example, let’s say you are in a stressful
situation. Your body will probably give out the
usual signals of stress. Symptoms will flare up
(such as more shaking, trembling, greater
rigidity or whatever.) Are you noticing?
This is your stage cue to reduce the stress
in the moment.

I think a key is first to make conscious the
usual reality that the underlying trigger for the
symptoms involves some combination of fear,
stress and trauma. It thus helps to begin watching
yourself closely and noticing when the stress
flares up. When you can monitor your stress
levels every moment, you can learn how to
get your body out of stress and into a more
balanced mode.

Alternatively, if you have having increased
symptoms, your body may be having problems
processing all the supplements and medications
you may be taking in conjunction with the food
you eat. You may feel sluggish or depressed.
When everything is combined together, the level
of toxins can begin to overwhelm your immune
system.

When your body gets overloaded with
substances it can not process (which can
include medications of one type or another
(toxins, pathogens, etc.) the immune system
crashes. Again, symptoms will get worse.
This is when the toxins begin to take their toll.
If this happens it would help to investigate
ways to detox your body.

Your body will tell you what it needs. The
symptoms are important signals. In the end,
it is all a question of inviting your body to
come back into balance moment to moment.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

© 2024 Parkinsons Recovery

How to Stop Tremors in Stressful Situations

About Parkinson's Disease, Parkinsons Disease Research, Parkinsons Disease Symptoms

Question:

I start getting tremors in my jaw and left arm every time I am in a difficult or new situation. It doesn’t make any difference if I have just taken my Sinemet medication or not. I need to know how to stop tremors in stressful situations.

Response

Stress has a huge impact on symptoms. The husband of one client was having serious health challenges himself. Her symptoms deteriorated rapidly during this period. When his health problems resolved, her symptoms immediately improved. The correlation between the stress and her symptoms was near perfect.

Stress clearly is the trigger for the symptoms.There are helpful responses you can initiate in new situations to relieve the stress. A solid connection with yourself and the earth helps relieve the stress. Regardless of the technique, they all invite a connection with yourself and to the earth.

My online course developed over 20 years of research documents ways that reveal the secrets for how to stop tremors in stressful situations. Highly effective ways that reduce anxieties provoked by stress are  covered in this course : Tame Tremors.

When we go into fear in a new situation – everyone does -our energy tends to dissipate and scatter. We feel unsafe, some of us more so than others. Our energy begins to bounce around our heads and not our feet. The key to reducing the stress is to shift the energy down to your feet so that you can feel the support of mother earth and feel safer.

When we are able to move out of feeling fear in the moment and shift into a place of feeling secure and safe, the stress is relieved and the symptoms do not flare up. It is really a moment to moment thing.

It helps to remember that the stress is created moment to moment. We control the symptoms when we control our reactions in the moment.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
Tame Tremors

© 2024 Parkinsons Recovery