Do external interventions (supplements,
massage, cranial sacral therapy, body
work, etc.) undermine the body’s ability
to function? How does one go about living
well with Parkinsons?
These questions hinge on the very essence
of healing. What can we do to support the
body’s natural ability to heal itself and
what are we doing to undermine it?
The answer is tied to identifying what we
need to heal. A bare bones answer is:
nourishment, touching, connection
with others, feeling of safety, sense of
accomplishment and belonging.
The body needs a well established
group of vitamins mineral and
nutrients. Without them our cells
die and our energy depletes. They make
Living well with Parkinsons a reality.
If we are deficient in any one of the essential
nutrients, our bodies let us know
they are unhappy with troublesome symptoms.
Vitamin B6. For example, the body
is not designed to manufacture Vitamin
B6 internally. If it has a vitamin B6
deficiency, the body will enthusiastically
welcome a B6 supplement. B6 supports
the body’s natural ability to balance
hormones.
Stress. We need to feel safe and secure in
the world. If we are spinning about
in fear all the time, our bodies pump
out adrenaline continuously which
alters the balance of hormones.
Any intervention that invites a release
of stress and trauma from the tissues
of the body (e.g: medication, centered
prayer, energy healing) supports the
body’s natural capacity to heal.
Releasing fear and trauma re-establishes
a sense that it is safe to be here on the
earth.
Toxin Removal. Interventions that help
the body release toxins and pathogens
are always welcome. They unclog
obstructions in the neural pathways and
cleanse the waste that has been trapped at
the cellular level and that is lodged in the
digestive track, liver, kidneys and spleen.
Co Q10.The body can become confused
about interventions that override one or more
of its primary responsibilities. Consider
one example: Co Q10. The body manufactures
CoQ10 on its own. Research on Parkinson’s has
suggested that some people with Parkinson’s may
have Co Q10 deficiencies. The idea here is to
put Co Q10 directly into the body.
This may very well be a wonderful and very
smart thing to do. You may feel a lot better
because of it.But a possible and logical
consequence is for the body to ever so
gradually disassemble its ability to produce
Co q10 on its own steam.
When a manufacturing production line is
closed down, it takes a great deal of effort
to bring it back on line. Isn’t this also
what happens with skills that we develop?
If we do not use them, we gradually
lose them.
Another way to approach a
Co q10 deficiency is to give
the body Vitamin C. If the body
has sufficient quantities of vitamin C,
it has a much better chance of
being able to produce Co Q10 on
its own – no supplement needed.
Dopamine. Let’s cut to the quick and address
dopamine. Prescription medications have saved
some people’s lives. Sometimes
it is the best choice a person can make.
I do not think the important question
is whether to begin taking prescription
medications or not. Nor is the important
choice whether to take prescription
medications or herbs substitutes
for dopamine. The key question turns on
a commitment to support your body with
the nutrients it needs to heal
Support for Living.
I believe the most important
choice is to do everything necessary
to bring all systems of the body back
on line. The systems need to be readied
for a marathon. If you have symptoms
that are troublesome it is a sign that
one or more systems in your body
are limping along.
I believe a plan that works well for the body
is to work on strengthening all of the basic
building blocks of the body to make living well
with Parkinsons a reality. They consist of …
- eating well (which means fresh food)Â
- eliminating toxins
- eliminating pathogens (including bacteria and viruses)
- releasing trauma
- strengthening the immune system
- moving lymph out of the body through exercise
- having fun
- laughing
- challenging your mind
It may be the case that to do justice to
everything on the list every day, certain
hormonal deficiencies will need to be
supplemented: Perhaps dopamine,
perhaps co Q10 or whatever. This of
course is what medical doctors are trained
to help with.
As long as you focus on bringing
all of the systems and organs in your
body back on line, your body will reach
a point when it will be able to
manufacture most – if not all – of the
essential hormones you need without
any outside intervention. Then again,
sometimes infusions of certain
hormones are needed over the long
term.
The best intent is to support
the body so that it can do as much
work in producing the hormones
itself as possible. Set a new vision
of the future for yourself. Consider
the possibility that instead of having
to take more and more medication
or supplements in the future, you
will be able to gradually and ever
so gently be able to maintain or
even reduce the dose of your
current medications.
Why is that? Because all of the organs
systems in your body are now healthy
so there is enough energy and resources
to manufacture the hormones your
body needs. Sure it takes time to bring
every system back on line. Who is in
a big rush here?
Remember that any changes you
make to the dose and/or timing of
your medications should only be
taken in close consultation with
your doctor.
I am fully aware than most people
wind up taking more medications
over time. I would like to consider
a different future to manifest living
well with Parkinsons.
The body knows how to heal itself.
Give it a chance to heal and be
pleasantly surprised with the outcome.
Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
© Parkinsons Recovery
