About Parkinsons Disease

Natural Options that Reverse Symptoms

Page 13 of 37

Lithium Deficiency

Posted below is a follow-up email I received from Hannah that I have permission to post. This may be an option you might consider discussing with your doctor.

Lithium deficiency. Who would have thought? After my husband read the book, The Promise of Lithium, he insisted that I read it. He never reads a book this fast.

I read it and was blown away! We immediately went to get my lithium levels tested. They were so low they were considered undetectable. I have begun taking lithium, and already seeing positive changes. I think it could change so many peoples lives!

Seriously, halting the progression?! This is so hopeful and helpful. Perhaps you will fee feel the same way after you read it and get the word out there.

Hannah

Source of L-Dopa in Fava Beans

I have permission to post the following email I received from Hannah:

Hello Robert and Aunt Bean,

I recently have been diagnosed with YOPD
though I have been suffering for the past seven years from symptoms.
Today is my birthday and I am 42 years old. Even though I go to see a
functional medicine neurologist, they quickly directed me the
pharmaceutical route.

Five months into it, and I am researching as
much as I can for alternatives, and I do believe in healing!
We love to garden.

I live in Arkansas, and my family has a large
community garden that we work together. We are growing Fava beans this
year, under the wonderful directions we have found on your Fava Beans Blog. I
have been fermenting papaya, and  purchased sprout-able fava beans to
begin the process. I am 100% excited!

Some thing that recently peaked my interest after I began
experimenting by taking Mucuna is that it does not have Carbidopa in
it only l-dopa. To me this makes a big difference in its ability to
get where it needs to go in the small intestine. I was excited to
learn that unlike Mucuna, Fava has Carbidopa! Game changer. I’m
excited to try it!!!

I love reading your updates Aunt Bean and the most recent I can find
is end of last year. Praying you are doing well.

Robert thank you sooo much for the wealth of information you freely give. May you both be blessed.

With love, Hannah

X – Plus 3: New Photobiomodulation Device from Vielight

Is a problematic symptom for you involve mobility challenges? Has rock solid walking become difficult? The new Vielight X – Plus 3 device may offer the support you need to transform wobbly walking to rock solid.

The Vielight X-Plus 3 device has four components: A head module, a body module and the nasal applicator. The information below was obtained from the Vielight.com website.

Head Module

The Head Module stimulates the cerebellum. Although the cerebellum accounts for approximately 10% of the brain’s volume, it has approximately  50% of all neurons in the brain.

The cerebellum is involved in the following functions:

Maintenance of balance and posture. The cerebellum is responsible for making postural adjustments to maintain balance. It modulates commands to motor neurons to compensate for shifts in body position or changes in load upon muscles.

Coordination of voluntary movements. Most movements are composed of different muscle groups acting together in a temporally coordinated fashion. One major function of the cerebellum is to coordinate the timing and force of these different muscle groups to produce fluid limb or body movements.

Motor learning. The cerebellum is important for motor learning. The cerebellum plays a major role in adapting and fine-tuning motor programs to make accurate movements through a trial-and-error process.

Body Module

Featured in a Vielight  COVID-19 study, the body module can be used to stimulate the thymus gland to aid immune function and response. It can also be positioned over joints and certain body parts, such as the shoulder or knees, to provide anti-inflammatory relief.

Intranasal Applicator

The Intranasal Applicator is designed to improve oxygenation which  leads to increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in various tissues.

Light energy absorbed by blood through the intranasal applicator  leads to an increase in nitric oxide release.

Nitric oxide is one of the most important factors affecting microcirculation. This leads to increases in vasodilation which contributes to improved oxygen delivery to tissues.

Summary

I have no hesitation in recommending the X-Plus 3 Vielight device to be considered to address mobility challenges in particular. The company is so confident in their devices that they encourage users to use their devices for up to 6 months. If you do not receive the benefit you need, return the used device Vielight for a 80% refund.

The company also offers a 10% discount to members of the Parkinsons Recovery community. Coupon code is healing4me if you order on line. if you call to order, just claim your 10% discount by indicating you were referred by Parkinsons Recovery. 

Light Therapy for Parkinson’s

Research Reports Light Therapy Reverses Dementia

Light therapy has floated to the top of the list as a promising treatment for Parkinson’s after reviewing results of my 2022 Parkinsons Recovery holiday survey. A surprising number of respondents to the survey reported that low level laser light therapy (or photobiomodulation) helped them celebrate relief from their symptoms.

Light therapy is not new. It has been researched under a variety of terms for over 40 years: low level laser therapy or LLLT, laser biostimulation and most recently photobiomodulation. This noninvasive therapy has been used in clinical practices to treat healing-resistant wounds, ulcers, pain and nervous system injuries. More recently it is a therapy that has attracted the attention of researchers as a therapy for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

The interview clip below is with Dr. Lew Lim, the CEO of Vielight that has developed several photobiomodulation devices.

A July 2018 a University of California San Francisco study conducted by Linda Chao PhD offered compelling support for its application to treat dementia. Eight adults diagnosed with dementia participated in the study. Four subjects received 12 weeks of self-administered photobiomodulation treatments in their homes. Four were assigned to a control group. Treatments were administered using a commercially available device (Vielight Neuro Gamma). Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 6-weeks, and 12-weeks.

Findings revealed significant improvement in cognition and functional connectivity. Dr. Chao concluded that photobiomodulation therapy is a safe, non-pharmacological therapy that can be used to treat patients in their homes.

Results of this study are indeed impressive. Large samples are typically required for a study to show significance. Despite its small size, this study showed significant results.

Below Dr. Lim why photobiomodulation is an effective treatment for dementia.

Light Therapy Research

Individuals who responded to the 2022 Parkinsons Recovery survey reported that photobiomodulation (or low level laser therapy) was one of the top five therapies found to be most beneficial. This finding is backed up by a series of research research studies that focus on the beneficial effects of photobiomodulation for individuals diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. Visit the link below for a listing of these study abstracts:

Since diffuse light does not easily pass through the skull, Dr. Lim’s had the brilliant idea to pass the light through a device clipped to the nose. Now, in my book of creativity, that is inventiveness at its best!

Click the image below to hear the interview and learn more about Dr. Lim’s new photobiomodulation device called the Vielight Gamma.

Vielight photobiomodulation therapy

 

It would seem at this early stage that you cannot go wrong to be open to allow light to shine brightly on the surface of your body and of course your retina!

What has been the experience of persons with Parkinsons symptoms who have been using the Vielight Gamma Device?

Thus far, several hundred persons who listened to my interview on the Vielight device purchased the neuro gamma device using the 10% discount coupon code (healing4me) Dr. Lim provided to listeners of my Parkinsons Recovery Radio Show interview. Those who acquired the device were invited to return the device to the company for a 80% refund after using it for six months if it did not offer relief from their symptoms.

More information is available here: https://www.vielight.com

The company reports to me that 10% of the Neuro Gamma units have been returned. One estimate of effectiveness is that approximately 90% of users are satisfied it helps address some symptoms. The odds are certainly in your favor that the device will be beneficial. Know also that it does not help everyone.

I have also heard from a member of my audience who is connected with a wide community of persons with Parkinsons symptoms. He reports that virtually all users experienced welcome relief from some symptoms. For some, the most pronounced results were seen in the initial 4 months or so, after which the improvements tended to level off.

Anecdotal Reports about the Vielight Photobiomodulation Neuro Device as a Treatment for Parkinson’s Symptoms

Informal feedback from users who are members of my audience is captured below:

  1. One common report from users is that the therapy does not show quick results. You apparently have to apply the therapy over a period of several weeks to a month or longer to celebrate a positive shift in symptoms.
  2. I have heard several specific reports on tremors that were calmed.
  3. It is unclear at this point to what degree the therapy will address balance issues, but I have heard it seems to offer help with gait issues.
  4. Evidence does suggest that this therapy can potentially help with dementia.
  5. One user reported a definite return of smell, but the jury was out on the effect on tremors and other symptoms.
  6. The wife of one 85 year old man with advanced Parkinson’s symptoms reported that after 6 weeks of using the Vielight Neuro device there were no major improvements but several minor ones of some consequence: Her husband reports being more alert, sleeping better, his cough is less, he has been inspired lately to use his automatic peddler and his hallucinations have dwindled. She reports it has been an answer for a better quality of life for both of them and promises to keep me updated.

Of course, it is difficult for people diagnosed with Parkinson’s to attribute an improvement in symptoms directly to the Vielight photobiomodulation therapy when they are taking advantage of other therapies at the same time. Reports above are a general summary of the informal feedback I have received in emails and phone conversations. One person told me it did not offer them the relief they had expected and returned the unit.

Like virtually all natural therapies I have documented over the past several decades, the Vielight Neuro Gamma device will not help everyone. Odds do appear to be in your favor if you decide to try it out.

Dr. Lim has has also invented a device called the X-Plus which delivers light directly to the mid brain. This device is designed to send light to the midbrain which is the location of issues associated with Parkinson’s symptoms.

For more information, visit the Vielight website. If you decide to try out the Neuro Gamma device, be sure to tell them you are a member of the Parkinsons Recovery audience and they will apply a 10% discount (coupon code healing4me) when you order. https://www.vielight.com

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

Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Last year I interviewed Lilian Sjøberg on Parkinsons Recovery Radio. Click the link below to access the replay:

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/parkinsons-recovery/2022/05/12/a-novel-approach-for-reducing-stress-that-fuels-parkinsons-symptoms

Lilian has created an online HOPE-shortcut programme, based on this knowledge and experience, which currently consists of a stress test, practical course and coaching sessions:

H: get new hope – you can get better, learn a new way of thinking about symptoms;

O: observe your symptoms – so you know if your symptoms are decreasing or not –  notice the variation and be aware of which situations that make your symptoms flare up;

P: pacify your symptoms, learn about the 4 main strategies that people around the world use to reduce symptoms;

E: engage yourself – get extra motivation to start the journey to better health and be persistent;

Here is a brief update on Lilian’s work: A woman 70 years old explains how her life is becoming better as she reduces her stressors via HOPE therapy. Her stiffness and tendency to freeze is reduced

Visit the website below for further information:
https://hopeshortcut.substack.com/p/welcome-to-new-hope

Robert Rodgers PhD
Rock Solid Walking
Parkinsons Recovery
https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

CBD Therapy for Parkinson’s

My research efforts identify recently invented or formulated products that show promise in helping to reverse symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The CBD Therapy previewed in this post is just that – a new formulation that I think is worth seriously considering. It is called 10xPure Gold Super 1500 CBDa oil.

This formulation is a significant improvement over traditional CBD oils. It has been formulated to have 10 times the penetration and potency of other CBD products. This means you should be able to take fewer drops and spend less to celebrate symptom relief.

Once you purchase from CTFO as I have, you become an “affiliate” of the company. It is a direct sales company – not a MLM.

CTFO conducts laboratory testing on all of their samples to insure that the contents are organic and the concentrations match what is advertised. All laboratory testing is available for inspection. If a CBDa bottle is advertised to contain 450 mg of CBAa , you can be assured it does. When they advertise it is organic, you can rest assured it is.

I have no hesitation recommending this company. They generously extend a 100% money back guarantee if the product does not offer the symptom relief you seek. You only need to return the empty bottle within 60 days and your purchase price will be refunded.

There is no risk in trying this therapy out to see if it offers relief from your symptoms.

Watch the videos about 10X Pure Gold 1500 CBDa on the CTFO website by clicking on the secure link below:

https://parkinsonsrecovery.myctfo.com/product_details.html?productcode=super1500

I recommend this option because it offers the greatest concentration of CBD (450 mg) at the best price per mg. This means you will benefit from needing to take less to celebrate symptom relief.

Check out the research on CBD oil and Parkinson’s. You will be impressed with the number of studies reporting positive outcomes for symptoms of Parklnson’s disease alone.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD stands for “cannabinoid oil”. It is extracted from either the Hemp plant or Marijuana. CBD allows for the benefits of medical marijuana without the high that is associated with THC. As such, CBD in itself has no psychedelic properties and is generally considered safe for consumption. It is legal in the United States and many other countries as well.

CBD Side Effects

Studies of cannabidiol (CBD) report it is well-tolerated but may cause tiredness, diarrhea or change appetites.

Have You Already Tried CBD But Were Disappointed with the Outcome?

Know that no therapy – including CBD – will necessarily offer relief from your symptoms. Everyone has a unique body with a unique set of needs.

I have drawn the conclusion, however, that more people experience relief from their symptoms taking CBD than do not. In light of the now extensive research evidence, I have no hesitation in recommending CBD as a viable option.

There are two reasons why you might have not experienced the outcomes expected from taking CBD oil.

  • A first explanation for why some people do not experience symptom relief is that the concentration of CBD oil they took was insufficient. Research using patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease find that subjects who took a minimum of 300 mg showed improvement. Subjects treated with 75 mg showed no improvement.
  • A second possible explanation is that the concentration of CBD taken was less than the concentration advertised. Because there are millions of dollars to be made selling CBD which is now legal,  many overnight companies have surfaced. Some are legitimate. Others are not. A CBD product can be listed as having a 100 mg concentration of CBD (which is a low concentration) but the actual bottle contains only 25 mg or less. As a promising new health discovery, many fly by night companies have seized the opportunity to make a quick profit by selling a product that contains little of what is advertised.

Which CTFO Products Should You Try?

CTFO continues to formulate new products that all contain their patented form of cannabinoid oil. Among the many options available I recommend that you consider getting the 10X 1500 Pure Full Spectrum CBDa oil drops. Below is the description that I copied from the CTFO website. The highest dosage (450 mg) offers the best value.

“This supercharged Full Spectrum CBD oil is hydrophilic, making it easily absorbed into the body. It provides accelerated, increased absorption and potency and acts as an anti-bacterial and prebiotic. CBD has been known to support healthy blood sugar levels, promote healthy energy levels, relieve anxiety, aid in digestion, support optimal immune function and the regeneration of healthy cells, and promote a sense of serenity and overall well-being.”

Visit the page below to watch videos about CBDa and the 10xPure Gold CBD product:
https://parkinsonsrecovery.myctfo.com/product_details.html?productcode=super1500

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder
Parkinsons Recovery
https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

 

What causes Parkinson’s symptoms?

There exists a wide variety of factors that can inflame Parkinson’s symptoms.  Of course, everyone knows dopamine is often deficient, but what is the cause of this? The most important reason that symptoms flare up is unrelenting anxiety caused by stress.

Members of my global audience consistently say they had to deal with extremely stressful situations  before their symptoms became problematic. Reports vary but always involve challenges in their life that result in high anxiety and stress.

  • Perhaps their business confronted financial or legal problems.
  • Perhaps a family member died.
  • Perhaps a child became addicted to alcohol or street drugs.
  • Perhaps there was a stressful divorce.

Regardless of the specifics, anxiety persists day in and day out, week after week.  The stressful circumstances do not let up. Relaxation is not an option. Worry is constant. The neurological system becomes locked on overdrive.

Feelings triggered by the continuous onslaught of stressful circumstances get stuck in the body like super glue. To celebrate a relief of symptoms, any and all trauma that has been  trapped in the cellular structure of the body has to be released.

  • Is your body rigid?
  • Are you often anxious?
  • Is stress unrelenting?

The best way to calm and even eliminate symptoms  is to address and release traumas from the past including childhood. In doing so the body  becomes flexible, calmer and less stressed.

I have developed a free course which offers ways to release the traumas that are trapped in your physical body. Click on the link below to register:

Jump Start to Recovery Crash Course  

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder
Parkinsons Recovery

 

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

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

Photobiomodulation Research for Parkinson’s

BMC Neurol. 2021 Jul 2;21(1):256.

Improvements in clinical signs of Parkinson’s disease using photobiomodulation: a prospective proof-of-concept study. Ann Liebert Brian BicknellE-Liisa LaaksoGillian HellerParastoo Jalilitabaei Sharon TilleyJohn MitrofanisHosen Kiat 

Abstract

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no cure and few treatment options. Its incidence is increasing due to aging populations, longer disease duration and potentially as a COVID-19 sequela. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has been successfully used in animal models to reduce the signs of PD and to protect dopaminergic neurons.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of PBM to mitigate clinical signs of PD in a prospective proof-of-concept study, using a combination of transcranial and remote treatment, in order to inform on best practice for a larger randomized placebo-controlled trial (RCT).

Methods: Twelve participants with idiopathic PD were recruited. Six were randomly chosen to begin 12 weeks of transcranial, intranasal, neck and abdominal PBM. The remaining 6 were waitlisted for 14 weeks before commencing the same treatment. After the 12-week treatment period, all participants were supplied with PBM devices to continue home treatment. Participants were assessed for mobility, fine motor skills, balance and cognition before treatment began, after 4 weeks of treatment, after 12 weeks of treatment and the end of the home treatment period. A Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used to assess treatment effectiveness at a significance level of 5%.

Results: Measures of mobility, cognition, dynamic balance and fine motor skill were significantly improved (p < 0.05) with PBM treatment for 12 weeks and up to one year. Many individual improvements were above the minimal clinically important difference, the threshold judged to be meaningful for participants. Individual improvements varied but many continued for up to one year with sustained home treatment. There was a demonstrable Hawthorne Effect that was below the treatment effect. No side effects of the treatment were observed.

Conclusions: PBM was shown to be a safe and potentially effective treatment for a range of clinical signs and symptoms of PD. Improvements were maintained for as long as treatment continued, for up to one year in a neurodegenerative disease where decline is typically expected. Home treatment of PD by the person themselves or with the help of a carer might be an effective therapy option. The results of this study indicate that a large RCT is warranted.

Medicine (Baltimore)
2021 Jan 29;100(4):e24191
Effects of concomitant use of hydrogen water and photobiomodulation on Parkinson disease: A pilot study. Chien-Tai Hong, Chaur-Jong Hu, Hung-Yu Lin, Dean Wu

Abstract

Background: Parkinson disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disease, has no cure or applicable disease-modifying approach, only symptomatic therapy. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction play key roles in PD pathophysiology. Animal studies have demonstrated that photobiomodulation (PBM) may enhance mitochondrial function and boost adenosine triphosphate production, thus alleviating PD symptoms; however, this process can cause increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Molecular hydrogen (H2) is a potent and possibly therapeutic antioxidant that can mitigate the effect of ROS. PBM targeting the brainstem may facilitate neuronal activity, and the concomitant H2 may clear additional ROS produced by PBM. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the safety and effectiveness of PBM + H2 in patients with PD.

Methods: We included 18 patients with PD (age 30-80 years) who were at Hoehn and Yahr stages II-III. All the participants received daily PBM + H2 therapy for 2 weeks. The adverse event and the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores were recorded.

Results: We noted that the UPDRS scores began significantly decreasing from the first week, and this improvement persisted until the end of therapy. Moreover, no adverse event was recorded. After 1 week of therapy cessation, UPDRS scores slightly increased but the improvement remained significant compared with the baseline.

Conclusion: This novel, proof-of-concept study demonstrated that PBM+H2 therapy is safe and reduces disease severity. A larger-scaled clinical trial is warranted to completely investigate the effects of PBM + H2 therapy on PD.

Sleep Med. 2018 Apr;44:24-31.

doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2018.01.001. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

The effect of light exposure on insomnia and nocturnal movement in Parkinson’s disease: an open label, retrospective, longitudinal study. Jessica K Martino Christopher B Freelance Gregory L Willis 

Abstract

Insomnia, hypersomnia and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RSBD) during sleep are major problems for patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease (PD) but they are also used to predict its onset. While these secondary symptoms detract from the quality of life in PD patients, few treatment options are available due to limited efficacy or risk of complicating the treatment regimen. Light therapy (LT) has been suggested as a strategy for sleep disorders but it has only been implemented recently for use in PD. An open label, retrospective study was undertaken where PD patients had been undergoing LT, using polychromatic light, for four months to 15 years prior. It was found that 1 h exposure to light, just prior to retiring, significantly improved insomnia and reduced RSBD in as little as one month after commencing LT. In addition, the improvement was maintained as long as LT was continued over a four to six year period. The efficacy of LT in alleviating these sleep related conditions was not compromised by time since diagnosis or age of the patient. These results intimate the value of long term application of non-invasive techniques such as LT for treating sleep disorders in PD and justify further controlled trials on the long term efficacy of LT.

Review of Photobiomodulation Research for Older Subjects


Ageing Res Rev.
2021 Sep;70:101415.

Photobiomodulation for the aging brain. Fabrízio Dos Santos CardosoF Gonzalez-LimaSérgio Gomes da Silva

Abstract

Longevity is one of the great triumphs of humanity. Worldwide, the elderly is the fastest growing segment of the population. As a consequence, the number of cases of age-related cognitive decline and neurological diseases associated with aging, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, has been increasing. Among the non-pharmacological interventions studied for the treatment or prevention of age-related neurocognitive impairment, photobiomodulation (PBM) has gained prominence for its beneficial effects on brain functions relevant to aging brains. In animal models, the neuroprotective and neuromodulatory capacity of PBM has been observed. Studies using both animals and humans have shown promising metabolic and hemodynamic effects of PBM on the brain, such as improved mitochondrial and vascular functions. Studies in humans have shown that PBM can improve electrophysiological activity and cognitive functions such as attention, learning, memory and mood in older people. In this paper we will review the main brain effects of PBM during aging, discuss its mechanisms of action relevant to the aging brain, and call for more controlled studies in older populations.

Is Parkinsons Disease Degenerative?

Many people hold the belief that Parkinsons disease is degenerative. With this expectation, a person is destined to be worse off year after year. Is Parkinsons disease degenerative? That is clearly what most people diagnosed with Parkinson’s believe.

Every holiday season, Parkinsons Recovery sponsors a survey to determine whether or not persons diagnosed with Parkinsons do in fact continue to deteriorate year after year. The 2022 survey asked respondents to answer the question:

“Since the holiday season one year ago, have you been generally feeling better, the same or worse?”

If it is in fact true that Parkinsons disease is “degenerative,” 100% of individuals responding to the 2022 Parkinsons Recovery survey will report they were worse off. No one would report they were better. No one would report they were the same.

In stark contrast to the expectation that Parkinsons disease is “degenerative”,  seventy two percent (72%)  of persons who answered this question reported they were either feeling better or the same.  Of the 72% of respondents who reported they were either feeling the same or better, thirty-two percent (32%) reported that they were better.

Previous Parkinsons Recovery surveys found 65% of respondents has been feeling either better or the same.  When we cumulate results from previous years, we find the following:

Cumulative Results: All Survey Years

HAVE YOU BEEN FEELING: NUMBER OF ANSWERS PERCENT
1027 100%
BETTER 247 24%
ABOUT THE SAME 422 41%
WORSE 358 35%

Results for the most recent survey show a modest increase in the number of persons reporting they were doing better when considering results for all years (i.e.: 32% versus 24%).

You might well believe that when a person reports they are the “same” it always means they continued to struggle with the same troublesome symptoms over the previous year and thus did not report feeling better or worse. This is certainly the experience for some respondents.

Other respondents who reported they were “doing the same” over the previous year were actually doing quite well overall (not poorly).  When a respondent reports “about the same” it does not mean necessarily that their symptoms are problematic.

We also know that none of us are accurate trackers of our personal health. When ask about our health it is not uncommon for any of us to report we have been about the same over the previous year when in reality our health improved. For this reason our results are conservative estimates.

Summary

While a majority of persons diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease hold he belief that their condition is degenerative, these survey results clearly indicate this false belief is misguided. Yes – some people do “deteriorate”. Our results estimate approximately one-third of persons we surveyed fall into this category. The vast majority of the individuals who responded to the Parkinsons Recovery annual survey report they were either doing better or the same.

Is it really possible to recovery from a diagnosis of Parkinson’s? Results of the Parkinsons Recovery show the answer is yes.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

Solution for Parkinsons Speech Challenges

Is your Parkinsons speech compromised?

Members of my audience have been telling me that singing strengthens and supports the ability to talk loudly and clearly. The news link below provides a brief preview of a choir composed of persons currently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/parkinsons-disease-patients-join-n-j-rehab-facility-choir-to-improve-their-condition

If you are thinking this is not an option you can seriously entertain because you are not now and have never been a singer, think again. Singing offers an opportunity to strengthen speech whether you are a singer or not!

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery 

EFT Testimonial

Bernadette Hunter, an Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) practitioner, works with Monica who volunteered to be a demonstration client for the program. Monica is diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

What follows is Monica’s report on the results of the work which, as you will see, is quite amazing. She graciously gave her permission for me to post her report below.

I had a vet apt this AM and I wanted to advise you of the outcome. On a scale of 1 – 10, the experience was a 0 – 1. I noticed also while driving there was more relaxation. I felt very happy inside, very relieved that I could feel this way after 2 yrs of fighting and worrying about nothing..I think it may be carrying over to improving my walking in confined areas, like inside the house. I was so tense inside the house. Something has released but I cant put my finger on it, something to do with fear…

Tomorrow I have an even longer drive to meet a girlfriend for brunch…I have no anxiety about it. There’s no fighting going on in my head. I actually am looking forward to the whole event.

Below is an e mail after the brunch:

I had another longer driving trip 2 days later with continued good results…Also noticed the longer I drove the more relaxed I became as far as more relaxed in the forearms vs tightened contracted muscles…

I’m going to further work with EFT and Bernadette on the negative pleasure concept you wrote about. I agree with your other observation about adrenaline vs dopamine systems. I have been on adrenaline so long that its depletive and dopamine has gone bye bye or is dormant from non-use. So no wonder I shake or freeze. I know without doubt that fear emotion is the root cause…

Monica

What Makes Recovery Possible?

Are people with Parkinson’s having successful journeys down the road to recovery? And if they are, how?

Every holiday season, I ask members of my audience to answer a 5 minute survey. Your input helps us all understand what therapies help to reverse Parkinson’s symptoms.

Please reply email me (robert@parkinsonsrecovery.com) answers to the following two questions:
1. Since the holiday season one year ago, have you been generally feeling better, the same or worse?
2. Please list below any and all therapies, methods or approaches that have offered relief from your symptoms.
By way of thanking you for responding to the Parkinsons Recovery Annual Survey I will post on this blog here a summary report of what you and others report.
Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
robert@parkinsonsrecovery.com
Olympia, Washington
877-526-4646

What is Bowen Therapy?

Do you have an explanation of Bowen Therapy on your website? I would like one please. What is Bowen Therapy that some medical practitioners say is useful as a therapy for Parkinsons?

Marilyn

So your question turns on what is Bowen Therapy exactly? The Bowen Technique involves a gentle, rolling touch over the muscles and tisses of the body with only very light contact. The ‘rolls’ either tighten or loosen muscles depending on the way the move is done.

The practitioner will stimulate sets of meridian points, with pauses, to allow the body to respond to the stimulation. The Bowen Technique releases built-up stress and trauma that has been trapped in the muscles and tissues of the body. Clients describe experiences of profound relaxation after a session, often falling asleep during the treatment.

The Bowen Technique stimulates the stretch and golgi tendon reflexes as well as joint proprioceptors in a way that heightens the sensory awareness of the body in the area worked on. This can lead to strange sensations such as heat release, tingling and a general increased awareness of the areas being worked.

A typical session takes place over 30 to 45 minutes, with occasional short breaks during the session to allow the body to respond to the treatment. Sessions are usually part of a series of three to five sessions, beginning with general stress loading points such as the lower and upper back, before moving on to problem areas specific to the person being treated.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

Patients Who Reduced Their Medications

I know you are not a physician but we want to hear from patients with the same experience Or have you interviewed patients who reduced their medications  successfully to recovery. We want to learn from these experiences.

I post e mails from people here on the Parkinsons Recovery Blog who report patients who reduced their medications using one approach or another.  Check in with the blog periodically to get their stories.

I also document cases in Pioneers of Recovery. Many I have interviewed over the years have been successful in reducing their medications in close collaboration with their doctor.

People use different approaches to reduce their medications. The most important rule is to do this slowly working with your doctor.  As you point out, there are many excellent alternatives which can be considered. Some will succeed for you and others will not.

As you correctly point out, I am certainly not qualified to say one way or another whether this particular drug therapy would be a good choice for you. I would proceed just as you are – ask around – get some opinions – then  use your own intuition to decide whether taking this drug would be a smart decision for you or not.

Drugs have literally saved people’s lives, so we must all be thankful that they exist. The downside to taking any prescription drug is that there are always side effects. That is why the FDA is involved.

You may well achieve your goal (which in your case is to reduce the medications you are currently taking) but other unwanted side effects may emerge (or not). You never know since every one’s reactions to drugs differs.

As with any drug the list of possible side effects for the drug you are considering is extensive. Possibilities that have been reported for the drug you are considering include disturbed sleep, unsettling dreams, fatigue, spasms, pain, headache, diarrhea and an increase of liver enzymes. If you decide to pursue this as a therapy you may experience none of these possible side effects. Or, you may experience several of them.

You can always evaluate whether any therapy is a good idea or not for you through muscle testing and checking in with your own intuitive sense of what is the right decision to make.

You actually know the answer to your own question. When you sort out how the option feels, you will know the right decision to make.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

 

 

Rapamycin

Ross Pelton, the Natural Pharmacist, discusses how the prescription drug rapamycin can increase longevity.

The discovery of rapamycin resulted in scientific studies that have enabled scientists to gain a totally new understanding of the aging process and how we might use this new information to improve health and delay the onset of age-related diseases. The topics in this book are collectively one of the most important breakthroughs in the science of life extension that has ever been discovered.

  1. The Rapamcyin Story: An interview with Ross Pelton, author of Rapamycin, mTOR, Autophagy & Treating mTOR Syndrome.

https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2022/6/rapamycin

  1. Rapamycin: A Quantum Leap in Life Extension: Article was published in the Aug. 4, 2022 issue of the Townsend Leter.

https://www.townsendletter.com/article/466-anti-aging-and-rapamycin/

  1. Rapamycin: Extending Health Span and Life Span:  Article was published in Integrative Medicine: May 2022.

http://imjournal.com/oa/index.html?fid=Pelton

Order At:  LifeExtension.com/rapa

 

Problems with Fingernails

Why am I having problems
with Fingernails?

One healthy approach for understanding
any health problem – in this case problems
with fingernails – is to acknowledge that
your body is sending you a signal that
something is out of balance. Perhaps
there is a mineral or vitamin deficiency
such as, for example, the C or B vitamins
or both.

The challenge is to figure out what
your body needs. When bodies
scream at us to be heard,
it can be difficult to figure
the problem out. I have two
approaches for you to
consider: homeopathy and
an exploration of the underlying
reason for the condition.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy can be very
useful in getting to the root
cause of problems with fingernails.
Homeopathy  treats illness in a novel way.
Homeopathic doctors use
substances that produce,
in a healthy person, symptoms
similar to the symptoms seen in the
illness.

Homeopaths use serial dilution (which
involves shaking between each dilution)
to remove the toxic effects of the remedy.
The underlying qualities of the substance
are retained by the diluent. The diluted
substance is usually indistinguishable
from pure water.

Practitioners select treatments according
to observations they have of a patient
through consultations that explore both
the physical condition and any emotional
issues that may be associated with the
condition.

Below is a link to a web site that
lists various conditions with nails
and suggests possible reasons why
such conditions might develop.
The descriptions give you an idea of
how homeopathy can be helpful
in sorting through a health challenge
and finding a solution to it. Homeopathy
can be used to treat any condition.

http://www.hpathy.com/papersnew/traub-finger-nails-homeopathy.asp

Explore the Underlying Cause of the Problem

A second way of figuring out what your
body is telling you is to investigate what
might be the underlying (and unconscious)
reason for the problem.

Louise Hay, author of You Can
Heal Your Life,
believes that
there are always underlying reasons
why a particular health problem
presents itself. She offers probable
reasons for a wide variety of ailments.

In the case of problems with nails she
writes that a probable cause is linked
to issues connected with protection.
The new thought pattern that she
suggests will help heal this problem is:

“I reach out safely.”

On a more general level, Louise Hay
says that problems with fingers are
related to issues associated
with the details of life. The healing
thought pattern is:

“I am peaceful with the details of life.”

If either of these possibilities resonate
with you, then you might want to
write one or both mantras on a piece of
paper and affix it to a place you
will see it everyday like your bathroom
mirror, refrigerator or front door.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

© Parkinsons Recovery

Overwhelmed by the Dozens of Natural Options that Make Recovery Possible?

The good news is that dozens of natural therapies offer relief from Parkinson’s symptoms. When I launched my search in 2004, I thought there would be a handful. How wrong I was!

The bad news is that the multitude of options have created serious problems for people searching for solutions to their symptoms. It is nearly impossible to wade through the 270 replays of my radio show interviews to find therapies that can help, much less the hundreds of posts on my blog.

Many people begin a search for solutions to their symptoms but are overwhelmed by the massive body of resources I have created.

I have now solved this problem by creating a series of online courses focused on specific symptoms and themes. Instant access to the content is available when you register.

Visit the Parkinsons Recovery page listed below for information about each online course.

https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com/courses

robert@parkinsonsrecovery.com
Olympia, Washington
877-526-4646

Take a Giant Leap for Recovery

Take a Giant Leap for Recovery
With 14 Small Steps

After years of intensive research I have documented dozens of natural therapies that offer relief from the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. When I began my search I expected to find several good therapies at best. The good news is that there are many.

So many in fact, that many members of my audience have become overwhelmed and frustrated with the options. More and more people are asking …

  1. Where do I start?
  2. Which options are right for me?
  3. Which therapies offer the promise of relief from my symptoms?

Click on the image below to enroll in Giant Leap for Recovery 

What has happened is unexpected. Many people do not even know where to start or how. The first step is often never taken due to confusion and frustration over the overload of information about what works and what does not work. Surfing the internet will make your hair fall out! There is just too much information out there for any single person to digest.

I have thoroughly documented these therapies in Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease. The good news is that most therapies do offer relief to one extent or another. Some people have better success with some therapies than others. The bad news is that most offer temporary relief.

  • What steps can be taken to achieve long lasting relief?
  • How can you heal from the inside-out rather than paying lots of money for therapies that offer temporary relief at best?

There is no single therapy, action or habit that does the trick. Many people seek this type of solution and for good reason. We all want to feel better right now. Why wait? Suppressing symptoms can offer temporary relief for some people.

The key can achieving sustained relief from Parkinson’s symptoms is to put the  sympathetic nervous system in the back seat and the parasympathetic nervous system in the driver’s seat. Medicines do not accomplish this, nor do supplements. Simple, easy to do steps must be taken that can offer long lasting relief from symptoms.

This insight has inspired the development of this online course, Giant Leap for Recovery. Is it possible to experience a leap in recovery by embracing a single approach? My answer is no.

One of the reasons more people do not get well is that they are forever looking for that one solution that will fix everything. Such a one stop “fix” to the problem does not exist now nor will it ever exist in the future.

Long lasting relief from symptoms results from taking small steps, one by one. At the end of the journey, you can look back at the starting point and celebrate the progress that has made it possible to take a giant leap in your recovery.

America succeeded in being the first nation to land and walk on the moon by breaking down the problem into tiny parts to be solved. This remarkable feat was not accomplished with a single blast or one amorphous effort. It was accomplished by taking small steps, one by one. Recall the words spoken by Neil Armstrong when he first stepped on the moon:

That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

Giant Leap for Recovery Course Details

This online course is offered on a spectacular course platform that presents information for each class in the form of videos, audios, text descriptions and downloads. Everything you need for each class is found in the same place. I have set up enrollment with a free 7 day trial so you can see how the course platform functions. Your credit card is not charged until the 7 day trial ends. Enrollment can always be before the trial period concludes.

Steps are rolled out every five days. The design invites you to explore and implement recommendations for each of the 14 steps. You can embrace each of the steps yourself. None of them require assistance medical professional or the purchase therapies.

Now while you can access the course materials any time of the day or night – you are also invited to always contact me with any follow-up questions or issues that have arisen. I am here to support your journey down the road to recovery. My intention is to offer all the support you need to establish a successful journey down the road to recovery.

Videos, audios, downloads and explanations of the steps are included with each class.

The giant leap is now completed, I want to thank you for this approach. I was surprised by the result, it gave me more hope in finding my own reason of this disease. I am still working on it, after seven years of Parkinson, I only have 2 Sinemet (100/25) per day.

I try to minimize the medication and find a way to heal inside.

Thank you for your support.

All the best for you and your family

Cheers Manon

What are the 14 Steps?

I am not going to tell you, nor explain them in advance. Really you say? Really.

The entire point of Giant Leap for Recovery is to make implementation of each step easy, interesting and fun. I think it best that no one looks ahead at what is coming. After all, taking the challenge of recovery moment to moment is one of the keys to reducing stress! Fixing yourself in the future is one sure fire way to create unnecessary stress. Recovery depends on reducing stress, not inflaming it!

I do want to be clear that all of the steps can be taken with the resources you have available. This has nothing to do with suggesting you purchase and/or take certain supplements or seek out therapists of one type or another. For you to be in the driver’s seat, you need to be in full control of your recovery and not rely on others to fix you.

I can report that you are never going to be able to guess what the 14 steps entail. I am quite sure you have never thought about the usefulness to recovery to many of them. The purpose of each step taken as a whole is to provide the foundation for recovery that can be sustained over the long run.

Tuition

Click Here to Enroll in Giant Leap for Recovery ($100 Tuition)

Once enrolled, you will have instant access to the course content which kicks off with Step One.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004 Parkinsons Recovery
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
https://www.parkinsonsdisease.me
Olympia Washington
877-526-4646

 

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