About Parkinsons Recovery®

Natural Options to Reverse Parkinsons Symptoms

Page 13 of 40

Trauma Affects Everyone

The therapy that I personally found was most beneficial in releasing my own trauma is described here: https://www.breathwork.today

Why Trauma Affects Everyone and How to Address It

Do you believe trauma affects everyone, even you? Trauma is a word that often conjures images of catastrophic events—natural disasters, violent crimes, or severe accidents. Yet, trauma is a deeply personal experience that can touch anyone, regardless of the severity of the events involved. It’s a universal aspect of the human condition, and understanding its impact is crucial for fostering empathy and creating supportive environments.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma refers to the emotional, psychological, and physiological response to events that are overwhelmingly distressing or life-threatening. While some traumas are clearly defined, such as surviving a natural disaster or a serious accident, others may stem from less visible sources, like childhood neglect, emotional abuse, or ongoing stress.

The impact of trauma is not confined to the event itself; it often reverberates through the individual’s life, affecting their mental and physical health, relationships, and overall well-being.

The Universality of Trauma

  1. Personal and Subjective Nature: Trauma is highly subjective. What one person might perceive as a minor inconvenience, another might experience as a profound emotional crisis. This subjectivity means that trauma can affect anyone, irrespective of the outward appearance of their experiences.
  2. Cumulative Effects: Trauma is not always the result of a single event. For some, it accumulates over time through repeated exposure to stressors or through ongoing situations of abuse or neglect. These cumulative effects can build up and eventually overwhelm even those who seem outwardly resilient.
  3. Impact on Daily Life: Trauma can have far-reaching effects on daily functioning. It can influence how one interacts with others, their ability to concentrate, and their overall mental health. This can manifest as anxiety, depression, or chronic stress, which can be debilitating if left unaddressed.

The Broad Spectrum of How Trauma Affects Everyone

Trauma’s impact is broad and can affect everyone in different ways:

  • Children: Exposure to trauma at a young age can shape a child’s development and affect their emotional regulation, behavior, and ability to form healthy relationships.
  • Adults: In adults, trauma can lead to various mental health issues, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The stress and coping mechanisms developed in response to trauma can also affect career and interpersonal relationships.
  • Communities: Trauma can also have a collective impact on communities. For example, areas affected by repeated violence or systemic injustice may experience widespread psychological and social issues.

Addressing Trauma: A Collective Responsibility

Understanding that trauma affects everyone can pave the way for more compassionate and effective responses. Here’s how we can address it collectively:

  1. Promote Awareness: Raising awareness about the various forms of trauma and their impacts helps to create a more empathetic society. Education can dismantle stigmas and encourage individuals to seek help when needed.
  2. Support Systems: Building strong support systems—whether through friends, family, or community resources—provides a safety net for those struggling with trauma. Offering a listening ear, understanding, and encouragement can make a significant difference.
  3. Access to Professional Help: Encouraging and facilitating access to mental health professionals is vital. Therapy and counseling can offer valuable tools and support for those dealing with trauma.
  4. Self-Care and Resilience Building: Promoting self-care practices and resilience-building strategies helps individuals manage stress and heal from traumatic experiences. This can include mindfulness, exercise, and other self-care routines.
  5. Policy and Systemic Change: Advocating for policies that address the root causes of trauma and support mental health can create environments that foster healing and resilience on a larger scale.

Trauma Affects Everyone Conclusion

Trauma is a pervasive part of the human experience that transcends individual circumstances and affects everyone in some way. By acknowledging its universal impact and addressing it with compassion and proactive measures, we can create a society that better supports and heals all its members. Whether through personal support, professional help, or systemic change, understanding and addressing trauma is essential for fostering a more resilient and empathetic world.

Ketones for Parkinsons Disease

William Curtis talks about his efforts to understand how ketones for Parkinsons disease have helped with his symptoms. His symptoms surfaced at the age of 45 in the year 2000 and has been instrumental in collaborating with NIH researcher Richard Veech in Washington DC.

What follows are the questions I ask Bill during the interview today on Parkinsons Recovery Radio.

To learn more about the new ketone ester visit this website:
https://www.ketoneaid.com/

What follows is a list of questions Bill answer on the topic of ketones for Parkinsons disease:

How did Parkinsons affect your life?

What led you to experiment with ketosis?

After the ketogenic exercise, what did you do to find out more about how ketosis could help your Parkinsons symptoms?

What is the purpose of fasting?

What is the purpose of the morning fat and coffee mixture?

What happens when you eat too much carbohydrate?

What happens when you eat too much protein?

Can exercise take you out of ketosis?

Can stress take you out of ketosis?

What supplements do you take to support ketosis?

What do you think is causing the improvement in symptoms?

Have you been able to cut back on the Parkinsons medications?

What do you think is going on as far as the disease progression you personally are experiencing?

Where do you think the use of ketosis in Parkinsons is going?

What is a Ketone Diet?

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, limited protein and carbohydrate diet that encourages the body to burn fat.  When we eat carbohydrates, they convert to glucose which is the primary fuel for brain function. When there is little to no carbohydrates that are ingested, your liver converts fat into and ketone bodies. The ketones become natural food for your brain rather than using glucose as an energy source.

Ketones can also be produced by the body when you eat a high fat diet. A cocktail in the morning consisting of a drink composed of coffee, butter, whipped cream and coconut oil (and/or MCT oil) is used by some persons with Parkinsons who pursue a ketone diet. The body uses the fats to product ketones.

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

Essential Oils for Parkinsons

Last Friday I interview Jean Oswald fromessential oils for Parkinsons
Rochester, New York who is a certified
aroma therapist and a registered nurse.
Jean provided a wealth of useful information
about how essential oils for Parkinsons can be used to
provide relief from its symptoms.

Essential Oils for Parkinson’s that Offer Symptom Relief

Here is her answer to two of my questions:

What if an individual has problems with rigidity of their muscles and it is very difficult for them to move with ease. What is an essential oil that might help relieve that particular symptom?

There are a few essential oils that could
be most beneficial for muscle rigidity.
Essential oils like Cedarwood, Frankincense
and Sandalwood are high in Sesquiterpene.
They cross the blood brain barrier. They are
going to be carrying more oxygen throughout
the body and helping with firing neurons and
relieving neurological symptoms.

Muscle rigidity in connection to that is
helped by Marjoram essential oils which are
very relaxing to the muscles and Basil which
is an anti-spasmodic.

Use them in a massage or put them directly
on the skin over the spine, on the soles of
the feet and specifically on areas of the skin
where the tension itself is present in the muscles.

I would recommend a blend, a lotion that
combines the Marjoram, Basil and other essential
oils.

How about the problem of tremors? What essential
oils for Parkinsons tremors might be recommended to relieve that symptom?

I would say Basil or Frankincense, the
anti-spasmodic oils.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

© 2024 Parkinsons Recovery

High-Dose Thiamine: A Novel, Promising Therapy for Parkinson’s disease

High Dose ThiamineParkinsons Recovery is dedicated to identifying promising new therapies that offer the promise of reversing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. One such therapy, High-Dose Thiamine, was discussed on Parkinsons Recovery Radio by Italian neurologist Antonio Constantini MD. He has been prescribing High Dose Thiamine as a treatment for his Parkinson’s patients with good success. Click on the pointer to hear the replay.

Brief Summary of the Q&A Follows

What Results have Your Parkinsons Patients Experienced?

It depends in part on whether the person has been recently experienced symptoms of Parkinson’s or has had them for several years. For the newly diagnosed taking high dose thiamine (whether by oral tablet or injection) reduces motor symptoms on average by 50% to 70% for persons who have recently begun experiencing Parkinson’s symptoms. In selected cases a patient can celebrate experiencing no symptoms. Improvements in motor symptoms are common.

For patients who have experienced symptoms for a long period of time, Dr.Costantini prescribes L-dopa and other more traditional medications. Such patients are also reported to experience symptom relief but results are generally not as dramatic.

How “High” Does the Thiamine Dosage Need to Be?

The recommended dosage varies considerably from patient to patient and is determined only after a medical checkup. Many factors influence the dosage that is prescribed. Possibilities range from 1 gram up to 4 grams a day of Vitamin B1 which is 1,000 to 4,000 times the normally recommended dose.

For some patients requiring the higher doses Dr. Costantini may administer B1 injections of 100 milligrams twice a week for a total intake of 200 milligrams each week of treatment.

Why Do You Prescribe High Dose Thiamine for your Parkinson’s Patients?

When there is a deficiency of thiamine, the result is a dysfunction in
metabolism. For persons experiencing Parkinsons symptoms, Dr. Costantini hypothesized there is a deficiency in the update of thiamine to the brain cells that produce dopamine.

How Quickly Do Parkinson’s Patients Begin to Experience Relief from Symptoms?

If they are taking Thiamine in tablet or powder form, it typically takes 2-3 days to experience symptomatic improvement. When shots or injections are administered the improvement can typically be experienced in 30-45 minutes.

Once a patient begins taking high dose thiamine Dr. Costantini reports that they typically must continue taking it to receive continued benefits. It is possible to take short breaks without incurring troublesome setbacks.

What Conditions Other the Parkinson’s Is High Dose Thiamine Therapy Useful?

Dr. Costantini reports that high dose thiamine is also useful for chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, cluster headaches, migraines and Huntington’s disease.

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

 

 

 

Vicious Cycles of Parkinsons

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

 

How Do We Detox our Body?

How do we detox our body?

Bev

Your question turns out to be huge indeed. I have used a naturopath doctor in Georgia (who I have actually never met in person), Ivy Faber. Ivy does bioenergetic testing to determine which toxins are problematic. She then recommends the detox protocol to use.

Naturopaths are great resources to help with detoxing. Herbalists have great resources, as are aromatherapists. Some medical doctors specialize in this area. Of course, exercise always helps the body to detox. Colon cleanses can be very useful as well.

In short, there are many possible options available. There are even detox programs that are designed to release specific toxins (like iron or other heavy metals).

I have actually tried different detoxes over the years which were purchased at food co-ops and health food stores. You can always tell if they are helpful because you begin to feel a lot better after several weeks.

Instead of doing a thorough review of alternatives, I ask my body through muscle testing which method I should use for now. The answer is often different depending on when I ask.

Muscle testing is the “quick and clean” method. I do not have to think as hard. I am into making things happen now.

Perhaps my way stems from my impatience. Perhaps I am just lazy. But, muscle testing works well for me and happens to be my way of making decisions about detoxes my body needs.

In the big picture, I think what matters is to acknowledge toxins to be a challenge for everyone. We all need to detox at least every year if not every six months.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

Can Parkinson’s Disease Be Reversed?

Perhaps you are one among people individuals who have been wondering whether anyone has succeeded in reversing the symptoms associated with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Everyone says the condition is degenerative. Can Parkinson’s disease be reversed? Take a peak at my new video to discover the answer.

Parkinsons Recovery Radio is one of the many free services I support through Parkinsons Recovery. I began hosting guests on the show in 2008. To date, there are over 270 shows that have aired and are available for free replays any time of the day or night. Over seventy (70) of these shows have been interviews with individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who found ways to reverse some if not all of their symptoms.

The cumulative evidence from these radio show interviews leads me to conclude the answer to the question “can Parkinson’s Disease be reversed” is yes.

The update to my book Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease provides detailed information about these guests and the dates the shows were aired.

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

P.S. Sales of Road to Recovery help to subsidize the expenses to provide replays of all Parkinsons Recovery radio show interviews for free to all listeners.

Can Parkinson's disease be reversed

Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

Difference Between Craniosacral Therapy and Bowen Therapy

What is the difference between craniosacral therapy and Bowen therapy?

Marilyn

Response:

Bowen Therapy:

  • Moves, positions and holds hands, feet, arms or legs into various positions for releases
  • Gently rolls the body or positions the body for releases
  • Focus is on the release if trauma and tension throughout the entire body body

Craniosacral

  • Touch is very gentle – more so than Bowen Therapy.
  • The therapist may work on or off the body
  • Focus is on cranial sacral system – the system that comprises the brain, spine and sacrum.

Differences Between Bowen Therapy and Craniosacral therapy:

The difference between cranial sacral therapy and Bowen therapy depends in large part on the practitioner. Some cranial sacral therapists are more technique oriented. They are trained to move through a standard serious of adjustments.

Other cranial sacral therapists are trained to listen to the person’s body and allow the body to communicate how it needs to release the trapped trauma. There is no standard protocol that is used with any particular patient.

My personal experience with Bowen therapy involved a treatment I received from Naturopath doctor John Coleman and his associate four years ago at a workshop in Tacoma, Washington. Bowen therapy originated in Australia in the 1980’s.

I loved receiving the Bowen treatment from John. It clearly allows for gentle releases of stress, trauma and tension.

Bowen therapy is a wonderful therapy, as is craniosacral. Either one will work for some people and not others. It is more physical than craniosacral therapy, but both can generate similar outcomes. If one therapy does not help you, try the other!

John Coleman recommends Bowen therapy to persons with Parkinsons Disease because it was so helpful to him personally. Some people report back to me who have had Bowen therapy that is indeed the case for them. Others report they did not receive the releases that they had hoped for. Still others report relief is maintained for several days after the treatment, but symptoms tend to return.

Many therapists – whether Bowen or Craniosacral – have extensive training with other modalities. When they begin working – they will employ other modalities as needed in addition to using the techniques associated with cranial sacral therapy.

I suggest that anyone who currently has the symptoms Parkinson shop around for a practitioner who provides the support that works well for you. It is a very personal choice. You might want to try several therapists so you can experience the wide range of treatments that are possible.

An alternative option that merits serious consideration is Breathwork which involves continuous breathing to release trauma. For more information visit: https://breathwork.today

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

Memory Training for Dementia

As discussed in my short video, memory training for dementia is a strategy we all need to engage as we age whether our current age is 20 or 80!

Information about the Parkinsons Recovery Mindwork challenges is here:
https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com/parkinsons-recovery

Below is an abstract from a study that examined the usefulness of memory training for 76 individuals currently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease:

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2020 Mar;72:13-22. doi: 10.1016. Effects of working memory training in patients with Parkinson’s disease without cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial. Anja Ophey , Kathrin Giehl , Sarah Rehberg , Carsten Eggers , Paul Reker , Thilo van Eimeren , Elke Kalbe 

Objective: To determine the feasibility and evaluate effects of a computerized working memory (WM) training (WMT) in patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) on cognitive and clinical outcomes.

Methods: 76 patients with PD without cognitive impairment were randomized to either the WMT group (n = 37), who participated in a 5-week adaptive WMT, or a passive waiting-list control group (CG, n = 39). Patients underwent clinical and neuropsychological examination at baseline, after training, and at 3-months follow-up, with verbal WM and non-verbal WM as primary outcomes. Outcome assessors were blinded for group allocation.

Results: All WMT participants completed the training successfully and reported high levels of motivation for and satisfaction with the training. Repeated-measures, linear mixed-effects models revealed positive training effects for the WMT group compared to the CG in verbal working memory with a small relative effect size 0.39 [95%CI 0.05; 0.76] for the 3-months follow-up only. No other reliable training effects in cognitive and clinical variables were found for either point of time.

Conclusions: In this randomized controlled trial, memory training for dementia is feasible and yielded some evidence for 3-months follow-up training gains in patients with Parkinsons disease. WMT might be an effective intervention to prevent cognitive decline in this patient group.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery 
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

Are EMFs Dangerous?

Are EMFs Dangerous or Not?

Are EMFs dangerous or not is the question on everyone’s mind. Research below signals a serious alarm about the dangers of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs)

Curr Alzheimer Res. 2022;19(2):119-132. Low Intensity Electromagnetic Fields Act via Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel (VGCC) Activation to Cause Very Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease: 18 Distinct Types of Evidence. Martin L Pall

Abstract

Electronically generated electromagnetic fields (EMFs), including those used in wireless communication such as cell phones, Wi-Fi and smart meters, are coherent, producing very high electric and magnetic forces, which act on the voltage sensor of voltage-gated calcium channels to produce increases in intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i.

The calcium hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has shown that each of the important AD-specific and nonspecific causal elements is produced by excessive [Ca2+]i. [Ca2+]i acts in AD via excessive calcium signaling and the peroxynitrite/oxidative stress/inflammation pathway, which are each elevated by EMFs.An apparent vicious cycle in AD involves amyloid-beta protein (A?) and [Ca2+]i. Three types of epidemiology suggest EMF causation of AD, including early onset AD.

Extensive animal model studies show that low intensity EMFs cause neurodegeneration, including AD, with AD animals having elevated levels of A?, amyloid precursor protein and BACE1. Rats exposed to pulsed EMFs every day are reported to develop universal or near universal very early onset neurodegeneration, including AD; these findings are superficially similar to humans with digital dementia. EMFs producing modest increases in [Ca2+]i can also produce protective, therapeutic effects. The therapeutic pathway and peroxynitrite pathway inhibit each other.

A summary of 18 different findings is provided, which collectively provide powerful evidence for EMF causation of AD. The author is concerned that smarter, more highly pulsed “smart” wireless communication may cause widespread very, very early onset AD in human populations.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery®
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

Chiropractic Adjustments as Therapy for Parkinsons

Are chiropractic adjustments as therapy for Parkinsons beneficial or no in the long run?

Recently I found a GENTLE chiropractor & not a “bone crusher” (tried once) & I was convinced to try chiropractic adjustments 3 times / week for neck & back pain.For the last 3 weeks, I haven’t seen any improvement BUT EVERYBODY SAYS IT IS A SLOW RECOVERY COMPARING the same way we wear braces for the teeth.I know the Healing is from the INSIDE OUT as Dr John SARNO explains in his book: the mind body prescription.(Healing the body healing the pain)

I would not place chiropractic adjustments as therapy for Parkinsons in the list of preferred therapies that people with the symptoms say has helped them the most. Some people do report benefit from chiropractic adjustments. I suspect the problem lies in the fact that the muscular restrictions found with many symptoms of Parkinson’s create an inflexibility that makes adjustments painful for many people.

In some cases, the body will respond by tensing up more which of course is the reverse of what the chiropractor intends. Chiropractors who use gentle touch are more likely to get better results.

Every one’s body is different. We cannot make a list of good and bad therapies for people with the symptoms of Parkinson’s because the conditions that create the neurological challenges are different for each person. Listen carefully to how your body responds to a therapy such as chiropractic adjustments. Your body will tell you loud and clear whether the therapy is helping or not.

The best approach I think is to use your own good intuitive insights and give it a try if you are called to explore the therapy as a possibility. I should say however that my research shows there are other therapies that show up more often as beneficial in reducing symptoms.

 

 

How Do I Wean Myself Off of Sinemet?

I recently found out after 10 years I do NOT have PD. I am trying to get off Sinemet after being on it for 5 years and having a very hard time. I can’t find a single doctor with any experience in getting people OFF Sinemet. The doctor that diagnosed me as not having PD has been backed up by 4 other neurologists. While I have great respect for him I am very worried about NMS or DAWS. My question is How Do I Wean Myself Off of Sinemet?

Since he admits I am a bit of a novelty I am very concerned about his plan to get me off Sinemet in a week. I’ve been tapering very slowly due to debilitating muscle cramps that have torn muscles in my hip and knee. I am afraid this rapid detox while attractive might be fatal if I am living on the edge of DAWS as I suspect I have been for some time.

I would feel much better if I knew of a doctor with experience in weaning people off sinemet. Do you know of any such centers or doctors? I live in central California but can travel.

Thank you.

Laurie

Response to How Do I Wean Myself Off of Sinemet?

I can certainly emphasize with your need to wean yourself off of medication that you do not need. This process takes time and patience. In my research, I recommend a resource who has helped many people wean themselves from one medication or another. Doctors are not trained to help people with such challenges. This is precisely what compounding pharmacists are trained to do. I would thus suggest that you consult with a compounding pharmacist.

A compounding pharmacist will compound a medicine with – say – a 95% potency which you can take for a period of time. If there are no side effects, the potency will gradually be reduced over time – little by little – until you need take none of the medicine. this process may take as long as a year or two. If there are reactions to a reduced potency. Your pharmacist  will increase the dosage, then reduce it more gradually. Compounding pharmacists work closely with doctors as they change the potency of medications for patients.

In summary, you cannot go cold turkey and you cannot get off of the medication within a week. It takes time and patience to wean yourself but it can be done. I suggest you find a compounding pharmacist in your local area and get a consultation.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
http://www.parkinsonsdisease.me

Amino Acid Therapy

This is an edited clip from my interview with Marty Hinz MD in 2018 who is internationally acknowledged for developing amino acid therapy.

 

  1. What is the primary cause of Parkinsons disease?
  2. What the most effective Parkinsons disease treatment?
  3. What is carbidopa?
  4. Why is carbidopa used?
  5. How does carbidopa deplete vitamin B6?
  6. What happens when vitamin B6 depletes?

He addresses the questions listed above about amino acid therapy during the interview today.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

Eyelid Apraxia

The most problem I have is with eyelid apraxia. With a little wind or cool air on the bicycle my eyelids drop down and I have to open them with my left finger. Luckily at home and driving a car this problem does not occur.

Do you have any experience with that problem? I really hope you have!

Thank you so much for your mails.

You do great work!

Hans

As you so clearly describe, eyelid apraxia (ALO) is a movement disorder that makes it difficult to open the eyelids. It is found among less than 1% of persons diagnosed with the symptoms of Parkinsons disease.

Possible Cause of Eyelid Apraxia

Eyelid Apraxia can be a side effect of the medication Levodopa which is used to treat Parkinson’s disease. It can also be caused by deep brain stimulation (DBS).

So, one cause to consider (among others) is that the apraxia might be triggered by the side effects of taking Levodopa itself or perhaps modifications to your dosage. Several case studies suggest that withdrawal from Levodopa might cause a symptom of the type of  apraxia you describe.

Does this at all resonate with you? If so, investigate this possibility with your doctor to see if some medication modifications might be indicated.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

Supplement Parkinsons Medications with Fava Beans

I understand that it is possible to supplement Parkinsons medications with fava beans. I take meds 5x / day, have had Parkinson’s for 8 years and am 60 years old. My symptoms are fairly well controlled except for a mild tremor.

My neurologist suggested that I not “play around” with fava beans because it would cause spikes in dopamine……………

My question: Should I take an equal amount of fava bean [eg. 1 tsp. ] each time I take my meds to keep the dopamine level steady?

Carolyn

Clearly, it is always best to follow the recommendations of your doctor. I do have some evidence on fava beans that are used to supplement dopamine which I discussed below

About Fava Beans 

I have talked now with a number of people who supplement their medications with fava beans. Fava beans grow in pods much like green beans and are a food that has been around for thousands of years. The bean pods are clearly most effective when they are very young and green, even before a string like fiber forms along the pod.

You can eat the beans after steaming them or boiling them in water. Of course, you can add the seasonings that you like to most like sea salt, butter or herbs.

The best effect comes from eating fava beans that are green and fresh. You can shell them, though some people like eating the shells. Or, you  can grind them up, add them to other foods or beverages or take them like a pill.

Alternatively, you can boil or steam them till they are tender. Add them to salads. The more you cook them, the more they are cooked, the less dopamine enhancing value they will have.

The stories of success vary depending on the person. May I suggest that you click on the categories “fava beans” listed to the right of this post. You will be able to read some of what I have discovered about fava beans there. Fava beans are an attractive option for some people because they are a natural food, though it is always possible some people may have allergies to them.

Cooked fava beans may give you a tiny boast, but the potency can be mostly “cooked out.” Some people grind the raw beans. Other people grind the leaves and roots with good effect.

Other people report good results from growing their own fava beans, harvesting them and then grinding the beans (and/or leaves and stems). If the fava beans are grown commercially they may not have sufficient “charge” and thus have little effect, as is the case with all supplements. This is why some people with the symptoms of Parkinsons are starting to grow their own fava beans.

The concerns of your neurologist are certainly well founded. If the fava beans that you take have a sufficient charge of dopamine, it will overload your body with too much dopamine. Some people I interview consult with doctors who help them adjust their medications as they begin to take the dopamine.

Best results when you supplement parkinsons medications with fava beans is to consider using Aunt Beans fava bean tincture that Aunt Bean invented and uses to reverse her Parkinson’s symptoms. You can find instructions on how to make the tincture from this Parkinsons Recovery website: https://www.favabeans.parkinsonsrecovery.com

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

Brain Cell Regeneration

In several of your articles about Parkinson’s, it is stated as fact that by the time one experiences the first symptoms of Parkinson’s, 60-80% of the brain cells in the Substantia Nigra area of the brain have been destroyed. If this is a medical fact then how does it stand to reason that the body is merely out of balance or suffering from toxins? Is brain cell regeneration really possible?

I believe that the body can be out of balance but has it suffered the reality of irreversible damage? It is important to have a positive outlook but I also think it is important to be realistic.

I hope I do not sound overly direct because I appreciate all you are doing and have found much of your information to be thought provoking and helpful.

Thanks, A.G.

The estimate that 80% of the dopamine producing cells have been destroyed comes from autopsies of people found to have degradation in the substantia nigra. A startling proportion of persons are misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s – estimates vary from 25% to 33%. It is a tough diagnosis to make and it is easy for doctors to miss the mark on this call.

This means that although the person has symptoms that are like the symptoms of Parkinson’s, they are not being driven by a dopamine deficiency. It may simply be that the myelin sheath coverings around the neurons are clogged by toxins or obstructed by trauma to the tissues. Or, other factors may be at play.

I personally believe that we find ourselves trotting down a dead end alley much too often if the “problem” of Parkinson’s is defined as a dopamine deficiency. The body can always produce sufficient dopamine under the proper conditions. Brain cell regeneration is not only a possibility but a proven fact. And, the body can always generate new cells and rejuvenate itself. Healing becomes possible when the symptoms are viewed in a broader context of health and wellness rather than death and destruction.

At the most basic level, all healing rests on the foundation of thought forms. When we focus on what is not possible, nothing becomes possible. When we set out intention for change and renewal, anything is possible.

I think it is a mistake to focus on the cells that have been destroyed in the body. Cells are being born every micro second. The body can reconstruct anything – cells, neural pathways, tissues – you name it. When we focus on what has been destroyed, we have sunk into the negative thought form trap which leads us into nagging thoughts that recovery is impossible. This is why I wrote the Five Steps to Recovery.

The body can and does rejuvenate itself.

Robert Roders, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

Lock Jaw

Slowly her jaw started to cease up. One morning all of her throat and mouth were swollen excessively. She was admitted to hospital sedated and incubated immediately. When the sedation was taken off she was very unresponsive giving the impression of ‘locked-in syndrome’ or ‘brainstem stroke’. 5 months on she is now out of hospital, she has had CT scan, MRI scan, DAT scan and x-rays, given botox into TMJ and treated for tetanus but there is no answer or reason for what happened. All scans came back clear and couldn’t see anything out of the norm for a brain of a PD sufferer and someone of her age 64. She still has lock-jaw and is very weak.

My mum was diagnosed with Parkinsons about 2 years ago. She was using Sinemet but due to dizzy spells and feeling sick she weaned off it. She started to have sore gums so eventually took her teeth out, just upper teeth are dentures.

Could you possibly offer any help or advise,

Nat

As a researcher and not a medical doctor, I am certainly not qualified to suggest and diagnose here. Your Mum’s doctors are certainly working hard trying to figure out what in the world is going on here!

Speaking as a researcher, it looks to me like – speaking simply – there is something inside your Mum’s body that is causing significant inflammation or something that she continues to insert in her body. What is it?

It could be a variety of toxins. It could be an allergic reaction to something she is eating. At a minimum, you could modify her diet and see if there is any change. Something she has loved to eat for years may be the culprit here. It could be side effects of a medication she is taking. There are many possibilities which is why of course her doctors are having such a difficult time figuring out how to help her!

Emotional issues always lie at the foundation of symptoms. You might ask your Mom if there is something she needs to say that she has been withholding. With lock jaw, talking is near impossible. Perhaps you could help her express that she has been unable to say. It could be a life long challenge keeping silent about something she needs to express to you and others. Once the trapped emotion has been cleared the symptom will resolve.

Hang in there. The cause will be found and a treatment used the will lead to symptom relief. One to consider is EMDR. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a mental health treatment technique. This method involves moving her eyes back and forth in a specific way while she process traumatic memories which lie at the root of her lock jaw.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Recovery

 

 

Thoughts that Obstruct Recovery

What unwanted beliefs, feelings and thoughts that obstruct recovery do you want to cast off your back ? Obviously we all have our own issues and our own private lists.

Permit me to take the liberty of making one suggestion of a feeling that you might consider adding to your own personal “cast off” list” the shame of currently experiencing Parkinson’s symptoms. Everyone is ashamed to be ill no matter what the diagnosis of the symptoms. In the case of Parkinson’s, shame seems to run especially deep and thick.

Many people who have been told they have Parkinson’s disease do not even tell their family for years and even decades (if ever). They embrace a belief which is untrue that the diagnosis means that they are destined to feel worse and worse over time.

They are convinced that their friends and family will distance themselves when they discover that they have this dreaded condition which carries the label of Parkinson’s. Because they never say anything they have no opportunity to realize this belief is not valid. In this case, thoughts that obstruct recovery are not in your best and highest good.

I know that shame runs deep for a variety of reasons. Here are a few:

  • Conversations with hundreds of persons with Parkinson’s symptoms over the past couple of decades  have revealed the depth of the shame that people experience.
  • When people order one of my books by phone they often tell me that they are ordering the book for a family member or a friend. Sometimes no doubt this is true. Sometimes no doubt they are ordering the book for themselves but are too ashamed to admit it even to me, a total stranger.
  • Parkinsons Recovery memberships provide ongoing support to the Parkinson’s community, a place where options can be explored with other persons who have succeeded in reversing their own symptoms. Few people call in during the live event. Most prefer to listen to the recording. There is such shame associated with even talking with another person even if they too have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Why not set the intention to cast off any and all shame that you might be currently be holding consciously or unconsciously. Often the shame is unconscious.

Why hold onto the shame? A vast majority of the population have neurological challenges. It is really nothing to be ashamed about.

More and more people are identifying the cause of neurological challenges that they happen to be currently experiencing. Once the factors that are causing the symptoms have been identified, solutions can be explored that will help reversing whatever symptoms you may currently experience.

Shame places you in a position of subservience to a concept that has no basis in reality. It is not true that people who happen to have been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease are destined to deteriorate. It is far more likely that they have been misdiagnosed.

People are succeeding in reversing neurological symptoms.

Holding shame in you heart, mind and body is not in your (or anyone’s) best and highest good. Cast the weight of shame off your shoulders today. That is the intention I have set for myself and I invite you to do the same. We all have shame to one degree to another which needs to be cast off now.   

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
www.parkinsonsdisease.me

Unshackling Chains of Fear

This is an edited interview with Fred Phillips on Parkinsons Recovery Radio who discusses unshackling the chains of fear that aired in 2017.

Fred Phillips is an author and former martial arts instructor. He was diagnosed withunshackling chains of fear Parkinson’s disease in 2008. Fred discusses his journey with this challenging health condition, his philosophy and approach to recovery and his ten step recovery protocol.

Fred blogs about his experience at fredphillips.wordpress.com. He lives on Manitoulin Island in Ontario, Canada.

Fred discusses his answers to the following questions that all pertain to unshackling chains of fear:

1. How long you have you been experiencing symptoms?

2. What is your philosophy and approach?

3. Why did you choose to recover naturally?

4. What symptoms do you experience?

5. What is your recovery protocol?

6. What has been your greatest challenge?

7. What advice would you offer others experiencing a health challenge?

Robert Rodgers. PhD
Founder of Parkinsons Recovery in 2004
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

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