General characteristics

Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the nervous system that results in the person having slow movements, involuntary tremors and shaking and a lack of muscular co-ordination, strength and control. It usually occurs in people over 50 and can progress slowly or rapidly depending on the individual.

In Parkinson's disease groups of nerve cells located deep in the brain that are responsible for making the neurotransmitter dopamine die off, leaving a state of low dopamine levels. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with emotions such as pleasure, happiness, success and reward as well as the physical movement and control of skeletal muscles. This results in reduced voluntary movement, the occurrence of involuntary movements and a loss of muscle tone. The condition is degenerative but the intensity of progression varies in each individual.

The sufferer of Parkinson's can have symptoms such as the spine bending forward, a shuffling movement when walking, stiff and rigid muscles, loss of muscular control, inability to control the speed of walking, quiet voice, tremors and shakes, loss of emotional expression, greasy skin, inability to blink, drooling, loss of reflexes and uncontrollable salivation due to swallowing difficulties.

Possible causes of Parkinson's include heavy metal poisoning (manganese), chemical exposure (agricultural chemicals, in particular pesticides containing glyphosate such as 'roundup'), head injury, post encephalitis (brain inflammation following an infection for instance), prescribed drugs (used in Alzheimers and schizophrenia) and genetic predisposition but in a large number of cases the cause is unknown. Natural healers also note a tendency towards chronic constipation (bowel movements every 3 days for example) in Parkinson's sufferers as well as low parathyroid gland activity and poor nutrition such as folic acid and B12 deficiency as well as damage to nerve cells caused by free radicals.

Healing objectives are to improve nutrition to the brain and nervous system using nutritious foods and herbs, stress reduction techniques and to improve the function of the bowel and other eliminatory organs such as the liver.

Useful herbs

Pau d'arco, ginkgo, gotu kola, skullcap, ashwagandha, sage and rosemary have all shown to be useful in the treatment of Parkinson's. Try making a tea using equal parts of the dried herb, a teaspoonful per cup, 3 times daily.

Herbs such as black cohosh, cramp bark, passion flower, motherwort and valerian can be used to help reduce the intensity and incidences of the tremors and muscle spasms. Use equal parts of the tinctures and take a teaspoon in water 3 times daily.

Reishi mushroom, ashwagandha root and turmeric are both useful in the treatment of Parkinson's. A useful way of taking them is in powdered capsule form.

A herb called Mucuna pruriens (a type of bean) contains the substance levodopa and has shown good results for some people.

Echinacea may offer protection against nerve damage.

Oatstraw and nettle tea would make a nourishing and soothing daily drink. Add yarrow to this too for a calming but tonic action on the nervous system.