Then something profound and disturbing, but extremely important happened. As I was sitting there, I switched into a deeper "off" state - one in which I zone out completely, lose myself, the brain fog descends, I stiffen up and become rigid, eyes glaze over, I withdraw from the world. hat happened next was extraordinary.
Read MoreThe Vagus Nerve and Parkinson's Disease
I first discovered the Vagus Nerve (VN) when I was researching how Parkinson's Disease begins in the gut: "Braak's Hypothesis" of the disease states that the problem spreads from its origins in the digestive tract to the brain, using the Vagus Nerve as the conduit. My interest was further piqued when I read that people who had had their VN severed via a vagotomy - a surgical "solution" for stomach ulcers - appeared to have significantly less likelyhood of developing PD.
Read MoreHelicobacter Pylori Bacteria in the Gut and Parkinson's Disease
As many forms of PD begin in the gut, and only later migrate to brain, the initiating and causal gut problems will still remain too after the brain damage has occured. We will certainly need to address these digestive tract issues, therefore, if we are ever to fully heal. In my view, even if we could correct the resulting brain problems tomorrow, if we do not also attend to the original causes which reside in gut then we will not be "fixed" for very long.
Read MoreClothing and The Freeze Phenomena in Parkinson's Disease
For People with Parkinson's, there is something very strange about the feedback between our brains/bodies and our immediate environment. The choice of clothes, in particular, can affect symptoms. In this article, I cover why consideration to clothing is an important part of living well with Parkinson's.
Read MoreSmovey Rings and Applications For Parkinson's Disease
"Smovey Rings" are a general health and wellness tool that combine exercise and vibration, which have particular beneficial applications for Parkinson's Disease. Indeed, these hand held "rings" were invented by Johann Salzwimmer, an Austrian Tennis player and a person with Parkinson’s, who actually initially designed them specifically to help himself. So it is not hard to understand why these are proving beneficial now with many other people who also have neurological conditions.
Read MoreBreathing Through the Nose and Parkinson's Disease
I set about seeing if there was anything which could provide even more of an anti-histamine effect over just the nasal wash out method described above. I was wary of taking anti-histamine drugs, because I'd read these might make things worse with long term usage. Being an afficinado of the use of light for medical problems, I did some more research and discovered there are little red light - or even infrared - gadgets which you can stick up your nose to create anti-histamine effects, and that this idea was based on sound science!
Read MoreA Naturopathic Doctor's Approach to the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
Profile of Dr Laurie Mischley: a new breed of naturopathic doctor, not only able to prescribe medication, but also fully educated in dietetics and nutrition. Laurie specializes in helping clients with Parkinson's Disease, and is working at the cutting edge of research on the disease. The purpose of this post is to further highlight the work of Dr Mischley, and also the benefits of choosing a holistic PD doctor. For updates or news, follow Laurie's facebook page.Write here…
Read MoreNutritional and Genetic Susceptibilities in Parkinson's Disease
My colleague David Spry is helping people with Parkinson's Disease get symptomatic relief using nutritional therapies. In particular, he is undertaking extremely careful and holistic research on a nutritional-genetic issue, in which people with a specific gene profile are not only very prone to nutritional deficiencies related to “melthylation” and "folates", but also that this makes them highly susceptible to a wide spectrum of food intolerances. David is revealing the role these issues play in the motor and non-motor symptoms associated with PD, and is demonstrating that, by addressing these, significant improvement can be acheived in the condition of people who have developed Parkinsonism’s in this genetic class. Most importantly, David has pioneered this approach by testing out his conclusions on himself.
Read MoreThe Overlaps Between Allergic Reactions and Parkinson's Disease
Taking these ideas forward, I went on to research the linkages between histamine and dopamine, and thus began to form a picture, with the logical conclusions that allergic/inflammatory reactions and Parkinson's Disease are, indeed, very strongly linked. Here's what I uncovered.
Read MoreParkinson's Gave Me Gratitude For... Family
My career was cut short by Parkinson's Disease. I lost my Great Love, my life's pursuit and have had to grieve. To change and adapt, to evolve once again or perish. I'm currently lost, at sea, not sure what to do or what I am capable of. Yet Dave has found his Calling, in his family and his career. Very bravely, he formed his own business, Raptorxotics. He has squared his own circle and now his animals, family and work are one.
Read MorePro-Active and Practical with Parkinson's Disease
Report on Wearable Light Therapy Technology Applied to Parkinson's Disease
In fact, the possibilities to fine tune light therapy for PD through such wearables is now immense. For example, the Propeaq glasses already come with an app which allows the timings of the therapy to be programmed in: Toine is helping Olympic athletes achieve peak performance at the scheduled times of their events! They also already come with interchangeable tinted colors, including red for increasing melatonin: currently, these are used when the wearables are applied to combatting jet lag, for example.
Read MoreWhy Strategic Light Therapies Offer New Hope for People Parkinson's Disease
A number of important studies have now clearly demonstrated that strategic use of light therapy can be highly beneficial for people with Parkinson's. Recent studies aimed mainly at addressing the poor quality of sleep associated Parkinson's, as well as those aimed mainly at addressing depression in people PD, are alsp inadervently showing improvements in the motor symptoms of the participants too. It is believed this is because strategic light therapies are actually helping to restore the natural balances between dopamine and melatonin and restoring the Circadian Rhythm.
Read MoreMusic-As-Medicine for Parkinson's Disease
Like many, people with Parkinson's, I had completely stopped listening to music some time before diagnosis. This "closing off" or withdrawal from the world of the senses is one of the running themes which I have found in talking to very many people with Parkinson's. But whenever I see people with other neurological conditions like Alzheimer's on the TV, invariably they seem to be existing in silence, and have forgotten the music that one made them come to life. Even quite recently, I could not recall seeing people with such conditions, as shown in the reality of their lives, with music even playing in the background, and certainly never saw them with a personal choice of music, carefully chosen to stir all sorts of memories, being played loud directly in their ears via digital headphones. Thankfully, the profound impact of music on people with neurological illnesses, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's is now coming to the fore.
Read MoreMy Experience with a Dopamine Agonist Medicine for Parkinson's Disease
The very first drug I was put on after my diagnosis was ropinerole [dopamine agonist]. It was only marginally effective. So my original neurologist kept bumping up the dosage until it made me vomit and have diarrhoea, cold sweats and such dizziness that the only thing I could do was lie down. The neurologist's solution was to put me on, in addition, anti-nausea medications permanently. Later, I self-discovered this class of anti-nausea drugs are not supposed to be used long term.
Read MoreNutritional Deficits in Parkinson's Disease
A Person with Parkinson's (PWP) typically has dental issues, salivary issues, swallowing difficulties, probably H. pylori, probably methylation disabilities, an imbalanced microbiome and slow transit, resulting in nutrient deficiencies, together with multi-drug interactions along the way. Hinz diagrammed some 29 interactions and barely scratched the surface. Unsuspectingly, those who shop and cook their own meals may provide the added edge.
Read MoreInsights into Parkinson's Disease
In taking us along with you on your journey you have realised that we are all different yet also all the same. It matters little what kind of music helps us, the fact is that there is some music for each of us that heals our symptoms. For me it's The Shadows music. I discovered this when I was recovering from a mini stroke and the friend came round to play his guitar for me. I could literally feel my brain responding as though I had guitar strings in my head.
Read MoreMannitol and Parkinson's Disease: A Review
Based on this evidence, while I am in no way advising anyone else to do so, I have personally decided to add Mannitol into my recovery plan** and have invested in a kilo of the powder. I have just taken my first teaspoon to ensure there are no side-effects and will build up to the recommended dose over the next few days. I will report on outcomes.
Read MoreA Critical Analysis of Medical Science and Parkinson's Disease
"Nowadays, some of the PhDs and presenters don't even take the time to learn the nomenclature and techniques used by the co-authors who actually interface with the patients. They just deal with the numbers. Medicine becomes so much simpler when it's been de-personalized. The Dr. abdicates his responsibility by simply purveying what his specialty has dictated; the patient becomes his diagnostic label... PD in our case.
Read MorePlaying Card Therapies for Parkinson's Disease
I find I can shuffle, deal, turn, tidy up, halve and gather the pack of cards. It can be quite stiff and difficult but this seems to be one of those things, like playing with my basketball, which allows me to almost always access some movement, this time for my fingers. Indeed, I find this is giving me more and more knowledge of my hands again. You can see me performing this type of exercise at the end of the video below.
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