Hi to all at Neurotalk,

Let introduce myself. Iīm a PD caregiver and live in South America.
Recently my mother, 81 y.o., was diagnosed and I felt myself very sad
because I didnīt realize that her low movements means this disease.

11 moths ago, I suffered a heart attack and had to put mammal and safenous
veins as a myocardial bypass. I was so stressed taking care of her
that ended feeling heavy heart pains.

I wouldnīt like to gave her allopatic medicines. Iīm looking for natural
alternatives and I read a lot about it here. Thanks to all for this.

Let me give you some input about yerbamate. On a brazilian magazine
article from August, 2007, some news about it. Sorry because I cannot
post links yet.

As it is totally in Portuguese from Brazil I did an appoximated
translation to english:

THE YERBAMATE AGAINST PARKINSONīS DISEASE

This fact has been found by scientists at the University of the Far
South of Santa Catarina, Brazil. After testing the plantīs extract in
mice that have the disease induced, they notice that some of the
substances showed to be able to protect them. In another investigation
the animals received the phytotherapic with traditional medication
and the results were even more significant. Part of the guinea pigs
came to fully recover its movements. "The study is still preliminary,
but we have proved that yerbamate can be used as a prevention of this
degenerative disease and as an adjuvant treatment", told pharmaceutical
Luciane Costa Campos, chief of the research.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Scientific name: Ilex paraguariensis St. Hilaire

Popular names: mate, erva-mate, brazilian tea

Forms of consumption: at South, the beverage, hard concentrated,
takes the name of chimarrão; used in southern as a hot tea and iced tea,
in the Midwest its name is Tereré, a tropical version of the mate,
with ice and lemon.

Origin: South America

Features: its stem, greyish in color, has on average 30 centimeters in
diameter. The size is variable and, depending on age, may reach
12 meters in height. When pruned reaches 7 meters.

Used part: leaves

Unfortunately the study didnīt bring any input about the percentage of
substances tested, but I think that was a very hard concentrated extract.