[bubblyshar]

Hi there,

I'm new to this board and may have written to some of you.

My Dad is newly diagnosed. His symptom right now is a tremor in the right hand and masked face.

The doc has not prescribed mediication yet. I am researching about mucuna.

He is taking evening primrose oil, coeznyme q10 and multivitamin.

I was wondering what people have found to reduce tremor that helps..

Any info would be much appreciated. This is all very overwhelming for me..

Thanks,

Shar

[TrishaPDX]

Greetings, Shar

My friend Jan has been using Mucunas since mid-September and is now transitioned off of Sinemet completely. It still is a tough transition due to detoxing, but it's fabulous to see her doing far better than when on that drug. On mucunas: I patched together a lot of information for Jan but eventually found our way to the NeuroAssist website, because they support neurotransmitter function with mucunas AND protect the brain with amino acids. Jan's on that protocol now and the jury is still out, but it looks really viable for her.

We'd prefer an open system with possibilities of different brands of products, since Jan's reactive and often needs to switch sources of herbs, etc., but decided to try this company's packaged approach because of the body of research behind it and support they offer their practitioners. They also test dopamine/seratonin/norepinephrine/epinephrine levels (how cool is that!). But note, I'm NOT making an endorsement here, it's way too early to know how she's going to do. Months more are needed. I just want to stress the synergistic role that amino acids play in any L-dopa supplementation.

Your father is fortunate that you are on the trail of alternatives for him! Jan regrets starting Sinemet when she did. I hope your father will be able to find something that supports him without doing harm. I wish you all great luck and that your efforts are soon rewarded!

Best regards,
TrishaPDX

[Conductor71]

Originally Posted by TrishaPDX

Greetings, Shar

My friend Jan has been using Mucunas since mid-September and is now transitioned off of Sinemet completely. It still is a tough transition due to detoxing, but it's fabulous to see her doing far better than when on that drug. On mucunas: I patched together a lot of information for Jan but eventually found our way to the NeuroAssist website, because they support neurotransmitter function with mucunas AND protect the brain with amino acids. Jan's on that protocol now and the jury is still out, but it looks really viable for her.

We'd prefer an open system with possibilities of different brands of products, since Jan's reactive and often needs to switch sources of herbs, etc., but decided to try this company's packaged approach because of the body of research behind it and support they offer their practitioners. They also test dopamine/seratonin/norepinephrine/epinephrine levels (how cool is that!). But note, I'm NOT making an endorsement here, it's way too early to know how she's going to do. Months more are needed. I just want to stress the synergistic role that amino acids play in any L-dopa supplementation.

Your father is fortunate that you are on the trail of alternatives for him! Jan regrets starting Sinemet when she did. I hope your father will be able to find something that supports him without doing harm. I wish you all great luck and that your efforts are soon rewarded!

Best regards,
TrishaPDX

Trisha,

I read with interest your other post on the problems your friend Jan has had in using and stopping Sinemet before going to mucuna pruriens. Could you please share with us more detail about her negative experience with Sinemet?

Thank you,

Laura

[EnglishCountryDancer]

How do you ensure standardised amounts?

[TrishaPDX]

Hi folks,

Shar, I meant to add that Jan has had all kinds of body work that has helped her regain range of motion and upright posture over the past six years. It is possible! Most helpful for her: deep tissue release like Rolfing, an osteopathic technique called Strain/Counter Strain, routine acupuncture, this and more, laced with Qigong exercises and Movement for Parkinson's. We read the Santa Cruz information about linkage of Parkinson's to foot injuries, indeed she was in a serious hit-and-run accident years' ago and her tremor seems related to neck, shoulder, wrist injuries plus injuries to the left foot.

Now that she's detoxing Sinemet, the bodywork is yielding even more results. So, we think that if you can work on detoxing, the body can repair. Her tremor can be reduced by unjamming where there's constriction, but clearly, when she is most toxic, she is most stiff.

About the Sinemet: Jan had to find an alternative when it simply would not kick in for her more than for very short periods in a day. The tremor was getting worse, she was slowing considerably, dragging her left foot, her left hand was curled in a claw, her arms were drawing up, masked face. It looked to her like she was getting too much of the drug, that this was an overdose state. That, or not enough, right?

Jan first started taking Mucunas, replacing Sinemet on a milligram-for-milligram basis. She began to feel better and gradually increased the mucunas portions. Then, since she didn't want to keep taking Sinemet just for its push of carbidopa, the critical nature of amino acid balancing to offset the ill effect of L-Dopa supplementation caught our attention.

It makes so much sense to support neurotransmitter function, not just to bombard the brain with ever more L-Dopa. But that's complicated and please note that we're working with experts on dosing amino acids. This has been a tough transition, I'll keep cautioning you, but we think it can be made easier. It would be better to try an approach like mucunas/amino acids before ever going onto a drug like Sinemet, to avoid detox complications.

Standardized amounts are relative to product purity. Also, there doesn't seem to be a way to equate mucunas to Sinemet dosages. Jan's fortunate to have exquisite support; she's being closely monitored.

Critical to add: if one begin's to use mucunas and decrease Sinemet, we think it's a BIG MISTAKE to return to higher Sinemet dosages when the mucunas doesn't seem to be effective. This can really mess you up with detoxing and other complex reactions. The right amino acid approach seems critical and finding an appropriate blend requires expert assistance.

So...Jan is able to be (off and on) tremor free and clear thinking again with this detoxing from Sinemet, being supported by a natural program, great nutrition and lots of physical therapy.

I just hope others will explore these possibilities before going onto the so-called drugs of choice for Parkinson's.

Sorry to be redundant and long-winded! Anyone else out there finding a link between toxicity and stiffness?

Best wishes, Trisha