I forgot, WXXU, to repost the link to Dr. Shallenberger's article that originally brought this to my attention. I and others have posted it before but in case you missed it, it is a simple overview of the method.

http://www.brainandbodywellnesscente...ns-article.pdf

Thank you again and I do have this link. I will find out if I can locate the same kind of clinic in Philly.

reverette, what symptoms, if any, do you notice mprovement in. Also,could you possibly state exactly what amino acids you take in addition to the mucuna and where you buy these things. Thanks

Arsippe-
First, I didn't make myself clear. Although I do experiment a little with things like acetyl-L-carnitine, L-carnosine, etc, what I was referring to in that post were aminos in the mucuna itself. Before one starts messing with it, mucuna has several hundred compounds and some are amino acids. If I can find it I will post the analysis that I am referring to. It may even be on here already. Interesting reading for those quiet nights by the fireside.

As to symptoms affected, basically, all of them. As I often point out, mucuna is a real drug. Take too much and you get dyskinetic. But if you use it with care it can be handy. The fast "On" makes it a good rescue kit, for example. The price can't be beat, either. But it is messy, a little inconvenient, and when you go "Off" it is fast too. And it will make you horny as a woodpecker, too.

Thanks Rev. I will try it and see whether it will help the tremor, which at this point is my main problem.

Proteins seem to effect the absorption of sinemet, but doesnt bother fava or mucuna and perhaps even makes the natural l-dopa work better. The fermented papaya and all it's enzymes seems to make the complete circle for pd symptoms. I also take several supplements too that help I am sure (turmeric, COQ10, hawthorn berry, a&d vits,
brain essentials (Swansons), lecithin,/ calcium ,mag, zinc, &d3 liquid supplementand lots of fresh vegies & fruits, hard work and sunshine.....a good combination.

Hey Gerry and All,

My friend Jan used the same CHK protocol for two years, until a year ago August.

After reading about use of Mucuna in India/ayurvedic medicine, we learned the simplicity of mixing the mucuna powder in a small amount of yoghurt or (goat's) milk. Taking care to separate the aminos from protein meals by an hour, Jan found it generally beneficial to favor vegetables, lots of them, for meals.

Gerry, Jan's usage was very similar to yours. In her case, it took about six months for her to find a therapeutic dosage of the mucuna/aminos AND unhinge herself from Sinemet. That detoxing passage was horrendous but she made it and for about a year was quite happy -- in general -- with this approach and favored it over her prior three years' Sinemet experience.

Alas that the CHK testing never worked for her. It just didn't. By the time test results came back, she had already moved on...so we turned to other methods of testing and kind of bushwacked dosages and felt she'd found a protocol that would serve her for years.

The ride turned out to be difficult, taxing on her as dyskinesia events amplified. Eventually, the cost-to-benefit ratio dissuaded her continued use of mucuna/aminos. Jan returned to use of Sinemet begrudgingly, then had a honeymoon with Sinemet for a few months and was grateful for it. That was too short-lived, as dyskinesia and drug-overload burdened her liver, etc.

I researched further and found the Neurogenic Extracts, a vegetable and fruit concentrate that's manufactured in England. This is not a drug, but a dense amino acid nutritional support. Jan began supplementing with the extracts last November and has been able to substantially reduced her dependence on Sinemet and generally decrease drug usage, her personal goal. She's regained some physical resilience and it seems to me that the extracts were a critical aid in pulling her out of a spin that pointed squarely towards Multiple System Atrophy-P.

Anyhow, we can speak positively about mucuna/aminos and also the vegetable-based nutritional approach. Of course, there's no one thing that will fit everyone. Jan's neurologist says to Jan quite regularly: "I don't know anything about the things that you are doing, but keep at it. You are doing so well."

Of course, that sounds better than it is. Jan's in a very difficult phase right now, as she's had to back off of the Neurogenic Extracts for a time due to other financial needs. She's trying to hack it out on less Sinemet (now 2 to 3 tablets of 10/100 per day) and is on a trial of using the Merck brand, as this may have better uptake than the generic.

Always something to try, aye?

Best wishes to all,
Trisha

So is Jan using any mucuna now at all? Has she tried fava beans? My friend took extracts from England for a long time and feels pretty certain that favas were a big part of them (they did help her , but the expense was horrific I guess) Also, Has she tried fermented papaya?

Mmm...fermented papaya? That sounds terrific. Where to source? I'll also look more closely at your fava experience. Time is ripe for new strategies.

Jan regretted having to forgo mucuna/aminos but achieving a neurotransmitter balance became elusive and dyskinesia and off periods became quite similar to her previous three-year experience on Sinemet. She felt the CHK nutritional approach was still worth pursuing, but the cost to continue it, already spendy, included a tandem of supportive therapies (Chinese medicine; deep tissue massage; acupuncture) that altogether were not financially sustainable for her over a period of years, anticipated as they themselves wouldn't lead to less dependency. Anyhow, it really looked like her autonomic nervous system was starting to burn out.

The choice last August was to abandon mucuna by necessity, once Jan was hospitalized. Her neurologist wanted to discover a baseline. Would Jan respond to carba/levadopa again? If so, at what dosage? Well, it was way high. Eight tablets of 25/100 plus.

Once we found the extracts last November, Jan was able to avert another lousy kamikazi chapter on Sinemet. Well, not totally. She was able to lower her dosage, as I described earlier, down to 1.5 tablets of 10/100 daily. Two is all she can do without rotten side effects. She needs more support.

Maybe it's time to retrial supportive amino acids with Sinemet. We learned from Dr. Hinz that the therapeutic intake of L-Cysteine needed to be at least 4,500 mg daily.

Don't know what's in the extracts but organic, heirloom vegetables "without the addition of sugar, salt, preservatives, colorants or additives of any kind" "cooked in pure mineral water. "20% peas, 25% beans, 40% spinach, 15% carrots."

The other element that is to be aboard is plenty of hydration from Evian mineral water, from glass bottle only. We also use Bio-Nativis Concentrated Trace Minerals, a U.S. product. Electrolytes are always good...

Without them, it's a lousy ride.

just curious, what was so bad about taking 800mg of sinemet? 800mg isn't an unusual dosage. if she was better off on 800mg than she is now why not continue pursuing adjusting her sinemet dosaging, maybe 1000mg or substituting in some controlled release sinemet. levadopa is a naturally occurring aminio acid, not sure if carbidopa occurrs naturally. or even consider DBS is insurance will pay for it?