I am bumping this and one other thread on mucuna pruriens because of some expressed interest. This seems to be the most info on mucuna to be found on the Net as well.

Thanks Rick,

I am interested in MP as an adjunct to my PD meds. Over the past month I have been taking 1 or 2 DopaBean by solaray containing 15% l-dopa/50mg with comtan and 1 25/100c/l/dopamine at about 9am. So far it has lasted until 3-4pm with just a very mild down time. At that point I take 2 MP and I am good to go for the rest of the evening. I have found that taking 2 MP with my PD meds causes mild dyskenisia so I have cut it back to 1 MP in the mornings with no dyskinesia
Backgroud: Have had PD for going on 21 years YOPD, had a unilateral DBS/STN in 2006 with labile results. I have had to turn off the IPG many times due to dystonic problems and cannot tolerate high voltage so currently set at 1.5 which bare minimum. I do "forced exercise" by riding a tandem bike with my husband almost every day for about 11 miles. And changed my unhealthy diet for a vegan diet along with Ca, Mg, zinc, Bcomplex, Cayenne, Resveratrol and Vit d. & tumeric, mid January. So I hope I haven't clouded the playing field.
I don't think the MP results are placebo effect and want to try the MP with my IPG turned off to see what would happen with symptoms which are primarily gait issues. I do not have any sudden drop off of my medication while on MP...it is very subtle
I have poor fine motor skills which is not affected by the MP or PD meds - I just live with it. I am very active, do my own yard work, cook, clean and am pretty normal looking.
Any thoughts on how I should continue to trial the MP - I have given myself 3 months - 1 down 2 to go.
thanks
tulip girl

I have recently been diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease and am still a bit shell shocked. I am 53. I do know that I am not keen to start on chemical meds and came across Macuna Pruriens. I live in South Africa and the only availability is from the Himalaya range. I am currently on Azilect but would like to NOT be on it. Help please!

Tulip girl, could you clarify how you are getting the MP? Are you taking more dopabean to get it or getting it in a powder form? Thanks!

Use some mucuna that I grow here on the farm. I don't use it much..only when I need more strength and speed than usual. It is fairly easy to grow...but the harvesting and preparation is time consuming (but worth it when I "Need a bean" to be able to pull start a rototiller or weed-eater. I think they would be illegal for olympic competition! I have friend that take mucuna capsules from Swansons Health Products...seems to be a good brand.

I can identify with your frustration in an attempt to find a supplier of MP in South Africa. Even my attempt to order some over the internet from an overseas supplier was fruitless as the product was simply confiscated by local customs because I was “not registered importer of the product” The good news is that I have just received my first order of organic MP powder from Eureka Life, Centurion – you will find the number in the telephone directory.

i am glad I came across this thread. I thought it was my imagination to feel so good while cutting back on Stalevo. I had been using Puriens off and on -- store bought VItamin Shoppe - but not seriously. I decided to up the amt, two pills 3 x a day along with other supplement. After abt a week I just listened to my body and wound up taking only 2 stalevo in 48 hours, down from the usual 8-10. I ran out of the Pruriens and back came the Stalevo. Now waiting for delivery to restart. Interested in seeing if I get similar results upon resuming the Mucuna

Everett knows me and understands i am not the type to jump on the hope-for parade. But for disclosure this is what i have been doing ==

dose / times a day

2 x 3 Mucuna PRuriens
2 x 2 Maca
3 x 1 High T for seniors
2 x 2 B6
2 x 2 Korean ginseng
20-30 min daily Qi Gong,,, variation of Soarinig Crane and also 8 Pieces of Brocade

seems to work for me your mileage may vary

This is a fascinating thread, and one of great interest to me- I am about to start Mucuna and my circumstances are different to most on this thread. I am on no meds at all and have been diagnosed for over 2 1/2 yrs. I know only one other person who has done this, and he has given me invaluable advice. He himself has not long started. Is there anyone else whose first port of call was Mucuna? What effect did it have on your symptoms, and do you have any advice? Also what dosage did you find best? The person I am in touch with uses a very small amount, which seems the best advice.
Warm regards, Ladybird

Glad to have you aboard. Most folks try Big Pharma first and look with an open mind only after they become disilusioned. Please keep us informed. A couple of comments- A dose of about five grams (a tablespoon is roughly seven) was about right. The published studies used ten times that. Makes me wonder if the work was real or not. And when you do start, avoid things like Zandopa which claim to be "extracts". If they are extracts then they left something out and they don't know if it was important or not.

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. Itīs interesting that the person I was speaking about has started on a much lower dose than you suggest, and it is making a difference. I wonder if the fact he has taken no other meds makes his body much more sensitive to the mucuna? Just a thought from an unscientific mind.