Skullcap and cortisol
 

I've been dealing with some major stress the last few weeks. So much so that I was having only a few hours per day that I could walk. It finally got to the point that an acute stressor would leave me so weak that I could barely speak. Worst I have ever been, in fact.

Which got me to thinking. Stress = cortisol. Cortisol levels in our blood increase under stressful conditions. They also follow a daily rhythm - they usually shoot up about breakfast time then plunge down to low levels by midnight and repeat (see the attachment). In short, the times that I am at my worst coincide with a bump in cortisol levels. The question is which is causing the other? The assumption seems to be that our cortisol goes up as we battle the PD. But the same data can make an argument that the cortisol is creating the worsening symptoms which I find to be the case for me.

The brain fog, the sensory overload leading to freezing, the frequent urination - all can be traced to reaction to cortisol.

One test would be to block the action of the cortisol and see if symptoms improved. There are a number of herbal products on the market which claim to do that as a weight loss aid, but they contain a dozen different herbs and the results would be of little value.

There is an herb, however, that does it. It is called American Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and is at the local health food store. Nature's Way is the brand I tried.

Two days in and I am very impressed. Very impressed, indeed. Stay tuned...

Skullcap is a nervine. I recommended it to a friend when her son was diagnosed with Bells Pulsy...a condition that came on suddenly (which disfigured his face horribly ...one whole side drooped) At the time he wanted to go to Walter State Community College and because of this ailment he was given a special scholarship. After using skullcap for several days he was normal again! He still retained his scholarship, though , which was great. The doctors had tried a couple things I guess, but nothing had helped at all. It is good for neuralgia. I read once that it helps nerves re-connect properly.
I made a skullcap oil for my friend with PD, which I use on her spine/back during massage treatments. It seems to help her.

Here is a good link explaining this herb...

Please note the interactions at the bottom of the article:

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/skullcap-000273.htm

An update
 

I continue to be pleased with skullcap and am integrating it into my daily routine. It seems best used as an adjunct with a reduced dose of meds or, possibly, a an extender taken between doses.

This is some good stuff!
 

I'm coming up on a month now and I've gotta' tell you, this is worth trying. In fact, it is the best thing I have found (especially since I can't handle DXM). It is certainly better than mucuna.

I was on a two-hour leash when I started this trial. I was maxed out on Requip at 24 mg. Officially I was taking 700 mg of Sinemet but "unofficially" was closer to 1000 mg. And I was still having a daily struggle with OFFs and freezing. And my blood pressure was a constant worry, especially with the OFFs and the stress.

Yesterday, I took 900 mg of Sinemet and 8 mg of Requip and had a pretty good day. Had a few OFFs but they were shorter and almost FREEZE-FREE! Today I am on a three-hour schedule and have cut the skullcap to every other time because my blood pressure was getting too low.

Most interestingly, I know this may be illusion, but I swear that it feels like I am healing. It is hard to put into words, but it feels as though positive things are happening inside. There is a definite sense of relaxation and well being.

I am using a Nature's Way product that has 850 mg of "stem, leaf, and fruit" of Scutellaria lateriflora

I know that there are a lot of empty chairs around this table these days and, while I don't begrudge sharing with the new faces, it's going to be pretty damned ironic if this really is this good but too late to help the "old timers." Sigh...

Natural is always better
 

As one of those newer faces, I want to say "thank you" for sharing your knowledge and experiences with us. I am always amazed by how much you know.

I think, this diagnosis is one that largely boxes us in; I remember feeling pretty helpless in learning that we in essence are receiving palliative care- we're told PD is not a death sentence, but in knowing that, it sure felt like one to me. Thanks to you, Rick, I feel there is a way out of that box; you give us what our doctors most likely do not even know and what they will never tell us...that is invaluable. :)

I have a few questions. Are you taking one dose of the Skullcap a day? Are you instead taking dosages throughout the day and timing it with other meds? Finally, I have saved the info you posted on CDP Choline in order to try it and hopefully lower Sinemet intake...then I read this. Rick, or anyone who has tried both Skullcap and CDP Choline, why would we want to take one over the other? Is Skullcap indicated only when Cortisol levels are high?

Laura

Laura-
While I started in pursuit of the cortisol idea, there is more going on it seems to me. The label recommends 4 caps per day and that seems about right spaced evenly.

Another week or so and I will go back to the CDP Choline.

Thanks Rick for experimenting with scullcap...it was one of the first things I thought of when I started working with my friend, but was afraid to use more than the scullcap massage oil that I concocted (and only used that very sparingly on her spine). If I get to a place where I need more support than the fava tincture...scullcap would be one of the first things I will try.

got it!
 

I ordered some online, Nature's Way also and got it in mail today. I am going to start tomorrow and will let you know how I am feeling.