Improvement In Mice Doubles Or Triples
We can experimentally induce parkinsonism in rodents via certain toxic substances. Used in these trials, levodopa from Mucuna has no side effects and produces an improvement that is double or triple that of the synthetic version .
In another experiment, animals ate extract of Mucuna for a year. They were then put down, and their neurotransmitters were measured in different areas of their brains. Interestingly, no changes were seen in the nigrostriatal pathway, but dopamine was significantly increased in the cerebral cortex . This has two possible explanations: that natural levodopa is more potent or that Mucuna contains other beneficial chemicals.
What’s Hot In Pd Update On The Use Of Mucuna Pruriens For The Treatment Of Parkinsons Disease
Mucuna pruriens variant utilis has long been used as an alternative to over the counter levodopa. MP is a leguminous plant that grows in both tropical and subtropical environments. Hidden in its seed is levodopa, which is the most important medication for a Parkinsons disease patient. In this months Whats Hot we will review the studies supporting MP use and discuss future directions and global implications for this therapy.
In 2004, Katzenschlager performed a double blind study of MP. Though the study was small and included only eight Parkinson’s disease subjects it was a well done randomized double blind crossover trial. The subjects were administered single doses of 50/200 mg Sinemet, and 15 and 30 grams of MP at several weekly intervals. The authors used the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale as well as measuring tapping speed. They also recorded dyskinesia and adverse events. The MP had a faster onset of effect and this was also shown in blood studies of the pharmacodynamics. On time was longer and there were no differences in adverse effects or in the development of dyskinesia. The Katzenschlager study used a processed pill form of MP .
Selected References
Katzenschlager R, Evans A, Manson A, et al. Mucuna pruriens in Parkinsons disease: a double blind clinical and pharmacological study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2004 75:1672-77.
Okun MS. Use of Mucuna Pruriens Powder Instead of Levodopa. NEJM Journal Watch Neurology, August 2017.
The Losses And The Adjustments
I was starting to get very good at making adjustments when a PD symptom would impair me in some way. As an example, I find it difficult to put my coat on with my left sleeve first, so now I put my coat on with my right sleeve first. Or, since I can no longer feel where to put in my pierced earrings, I just make sure I have a mirror handy to see what I am doing. While waiting on a cashiers line to check out, I make sure I have my money ready so I am not fumbling around in my purse and holding up the line. Wearing satin pajamas makes it easier to move around in bed at night. Being mindful of all my movements is critical so I do not trip, walk into things, or let things fall through my hands.
If my PD does not progress any further, I feel I can deal with the losses it has thrust upon me thus far. However, at times when I wake up in the morning, I think to myself, What simple task will elude me today? PD is a disease of loss, the loss of some of the most, mundane things in life many of us take for granted. These include:
- Holding a purse or newspaper firmly under the arm
- Folding laundry
- Putting on a seat belt
- Zipping a jacket
- Opening a package
- Cutting a salad
Don’t Miss: How Long Do Parkinson’s Patients Live After Diagnosis
Parkinsons Diagnosis Up To 55 Years
In a young person, diagnosed prior to the age of 60, orthodox treatment aims to delay as long as possible the use of levodopa . Instead, it is currently used rasagiline or dopamine agonists such as pramipexole , rotigotine or ropinirole.
Later, when levodopa becomes necessary, the patient and his doctor can take into consideration the option of starting with mucuna because it causes less long term dyskinesia. It is a decision that must be shared by doctor and patient.
Although rasagiline and selegiline are MAO-B , as a precaution it is preferable to stop taking them two weeks before starting the mucuna.
If the patient also received treatment with dopamine agonists the doctor may want to reduce those as well.
In any case, mucuna would be taken in very low doses at first, and then would gradually be increased.
Parkinsons Foundation Centers Of Excellence And Medicinal Marijuana
The Parkinsons Foundation, in partnership with Northwestern University researchers, studied attitudes about cannabis at 40 Centers of Excellence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to provide data on the practices, beliefs and attitudes of expert PD physicians concerning cannabis use.
The results were interesting: most experts said they knew what cannabis did, but disagreed on the details. While there is no general agreement on what the benefits might be for people with PD, the survey confirmed that cannabis is a popular subject within Parkinsons Foundation centers as 95 percent of neurologists reported patients have asked them to prescribe it.
Cannabis study results also included:
- Only 23 percent of physicians had any formal education on the subject of cannabis , thus 93 percent of physicians want cannabis taught in medical school.
- Physicians reported that 80 percent of their patients with PD have used cannabis.
- Only 10 percent of physicians have recommended the use of cannabis to patients with PD.
- In terms of memory: 75 percent of physicians felt that cannabis would have negative effects on short-term memory and 55 percent felt that cannabis could have negative effects on long-term memory
- Only 11 percent of physicians have recommended use of cannabis in the last year
This graph shows how physicians expect cannabis would improve, worsen, or show no effect to PD-related symptoms given their expertise and observations of patients with PD.
You May Like: Parkinson’s Quality Of Life
Other Advantages Of Mucuna
Mucuna does not produce dyskinesia . A different study, this time in monkeys , produced very interesting results on the possibility of dyskinesias. One group was treated with Sinemet , another with Mucuna plus carbidopa, and the third only with Mucuna . All the animals experienced an improvement in their symptoms. Dyskinesia was then assessed by the study of spontaneous activity in the substantia nigra. Larger dyskinesia appeared in the Sinemet group. In those treated with the combination of Mucuna and carbidopa, dyskinesia seemed more moderate. Interestingly, in those who had only taken Mucuna , no dyskinesia was found .
Long-term Mucuna without dyskinesia . A similar experiment was performed, but this time Mucuna treatment was continuous, extending for a year. It was done in rodents and compared Mucuna with Madopar. One group was treated with Madopar , another with Mucuna plus benserazide, and the third only with Mucuna . All were controlled for a year. The symptoms were alleviated in all groups, but the improvement was significantly higher in those who were treated with Mucuna plus benserazide.
To highlight the results of long-term use: after 1 year, major dyskinesia appeared in rats that had taken Madopar. Rodents treated with Mucuna plus benserazide had some minor dyskinesia while for animals that took only Mucuna , none at all . Even more, in an experiment with different dyskinesias , these repetitive movements improved when Mucuna
Cleansing During Parkinson’s Disease Therapy
The idea that cleansing helps to rid your body of toxin accumulation isn’t new and research validates the effectiveness of a regular cleansing regimen. One study involving 18 Parkinson’s disease patients examined the effectiveness of L-dopa supplementation combined with a pre-cleansing therapy. The patients that underwent cleansing and L-dopa reported better results than those who did not. The cleansing patients enjoyed better motor function, less stiffness and cramps, and overall daily function.
You May Like: Parkinson’s Disease Mental Health
Sample Preparation For Biochemical Studies
After completion of experiment, the animals were sacrificed by cervical decapitation from each groups , the collection of nigrostriatal tissue was done individually and they were further homogenized in KCl buffer at pH 8.0 complemented with phosphatase and protease inhibitor. Centrifugation of the tissue homogenates was done at 12,000 g at a temperature of 4°C for about 20 min for the estimation of antioxidant enzymes and different biochemical parameters.
Patients Taking Only Dopamine Agonists
This group is large. Usually levodopa therapy is delayed in patients diagnosed before age 60, for fear of later complications. It is instead replaced with dopamine agonists that usually provide a good functional state for one to five years.
In general, if the daily amount of agonist is small, there would be minimal adverse effects to starting with mucuna. If the patient is already taking a medium or high amount of agonist, the neurologist should adjust the dose accordingly.
Patients treated with dopamine agonists have a tendency towards orthostatic hypotension which must be taken into account when adding levodopa, whether natural or synthetic.
The specific type of agonist is very important. Rotigotine is one of my favorite agonists. In theory, if there are no contraindications, and if under medical supervision, the patches can be combined with mucuna.
However, I have not yet found any publication that describes this association, perhaps this will be forthcoming in the near future.
Studies have been published describing patients treated with pramipexole or Ropirinole who have received high doses of mucuna, and no significant adverse effects were observed.
Therefore it seems that in these patients previously treated with Mirapex or Ropirinole if mucuna were recommended, it could begin with low doses and slowly progress, always under the supervision of a neurologist.
In order to initiate the mucuna, the doctor may decide to slightly reduce the dose of agonist.
Recommended Reading: Cialis And Parkinson’s Disease
Cleansing During Parkinsons Disease Therapy
The idea that cleansing helps to rid your body of toxin accumulation isnt new and research validates the effectiveness of a regular cleansing regimen. One study involving 18 Parkinsons disease patients examined the effectiveness of L-dopa supplementation combined with a pre-cleansing therapy. The patients that underwent cleansing and L-dopa reported better results than those who did not. The cleansing patients enjoyed better motor function, less stiffness and cramps, and overall daily function.
Frontiers In Aging Neuroscience
University of Florida, United States
Reviewed by
University of Missouri, United States
The editor and reviewers’ affiliations are the latest provided on their Loop research profiles and may not reflect their situation at the time of review.
Also Check: Parkinson’s Phase 3 Trials
Pharmacological Effects Of Mucuna Pruriens Extracts
All parts of the Mucuna plant possess medicinal properties . In vitro and in vivo studies on M. pruriens extracts have revealed the presence of substances that exhibit a wide variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and anti-oxidant properties, probably due to the presence of L-dopa, a precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine . It is known that the main phenolic compound of Mucuna seeds is L-dopa . Nowadays, Mucuna is widely studied because L-dopa is a substance used as a first-line treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Some studies indicate that L-dopa derived from M. pruriens has many advantages over synthetic L-dopa when administered to Parkinson’s patients, as synthetic L-dopa can have several side effects when used for many years.
Medications For Diabetes Interacts With Cowhage
Cowhage might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking cowhage along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride , glyburide , insulin, pioglitazone , rosiglitazone , chlorpropamide , glipizide , tolbutamide , and others.
Read Also: Foods To Help With Parkinson’s Disease
Mucuna Pruriens: 5 Velvet Bean Benefits For Disease & Mood
Can a plant that has been used to make a actually do wonders for serious health problems such as Parkinsons disease? It actually appears the answer may be yes!
Im talking about the plant known as Mucuna pruriens or velvet bean, which has been shown to counterParkinson symptomsand offer help for male infertility, nervous system disorders and more. Lets take a look at this intriguing plant, which naturally has some very powerful and therapeutic ingredients.
What Has Happened To Me
My quality of life was deteriorating due to my neurological issues. Along with poor fine motor skills on my left side and slowness of movement, I was constantly fatigued. This was a fatigue that no amount of quality sleep could ever satisfy. Additionally, I had internal tremors . I thought for sure there must be some kind of natural solution to help cure what ailed me one that did not involve prescription drugs.
My initial approach was to go to physical and occupational therapy and to continue my exercise regimen . This plan did not seem to slow disease progression or alleviate my symptoms. My depression and lack of motivation were also hindering me.
Recommended Reading: How To Test Yourself For Parkinson’s
Do You Have Contraindications
Mucuna also cannot be consumed by all people who wish to obtain its benefits, so women who are pregnant, people with cardiovascular problems, who have diabetes or hypoglycemia should avoid using the mucuna.
Anyone wishing to use mucuna is advised to consult a doctor before starting to consume it.
Was there any doubt about the mucuna? So leave us a comment and we will answer you as soon as possible.
It is a pleasure to have you as our reader, this content is prepared with great care to bring health to future generations. For partnerships just contact us through social networks. Hugs and Success for all.
Zandopa And A Cocktail With Mucuna
The previously mentioned Zandopa brand from Zandu Laboratories, which owns the patent for Mucuna powder product known as HP-200, was used in important clinical trials and has been marketed for several years. Som C. Pruthi has patented a combination from the Ayurveda tradition that mainly contains Mucuna , together with Piper longum and Zingiber officinale . He described a woman diagnosed with Parkinsons disease at age 51 that did not tolerate conventional medicines. She took Pruthis combination of Mucuna for 12 years. In this long period, it was found that progression of the disease was very slow and side effects were not detected.
Read Also: Parkinson’s Disease Exercise Program
It Improves Cognition And May Alleviate Depression In Parkinsons
Research indicates that cowhages ability to regulate dopamine levels also aids in exerting anti-depressant effect.
Experimental studies that Mucuna pruriens has effective antidepressant effect in acute as well as chronic conditions and it may potentiate or increase the therapeutic action of other antidepressants.
The combination of cowhages antioxidant, antidepressant and anti-anxiety effect protects the brain from stress induced oxidative damage and neurotoxicity.
Velvet beans neurotransmitter regulating activity can have cognition enhancing the effect. This property can benefit in protecting from dementia and behavioural abnormalities in Parkinsonss.
Quick Gist: Mucuna pruriens has cognition enhancing and the antidepressant effect that can protect from memory lapse, dementia, and depression in Parkinsons.
Tanya Denne Analyzing Healing Properties Of The Plant Mucuna
Tanya Denne, a Baker City native, has been studying the potential benefits of Mucuna, a type of plant, in treating the effects of Parkinsons disease.
- Contributed Photo
Tanya Denne graduated from the University of Portland and will graduate this year from Bastyr University in Seattle with a degree in naturopathic medicine.
- Contributed Photo
Tanya Denne, a Baker City native who has been studying a plant that could help combat Parkinsons disease, will graduate in 2021 from Bastyr University with a degree in naturopathic medicine.
While working on her doctorate, shes continued to analyze the use of Mucuna pruriens and its potential in treating Parkinsons disease, a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement.
According to Oregon Health and Science University, for unknown reasons Parkinsons causes brain cells that make a chemical called dopamine to die. This leaves the brain without enough dopamine a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger to signal nerves to trigger movement.
Parkinsons worsens over time. There is no cure.
Drug treatments of levodopa/cabidopa focus on the dopamine system in the brain. According to Denne, research has determined Mucuna seeds contain 3% to 7% levodopa.
Dennes interest in Mucuna stems from a personal story her grandmother died of Alzheimers disease, and that inspired her to study neuroscience.
That same year she started attending Bastyr University in Seattle to pursue a doctorate in naturopathic medicine.
Recommended Reading: Is There Pain With Parkinson’s
Patients Taking Low Doses Of Sinemet
If a patient has been on a very low dose of Sinemet , 100 to 300 milligrams a day, for a short period of time, the doctor may consider gradually changing to mucuna extracts, other circumstances permitting.
The strategy is to gradually remove the synthetic levodopa while mucuna is added. But the problem is more complex for carbidopa which is also contained in these tablets.
If the functional status of the patient is satisfactory and he is on a very low dose of Sinemet , it is even possible to dispense these drugs. It is worth enduring a short period of minor clinical deterioration, so that the patient is left without any drugs before starting mucuna.
The History Of Mucuna Pruriens And Parkinson’s
While the study of Mucuna pruriens has only recently become more prevalent in scientific circles, its use for aiding Parkinson’s disease therapy has been known for centuries. Historical texts have record Parkinson’s and Mucuna pruriens as early as 300 BC. Current research is validating ancient claims and studies consistently report L. dopa concentrations of 4-6%. Mucuna pruriens is just one of several therapies popular in India, China, and the Amazon for Parkinson’s disease.
You May Like: Parkinson’s Support Group Connecticut