Are Complementary Therapies Available On The Nhs Or The Hsc In Northern Ireland
This will depend on the type of therapy you want and the policy in your area.
Some hospitals and GP practices offer a few complementary therapies like acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, osteopathy and chiropractic treatments.
Speak to your GP, specialist or Parkinsons nurse about whats available locally. Your Parkinsons local adviser may also be able to help you.
Some GPs have training in complementary therapies. If they cant provide the treatment themselves, they may be able to refer you to a therapist on the NHS.
Outcome For Naturopathic Approach To Parkinsons Symptoms
In Parkinsons cases where exposure to toxic metals like lead is a factor, IV glutathione may have immediate, long-lasting, and significant impact, resolving Parkinsons symptoms and slowing disease progression.
After 3 treatments of IV glutathione, JN is still going strong. She can still walk and climb stairs without a cane. Her hand tremor has not returned. And to the delight of JN and her husband the Jeopardy! answers are coming fast and furious.
Whats next for JN? Because the treatment was so successful , JN will likely continue to receive IV glutathione infusions. How often she gets them, may depend on when/if her symptoms return.
* This case report is not meant to diagnose or treat Parkinsons or any other disease. It is provided for educational purposes only. This case report is a short summary for one treatment for one patients experience and does not reflect a comprehensive naturopathic approach to Parkinsons disease. Naturopathic medicine is designed to treat each person individually with whole-person care, so if you are experiencing health issues that need treatment, please consult with a naturopathic doctor right away. INM does not advise IV therapy without a naturopathic doctors careful oversight.
** Name changed for privacy.
Unplugging The Main Lines
The removal of red meat from the diet of a patient with Parkinson disease has a sound basis. Having the highest intake of iron increases the risk of Parkinson disease almost as much as having a first-degree relative with the disease. The effect seems to be compounded by high intakes of manganese.9
However, the risk of Parkinson disease from high iron intake pales in comparison with the risk from extended constipation. One study10 found that between 60% and 80% of patients with Parkinson disease suffered from extended constipation and that the constipation preceded any motor symptoms by as much as 20 years. Not surprisingly, the constipation was often compounded by a lack of thirst that worsened throughout the patients lifetime.
A factor contributing to constipation is the extreme anxiety common among patients with Parkinson disease. Many are anxious long before they show motor symptoms. The addition of progressive disease worsens underlying anxiety. As many as 40% of patients with Parkinson disease experience clinically significant anxiety, and few are treated.11
You May Like: Primidone For Parkinson’s Disease
Michelle Simon Phd Nd
President & CEO
As president and CEO of INM, Dr. Simon brings her passion for working with organizations dedicated to improving the quality and delivery of healthcare. This desire stems from her years of practice as a licensed naturopathic physician. In addition to holding a Naturopathic Doctorate from Bastyr University she also holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
She has served on boards for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians , the Naturopathic Physicians Research Institute , and several advisory boards. Dr. Simon served nine years on the Washington State Health Technology Clinical Committee, as Ambassador to the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine and was recognized as 2018 AANP Physician of the Year. Dr. Simon shares with her husband a passion for adventure travel, preferably by boat or motorcycle. She also enjoys teaching a womens off-road motorcycling class.
Naturopathic Medicine And Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons Disease is the second most common neurogenerative disorder experienced by seniors voluntary movement is impaired or lost. Although the dis-ease may come to affect the whole body, it most commonly weakens ones ability to control semi-voluntary motions such as swinging arms when walking, or moving ones tongue so that speech is clear and precise.
Recommended Reading: How Are You Tested For Parkinson’s Disease
How Do I Find A Good Therapist
Before choosing a therapist its important to find out if theyre reputable, insured and, where relevant, belong to a regulatory body.
You may find it helpful to ask:
- your GP, specialist, Parkinsons nurse or other healthcare professional. Many hospitals and GP surgeries now work together with complementary therapists
- someone else with Parkinsons, a friend or family member
- your Parkinsons local adviser
Always check the therapists credentials. Some complementary therapists use the Dr title, but that doesnt necessarily mean theyve studied conventional medicine. An honest, reliable practitioner wont mind you asking about their qualifications.
Professional associations
Many therapists are members of reputable, professional organisations. These organisations can be useful sources of information. Be aware that some organisations may make claims that arent backed up by good evidence.
We list a number of professional organisations for each complementary therapy. If youre doing your own research, bear in mind that a high quality professional association requires its members to:
- complete some kind of formal qualification, which will usually include a training programme and an exam
- stay up to date in their field by continuing their professional training and development
- follow a code of ethics and professional conduct
- have insurance
- report any side effects when they happen
When you find a therapist, here are a few questions you should ask:
Return To Stillness: A Natural Approach To Parkinsons And Degenerative Disease
Although Parkinsons disease has been recognized since early in the 19th Century, its cure remains beyond the reach of mainstream medicine. Holistic care offers options outside the medical approach, but even naturopathic doctors struggle to make headway against the ravages of this progressive, degenerative
You May Like: Parkinson’s Disease Brain Mri
The Importance Of Treatment
As Parkinson’s disease takes its course, nerve cells responsible for the production of dopamine slowly die off. The condition causes tremors, muscle stiffness, and difficulty with motor function.
Treatment for Parkinson’s disease helps reduce the following symptoms:
- Problems with movement
- Shaking
- Slowed speech
Why Have You Included Therapies With No Scientific Evidence
The therapies in this information have all been chosen because theyre popular with people affected by Parkinsons.
Just because a therapy cant be proven to work in a medical trial, or there hasnt been enough research about whether it helps people with Parkinsons, it doesnt mean you wont find it useful. In fact, weve heard from many people who tell us they have benefited from using these therapies.
Many of our local groups organise complementary therapy sessions at their meetings to encourage members to give them a try.
Throughout this information, we highlight what scientific evidence there is to support the use of each therapy.
Read Also: Parkinson’s Disease Gene Therapy Clinical Trial
What Is The Medical Treatment Of Parkinsonism
There are many medications used in the treatment of Parkinsonism, they are all based on one main principle which is increasing the level of Dopamine inside the brain or decreasing the breakdown of the endogenous dopamine. Examples of such medications are Levodopa and Sinemet. They improve the symptoms of patients with Parkinsonism for some time that ranges from a few months to years, however, most patients develop resistance or show intolerance to these medications.
Complementary And Alternative Therapies
DO NOT try to treat Parkinson disease with alternative therapies alone. Used with conventional medications, complementary and alternative therapies may help provide some relief of symptoms and slow progression of the disease. Some CAM therapies may interfere with certain medications, so work with your physician to find the safest, most effective CAM therapies for you.
Nutrition and Supplements
A low-protein diet helps the body use levodopa and carbidopa most efficiently, so your doctor may suggest that you limit the protein you eat, and eat most protein during the evening hours rather than morning and afternoon. DO NOT go on a low-protein diet by yourself — your doctor should watch your diet to make sure you get enough nutrients. A fiber supplement may help prevent constipation, which is a common symptom of Parkinson disease.
Many supplements may interact with medications you take for Parkinson disease, or may work only at particular doses. DO NOT take any supplements, even vitamins, without your doctor’s guidance.
HerbsHomeopathy
Consult a trained homeopath who can determine the right remedy for you and change it when your symptoms change.
Massage
Massage may help increase circulation and decrease muscle spasm. Cranio-sacral therapy, an osteopathic form of body work that focuses on the brain and spinal column, may reduce tremors and improve function.
Movement TherapiesMind-Body TherapiesTraditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture
Don’t Miss: How Is Michael J Fox Doing With His Parkinson’s
Is A Therapy Unsafe If Its Not Statutorily Regulated
Not necessarily. Some complementary therapies are regulated by statutory law, including osteopaths, chiropractors and art therapists. This means that, in the same way GPs and specialists have to register with the General Medical Council, these therapists must register with a statutory regulator before they can practise. One reason for statutory regulation is the level of risk linked to a particular therapy. For example, the government considered regulating acupuncture, but took the view that because acupuncturists were well self-regulated, it wasnt needed.
How Can I Know If An Alternative Treatment Is Safe And Effective
Alternative treatments can be helpful in some cases, yet some therapies can be ineffective, costly, and even dangerous. The best way to evaluate your options is to become educated. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What is the treatment?
- What are the side effects?
- Is it effective?
- How much does it cost?
Once you answer these questions, weigh your options and decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks.
If you do decide to try an alternative treatment, make sure your health is protected. Do not take the claim at face value: contact reliable organizations and discuss the therapy. Talk to others in a support group, your family and friends although they may not always be supportive, they can help you make an educated, objective decision.
Discuss the therapy with your doctor. Make sure your doctor knows what therapy you are considering so they can discuss possible interactions and/or side effects with your current treatments. They can also provide you with information on other patients who may have tried the same therapy.
Contact the Better Business Bureau and thoroughly research the background of the therapy provider. Determine how long they have been providing this therapy, what credentials they have, and what their philosophy of treatment is. Avoid therapy providers who refuse or are reluctant to work with your doctor. Be sure that the provider is willing to refer patients to a conventional doctor when necessary.
Also Check: Simple Explanation Of Parkinson’s Disease
Why Should You Choose Homeopathy For Parkinson Treatment
- Homoeopathy treats the person as a whole and not only illness
- Boosts immunity from within and assists the body in natural healing
- No side-effects and is completely safe for people of all age groups including elderly
- The body does not develop resistance to higher doses as in cases of conventional medicines
- Homoeopathic treatment takes into consideration the complete medical history of the patient, medical history of the family, nature and temperament, stress areas, and personality
- It not only gives relief of symptoms but also prevents relapse of the disease.
Diet As A Natural Treatment For Parkinsons Disease
Eating healthy can be a natural treatment for Parkinsons disease. While there is no one diet recommended for Parkinsons disease patients, there are some positive changes you can make to your eating habits to ease your symptoms.
These include:
- Eating more fiber: Constipation is a common symptom of Parkinsons disease, which is why the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research recommends eating plenty of fruits, whole grains and vegetables.
- Drinking 6-8 glasses of water per day: Include a warm drink in the morning to help stimulate bowel movements.
- Consuming more salt: Parkinson’s disease can cause low blood pressure, which is why some doctors recommend upping your salt and fluid intake to bring it back up. You should always talk to your medical provider before increasing your salt intake, especially if you have heart or kidney problems.
- Cut out caffeine and alcohol: These encourage dehydration and lower blood pressure.
- Antioxidants: There is some research to suggest that eating foods high in antioxidants such as apples, dark chocolate, eggs and legumes can offset some of the cellular damage caused by Parkinson’s disease. Again, you should always talk to your doctor before making drastic changes to your diet.
You May Like: Micrographia In Parkinson’s Disease
What Misconceptions Surrounding Cannabis Use For Parkinsons Would You Like To Dispel
Cannabis is not known to be a cure for any disease, including any neurological disease. It is not a solution for all that ails people with Parkinsons disease . Like any potential therapy, there will be some people who respond well and see symptom relief and some who dont. If you decide to try cannabis, you will have to weigh any positive benefits compared to negative side effects and determine for your own situation whether using cannabis may be helpful for you and your unique symptom profile and/or contribute to your quality of life. The side effects can include effects on cognitive function, space and time perception, dizziness, nausea, and others.
Naturopathic Approach To Parkinsons Disease Webinar Notes
Speaker: , ND, PhD, MPH
Moderator: Indu Subramanian, MD
Presented by the Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance
What is a naturopathic doctor?
Dr. Mischley is a naturopathic doctor, which means she went to a 4-year medical school, including two years of basic sciences and two years of clinical training.
Her program was eclectic jack of all trades, master of none so she learned about pharmaceutical drugs, minor surgery nutrition, physical medicine , herbal medicine, Ayurveda, and traditional Chinese medicine.
She didnt have much opportunity for specialization in school, but she knew that she wanted to work with the brain and learn more about brain health. She feels that a lot of naturopathic doctors are poorly trained in neurology, while a lot of neurologists are poorly trained in nutrition and other complementary therapies.
After 10 years of private practice, mostly with neurology patients, including multiple sclerosis, amyotropic lateral sclerosis, and epilepsy, Dr. Mischley received an NIH award to go into research and since then has primarily studied PD and nutrient deficiencies.
Conditionally essential nutrients in Parkinsons disease
We know that, for example, pregnant women need more folic acid, and smokers need more vitamin C. Do people with PD have unique nutritional requirements? She thinks likely yes.
Coenzyme Q-10
Lithium
For those interested to read more, theres a NYT opinion piece on this: Should We All Take a Bit of Lithium?
Resources:
Recommended Reading: Tia And Parkinson’s Disease
Symptoms And Warning Signs
Symptoms of Parkinsons fall into two major categories: those related to motor functions, and those related to changes in someones mood. The four most common signs and symptoms of Parkinsons disease include:
- Trembling: This usually presents itself in the arms, jaw, legs and face.
- Rigidity: Most patients experience stiffness of the bodys core as well as their arms and legs.
- Bradykinesia: This is the term for slowness of movement. Some patients pause or freeze when moving without being able to start again, and others begin to shuffle when trying to walk.
- Postural instability : This results in loss of strength, loss of balance and problems with moving muscles or coordinating body parts.
Other symptoms that can also occur, which often impact someones moods and other behaviors, include:
- Sexual dysfunction
Treatment Of Parkinsons Disease At Toronto Centre For Naturopathic Medicine
At Toronto Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, the goals of Parkinsons disease treatment are to reduce severity of symptoms, slow disease progression and manage side effects of conventional medical treatments.
Conventional treatment for Parkinsons disease may include surgery, or a variety of medications, including levodopa, and medications described as dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, catechol O-methyltransferase inhibitors, anticholinergics and antivirals. These treatments may have short- or long-term side effects.
For this reason, you may choose to try natural treatment together with conventional medications in order to decrease dosages of conventional medications required to manage your Parkinsons disease symptoms.
Naturopathic treatment of any chronic health concern must be recognized as a process that involves:
- Identifying specific treatment goals
- Development by your naturopathic doctor, of a thorough understanding of all factors affecting your health, including physical, psychological, emotional and lifestyle factors
- Development of a comprehensive treatment plan
- Implementation and maintenance of that plan through periodic monitoring and adjustment
At Toronto Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, a typical approach to treating Parkinsons disease may be to:
Where appropriate, a number of therapeutic options are available, to be used alone, or more often in a complementary fashion, including:
Read Also: How To Help Someone With Parkinson’s Dementia
New Research Supports Niacin For Parkinsons Disease Treatment
New research1 further supports the use of Niacin in the treatment and long-term management of Parkinsons Disease . Parkinsons disease occurs when dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra are lost the loss of dopamine causes the neurological manifestations of PD. This loss of dopaminergic function can have various etiologies, but as Dr. Miguel Martins, lead researcher of the study points out,
in some hereditary cases, the main problem is unhealthy mitochondria.
The role of dysfunctional mitochondria in the pathogenesis of PD has been explained before2, as a cascade of events which includes cellular insult leading to a decreased membrane potential and more permeable transitional pores. The increased pore permeability, in turn, leads to a depletion of NAD+ and ultimately cell death.
The Beauty Is In The Balance
I now realize that symptom relief is not achieved with an all or nothing scenario.
After much trial and error, I have come up with a combined naturopathic and allopathic approach that works for me. This solution allows me to accept and adjust to my new normal with no side effects and some symptom relief. This is the list that works for me and may not be appropriate for you. Always consult your doctors before making any changes to your health regimen.
My list includes:
My way of thinking may have hindered my progress to reach this point. After all the therapies I had done, I expected to feel like I did before I was diagnosed. Because I have a disease of the brain, that is unlikely to happen. Plus, as one ages , sometimes it is difficult to determine if a symptom is age-related or caused or accelerated by Parkinsons disease.
Of course, this current regimen will need tweaking as time goes by. Dosages may have to be increased, not because the drugs lose their efficacy, but because Parkinsons is a progressive disease.
Read Also: Parkinson’s Disease And Working Capacity