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.
Regeneration Of Mandibular Bony Defects
The first clinical study using DPSCs for oro-maxillo-facial bone regeneration was conducted in 2009 . Patients in this study suffered from extreme bone loss following extraction of third molars. A bio-complex composed of DPSCs cultured on collagen sponge scaffolds was applied to the affected sites. Vertical repair of the damaged area with complete restoration of the periodontal tissue was demonstrated six months after the treatment. Three years later, the same group published a report evaluating the stability and quality of the regenerated bone after DPSCs transplantation . Histological and advanced holotomography demonstrated that newly formed bone was uniformly vascularized. However, it was of compact type, rather than a cancellous type which is usually the type of bone in this region.
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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.
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Using Alternative Medicine For Parkinson’s Disease
Conventional medicine and alternative therapy have not been found to stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease. If you’re interested in using alternative medicine as part of your Parkinson’s disease treatment program, talk to your healthcare provider about which alternative therapies might be helpful for you. Self-treating or avoiding or delaying standard care can have serious consequences.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed healthcare provider. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstance or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your healthcare provider before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.
Testing For Parkinsons Disease
There is no lab or imaging test that is recommended or definitive for Parkinsons disease. However, in 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an imaging scan called the DaTscan. This technique allows doctors to see detailed pictures of the brains dopamine system.
A DaTscan involves an injection of a small amount of a radioactive drug and a machine called a single-photon emission computed tomography scanner, similar to an MRI.
The drug binds to dopamine transmitters in the brain, showing where in the brain dopaminergic neurons are.
The results of a DaTscan cant show that you have Parkinsons, but they can help your doctor confirm a diagnosis or rule out a Parkinsons mimic.
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Naturaltreatment For Parkinsons #9 Exercise And Other Alternative Therapies:
Regular exercise has been shown to help Parkinsonssufferers by reducing muscle stiffness, increasing mobility, and enhancing postureand balance. Exercise also increases oxygen levels and neurotransmitters, alongwith releasing potent mood elevating chemicals called endorphins.
The type of exercise performed for PD is crucial. Aqua orwater aerobics can be particularly useful as traditional exercise is usuallyquite difficult for many Parkinsons sufferers. Muscle decline, loss of strength,stiffness and loss of balance can make conventional exercises difficult toperform. The great thing about aqua aerobics is it still has the same benefits as other exercise regimens,but the risk of falling is eliminated.
Other types of exercises that can be beneficial for PDsufferers include Tai Chi, Yoga, dancing, walking, aerobic/jazzercise classes,and general stretching.
For more information on the different exercise programsavailable for Parkinsons patients, you can check out this website Exercise and Physical Therapy for ParkinsonsDisease
If You Develop A Tremor
Urgent medical care isnt needed if youve had a tremorâshaking or tremblingâfor some time. But you should discuss the tremor at your next doctors appointment.
If a tremor is affecting your daily activities or if its a new symptom, see your doctor sooner.
A written description will help your doctor make a correct diagnosis. In writing your description, consider the following questions:
- Did the tremor start suddenly or gradually?
- What makes it worse or better?
- What parts of your body are affected?
- Have there been any recent changes in the medicines you take or how much you take?
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Lsd And Parkinsons Disease
Recently, however, scientists at the School of Medicine of the University of California at Los Angeles have made some significant discoveries about the interaction of LSD with dopamine, one of the neurotransmitter agents in the brain, that may lead not only to a better understanding and eventual treatment of schizophrenia, the mental disorder to which the LSD high is a kind of temporary analogue, but even of such physically, rather than mentally, crippling disorders as Parkinson’s disease . The investigators, Drs. Sidney Roberts and Kern von Hungen and Diane F. Hill, determined that adenyl cyclase, an enzyme in nervous tissue that is stimulated by naturally occurring neurotransmitter agents, is also stimulated by the action of LSD on receptors for one of these neurotransmitters, dopamine.
Medicines For Parkinsons Disease
Medicines can help treat the symptoms of Parkinsons by:
- Increasing the level of dopamine in the brain
- Having an effect on other brain chemicals, such as neurotransmitters, which transfer information between brain cells
- Helping control non-movement symptoms
The main therapy for Parkinsons is levodopa. Nerve cells use levodopa to make dopamine to replenish the brains dwindling supply. Usually, people take levodopa along with another medication called carbidopa. Carbidopa prevents or reduces some of the side effects of levodopa therapy such as nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, and restlessness and reduces the amount of levodopa needed to improve symptoms.
People living with Parkinsons disease should never stop taking levodopa without telling their doctor. Suddenly stopping the drug may have serious side effects, like being unable to move or having difficulty breathing.
The doctor may prescribe other medicines to treat Parkinsons symptoms, including:
- Dopamine agonists to stimulate the production of dopamine in the brain
- Enzyme inhibitors to increase the amount of dopamine by slowing down the enzymes that break down dopamine in the brain
- Amantadine to help reduce involuntary movements
- Anticholinergic drugs to reduce tremors and muscle rigidity
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Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease
There are symptoms related to movement and symptoms unrelated to movement . People with PD are often impacted more by their non-motor symptoms than motor symptoms.
Each person is unique and will experience the disorder differently however, these are the most common symptoms among Parkinsons patients.
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How Might Massage Therapy Help
Research suggests that massage may help to reduce pain and anxiety and depression, although theres no conclusive evidence. Abdominal massage may also help with constipation.
Many people with Parkinsons and their carers have told us they find massage therapy useful as a way to relax and to have time to themselves.
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Natural Remedies For Parkinsons Disease
By Lutgarda Mariano 9 am on February 19, 2021
Parkinsons disease primarily develops due to low dopamine levels. When dopamine-generating neurons in the brain die, the body is unable to produce enough of this essential neurotransmitter. Many Parkinsons treatments aim to boost dopamine levels, which can mitigate some of the symptoms. While there are plenty of prescription treatments to alleviate Parkinsons symptoms, some natural remedies are also available.
Can I Use Complementary Therapies Instead Of Taking Parkinsons Medication
Complementary therapies dont work as a replacement for Parkinsons medication. Stopping or making changes to your Parkinsons medication can be dangerous without the guidance of your specialist or Parkinsons nurse.
Generally speaking, the complementary therapies listed in this information are considered safe. But before taking tablets, pills or capsules, applying creams or drops or drinking teas, you should talk to your GP, specialist or Parkinsons nurse. This is because some herbs and remedies may have side effects or clash with medications youre already taking. Your healthcare professional may also be able to recommend a therapist, or advise you on other sources of information.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is the government agency responsible for making sure that medicines and medical devices work, and are safe.
Some complementary therapies may not be safe during pregnancy. So its essential that you tell not only your GP, specialist or Parkinsons nurse but also your complementary therapist if youre trying for or expecting a baby.
Its not always easy to tell what is or isnt safe and many organisations offering therapy give the impression of being reliable even when theyre not.
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Complementary And Alternative Therapies
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People with chronic diseases like Parkinsons disease often turn to complementary and alternative medicine to help them manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. However, doctors emphasize that PD should not be treated with alternative medicine alone.1
Used with traditional medicine, CAM may help relieve symptoms of PD. Some CAM approaches may interfere with drugs used to treat PD or cause severe side effects. People with PD should talk to their doctor about all therapies and practices they are using to manage their symptoms.1
Research On Tms As An Alternative Treatment For Parkinsons
Some researchers hypothesize that since TMS is so effective neurologically, there is a chance that the pulses could aid the parts of the brain that control movement, which could greatly improve PD patients quality of life.
Most studies use groups of patients with PD and measure control groups who receive no treatment, several who are administered only antidepressant medication, and groups who receive TMS.
The results of these experiments reveal that while those PD patients who receive TMS treatment show great improvements to their mental health, there is little to no evidence that the neurostimulation improves motor function.
While it may not relieve the physical effects of PD, several studies concluded promising findings that this connection could exist. A meta-analysis was conducted on all studies that included patients with PD and depression. The analysis included studies that reported pre-and-post-rTMS depression inventory scores. In the findings, it was shown that out of the 7 studies, 6 showed that patients had improvement in their depression.
Another study tested 46 patients with PD and mild to moderate depression with half of the patients receiving rTMS treatment and the other half receiving a placebo. Over 10 days, patients received high-frequency rTMS applied over the primary motor cortex bilaterally. Results found that patients that actually received the treatment saw improvement in their depression and health-related quality of life.
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Parkinsons Disease Alternative Medicine
Hope is a powerful thing. Without hope for a better future, the will to live is lost and recovery, no matter what the affliction, is impossible.
Imagine then, being told by your doctor that you have a progressive and degenerative disease that robs you of the ability to control your own body. A disease for which there is no cure.
This is the reality for those diagnosed with Parkinsons disease.
Hope is offered in the form of medication such as Levodopa. Levodopa acts to restore levels of dopamine in the brain. The lack of dopamine is the primary reason for the symptoms associated with the condition. Since it first began being administered in the 1960s, it has lessened much of the suffering experienced by millions of people throughout the world, and is recognised as the gold standard in medical treatment of the disease. However, it can not completely reverse the symptoms, and like all drugs, is more effective in some than others.
Consequently many have sought hope in alternative treatments. Parkinsons disease has been a recognised ailment in virtually all cultures since ancient times. Many of these ancient treatments are becoming popular in the west and are increasingly validated by western medicine.
Broad beans Australian researchers discovered that broad beans are also an extremely effective natural source of L-dopa. The highest concentration of L-dopa is found in the pod so they are most effective when consumed whole.
Attack Of The Cloners
The idea is that if you are going to use embryonic stem cells for therapy, then you want to make sure that they are not going to be rejected from the body. One way around having to use anti-rejection drugs is for the cells to be genetically identical to those of the patient. So you make a cloned embryo from that patient, harvest the stem cells from it, and coax them to develop into the type of cell you need to cure the patient pancreas cells for those suffering from diabetes, or brain cells for Parkinson’s or Alzheimer‘s patients. If the person’s disease is due to a specific genetic defect, then the defect could be corrected in the cloned cells and then implanted to cure the disease.
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The Chronic Mouse Mptpprobenecid Model
Initial motor deficit is detected at 3 wk and deteriorated further 6 mo after treatment. Decrease of TH-immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra, associated with significant loss of substantia nigra neurons Persistent reduction in the levels of striatal terminal DA, its metabolites and uptake Murine inclusion bodies immunoreactive to a-synuclein and ubiquitin contain lipofuscin and lysosomal structures. Morphologically, these inclusion bodies resemble those detected in the cortex of PD. striatal levels remain low. The loss of DA neurons in the substantia nigra 6 mo after treatment is estimated to be at least 60 . The first sign of motor deficit in chronic MPTP probenecid treated mice as evidenced by the rotarod performance test is detected at 3 wk and persists for at least 6 mo after treatment .
Conversations About Complementary Therapies And Parkinson’s Disease
In this one hour, 15-minute webinar movement disorders specialist Natalia Diaz, MD, talked about how complementary therapies manage symptoms, ease pain, reduce stress and improve quality of life. Nearly half of all people with PD utilize some form of complementary therapy. These therapies are often identified on the internet and frequently not reported to physicians. Treating physicians are sometimes unaware of such treatments, including their rationale, mechanisms, potential efficacy, and possible adverse effects. Dr. Diaz explored in detail the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of complementary therapies and how to talk with your doctor about integrating them into your treatment plan.
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Alternative Treatments For Parkinsons Disease
Claudia Chaves, MD, is board-certified in cerebrovascular disease and neurology with a subspecialty certification in vascular neurology.
For people with Parkinsons disease, treatment typically involves the use of medications that help minimize movement problems and control symptoms. A disorder of the central nervous system, Parkinsons disease also can be better managed with the help of certain lifestyle changes.
Since many medications used in the treatment of Parkinsons disease can cause severe side effects, patients often seek alternative treatment options.
Other Diseases That Have Similar Symptoms To Parkinsons Disease
Now, I just want to address something you may have noticed here. Many of these symptoms and signs could also apply to other diseases. Is it an overreaction to assume that if your dog twitches a bit it is definitely Parkinsons disease?
Well yes and no. Certainly, all of these symptoms could indicate other ailments.
Lets go through a few now:
- Generalized tremor syndrome: Yep, its a thing! Your dog may tremor for no real reason. This doesnt have the same stiffness and limited joint mobility that Parkinsons does.
- Kidney disease: Kidney disease can cause depression, anxiety, and tremoring. Youll most likely see vomiting and infrequent urination come with this and can lead to euthanasia.
- Arthritis: A friend of mine has an arthritic dog and stiffness is a real problem. Having inflexible joints can also cause your dog to limp. Arthritis is differentiated by joint pain so your dog may be more vocal if this is what they are suffering.
- Seizure disorders: Did you know that dogs can suffer from epilepsy? Seizures can be caused by all kinds of things. They can also be the entire ailment all by themselves.
As you can see, the signs of Parkinsons in dogs could belong to an entirely different diagnosis. So, if you notice stiffness or tremoring, it is best to have your professional veterinarian make a formal diagnosis.
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