SJS-OnTheNet wrote:
>
> Dear PD Digest Members:
>
> For those of you who are searching for HOLISTIC (as opposed to purely
> pharmaceutical) approaches to dealing with PD, perhaps the following will
> be of interest:
>
> I just attended an exceptional symposium -- the First Global Conference on
> Nutritional & Vitamin Therapy -- here in NYC. Many experts, from across the
> US & elsewhere, spoke. Many were MDs, NDs, nutritionists, and complementary
> medicine/nutrition/health researchers. In all, they had a lot to say about
> the holistic versus the allopathic medicine approaches to health. They covered
> a lot of ground -- and that included throwing the spotlight on new approaches
> toward dealing with neurodegenerative diseases.
>
> Parkinson's and Alzheimer's were part of that focus.
>
> Among the key suggestions offered were that PD (and memory-loss and Alzheimers)
> can often be slowed or, in some cases, *possibly* even be reversed, by giving
> various specific nutrients and antioxidants.
>
> Among the recommendations was, at the top of the list, PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE
> (possibly along with phosphatidylcholine):
>
> It was claimed that studies have shown that phosphatidylserine, which is a
> natural biochemical and is *not* a drug -- and is available over-the-counter
> at most healthfood stores & possibly pharmacies -- can actually stimulate
> the regrowth and rejuvenation of brain-cells, and that it can also spark the
> growth of new brain-cells as well, in effect going a long way (though "how
> long a way" may vary) to restore a better functioning of the brain. This
> translates, it was claimed, into improved memory, improved motor skills,
> and in some cases even a reversal of a given level of PD to a more healthy,
> "younger" state: PD and Sinemet gradually cause damage, while in contrast
> phosphatidylserine was said to apparently be able to bring the brain to a
> healthier and more youthful condition.
>
> The key speaker on this particular nutrient, Dr. Parris Kidd (PhD) of PMK
> Biochemical-Nutritional Research (Albany, CA) -- he consults for a
> leading nutrient manufacturer for the industry -- even gave some specific
> case examples, in which he described how the apparent reversal of PD
> symptoms in those particular individuals was dramatic. He also clarified
> that phosphatidylserine has, he said, no adverse side-effects. I spoke
> with him at length later and was quite impressed and will investigate
> further.
>
> (Perhaps other CARE or PD Digest members have used phosphatidylserine
> and can contribute data as to their experiences with it, or can research
> it further and report their findings here.)
>
> Some other important recommendations that various of the lecturers (and
> others with whom I spoke) suggested regarding good ways to keep the
> braincells healthy and/or protect & revitalize them -- and thus to slow or
> reduce PD -- included NADH; DHEA; Vitamin C (preferably a nonacidic form
> such as Esther C With Bioflavinoids); Vitamin E; Selenium; Melatonin;
> Acetyl-L-Carnitine; Gingko Biloba; Alpha Lipoic Acid (which is a powder,
> usually available in capsules);  NAC (n-acetyl cysteine); Zinc; Evening
> Primrose Oil; Flaxseed Oil. (*** NOTE: One nutritionist there told me that
> there was a report indicating that it is not safe to take both Gingko
> Biloba & Melatonin together; I need more info about this.)
>
> Additional recommendations thaI I heard there (and in speaking elsewhere
> with other nutritionists) include DMAE; SOD (superoxide dismutase); DMG
> (dimethyly glycine); Glutathione; and Milk Thistle (Silymarin) Extract.
>
> Additionally, various MDs or NDs there told me that GABA (gamma-amino butyric
> acid, which is a neutrotransmitter that comes in powdered form and is
> administered under the tongue) can often be very good to administer in PD
> -- and that is has no adverse effects. My own experience (with my mother,
> who has PD) is that the GABA is indeed effective (usually) in slowing/stopping
> her tremors.
>
> It was also suggested that a B-50 complex (as well as multivitamins
> generally) would be helpful. I asked about the view that  Vitamin B6 --
> which would be in the B-50 complex -- is supposed *not* to be advisable
> for a PD person who takes Levodopa or Sinemet; the response was that while
> that may be the case if the individual is taking Levodopa (i.e., no
> carbidopa with it), the small amount of B6 in a B-50 complex tablet ought
> to be okay for someone who's on Sinemet -- and that the B6 can be very
> helpful to the brain.
>
> Various of the experts there also said that PD appears (according to their
> research) to in significant measure stem from TOXINS (usually in the
> form of heavy metals) that have collected in the liver (and perhaps, as in
> the case of mercury & thallium from "silver amalgam" dental fillings, in
> the brain).
>
> Consequently, various of these people also recommended that a person with PD
> (or various of the other neurodegenrative illnesses) go through a proper
> "detoxification regimen" -- of which it seems there are many -- to get these
> toxins out of the body. There were so many people & companies there in this
> field that I can barely remember them all. I do recall that I was impressed
> by the regimens offered by, for example, REXALL SUNDOWN (mail-order nutrients
> etc.; affiliated with the Rexall Drugstore chain; they have an 800-number),
> and the GERSON INSTITUTE in Arizona & Mexico.
>
> (You might want to do an internet-search, via an engine such as yahoo.com, on
> the word "detoxify" or "detoxification" or "gerson" or "rexall", etcetera, for
> more specifics.)
>
> Along those lines, one of the speakers, a Dr. Catherine Picoulin -- she's an
> ND and "holistic nutritional consultant" (based in Colfax, CA) -- also urged
> that anyone with "silver amalgam" fillings have them removed and replaced by
> the more body-friendly substances that most holistic dentists use. She said
> that there seems to be a real correlation between neurodegenerative disorders
> and mercury/thallium toxicity resulting from those elements leeching out of
> "silver amalgam" fillings.
>
> (***A NOTE OF CAUTION: She also clarified that it is vital that anyone planning
> to have those fillings removed also start taking a special "protection" regimen
> -- she suggested a product called (I think) "Rosemary TF" available from a
> company called DynaPro -- to protect the body from the burst of mercury-toxins
> that she explained would be released into the mouth by the filling-removal
> process itself. The time-frame required for following this protection-regimen
> was a little unclear to me, but I think that she said that this regimen should
> start a week before the removal and run through to a week after the removal.
>
> Dr. Picoulin, in her presentation (which mainly focused on Alzheimers &
> looked somewhat at neurodegenerative illnesses in general), also was emphatic
> about the importance of clearing our bodies of toxic influences, all of which
> are assaulting the brain and the neural system. Polluted water, polluted foods,
> polluted air -- the list went on & on. But even aside from pollution, she said,
> there are the additives in foods -- and this we can to some extent control.
> For example, she said, it is important to stay away from any product that
> contains MSG (monosodium glutamate), or aluminum (which, for example, is in a
> compound that is a key ingredient in most of the commonly-available breads &
> baked goods & cake mixes).
>
> By the way, regarding Alzheimers, Dr. Picoulin also recommended: B1, B5,
> B6, B12, Choline, Manganese, Magnesium, Potassium, and various amino
> acids. It appeared that many of these items (in proper measure) might also
> be helpful in other neurodegenrative diseases, such as PD -- but I'm not
> sure that she addressed these items *specifically* to PD.
>
> Lastly: Specific regimens were suggested to me, by 2 separate experts at
> this conference, to consider for my mother; perhaps these regimens --
> which I list below -- may offer some guidance of use to some of you. But again,
> I would just personally add the caveat that although I do hope that the above
> suggestions and the regimens noted below can be of help, I am presenting this
> material here *not* as a "medical prescription" (which I am not qualified
> to give) but as important information which I believe is worth considering.
>
>              ***** REGIMEN #1 (Offered by a holistic MD): *****
>
>   Multivitamins (especially including a B-Complex containing B-6;
>                  the B-6 is okay, I was told, so long as the PD-drug
>                  is not Levodopa; Sinemet would be okay, I wass told --
>                  the B-6 wouldn't interfere with it.)
>
>   C (Especially Esther-C) 1000 mg  3 times a day (IF it can be tolerated)
>
>   DHEA  10 mg/day (but do a DHEA-sulfite test, for safety's sake)
>
>   Selenium  200 mg/day
>
>   Melatonin  3-5 mg/day
>
>   E  200 IU/day
>
>   NAC (n-acetyl cysteine)  600 mg 3 times a day
>
>   Magnesium in organic form (lactate or maleate)   (I didn't get the amount.)
>
>   Try to switch off of Sinemet and onto Selegiline
>
>   Do a hair-analysis and also check levels of B12 & Folic Acid
>      (Keep the levels of B12 & Folic Acid substantial; I didn't get the amount.)
>
>   Possibly do an oral chelation (to remove toxins.)
>
>   Check the whole-blood serotonin level
>      (Serotonin is also important; I didn't get the amount.)
>
>               ***** REGIMEN # 2 (offered by a nutrition expert): *****
>
>   Phosphatidylserine -- 400-500 mg/day
>
>   Phosphatidylcholine -- 1400 mg/day
>
>   Acetyl-L-Carnitine -- 2 grams/day, divided into a morning-dose and a
>                                      pre-4pm dose
>
>   NADH -- (The nutrition expert who recommended this "Regimen #2", as I call it,
>            did not specify a dosage; but Dr. Birkmayer had already told me that it
>            would be wise to start with a 2.5mg NADH tablet in the morning
>            for several days, see what effect it had, and then perhaps switch
>            [if necessary] to a 5 mg tablet in the mornings for awhile, and
>            then [if necessary] add on a 2.5 mg or a 5 mg tablet in afternoons,
>            and then finally, if needed, add on a 2.5 mg or a 5 mg in the
>            early evening [preferably not later than 8pm].)
>
>   B-50 complex (which would also contain a modest amount of B6)
>           (A modest amount of B6 such as this, I was told, would be very
>            helpful, and even if it did interfere with Sinemet, which it
>            probably wouldn't, the interference would be minimal and it
>            would be outweighed by the b6's benefit to the brain.)
>
>   C (especially Ester C with Bioflavinoids) -- 2000 mg/day
>
>   Co-Enzyme Q-10 -- 100-200 mg/day
>
>   Ginkgo Biloba
>
>   Check and possibly increase the levels of Magnesium & Calcium
>            (Mg & Ca, if in proper balance and at sufficient levels,
>            can be very important to diminishing tremors -- not to mention
>            the critical importance of these elements to the cardiac &
>            circulatory system.)
>
> --- So there you have it: My "brief" overview of what I've gathered as to
> recommendations for more holistically-based approaches to dealing with PD.
> I hope that this information is useful to you.
>
> -- SJS
>    10/19/97
> ******************************************************************
SJS, THANKS FOR THE ALTERNATIVE  APPROACH  INFO. I HAVEBEEN FOLLOWING
THIS APPROACH SINCE DIAGNOSED.