Nancy, I'm a western-trained health professional, and I can assure you I
take alternative therapies very seriously indeed. My professional
organization (the American Dietetics Association), although very
conservative, has recently formed a dietetics practice group made up of
dietitians who are interested in complementary and alternative
therapies; I was a charter member of this group. I encourage my clients
to freely discuss any supplements or alternative therapies they use, and
I always offer to work with other therapists to provide a holistic care
program.

Awhile back coenzyme Q-10 was laughed at by health professionals; now
it's taken seriously as a supplement for people who have congestive
heart failure; and is being tested around the country by Parkinson's
researchers. I believe that's also true for NADH.

Paul Mote recently posted about a study on Tuina, a therapy used by
practitioners of Oriental medicine, to help relieve some of the effects
of PD. Initial results on a small number of people look promising,
though it's still early days.

I have had rheumatoid arthritis since a fairly young age. I get
acupuncture treatments from a neurologist, and they are helpful. The
neurologist took up the study of acupuncture because he found important
areas of treatment not addressed by his western-medicine training.

I think that western medicine and alternative therapies can support and
strengthen each other, and I hope more research and trials will take
place. I believe that adequate research will show that many therapies
offer help that western medicine does not address.

And I hope that listserv members won't be afraid to speak up -- in my
opinion, no one should feel "censored." Open discussion is important.
Heck, Galileo was persecuted for demonstrating that the world was round,
but guess what -- he was right.

Best,
Kathrynne

Nancy Burnham wrote:
>
> My sediments exactly.  Whenever I mention nonstandard therapies we are
> trying I can feel the cold shoulder all the way to Montana.  Consequently
> I've just about stopped communicating.  I am really getting a phobia about
> mentioning any information I find out
> about on this list.  I  feel that we are doing lots of things right since my
> husband, who has had PD for at least 16 years, is still able to work 10 hour
> days 7 days a week on our ranch.  This last week he spend fixing fence in
> our mountain pasture.  He would leave around 8:00 in the morning and get
> home around 8:00 in the evening.  Yesterday we took the cattle to the
> mountains.  Left our yard at 4:30 on horseback, arrived at the pasture at
> noon.  Back home around 2:00.  I took a nap, but Don didn't get a chance to
> rest until he went to bed around 8:30. I didn't even ride, just took food to
> the riders for breakfast and lunch!!!
>
> I've investigated aromatherphy, but never tried it.  I've heard of personal
> testimonies from several who have had great results.
>
> Some of the products we try seem to help, other don't.  I have high hopes
> for what we are doing now.  I'm sure not going to leave our health only in
> the hands of the medical profession.
>
> Earlier I wrote about the clinic in California that gets to the root cause
> of chronic conditions, have talked to several who have gone and have had
> great results. ( not PD) In conjunction with the clinic is a non-toxic
> dental clinic.  We are seriously thinking of making an appointment with the
> clinic.  I'm sure one of the first recommendation will be for Don to have
> all of his fillings removed.
>
> Nancy B cg for Don 65/16.
>
> PS  I'm leaving this week to visit my children in Boise Idaho.  I have a son
> and daughter there and three Grand Babies.  Will probably get off the list
> for a short time.
>











--
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD
Medical nutrition therapy
Author: "Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease"
"Parkinson's disease: assessing and managing unique nutrition needs"
http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/