From http://www.raystrand.com

PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Specific Nutritional Supplement Recommendations

I feel that it is very important for my patients with Parkinson’s disease
to be on a high quality nutritional supplement program. Since the medical
evidence is demonstrating that the underlying cause of Parkinson’s disease
is oxidative stress, I want my patients on the most potent antioxidant
supplements they can find. I also believe that the earlier a patient begins
their supplement program after they have been diagnosed as having
Parkinson’s disease, the better. The medical literature has demonstrated
that the progression of their disease can be slowed down with the use of
antioxidants. I have actually seen some of my patients with Parkinson’s
disease show improvements in their disease when they begin taking the
supplement program I am recommending.

I recommend a very aggressive nutritional supplementation program for my
patients that have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In my office, I
recommend that my patients take Usana Nutritional Supplements. I believe
that they are the most potent antioxidant supplements on the market today.
The main reasons that I recommend the Usana Products to my patients are:

1.They are pharmaceutical-grade nutritional supplements. In other words,
they are manufactured in a FDA-registered facility and follow good
manufacturing practices. In other words, Usana produces these supplements
with same quality control as a pharmaceutical company uses to produce a
brand named drug.

2.They are complete and balanced. They provide all of the essential
nutrients to the cell at optimal levels, not RDA levels. This allows me not
to worry about in what nutrients my patients may be depleted, but rather
allows the cell to decide what it needs and does not need.

3.They are simple to take, and the compliance of my patients is greatly
increased.

4.The antioxidants and their supporting nutrients are allowed to work in
synergy, which makes them very potent in handling oxidative stress.

5.I believe they are the most potent antioxidant supplements in their
ability to handle oxidative stress.

In my Parkinson’s disease patients, I recommend that they take the Usana
Essentials, Cal/Mag, Optomega, GinkoPS, E Prime and Proflavanol. I have my
patients take their nutritional supplements three times per day with meals.
These nutrients are better absorbed and better tolerated when taken with
food. I usually start them on just one tablet of each nutrient with each
meal. When I am sure they are tolerating this level of supplementation, I
will slowly increase these nutrients until I have them at the desired level
of supplementation. I also make sure they are tolerating all the
nutritionals for a couple of weeks before I even have them start the
Cal/Mag. I will then slowly introduce the Cal/Mag because it may initially
cause some loose stools. However, if added slowly after the patient is
tolerating all the other nutrients, this usually does not happen or will at
least be transient.

I recommend the following schedule to my patients with Parkinson’s disease:

AM with Breakfast:

1 Mega Antioxidant
1 Chelated Mineral
2 Proflavanol
2 Cal/Mag
1 Ginko-Ps
1 E Prime
2 tsps Optomega

Noon with Lunch

1 Mega Antioxidant
1 Chelated Mineral
2 Proflavanol
2 Cal/Mag
1 Ginko-Ps
1 E Prime

PM with Evening Meal

1 Mega Antioxidant
1 Chelated Mineral
2 Proflavanol
2 Cal/Mag
1 Ginko-Ps
1 E Prime


This is my goal as to the level of supplements that I would like my
patients to be taking. When I begin a nutritional supplement program with
my patients with Parkinson’s disease, I am actually looking for
improvement. Proflavanol and the GinkoPS are the main optimizers for
Parkinson’s disease. Proflavanol is 50 times more potent than vitamin E and
it readily gets into the fluid in and around the brain. Ginko biloba has
been combined with PS (phosphatidylserine) to form the most potent support
for mental function presently known. Nearly 50% of the patient’s with
Parkinson’s disease get an Alzheimer’s like dementia. Almost all of the
studies with Parkinson’s disease have been done with very high doses of
vitamin E. E Prime along with the natural vitamin E in the Mega Antioxidant
provides the absolute best vitamin E mixture at optimal levels. However,
these optimizers still need to be taken with the Usana Essentials in order
to get the best results.

I then will see the patient back in one month to see how they are doing. If
they are having a good clinical response, I do not make any changes to
their program. If they have not noted any significant improvement, I will
increase the amount of Proflavanol to three tablets with each meal, which
makes a total of nine Proflavanol each day. I will then see them back in my
office in another month and make the same observations. If they are showing
significant clinical improvement, I will just keep them at this level.
However, if they are not noting much improvement I will increase to four
Proflavanol with each meal. I continue this pattern until I get a response
or until they reach six Proflavanol with each meal. When I get a
significant clinical response in my patient, there is no doubt. The patient
is able to note improvements that can only be attributed to his or her
nutritional supplement program. They may not be clinically or physically
where they would like to be, however, they are convinced that they are on
the right track. If they have not responded clinically to the nutritional
supplement program after they have built up to 18 Proflavanol per day and
been at this level for at least a month, they most likely will not respond.
I can usually get a significant clinical response in the first three to
four months. Rarely do I have to increase the Proflavanol above 12 tablets
a day.

Once I have seen a good clinical response in my patients, I will leave them
at this level of supplementation for a few months. Then I will slowly
decrease the amount of Proflavanol they are taking down to what I call a
maintenance level. This is the level of Proflavanol needed to maintain any
of the improvement they have received from the supplement program. If they
begin to get worse as I am decreasing the Proflavanol, I will simply
increase the amount of Proflavanol again. I simply use the least amount of
Proflavanol needed to maintain their improvement.

If my patients do not see any obvious clinical improvement, I will back
them off to just six Proflavanol each day. There is still good medical
evidence that patients who are taking these potent, antioxidants are at
least able to slow down the progression of their disease. This is my
secondary goal. If I am unable to get a significant clinical improvement, I
at least feel that we are able to slow down the progression of their disease.

I find that it is best if my patients take their nutritional supplements
with food. This allows for better absorption and tolerance of the
supplements. Eighty percent of my patients tolerate their nutritional
program with absolutely no problem. However, occasionally my patients will
complain of mild to moderate body aches and maybe headaches. These
nutrients are potent and they allow the body to finally be able to detoxify
(clearing the toxins from the body). This is usually temporary and
transient, and lasts only a few days to a week or two at the most. Rarely,
it is severe and I have to advise my patients to stop their nutritionals
for a few days. It is just too much, too fast. I then start them back on
the products slowly, having them take one tablet from each bottle each day.
Once this level is tolerated for a few days, I will increase to two tablets
from each bottle. Then I will finally increase to the full dose. I have
always been able to get all my patients on these nutrients. I find it
interesting that the individual patients who have the most aches and pains
always seem to have the best results.

Some of my patients may experience an upset stomach after a few days. This
is usually related to the potent vitamin C that is contained in the Mega
Antioxidant. I have them stop the Mega Antioxidant for a few days and then
start with just one of the Mega Antioxidants with their largest meal. After
they are tolerating that level of Mega Antioxidant, I will add a second
tablet with their next biggest meal and eventually add a third Mega
Antioxidant.

Some patients will start to have loose stools and even may get diarrhea.
This is one of the ways the body detoxifies itself, so I am not real
concerned for the most part. However, sometimes their bottom gets pretty
sore. The most likely culprit is the Cal/Mag. Therefore, I usually like to
have my patients tolerating all the nutritionals for several days before I
add the Cal/Mag. Then I add it slowly until they are taking 4 to 6 Cal/Mag
each day spread throughout the day with meals. Some of my patients actually
tolerate the Cal/Mag better if they take them all at bedtime. Calcium
citrate actually causes constipation, and it is the magnesium that
increases the motility of the GI tract and leads to the loose stools. If my
patients are usually constipated, they love the Cal/Mag. However,
occasionally I have to add some straight calcium citrate to the Cal/Mag in
order to control the loose stools. I strongly believe in trying to get my
patients to take as much of the Cal/Mag as possible, since magnesium
deficiency is related to over 300,000 cardiac deaths each year. Proflavanol
can cause diarrhea on occasion, also. This is usually not as significant,
and my patients can usually build up to the recommended dose in a very
short time.

I will occasionally see a dull, red rash that appears more like a sunburn
or dry red skin. This is not evidence of an allergic reaction but rather
another way that body detoxifies. The skin is an important way that the
body gets rid of toxins. It will occasionally cause this mild red rash
which is transient.

Minerals can cause a natural relaxation response as they are absorbed into
the body. This does not happen very often, but when it does my patients get
concerned. I advise them to just take all their minerals at bedtime. They
not only tolerate them better, but it also allows them to possibly sleep
better at night.

As I mentioned earlier, well over eighty percent of my patients tolerate
their nutritional supplement program with no problems. All the potential
problems that I have mentioned are temporary and transient. This is a
dietary change for the body. You are nourishing your body like you have
never nourished it before. You just occasionally have to give it some time
to adjust.

This is the present program that I have personally been recommending to my
patients with Parkinson’s disease. This is not alternative medicine. The
patient must continue to use the medications that have been prescribed to
them by their physician. A nutritional supplement program simply improves
the patients natural antioxidant defense system. It is never meant to
replace a patient’s medication. I have been seeing clinical improvement
with this level of supplementation, especially when it is started early in
the disease. This is the main reason that I have taken the time and energy
to share my clinical experience with you. Not everyone experiences results,
but by following this program in my practice, I have been able to obtain
more consistent and more long lasting clinical improvements. If you would
personally like to start the Usana Nutritional Program that I have
recommended on this web page, simply show these recommendations to the
individual that directed you to this web page. If you found this web page
through your own search, just click on this hot link with Redeeming Health
International to get started on these amazing products.

I offer personal medical consultations in my Comprehensive Wellness Clinic
located in Rapid City, South Dakota. I also offer telephone consultations
to patients in regards to developing their own personal supplementation
program. The cost is $80 for the initial consult and $45 for any follow up
consults. You may arrange either a personal visit to my office or a
telephone consultation by calling 605-342-7785.

If you have had or if you do have a significant clinical response to this
nutritional program, I would like to hear from you. Time restrictions do
not allow me to respond to everyone. However, this is how I have learned
what I am sharing with you today. Please send me a very short and concise
case history regarding your clinical response to Comprehensive Wellness
Publishing, PO Box 9226, Rapid City, SD 57709. Please include details of
any specific laboratory or clinical improvements that you or your physician
has noted since starting this nutritional program.

Disclaimer:

The information shared on these web pages is for educational purposes only.
Every effort has been made to make this web page as accurate as possible.
It is the review of scientific evidence and my personal clinical experience
in using nutritional supplements. This information is not intended for
self-diagnosis, treatment, or the justification for accepting or declining
any medical treatment for any health problems or diseases. Any application
of the information presented in these web pages is at the reader's own
discretion. Therefore, any individual who has a specific health problem
should consult his or her health care provider licensed in his or her state
of residence before starting any nutritional program.

Users of this web site shall not hold Dr. Strand, or any associated persons
or entities, liable for any use or misuse relating to the information
provided. This informaiton is provided to the general public and it is the
sole responsibility of persons using this information to consult with his
or her health care provider licensed in his or her state of residence prior
to using this information.

The information contained on this web site is not intended, and should not
be construed, as professional medical advice or recommendations. No
information provided should be construed as the practice of medicine or an
offer of medical advice. None of the information provided shall be
construed to establish a physician/patient relationship. Neither access to
this web site nor payment of any fee establishes a physician/patient
relationship with Dr. Strand.

Ray Strand, M.D.


1999 Ray D. Strand M.D.

All the materials published on this web site are the property of Ray D.
Strand, M.D. Copyright 1999. All rights are reserved. The materials and
information contained herein cannot be edited, altered, or used in any
other format.

"There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different
from the things we do." - Author Unknown