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Kathrynne, Yes! In fact, I had downloaded another version, with the header: "Published by permission of Kathrynne Holden, who holds the copyright," when I decided to get back on the listserv, to find out if anyone has used it. I started on sinemet in late February 2001 (3 times daily), and was on it till around October 2001. By then, it seemed like it did not have the effect I thought it had initially; the freezing of my legs had gotten remarkably worse. I told my primary care physician about it, and he said, maybe i need a change in the pills or perhaps in quantity, and for me to discuss with my neuro. I did not want any change of that sort. What I decided to do instead was gradually reduced my intake from 3 to 2 to 1 to 1/2, so that my anniversary date, I was totally off sinemet. I did not want to become dependent on chemicals. My symptoms have been at their "worst"..(in quotes, because I had not experienced the freezing in such severity before I got on sinemet). Assuming now that I am fully off the residual effects of sinemet, i started my own search for herbal alternatives. By chance, when at Costco two weeks ago, my wife picked up "Prescription for Herbal Healing" by Phyllis A Balch. I immediately checked the index for Parkinsons, and could not believe my eyes: "A 3-ounce serving of broad beans contains as much as 250 milligrams of L-dopa." Last week, I bought 5 lbs of fava broad beans...and started slowly...I did not know what to do with the empty pods. I just put them in a plastic bag, and put them in the freezer... I also passed by a nursery and bought a packet of fava seeds to plant. That's when I searched on the Net to find out more about fava...to find out if there is an extract in capsule or pill form....and just this morning, i came across your article, and got all my questions answered. I was especially gratified to see that not only the beans, but the pods and the leaves contain l-dopa. At least now, i do not need to get the beans and weigh them, but just take the pod: 3 pods weigh roughly over 2 ounces...I plan on having 2 ounces with my meals (3 times daily) or over 6 ounces a day for another week or so, and observe my symptoms...I'm keeping a diary. Since i am completely off sinemet and any other prescription drug, any amelioration of my symptoms can be attributed only to fava.... And just out of curiosity, I decided to get back on the listserve, posted my question, and you were the first to respond....my next step is to grow my own beans, and pick the pods when still immature (no strings on the side), and plan on eating just about everything, including the leaves. Thank you... Nilo On Wed, 27 Mar 2002 18:47:25 -0500 "Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD" <[log in to unmask]> writes: > NILO A SARMIENTO wrote: > > > Has any of you used fava beans as an alternative to sinemet and > the like? > > Thanks. > > Nilo > > Nilo, if it's of interest, you might like to read an article I wrote > on > fava beans at: > > Fava Beans, levodopa and Parkinson's > http://www.parkinson.org/fava.htm > > Best, > Kathrynne > > > -- > Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD > "Ask the Parkinson Dietitian" > http://www.parkinson.org/ > Author: "Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease" > "Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy for Parkinson's disease" > http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/ > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn