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Laureen has tried Mucuna pruriens. She definitely had a response, but it was not positive (she developed hallucinations). She was not on meds at the time. I think she took 3 or 4 capsules several days in a row, which is far less than people who were in the clinical studies of this bean. She's reluctant to try it again. So, I am taking it, just to get rid of it--a capsule a day. No, I am not experiencing increased libido or anything else from it, that I notice. What health practitioners (both natural and allopathic) warn against is the uncertaintly of how concentrated or pure the Mucuna p. in capsule form actually is. Thus, one is never quite sure how much one is really ingesting. I've read a lot positive about this bean, in terms of PD control, and if I were the patient, I know that I'd give it a reasonable try. Laureen is simply tired of experimenting on herself. For what it's worth.... Scott >===== Original Message From Parkinson's Information Exchange Network <[log in to unmask]> ===== >Diane sent me this - I didn't write it nor do I know anything about it, Ray > >"Dopa Bean" - better than a chocolate binge..[Dec. 26th, 2006|04:15 pm] > >[Tags|magic beans...] >[mood| calm] > >This looks like a spam, but its not. I've discovered a nutritional >supplement that works on dopamine, and it works really well. I just thought >I'd share. The effect of taking a capsule or two is similar to the effect >you get from eating a bunch of chocolate, except without the caffiene. > >It's "Velvet Bean" a.k.a. Mucuna pruriens. So far I've seen two >"standardized" brands of it, one is called "DopaBean" by Solar Ray, and the >other is called "Mucuna" by Physicians Formulas. Both were approved by a >Parkinson's website as raising dopamine levels. > >Basically, it contains natural precursors to dopamine and norepinephrine >that your body makes anyway. The levels of these compounds in people drops >under stress and as people age. It's a rain forest plant. (Picture: >http://www.rain-tree.com/Plant-Images/velvetbean-pic.htm ) > >The touted benefits (some of which I verified with a "yes") are as follows: > >* relieves pain (yes, somewhat. better than asprin.) >* increases testosterone ( How would I know? ) >* increases libido (still evaluating) >* reduces inflammation (possibly - still evaluating) >* reduces spasms (yes, has helpd my back) >* calms nerves (yes, definitely. Verified by third parties - reduces >irritability) >* reduces fever (haven't had one) >* lowers blood pressure (not yet - mine was normal last Friday when I gave >blood) >* lowers cholesterol (haven't been tested) >* increases urination (not yet) >* assists with smoking cessation (I don't smoke) > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] >In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn Scott E. Antes Department of Anthropology Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5200 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn