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A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PD (I wrote this as an article for a newsletter and would like to share it with the parknsn list subscribers.) There are many new directions being taken in healthcare today, most are to find more effective treatments for disease as well as reduce the rapid increases in healthcare costs. The term healthcare is a little of a mystery as it applies today as modern medicine has evolved into a disease care system where diseases are never cured, but managed with drugs and surgery. A true health care system should effectively either prevent disease or restore optimal health. We are slowly but surely moving in that direction and we have all of the tools, they just have not been put into a neat little package. We have complementary medicine, holistic medicine, alternative medicine, naturopathic medicine, etc. How does one find their way through the minefield? Well, I will give a hypothetical model of what a holistic approach to treating Parkinson's disease could look like. First of all in traditional healing, nature is considered to be the source of healing and only medicines derived from natural sources are considered to have healing powers. The two oldest medical systems, Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine, utilize only specially prepared herbs and mineral preparations. Today we have a wide assortment of so-called "natural" medicines including homeopathy, however, their main feature is that they are non-toxic when used correctly, have no side-effects, and generally are required in smaller and smaller doses as healing progresses. This can be easily compared with modern pharmaceuticals which are often very toxic even when used correctly, invariably have side- effects and are required in higher and higher doses as the disease progresses. Another feature of traditional healing is the adherence to healing principles. First of all the body is always put through a cleansing process to eliminate the possibly toxic causes of disease whether chemical, bacterial, or parasitic. Purges are often used along with sweating, fasting, and herbal detoxifiers. Secondly, the body is supplied with any nutritional support required for healing to take place, this may involve the removal of allergens from the diet or supplements to supply missing nutrients. Thirdly, rest, diet, herbs, and such things as sunbathing, mineral baths, and special diets are utilized to facilitate healing. A further feature of traditional healing is the search for the causes of disease within the psyche of the patient. This is extensively covered in both Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine as well as the shamanistic practices common to native peoples. It is interesting to note that even the native peoples utilized sweating, purges, herbs, special diets, and a very sophisticated level of psychology in their healing practices. It must be noted, however, that all of these traditional practices had their failings and strong points. Emergency medicine and control of nfectious diseases were their main weak points, but they do serve well as a blue print for a medical model more holistic in nature. One must first utilize whatever medicines are required to achieve personal satisfaction with the control of symptoms. Every effort should be made to minimize or reduce the need for medication. How can this be applied to Parkinson's Disease? Well, there are many who believe that exposure to lead, mercury, or heavy metal compounds or possible pesticides, herbicides, or environmental toxins precipitated their PD symptoms. If this is indeed the case than a detoxification program should be utilized to remove the toxic elements from the body. This is not easy, but can be accomplished by utilizing chelation therapy, fasting, herbal cleansing programs, saunas, etc. It is good to work with a health care professional to monitor these therapies. At the same time, nutritional supplements, anti-oxidants, herbs, concentrated food supplements can be utilized to eliminate any possible biochemical aggravation of PD symptoms. This is very useful in order to prevent any further damage, assist the nervous system to operate at its maximum potential, and hopefully maintain the body in optimal health. Many PD patients develop very poor nutritional habits and may accelerate the progress of their symptoms. Often a strong nutritional program reduces the need for supplemental L-Dopa and if natural sources of L-Dopa are incorporated into the diet, even less is required. It is a hotly contested subject, but I personally feel that there is a difference in the biological activity of naturally occurring versus synthetically produced chemicals. Testing has evolved using instruments which test the bio-electric field around substances and their affect on the human body. Naturally occurring substances have a higher biological activity in the human body. Synthetic molecules require an energy input before they can be utilized. It is becoming recognized that we are more of an electromagnetic field than a solid mass. This electromagnetic field is in turn strongly effected by our thoughts, emotions and such things as synthetic chemicals. For this reason organically grown foods, natural source nutritional supplements, and a diet based as low on the food chain as possible is highly recommended. The strongly vegetarian diet has also been found to be superior for everyone, especially PD patients. Anti-oxidants have also been found to be very beneficial. Once cleansing has been taken care of and a comprehensive nutritional program has been initiated, Chinese nervine herbs, Ayurvedic herbs and homeopathic remedies have all been found to have regenerative powers. There are also Western herbal products available as well. The next stage is to facilitate self-healing. This has been extensively addressed in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine and is now being researched in Western medicine. The model that is emerging considers the human body as an energy system, there is even research indicating that the body is similar to a holographic construct of the mind. All the energy systems of the body are influenced by our thoughts, feelings, emotions, beliefs, attitudes, etc. Negative attitudes and emotions generally create deficiencies and imbalances in the body whereas peaceful, loving thoughts and attitudes create balance in the body. The thrust in self-healing is to maximize the flow of energy in the body. Once this has been achieved, healing can occur. One recent model for healing theory is that at least 85% of the energy in the body must be free flowing before healing can occur. If toxic elementa have been removed and optimal nutrition is employed, more energy is available for healing and regeneration. Energy can be drained from the body by unresolved issues in the past, unexpressed or repressed emotions, and any psychological issue which prevent you from being in present time. This diversion of energy into the maintenance of negative attitudes, beliefs, hurts, grievances from the past, etc. all contribute to energy depletion or depression. All forms of bodywork, psychotherapy, counselling, hypnotherapy, etc. are useful in releasing this stagnant energy. It is also useful to employ structural therapies like yoga, feldenkrais, Alexander technique, craniosacral therapy, chiropractic, therapeutic massage, etc. to eliminate problems in this area. The actual technique is not as important as the skill of the practitioner. The main point of this approach is to become knowledgeable about your body, your inner powers of self-healing and become responsible for maintaining an optimal level of health for you. It is very important to your personal sense of well-being to heal all of the unresolved issues, relationships and conflicts in your life. Finding a purpose for living and a way to share your life with others as well as developing loving and supportive relationships is also extremely important. The degree to which you resist these processes is the degree to which you are resisting healing in your life and body. When all of these elements are in place, miracles often occur in people's lives. With PD one will not likely be completely cured as the cells which produce dopamine have already either atrophied or died, but truly nothing is impossible. However, the remaining cells can be stimulated to operate at peak efficiency and if the whole nervous system and energy system of the body is operating without obstruction, less dopamine will be required and hopefully a longer, healthier life will be enjoyed without resorting to heavier drug therapy. Utilization of the best of what is available according to the preferences and abilities of the individual is the goal.