Dear PD Digest Members:
For those of you who are searching for HOLISTIC (as opposed to purely
pharmaceutical) approaches to dealing with PD, perhaps the following will
be of interest:
I just attended an exceptional symposium -- the First Global Conference on
Nutritional & Vitamin Therapy -- here in NYC. Many experts, from across the
US & elsewhere, spoke. Many were MDs, NDs, nutritionists, and complementary
medicine/nutrition/health researchers. In all, they had a lot to say about
the holistic versus the allopathic medicine approaches to health. They covered
a lot of ground -- and that included throwing the spotlight on new approaches
toward dealing with neurodegenerative diseases.
Parkinson's and Alzheimer's were part of that focus.
Among the key suggestions offered were that PD (and memory-loss and Alzheimers)
can often be slowed or, in some cases, *possibly* even be reversed, by giving
various specific nutrients and antioxidants.
Among the recommendations was, at the top of the list, PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE
(possibly along with phosphatidylcholine):
It was claimed that studies have shown that phosphatidylserine, which is a
natural biochemical and is *not* a drug -- and is available over-the-counter
at most healthfood stores & possibly pharmacies -- can actually stimulate
the regrowth and rejuvenation of brain-cells, and that it can also spark the
growth of new brain-cells as well, in effect going a long way (though "how
long a way" may vary) to restore a better functioning of the brain. This
translates, it was claimed, into improved memory, improved motor skills,
and in some cases even a reversal of a given level of PD to a more healthy,
"younger" state: PD and Sinemet gradually cause damage, while in contrast
phosphatidylserine was said to apparently be able to bring the brain to a
healthier and more youthful condition.
The key speaker on this particular nutrient, Dr. Parris Kidd (PhD) of PMK
Biochemical-Nutritional Research (Albany, CA) -- he consults for a
leading nutrient manufacturer for the industry -- even gave some specific
case examples, in which he described how the apparent reversal of PD
symptoms in those particular individuals was dramatic. He also clarified
that phosphatidylserine has, he said, no adverse side-effects. I spoke
with him at length later and was quite impressed and will investigate
further.
(Perhaps other CARE or PD Digest members have used phosphatidylserine
and can contribute data as to their experiences with it, or can research
it further and report their findings here.)
Some other important recommendations that various of the lecturers (and
others with whom I spoke) suggested regarding good ways to keep the
braincells healthy and/or protect & revitalize them -- and thus to slow or
reduce PD -- included NADH; DHEA; Vitamin C (preferably a nonacidic form
such as Esther C With Bioflavinoids); Vitamin E; Selenium; Melatonin;
Acetyl-L-Carnitine; Gingko Biloba; Alpha Lipoic Acid (which is a powder,
usually available in capsules); NAC (n-acetyl cysteine); Zinc; Evening
Primrose Oil; Flaxseed Oil. (*** NOTE: One nutritionist there told me that
there was a report indicating that it is not safe to take both Gingko
Biloba & Melatonin together; I need more info about this.)
Additional recommendations thaI I heard there (and in speaking elsewhere
with other nutritionists) include DMAE; SOD (superoxide dismutase); DMG
(dimethyly glycine); Glutathione; and Milk Thistle (Silymarin) Extract.
Additionally, various MDs or NDs there told me that GABA (gamma-amino butyric
acid, which is a neutrotransmitter that comes in powdered form and is
administered under the tongue) can often be very good to administer in PD
-- and that is has no adverse effects. My own experience (with my mother,
who has PD) is that the GABA is indeed effective (usually) in slowing/stopping
her tremors.
It was also suggested that a B-50 complex (as well as multivitamins
generally) would be helpful. I asked about the view that Vitamin B6 --
which would be in the B-50 complex -- is supposed *not* to be advisable
for a PD person who takes Levodopa or Sinemet; the response was that while
that may be the case if the individual is taking Levodopa (i.e., no
carbidopa with it), the small amount of B6 in a B-50 complex tablet ought
to be okay for someone who's on Sinemet -- and that the B6 can be very
helpful to the brain.
Various of the experts there also said that PD appears (according to their
research) to in significant measure stem from TOXINS (usually in the
form of heavy metals) that have collected in the liver (and perhaps, as in
the case of mercury & thallium from "silver amalgam" dental fillings, in
the brain).
Consequently, various of these people also recommended that a person with PD
(or various of the other neurodegenrative illnesses) go through a proper
"detoxification regimen" -- of which it seems there are many -- to get these
toxins out of the body. There were so many people & companies there in this
field that I can barely remember them all. I do recall that I was impressed
by the regimens offered by, for example, REXALL SUNDOWN (mail-order nutrients
etc.; affiliated with the Rexall Drugstore chain; they have an 800-number),
and the GERSON INSTITUTE in Arizona & Mexico.
(You might want to do an internet-search, via an engine such as yahoo.com, on
the word "detoxify" or "detoxification" or "gerson" or "rexall", etcetera, for
more specifics.)
Along those lines, one of the speakers, a Dr. Catherine Picoulin -- she's an
ND and "holistic nutritional consultant" (based in Colfax, CA) -- also urged
that anyone with "silver amalgam" fillings have them removed and replaced by
the more body-friendly substances that most holistic dentists use. She said
that there seems to be a real correlation between neurodegenerative disorders
and mercury/thallium toxicity resulting from those elements leeching out of
"silver amalgam" fillings.
(***A NOTE OF CAUTION: She also clarified that it is vital that anyone planning
to have those fillings removed also start taking a special "protection" regimen
-- she suggested a product called (I think) "Rosemary TF" available from a
company called DynaPro -- to protect the body from the burst of mercury-toxins
that she explained would be released into the mouth by the filling-removal
process itself. The time-frame required for following this protection-regimen
was a little unclear to me, but I think that she said that this regimen should
start a week before the removal and run through to a week after the removal.
Dr. Picoulin, in her presentation (which mainly focused on Alzheimers &
looked somewhat at neurodegenerative illnesses in general), also was emphatic
about the importance of clearing our bodies of toxic influences, all of which
are assaulting the brain and the neural system. Polluted water, polluted foods,
polluted air -- the list went on & on. But even aside from pollution, she said,
there are the additives in foods -- and this we can to some extent control.
For example, she said, it is important to stay away from any product that
contains MSG (monosodium glutamate), or aluminum (which, for example, is in a
compound that is a key ingredient in most of the commonly-available breads &
baked goods & cake mixes).
By the way, regarding Alzheimers, Dr. Picoulin also recommended: B1, B5,
B6, B12, Choline, Manganese, Magnesium, Potassium, and various amino
acids. It appeared that many of these items (in proper measure) might also
be helpful in other neurodegenrative diseases, such as PD -- but I'm not
sure that she addressed these items *specifically* to PD.
Lastly: Specific regimens were suggested to me, by 2 separate experts at
this conference, to consider for my mother; perhaps these regimens --
which I list below -- may offer some guidance of use to some of you. But again,
I would just personally add the caveat that although I do hope that the above
suggestions and the regimens noted below can be of help, I am presenting this
material here *not* as a "medical prescription" (which I am not qualified
to give) but as important information which I believe is worth considering.
***** REGIMEN #1 (Offered by a holistic MD): *****
Multivitamins (especially including a B-Complex containing B-6;
the B-6 is okay, I was told, so long as the PD-drug
is not Levodopa; Sinemet would be okay, I wass told --
the B-6 wouldn't interfere with it.)
C (Especially Esther-C) 1000 mg 3 times a day (IF it can be tolerated)
DHEA 10 mg/day (but do a DHEA-sulfite test, for safety's sake)
Selenium 200 mg/day
Melatonin 3-5 mg/day
E 200 IU/day
NAC (n-acetyl cysteine) 600 mg 3 times a day
Magnesium in organic form (lactate or maleate) (I didn't get the amount.)
Try to switch off of Sinemet and onto Selegiline
Do a hair-analysis and also check levels of B12 & Folic Acid
(Keep the levels of B12 & Folic Acid substantial; I didn't get the amount.)
Possibly do an oral chelation (to remove toxins.)
Check the whole-blood serotonin level
(Serotonin is also important; I didn't get the amount.)
***** REGIMEN # 2 (offered by a nutrition expert): *****
Phosphatidylserine -- 400-500 mg/day
Phosphatidylcholine -- 1400 mg/day
Acetyl-L-Carnitine -- 2 grams/day, divided into a morning-dose and a
pre-4pm dose
NADH -- (The nutrition expert who recommended this "Regimen #2", as I call it,
did not specify a dosage; but Dr. Birkmayer had already told me that it
would be wise to start with a 2.5mg NADH tablet in the morning
for several days, see what effect it had, and then perhaps switch
[if necessary] to a 5 mg tablet in the mornings for awhile, and
then [if necessary] add on a 2.5 mg or a 5 mg tablet in afternoons,
and then finally, if needed, add on a 2.5 mg or a 5 mg in the
early evening [preferably not later than 8pm].)
B-50 complex (which would also contain a modest amount of B6)
(A modest amount of B6 such as this, I was told, would be very
helpful, and even if it did interfere with Sinemet, which it
probably wouldn't, the interference would be minimal and it
would be outweighed by the b6's benefit to the brain.)
C (especially Ester C with Bioflavinoids) -- 2000 mg/day
Co-Enzyme Q-10 -- 100-200 mg/day
Ginkgo Biloba
Check and possibly increase the levels of Magnesium & Calcium
(Mg & Ca, if in proper balance and at sufficient levels,
can be very important to diminishing tremors -- not to mention
the critical importance of these elements to the cardiac &
circulatory system.)
--- So there you have it: My "brief" overview of what I've gathered as to
recommendations for more holistically-based approaches to dealing with PD.
I hope that this information is useful to you.
-- SJS
10/19/97
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