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Dear List Members, How about an 'in-house' test of the contents of our spice rack. I wonder if our sense of smell improves while we are "ON" and conversely degenerates in the "OFF" stage. Of course we are not able to judge if each of us identifies the same essential oils present in the plant, but we can surely establish whether (1) we are getting an aroma, and (2) can we differentiate among the many spices. I believe that the true essence of a spice is released by crushing. Any "noses", fragrance specialists, among us.? Even if we fail this test, it is a good opportunity to get rid of the bottles of unknown (label came off 10 years ago) powders. Margaret Tuchman 1941/1980/sinemet 10/100,cabergoline,tasmar [log in to unmask] Habitat for Horses - Help us save the horses! Go to: http://www.eyegive.com/html/ssi.cfm?CID=3507&MID=27440 Donate the easy way - surf over to eyegive.com, they'll donate money to us every time you visit their site! -----Original Message----- From: John Kercher [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 1998 7:52 AM To: Essentials List Subject: Parkinson & Oregano FRAGRANCE TRAIL TO PARKINSON People who have a form of Parkinson usually can't or hardly smell Oregano. After long and tedious puzzling there is movement in the research of the Parkinson Disease. A lot of movement! The moment seems to draw near that doctors are not just restricted to the combat of the symptoms. To call an effective halt to the sickness process is coming slowly into sight. A team of the Amsterdam Free University working under the supervision of the Parkinson Researcher Dr.Erik Wolters and the German Neurologist Prof.Dr.Wolfgang Oertel in Munich (Germany) has contributed a unique finding to the research project of their own. They have established the fact that potential Parkinson Patients often have certain smell disorders, even before the symptoms present themselves. For a very early diagnoses the future neurologist will be able to draw certain conclusions from the nose of the patient. For centuries producers of coffee, perfume blenders and wine producers know that to reach an optimal product the human nose is of immense value. To obtain the richest mixtures and the best "bouquet" the nose is priceless. Very specialized observations and subtle fragrances can not be determined by every one. Who could have thought that the sense of smell could once play an active part in medicine? Scientist of the Amsterdam Free University have found that patients suffering from the Parkinson Disease often show an early smell disorder. The patients themselves are hardly ever aware of this. They therefore show absolutely no sign of the typical Parkinson indications. This strange phenomenon could mean that Parkinson patients , in the near future, can be indicated in the earliest stages of their illness. At present they consult a doctor when the typical Parkinson characteristics such as rigidness, slowness, shakings etc. become a burden. But, by then their illness is already so far advanced that certain parts of their brains have been effected for 60 to 70%. SUCCESS It has always been the dream of scientist to be able to combat this sneaky and slowly processing disease in the very early stages. As it is now, indications are that in the not to distant future their dreams might come true. At several fronts successful research has been concluded. The intriguing parts of the intricate smell system plays herein a major role. Through SPEC scan-techniques important findings have been made. We are now able to clearly distinguish Parkinson indications from illnesses that very much look like them. A thorough research is being done in this field in co- operation with the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the Amsterdam University. To get an idea of what goes on in the brain of a Parkinson Patient, two types of SPEC research is being conducted. Both tests are without any danger or discomfort to the patient. By the first we inject a radioactive labelled substance which has a very important characteristic. It attaches itself selectively to cells that produce Dopamine. This Dopamine can best be compared to a kind of natural lubricant important for all kinds of body movements. A Parkinson Patient always shows Dopamine deficiency. Because the injected substance only binds itself to Dopamine cells, the SCEPT scan supplies will show clearly the situation of the Dopamine system. It can be perfectly charted and shows clearly where in the system of the Parkinson Patients is affected. In the second SPECT research we also inject a radioactive labelled Benzamid. Again, this particular substance has a characteristic which we carefully use. It attaches itself only to the "points of adherence", the receivers of the Dopamine. By people suffering from PARKINSON the number of receivers is normal. But those with Parkinson-like affections there is a noticeable shortage of these receivers. It is very important to make a distinction. People with a Parkinson-like problem react in the beginning just like "normal" Parkinson-patients. When Dopamine is administered. However, after a while they show no reaction whatsoever. The sooner this distinction is made, the better the patient can be guided. One can treat, for instance, the by Parkinson treatment unnecessary side effects, caused by Parkinson medication. Certainly not unimportant because it accounts for about 25% who come with those typical Parkinson complaints. By using the new SPECT methods, researchers are for the first time capable to follow, step by step, the illness process in the brain. Ailments can now be expressed in measurements and numbers. Meanwhile absolute certainty has been obtained about a long existing suspicion. The Parkinson patient looses every year about 7.5% of the remaining Dopamine producing cells. In healthy people this loss is about 10% yearly. That very secure following of what takes place in the brain is most important when new medicines are tested. DIAGNOSES Although world-wide an intensive research is done, it is the Amsterdam Free University team that have found the "fragrance-trail". All researchers have their "noses" pointed in one direction. Because it is very peculiar what they found. As a peculiar result of the research, people who have a form of Parkinson usually can't or hardly smell Oregano. John ========================== John Kercher P.O.Box 3371 <bold>4800 DJ BREDA THE NETHERLANDS </bold>Email: [log in to unmask] ========================== ************************************************************ To cancel the Digest, or change to the full list send email as follows: To: [log in to unmask] Subject: COMMAND YOU WANT TO GIVE List/Digest Commands SUBSCRIBE - subscribes you to the mailing list. UNSUBSCRIBE - unsubscribes you from the mailing list. SUBSCRIBE DIGEST - subscribes you to the digest. UNSUBSCRIBE DIGEST - unsubscribes you from the digest. you don't need anything in the body of your message. ************************************************************