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Natural treatment for the symptoms of parkinson's disease and the signs of parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's Disease

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What is Parkinson's Disease?
Diagnosing Parkinson's Disease
What Causes Parkinson's Disease?
Help for Parkinson's Disease
More Information on Parkinson's Disease

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What is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. It belongs to a scientific group of disorders referred to as movement disorders.

Parkinson's is associated with tremors of the arms and legs, rigidity of the muscles, poor balance, slow movement (bradykinesia) and difficulty walking, the most well known characteristic. It occurs as a result of the degeneration of nerve cells producing a chemical called dopamine in certain areas of the brain, the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that stimulates motor neurons, (nerve cells which control the muscles) and strongly influences the thinking areas of the brain. When dopamine production decreases, the motor system nerves are unable to control movement and coordination, and progressively more motor and gross-movement problems are experienced.

It is also believed that Parkinson's may be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease start very slowly and gradually becomes progressively worse over time.

Parkinson's disease affects over 1.5 million people in the United States. It is more common in men than in women. It occurs in all races, but Caucasians tend to be more prone to developing the disease. Most people develop symptoms of Parkinson's disease around the age of 60 years old, but it can affect a small minority below this age.

Diagnosing Parkinson's Disease

The diagnosis of Parkinson's is based on the analysis of symptoms as well as a full physical and neurological examination to rule out any other conditions that could produce similar symptoms.

There are no specific diagnostic tests that can be performed to diagnose Parkinson's disease. Often, in older patients, the doctor may dismiss symptoms of Parkinson's disease as signs of aging. In younger patients, these symptoms may also be overlooked because they are not normally expected. A neurologist may perform the following tests to meet other criterion for a diagnosis of Parkinson's:

CT scan (computerized tomography)
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

Early signs of Parkinson's disease

Mild tremor in the fingers of one hand
Mumbling speech that is inaudible
An arm that does not swing when you walk
Feeling depressed
Trouble sleeping
Lack of energy
Routine tasks such as eating, showering or shaving may take unusually longer than normal

Later signs of Parkinson's disease

Tremors or shaking in hands, fingers or legs
Slowed motion (bradykinesia) – slow, shuffling walk with an unsteady gait and stooped posture, and legs freezing up
Rigid stiff muscles
Poor balance – posture becomes unstable
Loss of automatic movements – blinking, the swinging of arms while walking, an inability to gesture and even smiling can be diminished
Impaired speech – voice becomes monotonous and soft, and there may be trouble speaking
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Constipation
Urinary problems
Excessive saliva (hypersalivation)
Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
Dementia – affects the ability to think, reason and remember. Dementia only occurs in the later stage of this disease, although there may be memory and concentration problems earlier on

Other Conditions Resembling Parkinson's Disease

There are a number of diseases or conditions that may appear similar to Parkinson's and they include the following:

Vascular pseudo-parkinsonism
Progressive supranuclear palsy
Corticobasal degeneration
Multiple systems atrophy
Essential tremor (ET)
Side effects of certain drugs

What Causes Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's disease is caused by the progressive loss of brain cells (neurons) which release the chemical known as dopamine to a part of the brain (substantia nigra). The dopamine cells are essential for movement, and ensure that your muscles perform smooth, controlled movements. When the neurons become damaged or destroyed, the dopamine-producing cells drop, and signs of Parkinson's disease develop.

Environmental and Genetic Factors

Genetic

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People with a first degree relative (such as a parent, child or sibling) with Parkinson's are more likely to develop the disease. The genetic causes involve abnormalities of a protein called alpha-synuclein that accumulates in degenerating neurons. The other cause is a problem with the systems in the body that dispose of unwanted proteins.

Environmental Factors

Exposure to herbicides and pesticides increases the likelihood of developing Parkinson's Disease.

Medications

A number of drugs taken excessively or for long periods of time can cause the same symptoms as Parkinson's disease. Medications prescribed for certain psychiatric disorders (haloperidol and chlorpromazine), nausea (metoclopramide) or epilepsy (valproate) can also have side effects similar to those of Parkinson's Disease. These drugs do not cause Parkinson's disease itself but can, over time, produce the same symptoms.

Risk Factors for Parkinson's Disease

A genetic predisposition to Parkinson's (strong inheritance pattern)
Increases with age, especially in the middle or later years of life
Men are more likely to develop this disease than women
Exposure to herbicides and pesticides
Living in a rural area or drinking well water
Reduced estrogen levels
Obsessive personality
Severe emotional trauma or stress
Previous head injury

Help for Parkinson's Disease

While there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, there are various treatment options available which can control the symptoms and improve quality of life.

Treatment Options for Parkinson's Disease

Medication

The medication administered to a Parkinson's patient is tailored to his or her specific needs. Finding the most effective combination of medications with the least side effects often involves a period of trial and error. Some patients build up a resistance to their medication, making changes necessary from time to time. Be sure to communicate with your doctor if you have any questions, are experiencing unpleasant side effects or find that your medication becomes less effective.

The following are some of the drugs most commonly used for Parkinson's – depending on the needs of the individual.

Dopamine-enhancing drugs such as levodopa and carbidopa help with walking, movement and tremors. Levodopa and carbidopa are also effective in treating bradykinesia and rigidity.
Dopamine Agonists (adjuncts to levodopa) which enhance the action of the dopamine present
Amantadine (antiviral drug with dopamine properties)
MAO-B Inhibitors (Dopamine is oxidized by the enzyme monoamine oxidase B and MAO-B inhibitors boost the effects of levodopa as they help to slow the breakdown of dopamine)
Anticholinergics (adjuncts to levodopa) can help with symptoms such as excessive salivation and can enhance autonomic activity
COMT (catechol-O-methyl transferase) Inhibitors

Surgery

Surgery is another treatment option to consider when medical treatment becomes ineffective. There are risks involved and it is not guaranteed that the symptoms will improve. Surgical procedures include:

Ablative Surgery

A heated electrode is inserted into the targeted area

Thalamotomy

Thalamotomy involves the destruction of small amounts of tissue in the thalamus

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

In DBS, the targeted area is inactivated, but not destroyed, by an implanted electrode.

Transplantation or Restorative Surgery

In transplantation, or restorative, surgery dopamine-producing cells are implanted into the striatum of the brain.

Pallidotomy

An electric current is used to destroy a small amount of tissue in the pallidum (globus pallidus), a part of the brain responsible for many of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Pallidotomy may improve tremor, rigidity and slowed movement, and can be helpful in countering the involuntary movements caused by drug therapy.

Complementary Treatment Modalities for Parkinson's Disease

Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Massage
Music therapy
Alexander technique
Yoga
Tai Chi
Support Groups
Herbal and Homeopathic remedies

Natural Remedies for Parkinson's Disease

Natural therapies such as herbal and homeopath