Natural Treatments for the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease is a neurological disorder that affects thousands of people across the United States. This disease causes the “Substantia Nigra” part of the brain to atrophy. As this happens, the brain produces less dopamine. This basically results in hand tremors, shaking, slowed, uncontrolled movements, loss of balance, and a mild loss of mental abilities. While there is no known cure for this degenerative disease, there are natural treatments for the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.

Note: Any person who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease should be under the constant care of a healthcare professional. Before you try using any of these natural symptoms for the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, you should consult with your healthcare professional first.

Since dopamine is a chemical in the brain that produces positive feelings, some natural treatments that are used for Depression can also help people who suffer from Parkinson’s Disease. St. John’s Wort, for example, is an herb that has been used in Germany for years. This herb contains Hypericin. Hypericin has been proven to successfully treat depression and insomnia.

To help relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, St. John’s Wort can be drank as a tea, used as a tincture, or taken in capsule form. To know what the proper dosage is for you, consult your healthcare professional.

Another natural treatment for this degenerative disease is Antioxidants. Antioxidants have shown to hinder the progression of Parkinson’s Disease. They are the Vitamins C, E, Selenium and Carotenoids. These can be found in high amounts in foods such as beans, tomatoes, spinach, Russet potatoes, carrots, pecans, artichokes, cranberries, red grapes, blueberries and broccoli. You may also choose to take high doses of antioxidants in capsule or pill form.

Two specific legumes, Fava beans and Velvet beans, can be especially helpful as natural treatments for the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Both beans contain a chemical called, “L-dopa”. L-dopa (Levodopa) helps increase the levels of Dopamin that’s in a person’s brain. This was backed up by research in the 1950’s. A Swiss scientist named Arvid Carlsson won a Nobel Prize for his work with Levodopa. He gave animals that showed the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
doses of Levodopa. The chemical actually helped reduce the symptoms.

Believe-it-or-not, drinking coffee and tea can also help add valuable antioxidants to your body. According to a study, coffee is higher in antioxidants than any food you can eat.

Gingko Biloba is reportedly the most sought-after herb in the world. It’s also an antioxidant. Although it provides a number of benefits to the human body, it affects the circulation system the best. Gingko Biloba increases the supply of blood and oxygen that enters into a person’s brain. This can help relieve one of the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, which is the mild loss of mental abilities.

Passion Flower is another natural treatment for the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Originally, this herb was used as a sedative, and as a treatment for insomnia. Since then, it has been found that its harmaline alkaloids can help
treat depression by raising the dopamine level in the brain.