Parkinson’s disease treatment
Parkinson’s disease treatment is only palliative and aims to decrease the severity of the discomfort that Parkinson’s patients are experiencing. There is no standard Parkinson’s disease treatment. The strategy and treatment methods for Parkinson’s disease are based on the symptoms of the disease.
Parkinson’s disease treatment includes medications and surgical approaches. Other treatments for Parkinson’s disease include diet, yoga, and lifestyle modifications such as more rest and exercise.
Many medications are available to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, although none yet reverses the development of the disease. People often take different medications – all at different doses and times of the day—to manage their symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
While keeping track of your medications can be difficult, understanding your medications and sticking to a schedule will ensure you get the most benefit from your medications and avoid unpleasant “off” periods due to missed doses.
Prescription Parkinson’s disease medications
Although physicians use general guidelines to choose a Parkinson’s disease treatment regimen, each person with Parkinson’s disease should be evaluated individually to determine which drug or combination of medications is best for them. For some, a “first choice” drug might be one of the levodopa preparations. For others, an initial prescription might be given for one of the agonists, an MAO inhibitor, or an anticholinergic.
The choice of drugs for Parkinson’s disease treatment depends on many variables, including present symptoms, other existing health problems (and the drugs used to treat them), and age. Dosages vary widely depending on a person’s needs and metabolism.
Since a lack of dopamine in the brain is the primary cause of most Parkinson’s disease symptoms, many PD medications work to replace or mimic dopamine temporarily. These types of medications are called dopaminergic medications. They often help to reduce muscle stiffness, improve movement speed and coordination, and decrease tremors.
Remember that medications are only part of your overall treatment plan for Parkinson’s disease. Find out more about the available medications for Parkinson’s disease treatment, but don’t ignore diet, exercise, and complementary therapies.
Warning:
PD medications may interact with certain foods, vitamins, herbal supplements, OTC cold pills, and other medications. If you are taking medicines for Parkinson’s disease treatment, talk to your primary physician and pharmacist about potential drug interactions.
Generic vs. Branded Drugs
Several pharmaceutical companies currently manufacture a generic formulation of carbidopa/levodopa, dopamine agonists, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and anticholinergics. The FDA requires generics to show significant brand affinity before market approval, but in rare cases, this standard is not high enough.
The review, which has the backing of the Parkinson’s Foundation, offers convincing evidence that switching from brand-name medications to generics or from one generic to another can have slightly different effects if you are in the later stages of the disease. The authors, including Parkinson’s National Medical Advisor Dr. Michael S. Okun, believe that generic approval standards for PD may not be stringent enough to demonstrate that generic alternatives are equally effective.
Talk to your family doctor to create a personalized Parkinson’s disease treatment plan. Using generic drugs is likely to save you money, and it is only on rare occasions that you may need branded drugs.
If you switch from branded to generic Parkinson’s disease medications, follow these tips:
- Inform your doctor about the effectiveness of the medicines.
- Carefully keep a journal of any side effects.
- Record the dose adjustments made by your doctors (upper or lower).
- Try to stick with one drug manufacturer for your generic drugs. You may need to ask your pharmacist to place a particular order.
When attempts to adjust drug therapy with a generic drug have failed, ask your doctor to call the insurance company for a brand-name drug. Your appeal letter must include details of the various unwanted side effects of the generic drug.
Physical therapy
Moving around and staying active is essential for people with Parkinson’s Disease from diagnosis to disease progression. Physical therapy’s role in Parkinson’s disease treatment is to help you move as well as possible and for as long as possible while improving your ability to move. Recent research suggests that physical therapy, including gait and balance training, resistance training, and regular exercise, can help improve or keep Parkinson’s symptoms at bay.
A physiotherapist can provide the following:
- Education and self-management advice.
- Exercise programs have been associated with improvements (or slower declines) in mobility, quality of life, and disease severity.
- Answers to your inquiries regarding the type, intensity, frequency, or duration of physical exercises that are most beneficial for you.
- Means of maintaining safety when exercising.
- Help to:
- Normal physical activity routine
- Walking: slowness, small steps, or freezing (feeling stuck to the ground or difficulty starting)
- Balance or stability
- Posture
- Pain
- Getting around the house (getting up from a chair, moving around in bed)
- Getting around (getting in/out of a car or bus, elevators, stairs, and rough terrain)
- Respond to the fear of falling or worrying about your safety.
- Other health problems that affect mobility, including joint or muscle pain due to
- arthritis, endurance problems due to heart or lung disease, fracture, or surgery
Surgical options
Although surgery can be an effective treatment option for a variety of symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), only those symptoms that previously improved with levodopa can improve after surgery. A surgical approach to Parkinson’s disease treatment is intended for patients with PD who have unsuccessfully undergone therapy for Parkinson’s tremors or suffer from deep motor dyskinesias.
Currently, two surgical treatments are available for people living with PD – deep brain stimulation (DBS) or surgery to insert a tube into the small intestine that provides a carbidopa/levodopa gel formulation (Duopa ™).
Benefits and Risks of Clinical Trials
Joining clinical trials can be a fulfilling experience. While determining whether or not to join in a clinical trial, take into consideration the following benefits:
- You have access to leading healthcare professionals, innovative new treatments, and high standards of care.
- Participating in a clinical trial can improve your knowledge and understanding of your disease.
- People who participate in clinical trials contribute to the science they and others can benefit from. The drugs you take are only available because people have previously volunteered in clinical trials.
- While every effort is made to ensure that clinical trials are as safe as possible, clinical trials that test new therapies are experiments that may involve risks.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
It’s a nervous system disorder that affects your movement. Parkinson’s disease tends to worsen gradually over time.
Symptoms develop gradually, at times beginning with a barely noticeable tremor in one hand. Tremors, slow movement, and stiffness are typical of this condition.
If you have Parkinson’s disease, your face will show no or little expression during the initial stage. Additionally, your arms may not swing while walking, and you’ll experience slurred speech. It’s a progressive disorder, and the symptoms worsen over time.
As of now, there’s no cure for Parkinson’s. However, treatment can significantly minimize the symptoms. For a more holistic approach, natural treatment for Parkinson’s can be a viable alternative.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
Symptoms vary from person to person. Initially, the symptoms can be mild, and you may not notice them. Generally, symptoms begin at one side of your body, and that side remains the most affected even after symptoms appear on both sides.
Symptoms can include:
- The most common symptom is a tremor that generally starts in your limbs, and your hand may also experience tremors at rest.
- Your movement will also slow down gradually, making routine tasks challenging. Your steps may become shorter while walking, or you may find getting out of a chair difficult.
- Muscle stiffness can also occur in any part of the body. It can often be painful and curtail one’s range of motion.
- Balance problems and impaired posture can also result from Parkinson’s.
- After a while, even unconscious movements like swinging your arms, smiling, and blinking can see a reduction.
- Slurred speech is also a common symptom. You may also speak swiftly, softly, or hesitate before talking.
You may experience some or all of these symptoms. Alternative and natural treatments for Parkinson’s can help reduce these symptoms.
What are the causes of Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a continuing, non-curable, chronic, progressive neurological illness that affects about 1 million Americans. Parkinson’s disease affects a small, dark-grey-colored area in the brain called the substantia nigra. The substantia nigra produces dopamine, which the brain uses for its functionality. Dopamine is a natural chemical transmitter that spreads messages among the nerves that regulate muscle movement and those in the brain’s pleasure and reward centers. As we age, it is normal for cells in the substantia nigra to die. This process occurs very slowly for most people.
However, in some people, the loss of dopamine happens quickly, creating the onset of Parkinson’s disease. When 50 to 60 percent of the substantial nigra cells are gone, a person starts experiencing the initial symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Thus, a deficit of dopamine is one of the causes of Parkinson’s disease.
Natural And Alternative Treatment For Parkinson
Natural treatment for Parkinson’s disease is effective and safe. Parkinson’s disease is uncommon, but people with this condition can face many challenges and discomfort. There is no single protocol for Parkinson’s disease treatment, but medications and drugs can help reduce the symptoms. However, these often have adverse effects. As a result, many people are turning towards a natural treatment for Parkinson’s.
Alternative treatment for Parkinson’s offers safe and effective remedies without side effects. Particularly for people who see no positive results from conventional methods, natural remedies for Parkinson’s can prove to be helpful.
If you want a safe but natural treatment for Parkinson’s, several options exist. The natural remedies for Parkinson’s disease mentioned below can be helpful.
Acupuncture – #1 Natural treatment for Parkinson
Acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease has been scientifically proven to reduce the symptoms. Clinical studies show acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease helps deal with symptoms of abnormal sweating, hot flashes, depression, anxiety, and pain. Patients show positive results after just two weeks of treatment. By placing very thin needles in particular points of your body, acupuncture can provide positive results for Parkinson’s patients.
Additionally, acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease has no or minimal side effects, making it a viable natural Parkinson’s disease treatment for all ages. Research also shows that in combination with conventional Parkinson’s medication, the results can be even more outstanding. In conjunction with the widely used levodopa, studies show that acupuncture can increase effectiveness.
If you want to undergo an alternative treatment for Parkinson’s, acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease can be very beneficial.
Chinese herbs for Parkinson’s disease
If you’re suffering from Parkinson’s disease and aren’t seeing results from the conventional method, Chinese herbs can be helpful. Chinese herbs have various natural remedies for Parkinson’s disease, and you might have to experiment with a few before finding a remedy.
In a clinical study of 115 Parkinson’s patients, participants were provided with a combination of various Chinese herbs for Parkinson’s disease, including gou teng, for 13 weeks. Results show that participants who took Chinese herbs for Parkinson’s disease slept better and experienced more fluency while speaking than those who didn’t.
Chinese herbs for Parkinson’s disease can be very beneficial without adverse effects. Some studies show that they can even improve the results of conventional medications. However, herbs do tend to counteract some medicines, so if you want to use this Natural treatment for Parkinson‘s disease, make sure to consult your doctor.
Homeopathic treatment for Parkinson’s disease
For a holistic approach to your condition, homeopathic treatment for Parkinson’s disease can provide an effective and safe remedy. The entire homeopathic treatment can be personalized, making it possible to get to the core of your problem and find an adequate remedy. Homeopathy has various natural remedies for Parkinson’s disease for many symptoms.
Some of the homeopathic remedies used to treat Parkinson’s symptoms are:
- Zincum metallicum: For depression and anxiety
- Mercurius Vivus: If you’re suffering from Parkinson’s, which worsens at night, along with panic attacks, this homeopathic remedy can be helpful.
- Cuprum: This homeopathic remedy is effective for easing muscle cramps
- Causticum: For the symptoms of restless legs
- Argentum Nitricum: If you have Parkinson’s and symptoms of awkwardness, trembling, and ataxia, this homeopathic remedy can be helpful.
Homeopathy, as a natural Parkinson’s disease treatment, has few side effects.
Fish Oil – #1 on the list of natural remedies for Parkinson’s disease
Fish oil is a natural Parkinson’s disease treatment rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can benefit people with Parkinson’s. Depression is a typical symptom of Parkinson’s, and fish oil can provide practical anti-depressant effects. For people dealing with depression from Parkinson’s, fish oil provides a natural and effective way of dealing with it. Additionally, it has various health benefits.
Conclusion
For effective natural Parkinson’s disease treatment, you must seek treatment as soon as the disease is diagnosed, or the condition will only worsen, making treatment very challenging. Sadly, there’s no cure for Parkinson’s, and finding the most effective treatment can be very difficult. There’s no single treatment, so you’ll have to experiment with a few before finding the right one.
Luckily, all alternative treatments reside under one roof at the Philadelphia Holistic Clinic, and you shouldn’t go from one place to another. Dr. Tsan will assign you to a licensed provider who will work with you and oversee your treatment plan after the initial evaluation at the clinic.
If you prefer a holistic and natural approach to treating your medical condition, the natural remedies for Parkinson’s disease mentioned above can provide excellent results without adverse effects. They are also significantly more affordable than conventional methods.
Contact Philadelphia Holistic Clinic at (267) 403-3085 or use the widget below to schedule an initial comprehensive evaluation appointment.