Parkinson's Disease

Once known as the “shaking palsy” and widely seen as a disorder of elderly people, Parkinson’s disease is increasingly common in the Western world where we are living longer and longer.  Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 70, but younger people are not immune: in fact one in 20 people with Parkinson’s is under the age of 40 when diagnosed.

The Symptoms vary greatly between individuals and may appear very gradually.  Shaking, or tremor, is a common sign, usually beginning in one hand or arm only to diminish when the affected limb is being used.  This can be an embarrassing symptom, but it is often very slight and usually has little impact on daily life.

Stiffness or rigidity of the muscles is another common symptom.  It means that people with Parkinson’s may have trouble getting up from chairs, or in doing up buttons or generally getting around.  This can be compounded by the third major symptom, slowness of movement (bradykinesia).  This makes it difficult to “get going”, so that walking is an effort; the sufferer may also come to a halt and have difficulty starting again.

Other symptoms are caused by the interaction of these three sets of problems, with the result that people with Parkinson’s may have altered posture, difficulties in balance, speech and writing, as well as an absence of facial expression.  Parkinson’s can also be very tiring and sometimes swallowing is a problem, too.

In practice what all this means is that Parkinson’s can dramatically upset your quality of life, affecting everything you do from getting dressed in the morning to being able to smile at your nearest and dearest.

So what causes this progressive neurological disorder – and what can be done to remedy it? In over 170 years since it was first pinpointed, scientists have not been able to come up with a cause for Parkinson’s, although we do know that it is neither inherited nor contagious.  It begins when –over the course of many years – there has been a loss of cells from the part of the brain which controls movement.  These cells normally produce a chemical messenger known as dopamine, which works with another chemical messenger called acetylcholine to enable us to perform smooth, controlled movements.  Once 80 percent of the dopamine – producing cells in our brains has been destroyed, the symptoms of Parkinson’s become noticeable.

THE ORTHODOX APPROACH 

Conventional treatment involves pharmaceutical drugs as part of a package of treatments which also includes exercise, diet, physiotherapy, speech and occupational therapy.  Drug treatments aim to restore the balance between dopamine and acetylcholine.  This is done by taking medication either to increase our levels of dopamine, or by blocking the action of acetylcholine, or both.

For most people who are diagnosed as having Parkinson’s, drugs can initially be very effective.  However, long-term treatments can cause severe side effects, including confusion, hallucinations, and fluctuations in the ability to perform movements.  So far, no ideal drug has been found, and the search goes on.

THE HALE APPROACH

Any neurological condition such as numbness, tingling, lack of co-ordination, visual problems, etc, should be examined immediately by a physician, who may choose to refer you to a neurological specialist.  Once a firm diagnosis ruling out any emergency situation has been established, then complementary treatments are far more likely to be beneficial than orthodox drugs.  Advances are being made rapidly in both drug and surgical treatment for Parkinson’s and keeping in touch with your specialist and managing any drug regime accurately is important.  Anti-Parkinson’s drugs may not be effective after a few years, and therefore complementary therapies that help to delay the onset of the use of orthodox drugs are most beneficial.

The combination of acupuncture and Marma massage can be very effective in the treatment of Parkinson’s. Alternatively, homeopathy can be used in the early stages in order to delay the onset of symptoms.  Reflexology can play a similar role in delaying the onset of the disease.

MARMA MASSAGE

The ancient techniques of marma massage combined with special exercises can be helpful in relieving the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.  There are many marma points in the neck, and important articulation area of the body, which the therapist massages in order to stimulate blood flow.  The marma points in the legs are also massaged.  The effect is to improve blood flow to the brain, bringing much-needed oxygen to the brain cells.

A further benefit of this treatment is that it stimulates the nerves, sending messages to the brain to “wake up” or adapt further brain cells.

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, between six and 20 sessions of marma massage can reduce shaking and trembling.   More about marma massage...

HOMEOPATHY

Parkinson’s is a “disease of deficiency” according to one homeopath, “and therefore homeopathy can help by stimulating the body to manufacture the deficient substance, dopamine”.

He sees homeopathy as particularly beneficial in the early stages of Parkinson’s, when it can help in delaying the onset of symptoms.  The type of remedy prescribed depends on the type of symptoms, and “by using a homeopathic remedy which matches the normal constitution of the individual we can enhance the patient’s receptivity to drug treatments”. More about homeopathy...

ACUPUNCTURE

According to acupuncturists, Parkinson’s disease arises when the blood supply to the liver is insufficient. Long-standing blood deficiency leads to lack of energy and stagnation of both energy and blood.  The tendons and muscles rely on nourishment by the blood and liver yin in order to move and ensure proper motor control.  If they do not receive this nourishment, the symptoms of Parkinson’s will occur.

The branches and roots of the disease have to be treated simultaneously: new blood should be created to clear wind; energy and blood circulation must be regulated; and kidney yin should be treated to nourish liver blood and calm the mind.  Regular nourishing and a blood-forming diet with some for of exercise are important. More about acupuncture...

SUPPORTIVE TREATMENT

Reflexology

Parkinson’s disease may be helped by reflexology, but it must be a long-term, regular course of treatment.  A member of the patient’s family could be taught to give basic home treatment in between clinic visits.  Reflexology may slow the progression of the disease and ease daily life.

SELF-CARE

Daily exercises which also promote blood to the brain support the massage treatment.  These are simple neck exercises in which you move your head to one side and hold for the count of five before moving it to the other side for a further count of five.  Repeat 10 times.  Once you are familiar with your own marma points, you can continue with gentle self-help massage at home, as well as practicing the neck exercises every day.