What Supplements Should You Take For Parkinson’s?
Amit asks:
Do you know of any good supplements to take for someone with Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s is a degenerative condition that inhibits your brain from producing dopamine, which results in impaired motor function, tremors, and facial contortions. Michael J. Fox is the most famous patient with the disease but it happens disproportionately among the elderly.
Right now it has no cure, only different ways to slow it down. It and alzheimer’s often go hand in hand. As much as 80% of Parkinson’s patients eventually develop dementia. They share a lot of the same underlying causes which include:
- Inflammation. This is a big one. It’s the physiological undercurrent among most neurological disorders.
- Broken mitochondria. This is likely due to an unbalanced redox state that causes an excessive amount of circulating free radicals.
- Excessive toxin buildup. Probably a side effect of the first two reasons listed. Parkinson’s patients have abnormally high levels of circulating heavy metals and very low levels of glutathione. [footnote]Glutathione is your body’s most potent antioxidant and is involved in most of your body’s detox reactions.[/footnote]
Supplementing to alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease should be targeted at these root causes.
[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:3]
Let’s take a look at why these make sense.
If You Have Parkinson’s Disease, Your Brain Eats Itself
Inflammation is an underlying cause of many neurological disorders. Vin Cutty eloquently explains why. Excess inflammation causes your body to stop recognizing its own tissues and start attacking itself. Parkinson’s happens when your body pre-emptively destroys dopamine producing cells in its substantia negra. This is not normal.
The primary dietary element that controls your level of inflammation is your ratio of omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids. Ideally it should be around 1:1. Joe Sixpack has a ratio of about 10:1. People with neurological disorders have ratios as high as 30:1.
The omega-6 fatty acid known as arachidonic acid is primarily responsible for allowing your body to produce inflammatory compounds. The omega-3 fatty acid known as eicosapentaenoic acid opposes the function of arachidonic acid in the body. Not surprisingly, high dosing of EPA has caused substantial improvements in Parkinson’s symptoms in clinical trials.
The brains of Parkinson’s patients have unusually high levels of an enzyme called Cox-2. Cox-2 is an enzyme that promotes inflammation in all tissues, and has a special affinity for dopamine producing neurons that might allow the disease to accelerate if left unchecked.
And……surprise…….your body makes this enzyme from arachidonic acid.
When it comes to a supplement, remember that it’s EPA that’s primarily responsible for opposing arachidonic acid (and hence inflammation) within the body. An appropriate omega-3 supplement would emphasize purified EPA in its ingredients, which is why I recommended OmegaVia’s EPA 500. [footnote]The other major types of omega-3 fatty acids are ALA, which is commonly found in plant foods like walnuts and flax, and DHA. EPA is primarily used to reduce inflammation. DHA is primarily used to provide structure to membrane and support various organs like your eyes. Your body can convert ALA to EPA and DHA but not very efficient. Read more about that here.[/footnote]
Vitamin D is also important for keeping inflammation at bay, and directly works to inhibit Cox-2 within the body. The best way to get Vitamin D is by walking outside because your body makes it from sunlight. 15 minutes will do. The more skin you show the more you absorb. If you supplement, it’s best to take Vitamin D with vitamins A, E and K. That’s why the product I linked to combines the most available forms of A, D, and K (as MK-7). You can take Vitamin D by itself, but it’s probably best to do so with a meal.
How and Why To Get Rid of Toxic Metals
Parkinson’s patients have abnormally high levels of circulating heavy metals and abnormally low levels of glutathione. That’s not a coincidence. Glutathione is your body’s most potent antioxidant and it’s largely responsible for chelating these compounds and taking them out of the body. Your body’s levels of reduced glutathione is a good proxy for its overall levels of oxidative stress.
It would be great if there was a reliable supplement to increase glutathione levels, but there isn’t. If you take it orally it’s typically excreted out of your kidneys within 30 minutes. Garbage in, garbage out.
There was once a supplement called Ultrathione that had clinical studies showing its form of glutathione was absorbed by the body. Then they got shutdown by the FDA. Whoops.
However, there are additional ways to improve your body’s redox state, even though none of them are slam dunks.
CoQ10
CoQ10 was the first supplement used in the naturopathic community because it targets the mitochondrial processes that stop working in Parkinson’s patients.
Since then there’s been an on-again off-again consensus about whether or not it does any good. There are some clinical studies that show dosing with about 1000-1500 mg of CoQ10 helps reduce Parkinson’s symptoms. There are others that suggest it does no good.
My own opinion is that CoQ10 probably treats symptoms of mitochondrial dysfunction and not its root causes which is why its effectiveness is so unpredictable. It’s not the best way to grab the bull by the horns. 1000mg of CoQ10 is also pretty pricey.
However, CoQ10 is well tolerated by the body. I have not read a study using high doses of CoQ10 that produced negative side effects and there’s a decent rationale for its use as a natural remedy so there is no harm in including it. [footnote]Keep in mind this is primarily my opinion. Use with caution![/footnote]
If you decide to use CoQ10 it’s best to take it as ubiquinol. This is the reduced form of CoQ10 that acts as an antioxidant within the body and is most readily absorbed. Kaneka is the most popular proprietary form of CoQ10 that has studies done on its effectiveness.
Curcumin
Curcumin is the biologically active compound found in turmeric, and is the reason people who eat lots of curry tend to live a long time. It protects against a wide variety of diseases by being a natural anti-inflammatory and improving your body’s detox machinery.
This allows it to improve your body’s ability to remove toxins. It also has shown signs of life when it comes to protecting the body against neurological self-destruction.
The problem with curcumin is that it’s not well absorbed by the body. It has to go through the liver to get turned into tetra-hydro-curcumin before it can be used for other things. It’s a good idea to use a curcumin supplement that delivers curcumin in this form. Sabinsa has developed a form of curcumin that does this. I know Innovix Labs uses it in its curcumin complex. There might be others.
Creatine
Your body transforms a molecule called ATP to produce energy. It needs creatine to do this. People with neurological disorders often have increased needs for creatine, either due to an inability to produce enough of it on their own or dysfunctional mitochondria (where ATP transformation takes place).
Additional creatine can help slow down your brain’s degradation if it’s poisoned with toxins that produce Parkinson’s like symptoms. However, in clinical trials done with humans no effect has been observed for positive or negative benefit for patients with Parkinson’s disease.
This puts creatine firmly in the “there’s a decent rationale for using it, no proven effect, doesn’t cause any harm” category of supplements. Much like CoQ10.
Dopamine: Faster Than A Speeding Mind Bullet
Reduced production of dopamine is probably a side-effect and not a cause of Parkinson’s. It’s the inflammation and reduced anti-oxidant capacity of your mitochondria which causes your brain to eat itself, resulting in less dopamine. Not the other way around.
However, giving your body more substrate to produce dopamine may help reduce the progression of the disease.
Dopamine is made from the amino acid phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is then turned into l-tyrosine, which gets turned into dopamine. [footnote]For the nerds among you, it happens via the following pathway:
L-tyrosine + THFA + O2 + Fe2+ >>> L-dopa + DHFA + H2O + Fe2+;
followed by:
L-dopa + pyridoxal phosphate >>> dopamine + pyridoxal phosphate + CO2
[/footnote]
It’s better to take L-tyrosine because it’s more selective for your brain. The process your body uses to make dopamine requires iron, zinc, and the B vitamins B6, B3, and folate. Read my post about B vitamins on how to take those effectively.
What about diet, exercise, and all that stuff?
My comparative advantage is supplements, so that’s what I choose to yap about. And the basic advice about eating well and exercising regularly applies as always.
I use the TMSNOGTFO method for writing blog posts: Tell Me Something New or Get the F*** Out. I don’t need to tell you to eat more spinach.
That said, here are a few additional tips to keep in mind:
1). Lower your protein intake. High protein meals interfere with phenylalanine uptake by the brain to make dopamine. Best to stay under 50g/day and eat a low protein meal when you take phenylalanine.
2). Eat lots of fava beans. They contain a dopamine intermediary called L-Dopa which your brain turns into dopamine.
3). Run, don’t walk. Weight lifting and high intensity exercise is good for increasing your mitochondrial output and might help improve certain symptoms.
Health Kismet Blog 
For those suffering with Parkinson’s, Vascepa the least expensive source of high grade EPA . Vascepa is produced under strict FDA guidelines and contains 96% pure EPA . Using the company’s coupon means Vascepa costs only $9 a month out of pocket. Since the drug is approved to treat very high triglycerides, its use to treat Parkinson’s is considered off-label and will require the physician to write a note to the insurance company referencing the bioactivity of Vascepa and explaining why the Parkinson’s patient needs Vascepa. I’m sure physicians treating patients with Parkinson’s would be willing to perform this service.
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Frank,
What’s the difference between Vascepa and a concentrated EPA supplement that you can buy over the counter like OmegaVia? According to its label it’s 100% EPA. Understanding the difference would be edifying, thank you.
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My brother is 73 and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s about 3 years ago. He deals with a lot of anxiety, so much so that he doesn’t want to go out, doesn’t want to be with people. My sister-in-law has to beg him to be with family. I feel that supplements are so important, but he depends only on the drug levodopa / carbodopa, his meds for the a-fib, and anti depression medicine. My concern is that besides the Parkinson’s he also has a-fib..which limits him in taking supplements. He needs to see an alternative doctor, a doctor who practices both East/West medicine. Any Recommendations on how I cd find a good alternative doctor in Queens?
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Hi,what dosage for l tyrosine thanks
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I take Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey Protein Powder its 18.00 or so. It has helped me and a friend. I take 1 serving a day. You can get BCAA’s and take but this was cheaper and it works 900mg tyrosine. But you should take some other things with it to help make dopamine.
I’m new at all of this but the Whey protein powder was helping but I didn’t know why until later.
Do a lot of reading and ask your doctor too. I don’t believe in taking loads of vitamins either.
Read about stress and tyrosine, stress takes up your tyrosine so you make less dopamine.
http://www.marsvenus.com/blog/john-gray/how-i-reversed-my-parkinsons-disease-symptoms
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Hi, does l-tyrosine require low protein to be absorbed? Thanks
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(PARKINSON’S DISEASE CURED)
I am a 77-year-old lady. My Parkinson’s disease appeared at the age of 74, with no hope of a cure from the hospital i looked further for an alternative treatments, a friend of mine told me about NewLife Herbal Clinic in Johannesburg South Africa who sell herbal treatments for diseases including parkinson’s disease, I contacted the herbal clinic via their website and purchased the parkinson’s herbal remedy. I received the herbal remedy through Fastlink couriers within 8 days and i immediately commenced usage as prescribed, i used the herbal remedy for about a month and 1 week, my condition has greatly improved, all my symptoms including tremor in both hands, shaking, rigid muscle dissapeared, I am PD free! contact NewLife Herbal Clinic via their email newlifeherbalclinic(at)gmail(dot)com. PD is not a death sentence, there is a cure! (Please write email in right format)
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hi i tried to source these products .but when i paid i was asked for xtra funds, for delivery ,which was not mentioned up front,when i tried to pay the xtra funds the bank advised me that it was a fraudulant acc, can you shed a light on this matter.
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i cant seem to find them
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contact Healtth herbal clinic on healthherbalclinic(AT)gmail(DOT)com or website on www(DOT)healthherbalclinic(DOT)weebly(DOT)com
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I decided to share this to help someone out there who is still held with Parkinson’s.
My dad suffered from parkinson’s for 18 years and we traveled round the world from one hospital to another neurologist and spent thousands of dollars and even got scammed in this process of seeking a cure and the problem still persisted. He acted weird and aggressive and this was so scary. All thanks to Health Herbal Clinic who was able to use there herbal medicine to cure him permanently. He is one of the Honest men out there. If you want to contact them on how to get this herbal medicine or for info just reach them directly on healthherbalclinic(at)gmail(dot)com or website on www(dot)healthherbalclinic(dot)weebly(dot)com Thanks admin.
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(Must read)
I am 64 years of age and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 3 years ago. I experienced shakiness and general reduction of control and tremor on my left hand. I took pramipexole dihydrochloride three times daily for 7 months. In 2016 I started on a herbal formula i purchased from NewLife Herbal Clinic, i read alot of positive reviews about their successful Parkinson’s disease herbal treatment. Merely 3 weeks of the PD herbal formula usage my left hand tremor seized followed by other symptoms, i used the Parkinsons disease herbal formula for 8 weeks all my symptoms were reversed. (visit www. newlifeherbalclinic. weebly. com or email newlifeherbalclinic@ gmail. com). Final breakthrough for all suffering from Parkinsons disease… Coleman Sanchez
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Hello, i have read your post, can you confirm that what you say about NewLifeHerbalClinic product is true?
I am trying to purchase this product but i have found lots of difficulties with The Customs here in Italy and it is costing me nearly 2.000 euros to get it, indeed i had to pay for excise taxes and permissions. Please give me your detailed personal informations to prove that this is not a fake news. Please email me!!
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PARKINSONS DISEASE
My husband was diagnosed of Parkinsons disease 7 years ago, when he was 49. He had a stooped posture, tremors, right arm does not move and also a pulsating feeling in his body. He was placed on Senemet for 8 months and then Siferol was introduced and replaced the Senemet, during this time span he was also diagnosed with dementia. He started having hallucinations, lost touch with reality. Suspecting it was the medication I took him off the Siferol (with the doctor’s knowledge) and started him on PD natural herbal formula we ordered from NEWLIFE HERBAL CLINIC, his symptoms totally declined over a 3 weeks use of the Newlife Parkinsons disease natural herbal formula. He is now almost 57 and doing very well, the disease is totally reversed! (Visit their website www . newlifeherbalclinic . com)
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My grandma had Parkinson’s disease, she is about 80 years old it was detected 7 years ago. Right now it’s getting more difficult to live for her, because of stiff muscles she can’t even move. L-dopa and carbidopa medicines are given, but won”t give much relief. She can”t eat food and the skin is damaging forming ganglia. This is may be the last stage of disease.. nothing was really working to help her condition. Finally she started on parkinson’s herbal formula i purchased from Health Herbal Clinic, i read alot of positive reviews from other patients who used the parkinson’s herbal treatment. she used the herbal remedy for 7 weeks, its effects on parkinson’s is amazing, all her symptoms gradually faded away, she feed very more freely by herself now! (Visit www. healthherbalclinic. weebly. com) I recommend this parkinson’s herbal formula for all Parkinson’s Patients.
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PARKINSONS DISEASE
My husband was diagnosed of Parkinsons disease nearly 7 years ago, when he was 49. He had a stooped posture, tremors, right arm does not move and also a pulsating feeling in his body. He was placed on Senemet for 8 months and then Siferol was introduced and replaced the Senemet, during this time span he was also diagnosed with dementia. He started having hallucinations, lost touch with reality. Suspecting it was the medication I took him off the Siferol (with the doctor’s knowledge) and started him on PD natural herbal formula we ordered from NEWLIFE HERBAL CLINIC, his symptoms totally declined over a 3-4 weeks use of the Newlife Parkinsons disease natural herbal formula. He is now almost 57 and doing very well, the disease is totally reversed! (Visit their website www . newlifeherbalclinic . com)PARKINSONS DISEASE
My husband was diagnosed of Parkinsons disease nearly 7 years ago, when he was 49. He had a stooped posture, tremors, right arm does not move and also a pulsating feeling in his body. He was placed on Senemet for 8 months and then Siferol was introduced and replaced the Senemet, during this time span he was also diagnosed with dementia. He started having hallucinations, lost touch with reality. Suspecting it was the medication I took him off the Siferol (with the doctor’s knowledge) and started him on PD natural herbal formula we ordered from NEWLIFE HERBAL CLINIC, his symptoms totally declined over a 3-4 weeks use of the Newlife Parkinsons disease natural herbal formula. He is now almost 57 and doing very well, the disease is totally reversed! (Visit their website www . newlifeherbalclinic . com)
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how long the took for the remedies to arrive? to the USA?
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I am 63 years old, I was diagnosed of Parkinsons disease at the age of 57. I had severe calf pain, muscle pain, slurred speech, frequent falls, loss of balance, difficulty getting up from sitting position. I was placed on Sinemet 3 times daily, it helped me but not very much. My neurologist advised me to try natural treatments and introduced me to NewLife Clinic Parkinsons Disease Herbal formula, I read alot of positive reviews from other patients who used the treatment and i immediately started on the treatment. I had great improvement and relief with this treatment, total decline of symptoms. Great improvement with speech, co-ordination, balance, muscle, mood etc, I gained back my life with this treatment and can never be thankful enough. Visit NewLife Clinic official website ww w. newlifeherbalclinic. com
My life is back!
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Do you have practitioners in the UK who have advised on herbal remedies?
Thank you.
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Thanks for this fantastic resource! Small correction. There actually is a wonderful supplement that’s the only trademarked, patented nutraceutical in the Physician’s Desk Reference and Canadian Compendium…it is PROVEN to raise glutathione more effectively than anything else known. Immunocal. No other imitator compares or has the science. Undenatured milk whey protein isolate w/ double bonded cysteine. Alive product. The double bonded cysteine allows acceptance across cell membrane and generation of glutathione. Taking glutathione itself does very little. Gets broken down in GI tract. Immunocal by Immunotec Research has 48 research publications. http://www.immunotec.com/IRL/Public/en/CAN/d2012_science_published.wcp?&site=tatum Developed in Canada at McGill University by Dr. Gustavo Bounous. It has had patents for treating HIV and cancer since the 90’s. Dr. Luc Montagnier (sp?) the Nobel laureate and Co-founder of HIV has been recommending it for years and dedicated a whole chapter in his book to it. Immunotec had a marketing contract deal w/ a big pharma co in the mid 90’s…they were to market to Drs. They apparently realized patients would get off too many drugs and it would affect their biz of drugs so they shelved it and broke contract. Immunotec took it back and went the independent distributor route to get it to people. But there are no drug reps. Sad thing is most Drs don’t know it’s in their book (PDR) or Pharmacist’s Red Book and many people’s lives could be saved but Drs ignorant. And many not interested bc not a drug! Our family friends doc was baffled at his amazing turnaround…then not interested in even knowing about Immunocal…that’s in the book on his desk! My uncle and a family friend both become asymptomatic of Polycythemia when full blown and Drs only solution was take red blood cells, give saline, and wait for it to turn into leukemia. A close friend and big realtor in our area has gotten more of a life back and can work again and even pull some long days since taking 2-3 packs Immunocal Platinum. Really should be on 3-4. Stanford gives him med, he felt horrible, and they gave him no hope of improvement. His blood pressure also went down 20 pts. Was high. Helps arterial flexibility. Glutathione high in fastest healing organs…liver and lenses of eyes.
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Logan Caleb
I am a 66-years-old man. My Parkinson’s disease appeared at the age of 37. My symptoms, at the beginning, were fine tremors and rigidity with joint stiffness. I was taking entacapone with levodopa, carbidopa, and pramipexole. My Parkinson’s disease is mostly under control but not cured,After using Parkinson’s disease herbal formula my daughter purchased online from Good Health Herbs Home,my parkinson’s diseases disappeared,Am living Parkinson’s disease free for 6 months now,no more tremors and rigidity with joint stiffness,all thanks to Good Health Herbs Home.
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I have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease even though I don’t have the DaTscan until may 22. I was being tested for multiple sclerosis and have been displaying symptoms for around 3 years, shaking, twitching, rigidity, neck pain and anxiety. I am a 61 year old female.
I started falling a lot when losing my balance and had a hard time walking normal,for the past few years my life hasn’t remain the same,i almost spent all my money on medical treatment not until i found totalcureherbalfoundation gmail. com online who helped me get rid of this disease,i then started using a Total cure herbal foundation herbal remedies.i start to use their herbal formula which was the best i ever had,i used this herbal remedies for weeks and i can proudly say i fully cure of Parkinson (PD) disease.
totalcureherbalfoundation gmail .com
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In April last year, i started on natural parkinsons disease herbal treatments from RICH HERBS FOUNDATION, i am happy to report this PD herbal treatment worked very effectively. My parkinson is totally under control, i had a total decline in symptoms, the tremors, shaking, stiffness, congnition and speech problems stopped. Visit rich herbs foundation official web page ww w.richherbsfoundation .com. My family are amazed at the change and rapid improvement.
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Final breakthrough for all suffering from Parkinson’s disease…My father is 73 and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s about 2 years ago. He deals with a lot of anxiety, so much so that he doesn’t want to go out, doesn’t want to be with people. My brother has to beg him to be with family. I feel that natural supplements are so important, but he depends only on the drug levodopa, his meds for the a-fib, and anti depression medicine. Last three months my brother working in India purchased PD herbal remedy from Best Health Herbal Centre. My father only used the PD herbal remedy for 6 weeks without levodopa and all his symptoms was completely reversed. My father is now happily living Parkinson’s diseases free now ….I recommend this Parkinson’s herbal remedy for all Parkinson’s Patients. Visit besthealthherbalcentre. co m for more detail…Thanks…
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I am a 49-year-old man. My Parkinson’s disease appeared at the age of 47. My symptoms, at the beginning, were fine tremors and rigidity with joint stiffness. My neurologist prescribed entacapone with levodopa, carbidopa, and pramipexole. I opted not to go on prescription medicines but decided on using herbs instead, October 18, 2017 after being on the herbs you recommended, i had a total recovery from Parkinson’s disease with this natural herbal formula treatment. The tremors, Shaking, Joint Stiffness has subsided. When I stumbled upon you guys, it was just pure instinct. And from that day on it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. The caring that goes into explaining what herbs work for whatever ails me is astounding. In today’s world where so many are after a quick buck, selling without care, The Herbal Garden’s staffs amplifies the difference. I’m a believer in karma, and for generations to come, this is a herbal store that will be leaving it’s footprint in this world.
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i was so lucky to receive a herbal products from my step father who bought it while coming from South Africa for Rugby league,this herbal remedies saved me and husband from this disease,at first it helps fight the symptoms of diseases and i was seeing good outcome,we had to use it for 13 weeks just as they Dr was prescribed and we are totally cure of PD & COPD,email them now Totalcureherbalfoundation gmailcom do not hesitate to purchase from them they deliver across worldwide.
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I was diagnosed 3 years ago at age 56. Symptoms were tremor in right leg, loss of handwriting ability, and soft voice. I also have difficulty rising from a seated position and have balance issues. I started out taking only Azilect, then Mirapex, and 6 months ago Sinemet. Several months ago I started falling frequently, hence the reason for Sinemet. I tried every shots available but nothing worked. In June 2018, my neurologist and I decided to go with natural treatment and was introduced to Dr Fabien herbal medicine, Kunime anti Parkinson’s herbal medicine. I explain to him, I wanted to know more about him before I go ahead with the herbs. I was extra cautious about anything like this. I had a few doubts in my mind, he explaind to me how the herbal medicine works to cure Parkinson’s disease. I discussed with my husband, he permitted me to try it. I made an order for the herbal medicine. I started using the medicine, I noticed tremendous changes, I had a total decline of symptoms with this treatment, the Tremor, falling frequently, stiffness, body weakness, balance issues, depression and others has subsided. After 5/6 months of using the Herbal medication, I was totally free from Parkinson’s disease. I’ve really learned to appreciate life now. Having this disease has taught me patience and not to take the little things such as being able to talk or to smile for granted. This treatment is a breakthrough for all suffering from Parkinson’s, don’t give up Hope. Kunime herbs are truly gift from God. No more people have to be diagnosed and burdened with this disease. I can tell you in all truth that his herbal medicine works. I have been reaching out to people with Parkinson’s disease telling them my story how they can get free through Kunime herbal medicine that worked for me. Dr. Fabien is exceptional, real and understanding. I will recommend him to anyone. http://Www.kunimeherbs.com
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