Parkinson’s disease affects everyone differently, meaning not all sufferers will experience the condition in the same way. There are similarities between each case however in that it will nearly always result in difficulty carrying out certain everyday tasks. Parkinson’s is what’s known as a degenerative illness and affects the nervous system. Eventually, it results in the loss of intentional movement and can cause impaired motor functioning which makes the movement of any kind difficult. There are, however, a number of habits and home remedies for Parkinson’s symptoms that can make the disease more manageable. Some of the home remedies in this article can even help to prevent Parkinson’s disease from forming.

Home Remedies for Parkinson’s Symptoms and Preventative Tips

1. Regular Exercise

If you suffer from Parkinson’s getting regular exercise that forces you to stretch and move your body can help to give you better flexibility, improved balance and coordination, reduced anxiety and depression, and stronger muscles.

The physical activities you can take part in will depend on how the condition affects you. You may find it useful to chat to your doctor about which exercises will work for you. To get yourself started you could try walking, swimming or other water sports, gentle stretching or yoga, dancing, or even tai chi.

 

2. Sleep Well

Sometimes, Parkinson’s can stop you getting the sleep you need and not getting enough sleep can make your symptoms worse, creating a vicious cycle. So, it’s important to practice a positive sleep routine or ‘good sleep hygiene’. Both these terms refer to having a positive routine or pattern which you stick to in order to improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep. Make sure you create a relaxing bedtime routine which you can follow every night. This may include doing any or all of the following:

• Staying away from caffeine in the hours before bed
• Waking and settling down at the same times each day
• Only go to bed when you’re going to sleep – don’t sit in it to watch TV or read
• Avoid backlit screens before bed
• Try to limit any naps to just forty minutes

3. A Lower-Protein Diet

A diet which is low in proteins might help your Parkinson’s medication work better. This could mean your symptoms will become easier to manage. For example, protein-heavy diets could reduce your body’s ability to absorb a particular compound used in common Parkinson’s medication. Some doctors recommend limiting your protein intake to just twelve percent of their total daily diet.  You could also try taking your medication on an empty stomach just before eating as this could help your body absorb the drug.

Some key foods to avoid include the following:

• Cured meats or fish
• Aged/blue cheeses
• Fermented cabbage
• Red wine
• Beer
• Soy

Instead of these heavy proteins, you should try to include more vegetables in your diet. This could help protect your nerve cell function and keep your symptoms at bay.  

4. Gait Training

Gait training is often recommended to Parkinson’s sufferers as it can help to improve their balance. The training involves trying new ways of walking, standing and turning. The exercises are usually simple enough that you can try them at home – although if you’re unsteady on your feet, make sure you have someone with you. For example, you could try some of the suggestions below.

• Taking larger steps when walking in a straight line
• Keeping your legs at least ten inches apart when turning or walking (this will provide more support)
• Avoid shoes with rubber soles (these could stick to the floor and make walking difficult)
• Stick to a steady rhythm when walking

 

5. Raw Foods

Raw fruits and vegetables will often retain their nutrients better than they will when cooked. They’re also good sources of antioxidants which can reduce inflammation and free-radical damage, preserving your nerve health.

 

6. Healthy Fats

Consuming healthy fats, like omega-3, can help to promote good neurological health and help prevent worsening moods – a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease. Try to include more foods like avocado, wild-caught fish, nuts, or coconut oil to get more of these healthy fats in your diet.

 

7. Cold-Pressed Oils

Cold-pressed oils, like olive oil, can be used as salad dressings to increase your intake of vitamin E, a beneficial antioxidant. Coconut oil is also beneficial for those suffering from Parkinson’s as it has anti-inflammatory effects to take down any swelling or inflammation in your nerves that could be worsening your symptoms.

8. Fresh Vegetable Juices

Fresh juices are another helpful home remedy for Parkinson’s disease. They provide essential vitamins and minerals to promote better general health. It’s also helpful for reducing constipation which can occur as a symptom of Parkinson’s disease.

 

9. Green Tea

Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants which help to prevent damage to your nerve cells by free radicals. It can also help to increase the levels of dopamine in your brain which can alleviate negative moods, which is a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease. Drinking three cups of green tea a day should be enough to see an improvement.

 

10. Cut Out Grains

Many Parkinson’s sufferers have claimed they’ve seen an improvement in their symptoms when they cut grains from their diet. This hasn’t been scientifically proven as a home remedy for Parkinson’s disease, however.

 

11. Cut Down on Alcohol

Alcohol is first and foremost, a toxin. It can interrupt your neurological functions and make symptoms such as mood swings, lack of coordination and balance worse.

 

12. Detoxify the Body

With so much junk food or processed and non-organic food available, we’re more likely to fill our bodies with toxins. This can include pesticides which have been used to protect vegetables and fruits or artificial additives which have been added to your favorite candy. These toxins cause damage to a number of cells in your body which could contribute to the negative effects of Parkinson’s disease.

To flush these toxins out of your body and detoxify, you’ll need to partake in a gastrointestinal or liver cleanse – talk to your doctor for some specific advice on how a detox could work for you.

13. Avoid Excessive Iron

Dizziness and fainting could both make your Parkinson’s worse and both could be brought on my metal poisoning. In addition to this, studies have shown that Parkinson’s sufferers who take iron supplements often suffer from more brain deterioration than their counterparts who don’t take iron supplements. This is largely because an excess of iron can result in the over-oxidation of your brain cells and blood, both of which will proceed to make your symptoms worse.

 

14. More Vitamin B

Vitamin B can help to lift a range of psychological symptoms of Parkinson’s disease including anxiety, depression, and psychosis. This is because Vitamin B is a great source of folate which helps prevent degeneration of the brain and nerve cells. This means that Vitamin B isn’t just a great home remedy to reduce the symptoms of your Parkinson’s disease, it could also help to prevent it.

 

15. Consume More Magnesium

Magnesium is often considered an ideal supplement for reversing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The is because it can help to reduce the deposition of toxins, heavy metals, and calcium. Consuming enough magnesium (through supplements of leafy greens like spinach) can help to prevent toxic metals being absorbed through the intestines. It also helps to reduce the potentially lethal effects of a build-up of mercury and aluminum.

16. Mucuna Pruriens

This tropical plant has been used in traditional medicine in Asia since ancient times. It is particularly effective as a home remedy for many of the psychological symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. This is because it contains high quantities of the precursor to dopamine (L-DOPA). Many people who suffer from Parkinson’s disease often have a lack of dopamine, so any home remedy that can increase dopamine levels is positive. In fact, by maintaining healthy levels of dopamine, many scientists believe this home remedy could also work to prevent Parkinson’s disease as well as treating its symptoms.

 

17. Bacopa Monnieri

This particular herb is rapidly becoming more popular as a home remedy for Parkinson’s Disease. Its main benefit is its ability to improve mood and neurological function. It has crucially been found to reduce the death of brain cells and maintain dopamine levels. As a result, Bacopa could help to prevent dementia as well as managing psychological symptoms. This is because it helps to prevent damage to the brain cells which produce dopamine.

18. Creatine Monohydrate

Creatine monohydrate is often considered used as a supplement by bodybuilders, but it can also be used as a home remedy to prevent Parkinson’s disease and reduce its emotional and psychological symptoms. This is because it can protect the creation of dopamine, the lack of which is behind many of the problems related to Parkinson’s disease. Taking as little as two to five grams of creatine monohydrate each day will have few side effects and could have a positive effect on your condition.

 

19.  Cocoa Extract

Dark chocolate could be more than the occasional treat – it could also help to manage your Parkinson’s disease. This is because cocoa extracts are packed full of antioxidants which can help to prevent free-radical damage and protect the health of your brain and nerve cells. It also helps to promote dopamine production, which as we have already discussed, can help to improve many of your symptoms.

 

20. Fish Oil

Fish oil is a great source of omega-3, which is what makes it a great home remedy to prevent Parkinson’s disease and reduce its symptoms.

21. Gastrodin

Gastrodin can be extracted from Chinese orchids. Studies have suggested that it could be effective as a home remedy for Parkinson’s disease. It is often available in capsule form and just a 300 mg dosage twice a day should be enough to see an improvement in your symptoms.

22. Nicotinamide Riboside

Studies have shown that this particular form of vitamin B3 can help to preserve the health of your brain cells and so reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease. It can also help to reduce symptoms if you’ve already been diagnosed. The nutrient helps by improving the way the energy centers within your brain function.

 

23. Probiotics

Because there is a strong link between your gut and brain, it’s little surprise that probiotics have a positive effect on Parkinson’s disease. Research has suggested that taking probiotics each day could help to reduce much of the damage that could potentially lead to Parkinson’s disease.

 

25. Massage

Massage therapy helps to relieve muscle tension and reduces stress, both of which could otherwise worsen your Parkinson’s symptoms.

26. Yoga

The gentle stretching of a yoga routine can help improve your flexibility and balance as well as strengthening and toning your muscles. These positive effects can really help to improve your Parkinson’s symptoms by reducing the impact it has on your physical capabilities.

 

27. Cowhage

Cowhage, or kapikachu, is a popular Indian herb found in bushes of lowland forests. It contains high quantities of L-DOPA, the precursor for dopamine. This makes it great for managing the emotional symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

 

28. Brahmi

The herb Brahmi is often used as a water plant in aquariums. However, some scientists believe its powdered roots could be consumed as a home remedy for Parkinson’s Disease. It’s thought that the herb could improve circulation to the brain, protecting your brain cells and keeping them healthy.

 

29. Turmeric

There are so many health benefits of turmeric! This is another. Its antioxidant properties mean that it can protect your brain and nerve cells to prevent Parkinson’s disease. It could also help to reduce your symptoms if you already suffer from the disease.

Which of these home remedies will you try? Comment below!

References

https://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/living-with-parkinsons-disease-tips

https://www.everydayhealth.com/parkinsons-disease/home-remedies-for-parkinsons-symptoms.aspx

https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/10-remedies-parkinsons-disease/

https://www.elitedaily.com/life/natural-remedies-for-parkinsons-disease/999278

https://fredphillips.wordpress.com/articles/healing-parkinsons-disease-naturally/

https://www.care2.com/greenliving/top-5-natural-remedies-to-prevent-and-treat-parkinsons-disease.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376062

https://www.michaeljfox.org/understanding-parkinsons/living-with-pd/topic.php?nutrition

Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms Chart by Wikimedia User Boakm

Water Hyssop picture by Flickr user Bob Peterson