Melatonin
★★★★★
This new meta-analysis (10/10/2023) of randomized controlled trials (RCT's) utilizing melatonin in people with PD suggests that melatonin is useful for PD at 10 mg/day and even more so at 50 mg/day or more, and usage length of a year or more is additive to the beneficial effects of melatonin in PD.
Immediate-release melatonin was shown to be superior to prolonged release melatonin. It is also suggested that earlier application of melatonin in the disease may be even more beneficial than application in advanced disease states.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1265789/full
Some relevant quotes from the meta-analysis of RCTs :
' These findings reinforce the rationale of our study, suggesting that melatonin, when used in specific treatment regimens, may alleviate symptom severity and reduce sleep disturbances in Parkinson's disease.'
' Analysis of UPDRS total scores indicate that after at least 12 weeks of treatment, melatonin significantly impacts Parkinson's disease progression when doses of ≥10 mg/day are used. This trend of enhanced melatonin efficacy with higher doses at longer treatment durations has been consistently reported in trails comparing 50 mg/day melatonin with 0.25 mg (61,62) and 50 mg/day melatonin with 5 mg (63) for various outcomes. Furthermore, trials included in our analysis also reported significant results with 50 mg/day melatonin for 1 year (56) and non-significant results with 10 mg/day or 4 mg/day melatonin for 12 weeks (57,58). These findings, supported further by melatonin's ability to exhibit virtually no acute or chronic toxicity (64,65), strongly advocate its long-term utilization at higher doses as a safe choice. '
' Analysis of UPDRS total scores in groups receiving melatonin ≥10 mg/day revealed significant results with no heterogeneity (I2 = 0%). However, including studies with <10 mg doses increased heterogeneity substantially (I2 = 63%). Potential contributors may include dose-dependent and formulation-dependent pharmacokinetics of melatonin, as low dose studies used prolonged release formulations and high dose studies used immediate release formulations (44). Moreover, variations in treatment duration could also play a role, as longer durations with higher doses consistently demonstrated enhanced efficacy in previous studies (56–58). '
' Apart from dosage and duration, a crucial difference among these trails was the timing of melatonin intervention. In the significant study (56), melatonin was initiated in newly diagnosed patients immediately after observing a satisfactory response to anti-Parkinson's therapy. In contrast, patients in non-significant studies (57,58) had mean disease duration of 5.7 ± 1.9 and 5.0 ± 3.9 years respectively, indicating significant pre-existing damage at the time of melatonin introduction. This selection of patients with longer disease duration and introduction of melatonin at a later stage reveal an inherent flaw, as starting melatonin before neuronal loss is crucial for its free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties (18,19,31,33,42) to effectively prevent degeneration and reduce symptom severity in Parkinson's disease. In addition, a sub-analysis focusing on only immediate-release formulations, also yielded significant results, however, use of prolonged-release formulation in only one study (58) hinders appropriate comparisons. '
' Hence, melatonin can indirectly lead to an improvement in motor symptoms through sleep improvement. This effect appears to be unrelated to its antioxidant properties, indicating a multifaceted potential for melatonin in Parkinson's disease treatment. '
' As far as we know, a systematic categorization of melatonin into dose groups for motor symptoms and sleep disturbances in Parkinson's disease has not been conducted before, and is a defining feature of this meta-analysis. Furthermore, it strongly recommends the use of long-term, high-dose immediate-release melatonin in future investigations and emphasizes the significance of selecting patients with shorter disease duration and initiating melatonin early to fully explore its true therapeutic potential. '
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My favorite quote from this meta-analysis:
' These findings, supported further by melatonin's ability to exhibit virtually no acute or chronic toxicity (64,65), strongly advocate its long-term utilization at higher doses as a safe choice. '
I'm glad to see studies confirming the potential of melatonin in PwP, whereas earlier studies only hinted at such possibilities based on the known healthful methods of action of melatonin in humans.
Art
Melatonin
★★★★★
Now I would like to talk about one of my favorite supplements, melatonin, that a recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed was beneficial for PD patients after just 12 weeks of supplementing only 10 milligrams per night! Yes, finally, a quality human study confirming that melatonin is beneficial for people with PD.
This study showed multiple benefits in patients that include the following. Using standard testing, melatonin showed improvement in anxiety, depression, total antioxidant capacity, increased glutathione, and improved UPDRS Part 1 test results! Melatonin also significantly lowered the inflammatory marker, hs-CRP, or high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and inflammatory TNF-a while lowering LDL cholesterol and improving insulin resistance! Some of these improvements are suggestive of the idea that a more extensive study and or higher dosing may produce even better results because many of these improvements imply a reduction in total oxidative stress and oxidative stress is one of the most damaging factors in PD that destroys dopaminergic neurons and other cells in the substantia nigra of the brain.
To say I am excited that this study would be an understatement! Studies showing benefits like these in humans with PD from a single supplement are almost non-existent. Hopefully, they will follow through on this study with similar studies using pharmacological dosing of melatonin and more extended length studies.
While this study is very good and confirmed that melatonin can be beneficial in people with PD, it leaves many unanswered questions such as what would have happened if the study had been 24 weeks long instead of 12 as 12 weeks is very short for a study like this? Would the benefits range increase, would the benefits stay the same or increase the level of improvement seen? What would have happened at higher dosing?
Remember that Dr. Shallenberger is using dosing that is as much as 36 times higher than what was used in this study in some of his patients, and he gives all of his patients 180 mg of melatonin per night in the form of three 60 mg capsules in the evening. He considers this a preventative dose.
Overall, I feel this study has opened a door that has been closed for too long, and hopefully, there will be follow up studies to answer these questions! Here is a link to that very recent study abstract :
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32417629/
Art
(Boise)
07/07/2020
Hi Art, thanks for sharing such amazing, wonderful and valuable knowledge about supplementing with melatonin.
A bit off topic ... but are you aware of melatonin increasing the bodies need for other nutrients such as vitamin D, etc? Thank you!
Msfmomma,
Melatonin is lowered by high dose vitamin D, but raising the melatonin level in conjunction with the vitamin D level is synergistic in terms of fighting certain virus and disease such as Covid-19 and PD. Vitamin D has shown benefit for PD in multiple studies and can act as an antioxidant also, though not nearly as potently as melatonin which can neutralize up to 10 oxygen radicals compared to other antioxidants that can reduce only one oxygen radical.
In PD, melatonin is elevated in the blood as the body's attempt to raise its total antioxidant capacity which is depleted by PD and melatonin is capable of doing that if there is enough of it, but the body is only able to raise melatonin so high and consequently the bodies own antioxidant system is not able to completely come back into the normal range as reflected in studies which show that glutathione is lower or insufficient in PD patients.
The study link in the original post shows that just 10 mg of melatonin every night is able to raise glutathione levels up as well as the total antioxidant capacity. This is a very important activity in PD as oxygen radicals and peroxynitrite are at elevated levels and both destroy dopaminergic neurons and other brain cells in the substantia nigra specifically and the brain in general.
Melatonin is a potent scavenger of peroxynitrite and oxygen radicals and an inhibitor of NADPH Oxidase which is a promoter of peroxynitrite. What this all shows is that oxidative stress, peroxynitrite and other oxidants including H202are doing a considerable amount of cellular damage and melatonin is able to ameliorate some of this damage with just 10 mg/night. At a minimum the available literature suggests that melatonin may slow disease progression as well as ameliorate some of the many symptoms of PD through its multitude of protective actions in the body including acting in a potent antiinflammatory capacity and again this is important because the excessive oxidant activity which raises inflammatory markers and levels in patients with PD.
Melatonin has also shown synergy with other antioxidants such as vitamin C, D and E and supplements such as NAC, ALA and Quercetin to name a few.
Melatonin is a unique and amazing molecule that is the most potent antioxidant in the human body!
Art
(Thousand Islands)
10/15/2020
So grateful to read ideas on treating/avoiding Parkinsons! My mother had it and it is something I'll never forget! My question on melatonin is, I take one 2.5mg gummy per night, if I take anymore, I have an opposite effect and end up wide awake! I really want to increase my dosage but am afraid of the awful effect! Any ideas?
(El Paso Tx)
04/11/2024
Hello, my husband's family has a history of Parkinson's disease and we have been concerned that he may have the beginnings of this condition. There is a Doctor I like to watch on you tube from Costa Rica and his name is Alonso Vega. He has been making videos(spanish) on the importance of glutathione iv infusions to detox the brain. He does indicate that in order to be effective it must be through IV as glutathione supplements don't really work. Just food for thought how glutathione may also have a positive impact to prevent parkinson's disease. We will be taking our son to their clinic for a different condition but while we are there I will also be asking about the treatment for Parkinson.
Hi Mari,
It may be an option worth considering to contact Dr. Mischley as she has trained dogs that sniff out the "scent of Parkinson's disease". The accuracy of her trained dogs seems to be at least as good, if not better than the currently available testing methods for PD. You would have to mail her a dirty t-shirt of your husbands so that her dogs can sniff it to help determine if your husband may or may not have PD.
Here is her contact information :
Address: 2111 N Northgate Way Suite 221, Seattle, WA 98133
Hours:
Open ⋅ Closes 5 PM
Phone: (206) 525-8012
[email protected]
Here is a video of one of her trained dogs :
https://youtu.be/wgbgxP2s2HU?si=sIcrUGbMFVJmQbw0
Art
Methylene Blue
I have a mother who is in her early 70's and has been diagnosed with Parkinson's. She fell ill with a h-pylori infection and almost died. The ER doctor put her on some strong anti biotics and she is recovering from the pylori but when we took her in she was shuffling badly, slight arm tremors and a mask like face. I've tried to get her to eat better, avoiding foods with lots of sugar, pesticides etc but she's used to her diet and is struggling. Regardless of this she has still shown signs of improvement but is complaining of weakness, stiffness and a feeling that she can't move at times when she wants to. I have read through the threads on this site about the Methylene Blue. I cannot understand the dilution. I have no way to since I am dyslexic with numbers. I have personally been taking the MB 1% diluted by taking one tspn full of MB and diluting it with 9 tspns of water. I take 5 -7 drops in the morning in 6 ounces of water with a 1/4 tspn of vit c powder and a 1/2 tspn of baking soda, sometimes a full tspn.
My questions are:
1. am I even close to the correct dilution and please don't tell me in equations because I can't understand them. What I do understand is what I've described, one teaspoon MB and 9 teaspoons of water.
2. I need to have specific information on how to give the MB to my mother and in which combination, taurine/potassium (which I don't think that she can have because of her high blood pressure)/baking soda? etc. As soon as possible please?
She weighs approximately 140 lbs, she's 5ft 2 inches tall. She's on medications, metoprolol and aspirin. I have spoken with a pharmacist who has said that there are no contraindications with her meds and the MB.
Please, she's feeling the effects and I know she's very frightened, the docs seem to think that the PD was set off by a mild stroke that she had just after my dad died almost 3 years ago. He died of institutionalized pnuemonia/parkinsons. She is not taking any parkinson's medication at this time.
I know that you all get a lot of emails asking for advice so I am not asking to be "special" I am just asking for clear concise and reliable answers as soon as you are able to. Thank you for your time and experience. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,Yaocihuatl
Methylene Blue and Vitamin C
(Fort Worth, Texas)
05/15/2009
★★★★★
Dear Shel,
The methylene blue I used was from a fish aquarium store. It is usually 1% concentration. Ted encourages a dilution to 0.1%. When I first gave it to my father with the amazing results, I gave it with sodium ascorbate. It really worked to increase his energy and initiation of action. He is still taking it and it still helps. Other supplements have also helped him a great deal, like transdermal magnesium oil. This stuff has changed his life very much for the better. It has helped a great deal in reducing stiffness. What has harmed my father is bulk magnesium citrate powder from ____.com. I ordered many bulk supplements from ___ ___. I was told to give to my father "the more the better" of magnesium citrate. I did. But what I have learned, nearly too late, is that the white powder that was labeled magnesium citrate does not have the solubility characteristics and other typical characteristics of magnesium citrate at all. It has the characteristics of possibly calcium carbonate. I can pay $300.00 to have it tested at an analytical lab, but I am not able to pay for that at this time. I will do it later. The main thing is that be sure to learn from my mistake. It caused a stroke in my father. The lesson is to buy from a reputable bulk supplement suppler who actually tests the supplements that come from China. Also I think it would be prudent for us to learn to test our own purchases even if crudely by checking for the known properties of each substance, like ph and solubility. ____, the owner of ___ ____, told me that neither he nor his supplier out of Georgia test the bulk supplements they receive from China and then sell to us.
So keep up the methylene blue because it may be very helpful to you. Ted told me that it also may build up in the body's system somewhat over time. So you will need to work with the dose and be sure to take it with sodium ascorbate. It seems to be something needed together with the methylene blue. Also if you add the methylene blue to sodium ascorbate in water, the blue color disappears.
I hope this is helpful to you. I'll pass on some words given to me by a young lady who observed me working with my father. Don't give up. Never give up.
Jane
(Pleasanton, Ca 94566 U S A)
01/25/2010
Also if you add the methylene blue to sodium ascorbate in water, the blue color disappears. How much of this do you mix???
(San Fernando, La Union, Philippines)
01/26/2010
Hi John...I have been using Methylene Blue(MB) plus Vit C for a while now.
I bought the 1% MB at a hardware shop in the aquatics section. Then I converted the 1% MB to 0.1% MB by adding 1 X part by volume of MB to a dropper bottle, then I added 9 parts by volume of water as well. I just use a simple bottle cap for this -- where 1 part by volume equals one cap full. This will give you 0.1% MB. I put this mixture into a suitable bottle with a dropper top.
When I need it, I take one full glass of water with 2 grms Ascorbic Acid completely crushed and dissolved in it and add just one or two drops of the 0.1% MB to it. I take this twice a day if I need the energy or if I feel a cold or flu coming one. Gives you alot of energy and significantly boosts the immune system.
Methylene Blue and Vitamin C
★★★★★
(Charlotte North Carolina)
08/15/2016
Methylene Blue and Vitamin C
★★★★★
I am amazed that after one and a half days of taking methylene blue with vitamin c my 85 year old dad, who has Parkinson's, initiated transfer to his wheelchair and needed much less assistance than yesterday. Yesterday he was not weight bearing much. This morning I did not pick him up to get in his chair, just guided him. I broke out into laughter of happiness!
Thank you a million for the information you provide on earthclinic. I love seeing the results!
Jane
Dear Jane:
The methylene blue works, however, continual use of low dose is very helpful. However if it is discontinued, at least in the beginning may weaken the energy level, but further dose will allow the person to recover. Methylene blue is considered a super antioxidant for the mitochrondria. The best that I have seen so far. The brain is the highest metabolic rate in the body and hence is helpful with methylene blue since it increases energy level to normal levels through mitochrondria support. Taurine supplements and some potassium bicarbonate with baking soda are also helpful and supportive to this remedy too.
It's often best used as dose I have mentioned. I liked it so much I have since added methylene blue to my Emergency Aid kit as posted previously, although it remains I still needed some tweaking. Low levels of brain metabolism is what I believe to be causing the Parkinson's disease, and I have found the methylene blue to be helpful.
Thank you for the feedback!
Ted
(USA)
01/09/2009
Hi Ted! I just accidently sent my last message before I was ready. I have so much to learn! I have not yet seen your Emergency Aid kit. How much Taurine supplements should I give? I have baking soda and I'm not exactly sure if I have potassium bicarbonate. I have potassium supplements. Is potassium bicarbonate a household product?
Thank you! Thank you! For your help.
Dear Jane:
A taurine supplements dose averages about 1000 mg taken twice a day, with plenty of water, such as 1/2 glass of water. The taurine has a protective effect on the brain. As to alkalization, usually the preferred remedy.
As to your questions of potassium bicarbonate or potassium citrate or tripotassium citrate. These aren't usually available in most household items, but maybe available or found in electrolyte drinks formulation or found in certain potassium supplements found. When taking potassium, a baking soda is always taken. The dose for potassium is small, usually 1/8 or 1/4 teaspoon once a day while a baking soda may require just 1/2 teaspoon and a low dose to help stabilize the pH. Over the long term, usually about a week, an alkaline blood leads for the brain to recover faster too. Often it's the acidity of the brain that cause some degeneration of the brain and alkalinity provides protection. The rationale is a simple one: brain is a highly metabolic organ and hence is most acidic and needs something to reduce the excess acidity coming from carbon dioxide when the brain cells metabolise. This is a mild remedy.
A carnosine 500 mg x 2 is also seen to be helpful too, but aspartame and all artificial sugar must be avoided as those are most damaging to the brain. There are some unbelievers who think aspartame is safe, to which I always suggest to check for presence of blood methanol and formaldehyde after ingestion and it's always present in order to settle the aspartame controversy. Aspartame are also found in chewing gums and is also not helpful.
Ted
(Belfast, Northern Ireland)
02/09/2009
Hi Jane, can you tell me how your father is getting on with the methylene blue? Is it proving helpful. A relative of mine has just been diagnosed with Parkinson's. As yet they only have tremors in the hands and I would love to get something that prevents it getting any worse, or at least slows down its progression. Any updates would be appreciated. Thanks, Mary.
(Fort Worth, Texas)
02/15/2009
★★★★★
Dear Mary from Northern Ireland,Yes my father is getting along well and the Parkinson's symptoms are definitely diminished since taking the methelyne blue regularly. I am very encouraged about this and I have specific reason to suspect that the Parkinson's is at least partially fungal related in my father. He is also taking the alkaline drink with sodium carbonate, bicarbonate of soda, potassium citrate, taurine, carnosine. The alkaline drink two and sometimes three times a day is noticeably helpful as well. He has sleep apnea which is problematic at times. The alkaline drink seems to help with this some as does sleeping on his side and not on his back. I would hate to be without any of these things because I have noticed increased mental focus for my dad and increased energy. At first I believe he was taking too much methylene blue, a drop of 1% solution three times daily. He is now taking a drop or two of 0.1% two to three times daily depending on our schedules. The higher concentration may have temporarily caused a tremor that wasn't there before. His symptoms did not initiate with the tremor, but with the mask like face and a shuffling gate. Now his face is like his old self with his smile and usual expressions. He has his sense of humor and his personality again. Also I believe that magnesium is helping him very much too.Not magnesium aspartate! Also I have since learned that our eating food with msg may have correlated with a little setback he had. So now we are much more careful to avoid all msg and excitotoxins that are sometimes in mineral supplements. He takes carbidopa/levidopa three times daily as well.
EC: Thank you for the update, Jane!
(South Bend, IN)
02/17/2009
Jane, You should have your father's vitamin D level checked too:
Low Vitamin D Level Tied to Parkinson's Study: Vitamin D Insufficiency Often Accompanies Parkinson's Disease
By Miranda Hitti
http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/news/20081013/low-vitamin-d-level-tied-to-parkinsons
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 13, 2008 -- Parkinson's disease patients may be particularly likely to have low blood levels of vitamin D.
Researchers report that news in the Archives of Neurology.
They studied 100 Parkinson's disease patients, 100 Alzheimer's disease patients, and 100 healthy adults of the same age as the Parkinson's and Alzheimer's patients.
Participants provided blood samples, which showed vitamin D insufficiency in 55% of the Parkinson's disease patients, compared to 41% of the Alzheimer's patients and 36% of the healthy participants.
Vitamin D deficiency, in which people have even less vitamin D than people who have vitamin D insufficiency, was also more common among the Parkinson's patients (23%), compared to the Alzheimer's patients (16%) and the healthy participants (10%).
The findings held regardless of people's age, gender, and presence or absence of an Alzheimer's-related mutation in the APOE gene.
The study was a snapshot in time -- it doesn't prove that low levels of vitamin D cause Parkinson's disease or that taking vitamin D would help prevent Parkinson's.
But those possibilities should be studied, note the researchers, who included Emory University's Marian Evatt, MD, MS.
(RSM, CA, USA)
06/15/2009
Parkinson's and fungus: I was reading with great interest the posts regarding Methylene Blue. I'll give it a go. However more of interest was the talk of fungus. Oddly enough, right after getting toenail fungus came Parkinson's. I have always felt that there was a connection. My opinion is that because Parkinson's is usually diagnosed in aged patients, toenail fungus was viewed as a common old age condition and never considered as a possible connection to the Parkinson's. So, if the fungus or it's byproducts are involved, that would explain why an anti-fungus med would have an effect. I'd sure like to hear more about this.
(Fort Worth, Texas)
06/15/2009
Hi Deirdre and EC!
The below link regarding Alzheimer's is interesting and there is a Parkinson's link included in the info. The fungal theory is a part of this and so much more. My Dad's Parkinson's symptoms became most evident after my mother flooded the bathtub a few times, years ago, and they dried out the carpet more than once. So I think fungus is a huge aspect of our problems here. Also as Ted says and as the article suggests, the mycotoxins are the byproduct of the fungus and may be more problem causing than the fungus itself. Apparently the mycotoxins are implicated in cancer and many neurodegenerative diseases. I think there are a multitude of factors but most are interrelated. Now that I have learned a few things about this I feel like I don't know anything at all. Its very humbling to me to try to find remedies and test what works and what doesn't. Also there seems to be so much misinformation to sift through and then try to learn what works for us as individuals.
I have tried a bit of heavy metal chelation on myself only to cause tinnitus that I can hardly get rid of. Like Sherlock Holmes I'm trying different things, observing and looking for a clue to the remedy for me as well as for my parents individually. Its scary because now I know I have so many neurotoxins, based on the tinnitus that began after chelating, and I just don't have the best plan right now to rid of it. I have tried a lot of supplements to stop it.
(Knoxville, TN)
06/20/2009
Jane, How is your dad doing with the MB? May I ask some basic questions? How old is he? How old was he when his first symptoms appeared? What dosing and schedule does he follow with the MB?
(Fort Worth, Texas)
06/22/2009
Hello Rick,
Just a quick answer to a few of your questions and comments. My Dad is 85. He began having symptoms at approximately 79 or so. He probably had symptoms earlier than that, but I did not see him all that often during that time and also the Parkinson's symptoms began insidiously.
We are not so perfect with the MB dosing. I try to give at least three doses per day. I also try to make sure he has sodium ascorbate to go along with it for at least two of the doses. I would like to be more consistent giving more frequent low doses of the MB and we are working on that.
Since my father had a stroke in November of 2008 and the early Spring of 2009, this has been a big setback. The stroke this Spring was the worst. He still has a great deal of recovery to accomplish, but he continues to improve. He is very mentally alert and aware of everything going on. He can still give advice and communicate well. He cannot walk. He needs assistance eating but he often is independent in eating. These problems are a result of the stroke. We have been eliminating and reducing offending foods and supplements as we observe problems. I am near certain that my father will not have another stroke. One of the biggest helps for him is magnesium oil applied all over his body. This has helped him very much and I learned a lesson about neglecting the magnesium oil. He will get stiff and harder to transfer when without the magnesium oil (I make ours from magnesium chloride flakes sold to saltwater fish aquarium hobbyists).
My father is not taking any prescription medicines to speak of now. We stopped the carbidopa/levodopa because he began to have mild hallucinations and we stopped it. He has only improved since stopping that medicine.
(Toronto, Ontario)
06/27/2009
Jane,Is there a reason why sodium ascorbate should be taken with the meth blue? Would another form of vitamin C not be better when stroke is a possibility? And could you describe the alkaline drink your father is taking-- exact amounts etc?
Thanks,
Abigail"
(Fort Worth, Texas)
06/28/2009
Dear A from Toronto,
I learned from Ted that the sodium ascorbate is in a form more appropriate for the body since ascorbic acid would be a lower ph and our body is more optimal at a ph of about 7. Actually you could probably get a better answer from Ted because I am just learning about these things.
I have seen a published drug study regarding using the vitamin c with methylene blue. I believe it was in regard to treating malaria. At any rate it appears that vitamin c is needed. At least there should be vitamin c circulating in the body when taking methylene blue. I don't think its necessary to take vitamin c every time one takes methylene blue.
As to the stroke issue, I just don't know much about that. What I have read is that it is the chlorides that are so harmful. You know, table salt. So a good sea salt is something that you may want to get and avoid the table salt that is refined and not natural. Sodium chloride is in the processed foods as well. Apparently sea salt, like Celtic sea salt, is very good for us and even fights infections. It also increases thirst and so then we drink more water which is good for us.
Another comment about stroke. I have learned that excess calcium circulating is one sure cause of stroke. The misinformation about taking calcium is not been helpful to us at all. Also I gave my father mega doses of a magnesium citrate product that we since learned was not even magnesium at all or at least had a large component of calcium in it. We have now learned to make magnesium oil with the magnesium flakes sold to salt water fish hobbyists. I rub it on my Dad's skin and it goes through the skin into the body and relaxes his muscles and also helps to put the calcium in its place and out of the blood stream which greatly reduces his chance of having another stroke.
The alkaline drink is something we take about once per day, sometimes twice and now sometimes not at all. Everyone's needs are different and sometimes I am not that compliant. I guess its because my Dad is getting better and so now I'm not that scared. The alkaline drink we take is in a small cup with a small amount of water. We follow this drink with a glass of water. It is 1/8 tsp of sodium carbonate dissolved, then add 1/8 tsp baking soda dissolved, then add 1/8 to 1/4 tsp potassium citrate dissolved. So that's it. I still recommend inquiring of Ted because I learned this from him. The basic thing is to check urine ph and I believe it is supposed to be a 7. You may find other posts to verify all of this. It will not be in the methylene blue thread though.
Another way to alkalinize is to drink lemon water. Just don't use chlorinated water.
I hope this helps.
Jane
Hi Jane,
You have mentioned that you make your own magnesium oil from magnesium chloride. I would like to know as to how do you make and how do you use it for stiff joints/muscles.
Thanks
Baldev
(Fort Worth, Texas)
06/28/2009
Dear Baldev,
When I learned about transdermal magnesium I went out and found a salt water aquarium hobby store and looked around. I had a conversation with the owner and asked him about the magnesium and all the supplements added to the aquariums. Apparently these hobbyists are very knowledgeable about the chemicals added to the aquariums because the fish and corals are expensive and one wrong move could kill them all. Anyway I asked the man for a sample of magnesium flakes and he gave it to me. I went home and made a solution by boiling some filtered water and made a 50% solution. I rubbed it into the skin and so that's how I got started. Now I have ordered my own magnesium flakes. The shipping is expensive and so it makes the end product more expensive than I would like. Since I believe it has saved my father's life after the accidental mega doses of calcium I cannot complain though.
I am now making a solution closer to 60-65%. We have very fair skin here. Sometimes it stings a little if we have a cut or something. But its worth it. You can make the solution weak or strong. At about 70% solution I've noticed that some of the magnesium falls out of solution and so I think 70% is a bit over maximum
Our family had some purchased natural magnesium oil already before I made my own. At first I just didn't know how to use it or that I needed to put a whole lot on my father at first. I wanted to make my own for some reason. What I have learned since is that you can use too much. So you have to watch yourself. After my Dad was saturated, then we backed down a bit. The signs of too much for my Dad were that he had a few pre atrial contractions. He had never had heart arrhythmia before. So all we had to do was back off a bit and now he is doing so great the doctors are very surprised. He always has a beautiful normal sinus rhythm and his heart rate and blood pressure are just perfect. Now we need to get his brain completely healed.
Another thing that I read, I think Ted said this, that the magnesium oil from the ocean has calcium in it. I had not thought of that before. I intend to stay away from calcium the best I can since I believe that too much of it caused my Dad's stroke and contributed to his stiffness. I think calcium is in the water here too as we have hard water and when I boil it there is a white powdery film on the bottom of the tea kettle.
I am thankful to a man named George Eby who set me straight regarding the magnesium supplement that I was giving my Dad. I emailed George after reading his website and he didn't really have time to reply at the time, but he did give me a strong warning to stop the magnesium because I told him it wasn't soluble in water. He told me that it was not magnesium citrate or it would be soluble. I am extremely grateful to that man. He has an interesting website too and discussed a great deal regarding how he cured himself of depression using magnesium. Also he recommended a book by Mark Sircus called Transdermal Magnesium which I bought and its very good.
I hope this helps you.
Jane
EC: Thanks Jane -- great instructions!
Amazon.com has the book for $12.89, but not many in stock unless you buy it used for close to the same price! Transdermal Magnesium Therapy
(Manganui, Northland, New Zealand)
05/01/2011
If its starting to look like the trigger for Parkinsons is a fungus, and Methylene blue use kills the fungus over time.. Wouldnt a high dose of B vitamins be required to build the brain cells back up again after the initial onset has been stopped?.. I mean, just using the Methylene blue might stop anymore progression of the disease.. But you are still left with the subsequent debilitations... I know from past nursing experience that the brain will respond quite quickly but still need the right nutrients as in the case of dementia patient. The Dementia was quite advanced (third stage of syphlis).. It totally mimicked Alzhiemers and was picked up with a wasermans test.... But was completly cured after a course of antibiotics and B complex injections. The patient left the geriatric ward smiling and thanking everybody, he picked it up in Palastine during the second world war.. Makes you wonder how many more might have missed the correct test?
(Boston, Ma)
08/28/2016
(Ca)
10/23/2017
Ted,
Can you please respond to the long term effect on patients taking Methylene Blue, H202 and Vit C. Whats the optimal dosage . My mom has PD and she got depressed last yr after my uncle died and also had a bad fall which affected her C2. She is completely bed bound ad the biggest issue we have is daytime sleepiness.
Just started giving her good vit. Starting on a vit formula with calcium /vit D for nite - hoping it will improve the quality of sleep.
Also giving her NAC- she is still on part tube feed.
PLEASE HELP with the dosage. I remember I gave this to my mom years ago, during the intial years. Then they moved away from here and somehow it go stopped completely.
Mucuna Pruriens
★★★★★
A group of we PWP were experimenting with the use of Muruna last year and I can attest to its effects upon male libido. But, let's face it, a good glass of tap water can qualify for many men.
What was unusual, however, was that women reported similar effects. As one of the first to notice commented, "I knew something was up when my ex- started loooking good!"
I can't suggest a dosage since the PD has an independent effect that would make such info irrelevant, so you will have to do some trial and error. It can be ordered as a raw powder via Amazon. Since mentioning a specific brand is discouraged here, I will only say that the excellent product which I used was grown in the US, was organic, and was only about $10 to $15 per pound. One caution, the powder is an incredible black stain once it is wet. The only thing that takes it off of enameled steel is oxyclean type remover.
(Fort Worth, Texas)
06/22/2009
I have read about this but have not gotten any yet. I will check into it more. I am not very knowledgeable about all the possible supplements that will help him, but I am slowly learning. My time is very divided and I wish I had more time to delve into learning more. One thing is we have tried supplements and observe for benefits or any negative side effects. This is how we have been adding and taking away supplements to best meet his needs as we learn.
It appears to me that the cause of my father's symptoms are toxins in his body and now brain injury from the strokes. Also most probably fungus is involved. He had pesticide exposure and we have more reasons to believe his problems began with toxic exposure, probably multiple toxins.
Thanks for your post. I appreciate any comments and helpful information.
(New Mexico)
11/06/2017
★★★★★
I have taken Macuna since 2009. I find it to be very valuable. Have never taken a specific PD pharmaceutical, and won't. The side effects are far too dramatic. Macuna has no negative side effects.
In reply to Ron (New Mexico),
That is great that the MP is working for you! Can you give details on your entire protocol (dose & timing) and what benefits you are getting? Thank you!
Art
(New Zealand)
01/22/2021
Hi Emma,
The dosing for Mucuna Pruriens(MP), like Levodopa, is very individualized and will vary considerably from person to person. People wonder what is the attraction of MP over prescription Levodopa/Carbidopa since MP has as one of its main components, Levodopa and the truth is that some people just prefer what they consider a more natural approach of using a natural plant over a prescription drug. While it is true that they both contain Levodopa, but Levodopa on its own can increase oxidative stress in the brain which can then increase neuroinflammation and in the long run this is likely to be counterproductive for people with Parkinson's (PwP) as they are already suffering with elevated oxidative stress levels and elevated neuroinflammation which have been shown to increase disease progression.
What MP has that makes it possibly more effective than Levodopa is other useful components which have shown the ability to lower oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. These other components include quercetin, Betulinic Acid, Ursolic Acid, CoQ-10, NADH and more which have shown the ability to lower oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. This is very important for PwP and Levodopa alone has none of these other attributes that MP has.
You may be wondering what MP can do compared to levodopa in PwP that is different. In PwP studies, MP can significantly reduce onset of action significantly which is important because many PwP complain that it can take an hour or more to take effect while MP takes effect significantly faster probably due to the other active components in it as mentioned above. That effect alone may make it worth it for some PwP to consider MP. Another benefit of MP over levodopa alone is increased "on time" of 21.9%! Levodopa is a single component prescription drug and can not offer these other benefits of MP! Increased "on time", equates to decreased "off time and what PwP wouldn't want that?
One study went so far as to suggest that MP, "protects or prevents the progression of the disease".
On a related note, I will be posting about this in more detail soon, here on EC! I am of the opinion that a combination of levodopa and MP maybe the best of both worlds as multiple Levodopa products also contain Carbidopa or Benserazide to control levodopa breakdown before it reaches the brain and I believe it also helps prevent conversion of levodopa to dopamine outside of the brain and this is very important because dopamine can not cross the blood brain barrier.
Art
(Mount Vernon NY)
07/04/2022
Jason,
You are replying to a post that is 5 years old in which case the original writer is not likely to reply. I will try and give you a little information to give you and idea about what is involved with the use of MP.
Regarding MP, in a couple of studies it has shown to have similar to slightly better effects than prescription levodopa products. It also does not cause the oxidative stress that levodopa has shown in studies to cause. It also offers other health benefits. Those are some of the positives.
On the negative side, it takes huge doses of pure MP to equate to Sinemet dosing and such huge doses have the potential to cause stomach upset and are hard to take.
Manufacturers are aware of this issue and decided to make "extract versions" of MP so that a smaller, more tolerable dose can be taken. But even with extract versions, it still requires relatively large doses. One problem with the most potent extract versions is that they are essentially levodopa with little if any of the beneficial components that pure MP contains. So you don't really get any of the beneficial effects of the MP.
What some PwP do, is combine a lesser dose of Sinemet or other levodopa based drug with an extract version of MP in order to get the added benefits associated with the use of MP in conjunction with the stability and uniformity of a drug like Sinemet or Madopar. I think this is what you will find once you have done research into MP in all of its many forms.
A common form of MP extract that some PwP find benefit with is Dopa Boost :
This is an interesting product that combines MP extract with other supplements that have shown benefit for PwP. It also uses EGCG, the active component from green tea to act similarly to the Carbidopa component of the combination drug Sinemet which is comprised of Carbidopa and Levodopa. It also contains other PD useful supplements such as N Acetyl L-Tyrosine, vitamin B6 and Quercetin.
PwP use Dopa Boost with a levodopa drug like Sinemet. Sounds simple, right? Not that simple though because, in general, neurologists and movement disorder specialist are not going to be familiar with MP or a product such as Dopa Boost, and this means they will not be able to help you determine an ideal dose combination between your prescription levodopa and your non prescription MP product.
This means you will be on your own to figure out the most effective dosing of both products for you. Even if you find someone that has already done the leg work to figure out through trial and error what their best dosing schedule is for the combination of MP extract and levodopa drug is, you will only be able to use their information as a rough guideline and you will still have to fine tune your dose to meet your specific needs through trial and error.
On this general subject of alternative PD remedies, there are several that I am aware of that have shown varying degrees of benefit in improving quality of life, but like levodopa drug products, there is usually a need for trial and error testing or a learning curve to figure out the best dosing schedule for you.
In PD, there are no cures on the horizon, only various alternatives to try and improve your quality of life. If you are interested in any of those other options, I can offer you some information regarding them if I am familiar with your choice.
Art
Protein Sources
Another source I asked him about is egg white protein. He told me that egg whites have high aspartic acid and that he and his don't eat the egg white, only the yolk. I have an egg white protein product in my home and yes it has almost 3000 mg of aspartic acid per scoop and almost 3000mg of glutamic acid per scoop!
So I have these questions about excitotoxins and egg white. I don't completely understand about the problems with excitotoxins in unprocessed food. One thing Ted mentioned is that the egg white is not the food source for the chick. So...anyway I looked around a bit on the net and read where people stated that eggs or egg whites caused them problems.
Does anyone have an understanding of this, especially the part about the egg whites?
Also it was during that time when Ted told me that asparagus is so high is aspartic acid, hence the name.
We ate eggs this morning, with the whites. Its sad to waste the whites I think, but is it really a problem for brain healing? I think it probably is. Can anyone help with this?
(Coloma, Mi)
06/30/2009
My Dad is 94 years old. No one can believe it. He still lives independently, drives his own car and his memory is fantastic. He has eaten eggs all his life, so I don't worry about it. His cholesterol is 170. He also eats a lot of fast food so I don't know what his secret is.
(Manganui, Northland, New Zealand)
05/01/2011
I think you will find that "Yams" according to the latest research.. will go a long way in repairing the brain after a stroke.. Google "Yams and stroke".. I'm sure it will be what you are looking for.
(New Hampshire)
02/27/2014
Dear Jane -- Four years have passed since your query about protein for your dad with PD, but in case you're still working with your dad, I recommend you use the Oil-Protein Diet of Dr. Johanna Budwig, as given on the Healing Cancer Naturally site. Other sites have interesting comments about the Budwig diet, but the Healing Cancer Naturally site has the most accurate info as presented by Dr. Budwig. Dr. Budwig states that the oil-protein diet increases oxygen in the system. Her program has reversed MS. Lest you be concerned about the use of cottage cheese when Parkinson's patients are advised to avoid dairy products, Dr. Budwig said that the dairy-ness of the cottage cheese or quark and the fat of the flaxseed oil are both transmuted to form a highly absorbable and effective, water soluble substance when combined in the manner she prescribed.
Best wishes, Judy
Reader Commments
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, so the heavier you are, probably the more you need. Would a pale-skinned person be low in vitamin d? Perhaps.
Vitamin D3 produces Cathelicidin, which fights lots of bad stuff.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathelicidin
http://www.university-technology.com/details/novel-cathelicidin-based-anti-infective
"The novel anti-infective, in either a polypeptide, peptide or nucleic acid form, may have application as a therapeutic to treat fungal or bacterial infections, including those caused by drug resistant strains, such as E. coli, Salmonella enteritides, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Burkholderia cepacia, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA i.e. methicillin resistant), Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis (VREF i.e. vancomycin resistant) and Streptococcus agalactiae, and also against fungi such as Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Cryptococcus neoformans."
******
I was looking at Michael J. Fox the other day on TV... his neck/thyroid looks destroyed. Since Ted mentioned Thyroid, the Thyroid seems like something worth checking if you have this disease. In his case, perhaps his resembles Hyperthyroidism a bit; just an opinion.
I would kind of like to see a metametrix study (GI effects) on this disease.
(Colombo- Sri Lanka)
07/25/2014
Research Articles
https://www.sciencealert.com/parkinsons-may-be-caused-by-a-common-aquatic-bacterium
Thank you so much.
Hi Mery,
Here is a link to the actual study done about 11 months ago :
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1181315/full
They are looking at three specific strains of the Desulfovibrio bacteria (DSV) :
1. D. desulfuricans
2. D. fairfieldensis
3. D. piger
The study was done in worms, which may or may not translate to humans. In any case, there are specific antibiotics that can target these bacteria as well as supplements that also target these bacteria, but to date, no human studies have been done to test this theory.
As an example of a supplement that works against these strains, inulin made from agave has a negative impact, but it has not been shown which strains of Desulfovibrio it works against as discussed in this article :
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622088551?via=ihub
Here is a relevant article quote :
' Desulfovibrio were depleted 40% with agave inulin compared with control. Agave inulin tended (P < 0.07) to reduce fecal 4-methyphenol and pH. Bivariate correlations revealed a positive association between intakes of agave inulin (g/kcal) and Bifidobacterium (r = 0.41, P < 0.001). Total dietary fiber intake (total fiber plus 0, 5.0, or 7.5 g agave inulin/d) per kilocalorie was positively associated with fecal butyrate (r = 0.30, P = 0.005), tended to be positively associated with Bifidobacterium (r = 0.19, P = 0.08), and was negatively correlated with Desulfovibrio abundance (r = −0.31, P = 0.004). '
Again, no human studies to support the use of agave inulin for PD.
As far as a treatment for PD, given that the actual cause or causes of PD are still not known, there is no likely cure for the disease, only treatments to help reduce symptoms. The downside to the mainstream treatments for PD is that they can have significant side effects. The treatment that has been the mainstay for PD for about 50 years is the combination drug, Carbidopa /Levodopa also referred to as Sinemet.
One of the supplements that has shown significant anecdotal evidence against PD is vitamin B1 at higher dosing levels. Again, no human studies to support its use.
My personal opinion is that one of the best natural treatments for PD is fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT). Unfortunately, FMT is only approved for two diseases in the United States, neither of which is PD. In order to get FMT for PD, you might have to travel to China, which is much more progressive than most countries when it comes to FMT. This would be cost prohibitive for most people. FMT is already proven safe in human studies, but is still only approved for Clostridioides difficile, commonly referred to as C.diff, a bacterial infection of the gut which can be life threatening in severe cases. It is also approved for IBS in the US. In both diseases, it is normally only used when the standard treatments have failed to be effective.
Art
(Australia)
03/26/2024
(US)
03/27/2024
Here is the cure for PD as per Dr Ardis. If I had PD, I would definitely try this.
https://www.brighteon.com/8920f5f9-2c7a-4d4f-a2e4-1b26b338bb52
EC: Description per url above
In this podcast episode, Dr. Ardis discusses strategies for preventing and treating Parkinson's disease. He highlights supplements like taurine, selenium, and a foreign protein cleanse as potential aids in managing the condition. Dr. Ardis explains the symptoms of Parkinson's and common pharmaceutical drugs used for treatment, cautioning against relying solely on medication due to potential side effects. He explores natural solutions for managing symptoms and recommends supplements like acetyl cysteine, taurine, and quercetin. Additionally, Dr. Ardis discusses the potential benefits of nicotine in treating Parkinson's disease and suggests considering nicotine patches or gum as part of a treatment plan.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) helped fund a study using nicotine patches on people with PD and the study found nicotine patches to be less effective than placebo as discussed here :
Here is a relevant quote from the study :
' One-year transdermal nicotine treatment did not slow progression in early Parkinson's disease. (Funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01560754; EudraCT number, 2010-020299-42.) '
Although the above study showed no ability for nicotine patches to slow disease progression in people with early stage PD, there are anecdotal reports suggesting it may help improve certain symptoms.
There is currently no cure for PD, but there are medications and supplements that can help alleviate some symptoms. PD is a very complex disease in which the cause is still undiscovered. Medications are not thought to slow disease progression, but given the activities of some supplements, they show potential to slow disease progression through reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation and antiapoptotic effects.
Art
FYI - nicotine is niacin. the nicotine in tobacco was renamed so it could be demonized.
A little niacin with a little diatomaceous earth for the small amount of bioavailable silica it contains that is needed to facilitate niacin uptake is plenty.
The body possesses its very own nicotine/niacin handling system.
If I had to guess, I'd say that a little diatomaceous earth would provide more than enough silica, making up for soil depletion, to make the niacin in modern nutrient-starved food more available to the body.
It's not difficult to understand that the vegetables purchased today are nothing like the vegetables purchased 50 years ago. Some only barely even qualify as food.
(Illinois)
03/29/2024
As Doug Kaufmann of 'Know The Cause' says, think fungus first.
Research Articles
Link Found Between Parkinson's Disease Genes And Manganese Poisoning
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090201141559.htm
Penn Study Finds Link Between Parkinson's Disease Genes and Manganese Poisoning
http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_Releases/2009/02/parkinsons-manganese.html
***
Hypothetically, with too much exposure to flouride, it can seep into the brain, and cause lead poisoning. This may not be the cause, but you can remove both lead and fluoride with mega-Iodine (discussed in the fluoride thread), and kill yeast.
Professional Perspectives: Fluoride in Tap Water
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_Ys9q1cvKGk
STUDY FINDS CORRELATION BETWEEN FLUORIDES IN WATER AND LEAD LEVELS
http://www.fluoridation.com/lead.htm
(Emerald City)
07/03/2017
Similarities between Parkinsons and ALS have been found. There is a copper binding issue, combined with oxidative stress. This should hopefully give us ideas on how to treat this eg: copper chelation, or chelated copper, and a whole spectrum of anti-oxidants and anti-oxidant minerals.
Do we need more copper, ie. chelated copper?, or less copper, ie copper chelation? Or maybe a combination of the two? It sounds like there is a deficiency but I fear that if we get it wrong it could make it worse.
“We have pinpointed a protein abnormality known as the ‘SOD1 fingerprint' in regions of neuronal loss in the Parkinson's disease brain, ” said Associate Professor Kay Double who led the research published in Acta Neuropathologica.
“We believe this loss of neurons results from a combination of oxidative stress and a regional deficiency in copper, both of which occur specifically in vulnerable regions of the Parkinson's disease brain.”
Source: http://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2017/05/22/discovery-may-offer-hope-to-parkinsons-disease-patients.html
(Emerald City)
07/13/2017
OK this is important - if ALS is similar to Parkinson's then hopefully this treatment may work there too. This study found that in rats a copper chelator dramatically improved their health.
Source: http://www.alzforum.org/news/research-news/copper-rescue-als-mice
"As reported in the January 27 Neurobiology of Disease online, the researchers treated the mice with CuATSM, a reddish copper chelator that can carry the metal into the brain and spinal cord. There, the theory goes, the chelator releases Cu ions to the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1, an enzyme that causes a rare familial form of ALS when mutated and tends to aggregate when it's missing its copper. .."
"Beckman's group was studying why those mSOD1xCCS mice fell so ill when researchers from the University of Melbourne who worked with CuATSM visited his lab. The scientists decided to try the compound in one double transgenic mouse, which was unable to stand and near the end of its short lifespan.
"The researchers dissolved CuATSM in dimethyl sulfoxide and dribbled in onto the pup's neck, where it was quickly absorbed by the skin. A few hours later, the mouse was up and moving."
Vitamin D
★★★★★
https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/vitamin-d-for-parkinsons.html