Parkinson's Treatment

A New, Integrative Approach to Treating Parkinson’s Disease, not Just its Symptoms

It starts with integrating two contemporary but scientifically founded therapies to address the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

1. Neuro-acupuncture (or scalp acupuncture) integrates traditional Chinese needling with the Western medical understanding of the brain. In the last 30 years, this therapy has been extensively studied and shown remarkable results in treating stroke paralysis, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.1Acupuncture can also help support cognitive function and slow the decline from Parkinson’s symptoms. A study done in 2002 by the Department of Neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine revealed 20 Parkinson’s patients were treated with 16 sessions of acupuncture. Eighty-five percent of those patients reported improvement of symptoms, including tremors, walking, handwriting, slowness, pain, sleep, depression, and anxiety. There were no adverse effects.²
2. Photobiomodulation (PBM) Therapy is the use of a low-intensity laser or LED light source on our biological system. Beneficial outcomes include alleviation of pain and inflammation, immunomodulation, promotion of wound healing, and tissue regeneration.³ PBM seems on the fringe of today’s therapy treatments because it does not have an avenue in the Western medical industry at this time. However, many studies presented at PBM conferences around the world in the last ten years show the positive effects of this therapy when applied through the scalp and nasal cavity on patients with traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.Furthermore, the therapy is proving not only absolutely safe but also without any adverse side effects.⁴ This is a very important point when so often a patient has to compromise by accepting side effects for temporary relief of their primary symptoms.

Acupuncture and PBM therapies can be applied together in one session when a patient is either sitting upright or laying down comfortably. The therapies can even prove relaxing in an environment where soft music and low lighting encourage a sense of peaceful relaxation.

This unique approach to integrative Parkinson’s treatment then integrates a complimentary set of natural treatments. They work together to further heal and stimulate new neuro-pathways so patients can get back outside, enjoy life, and be being active again.

Four supplemental healing modalities, each empirically and/or scientifically shown to slow down the progression of the disease and/or alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms, are used:

Movement and Unwind Therapies to Help You Improve Daily Functioning

These specific techniques developed by Joe Pinella and Maria Mitchell have been proven to alleviate symptoms associated with Parkinson’s as well as to improve movement and function in activities of daily living.

Joe Pinella, a well-known Qi Gong/Tai Chi practitioner, overcame a quadriplegic diagnosis.⁵ Through his miraculous healing, Joe developed his business called Healing Movement Systems. Throughout the Tucson area Joe is an icon in the aging and Parkinson’s communities, teaching his movement systems and distributing his DVDs.

Maria Mitchell addresses muscular issues and stress management techniques for brain and body healing, otherwise referred to as Unwind Therapy. Maria’s M.S. in Gerontology, her over two decades experience as a massage therapist, and her certification in Yoga Therapy makes Maria an expert in her field.

Getting You Moving Again in the Fresh Air

Parkinson’s patients’ being able to ride a bicycle was first reported by a clinic in the Netherlands in 2012. Additionally, a 2010 study showed an exercise method called Rapid Leg Movement Therapy using tandem bicycles. This method can be highly beneficial to a Parkinson’s patients’ shuffling gait and hand trembling.⁶ The study describes a captain in the front seat of a tandem bicycle pedaling at a very high pace with the patient pedaling at the same pace in the rear. The release of dopamine from the exercise is thought to help overall body movement. We use Theracycle equipment for Parkinson’s treatment as a convenient method of Rapid Leg Movement Therapy. (http://www.theracycle.com/)

NBC Nightly News Report: How Patients Are Using Cycling to Slow Down Parkinson’s

Nutrition for Healing, Parkinson’s disease, and the “Second Brain”

Karianne Croy, a graduate of Cornell University’s Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition Program, developed our Plant-Based Nutritional Therapy.

A study published in the Dec. 1, 2016 issue of Cell, Caltech researchers showed that signals from the gut microbiome affected the level of neuroinflammation and the degree of motor dysfunction in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease.⁷ This study was the first one of its kind to provide a possible link between bacteria in our gut and Parkinson’s disease. Fiber in plant-based foods is the only nutrient the gut bacteria needs to flourish. Karianne is eager to help patients attain wellness with plant-based nutrition and instill confidence in their own ability to make choices to enrich body, mind, and spirit.

Bringing it All Together for a Science-Backed, Natural Approach to Parkinson’s Disease without Medication

We’re now offering this full program to Parkinson’s disease patients. A typical patient may not need all five therapies depending on their stage of progression. Treated early, the ability to slow, stop, or possibly reverse your current symptoms naturally are greatly enhanced and require a less intensive approach.

Makes sense, right?

Working with you and understanding your current condition, we help coordinate the appropriate therapies and their frequency for your particular treatment. We understand each Parkinson’s patient is unique and there is no “one-size-fits-all” treatment protocol.

It must be stressed that this treatment regiment in no way is a claim to cure Parkinson’s. No promises for actual results can be made, as every patient medical condition and disease progression is different. Each patient will need to fully participate in the program to get the best results.

This program is the first of its kind to assemble a team of practitioners who will present well-founded practices for dramatically improving quality of life for Parkinson’s patients.

Please call 520-878-8116 to make your appointment for an initial evaluation and consultation.

Or Contact Us Here »

REFERENCES

1. Hao J.J. and Hao, L.L. “Chinese Scalp Acupuncture” Blue Poppy Press, 2011
2. Briggs D. and Crispell M. “Helping Patients with Parkinson’s Disease” Acupuncture Today, March 2017
3. North American Association for Photobiomodulation Therapy website – www.naalt.org
4. LED Therapy with Dr. Naeser of VA at Boston https://youtu.be/T-yym1tcdm8 published on February 22, 2017
5. Miners S. “The Power of Imagination – A Former Quadriplegic’s Spine-Healing Story” Well Being Journal, March/April 2017
6. Alberts J, et al. “It Is Not About the Bike, It Is About the Pedaling: Forced Exercise and Parkinson’s Disease” American College of Sports Medicine 2011
7. Whiteman H “Gut Microbiome Contributes to Parkinson’s, Study Suggests” Medical News Today, published on Friday 2 December 2016

TRANSCRANIAL PHOTOBIOMODULATION (PBM) THERAPY WITH LASER OR LED STUDIES TO TREAT CNS DISORDERS IN HUMANS

• Lampl et al., 2007 (Stroke). Transcranial NIR laser therapy to treat acute ischemic stroke, NeuroThera, NEST-1 study.
• Zivin et al., 2009 (Stroke). Effectiveness and safety, transcranial NIR laser therapy to treat acute ischemic stroke (NEST study).
• Schiffer et al., 2009 (Behav Brain Funct). Transcranial, NIR LED treatment for major depression and anxiety.
• Naeser & Hamblin, 2011 (Editorial, PMLS). Potential for transcranial laser or LED therapy to treat stroke, TBI and neurodegenerative disease.
• Naeser, Saltmarche et al., 2011 (PMLS): Transcranial LED to improve cognition in TBI and PTSD, with home treatment (2 case reports).
• Whelan et al., 2012 ( In Bio.). Therapeutic effect of near infrared (NIR) light on Parkinson’s disease models.
• Nawashiro et al., 2012 (PMLS). Focal increase in cerebral blood flow after transcranial, NIR LED to forehead in severe, chronic TBI (persistent vegetative state).
• Gonzalez-Lima et al., 2013 (Neuroscience). Transcranial Infrared Laser Stimulation Produces Beneficial Cognitive and Emotional Effects in Humans.
• Naeser, Zafonte et al., 2014 (J of Neurotrauma). Significant improvement in cognition post- 18 transcranial LED treatments in chronic, TBI.
• Saltmarche, Naeser et al., 2017 (PMLS). Significant improvement in cognition in 5 chronic, dementia patients post- 12 weeks, transcranial plus intranasal NIR LED treatments.