4 Supplements that Naturally Protect Neurons

If you’re like me, when you think of Parkinson’s disease, then you automatically think of poster-boy Michael J. Fox. Mr. Fox bravely stepped away from his acting career 13 years ago because his symptoms were inhibiting his acting abilities. He then stepped directly into raising awareness about this debilitating disease. Because Michael J. Fox shined a light on Parkinson’s disease (PD), millions of people across the world who suffer with this disease have benefitted from an increase in both research and public awareness. Unfortunately to date, PD has no cure.

Parkinson’s disease is neurological disease that manifest with:

Pinterest
Trembling
Rigid, stiff limbs
Reduced facial expressions
Slurred speech
A shuffle-like walk
Frozen episodes or inability to move

Parkinson’s can eventually lead to dementia, speech problems, depression, and sexual difficulties. It typically has a gradual onset and begins on one side of the body. You may notice a small twitch in the hand in the very beginning stages. Like dementia, it is a disease of the central nervous system. Nerve cells in the brain begin to stop producing dopamine, an important chemical that regulates movement in the body.

Parkinson’s can be classified into 3 stages:

Mild:

A tremor may occur on one side of the body
Friends or family may notice a change in facial expression, posture, or walking
Exercising regularly can reduce Parkinson’s symptoms
Parkinson’s medications can work quite well in this stage

Moderate:

Both sides of the body are affected
Episodes of feeling frozen occur
Balance and coordination are affected
Parkinson’s medications can begin to result in side-effects
Parkinson’s medications may wear off and be less effective
Regular exercise still improves symptoms

Advanced:

Cognitive issues like hallucinations and delusions occur
Great difficulty walking, primarily confined to a wheelchair
Inability to live alone
Balancing medications correctly is difficult and side-effects increase

Many people can remain in the mild to moderate stages of Parkinson’s for years. Until a cure is found, keeping the symptoms controlled is the primary goal. There are around 10 pharmaceutical drugs on the market for Parkinson’s treatment. Unfortunately, they have side-effects like hallucinations, delusions, and inability to control muscles, low blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, gastrointestinal bleeding, anxiety, vomiting, hair loss, trouble breathing and impulsive behavior. This is typical of pharmaceutical medicine, which only adds to the toxic burden and increases nutritional deficiencies.

Luckily, there have also been breakthroughs in the area of natural health and nutrition in treating Parkinson’s. Many people have seen successful results combining these natural alternatives with their prescribed medications.

In this article, I am going to highlight what I believe are 4 of the best natural supplements in both the treatment and prevention of Parkinson’s disease. These supplements, unlike pharmaceutical drugs, don’t cause horrible side-effects.

Instead, these supplements work with your body to protect nerve cells in the brain. In this case, I am not advocating going off pharmaceutical drugs for Parkinson’s. However, I recommend working with your doctor to add these beneficial supplements to your regime.

Table of Contents

Vitamin D

The first thing I would recommend for the prevention or treatment of PD is to have your vitamin D level tested.

Every cell in the body has vitamin D receptors, even brain cells. It is hypothesized that vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory actions are what generates such beneficial results. In America, it has been noted that those who live further from the equator and therefore get less consistent sunlight, have higher incidences of Parkinson’s disease.

Although it isn’t completely understood how higher vitamin D levels reduce your risk of Parkinson’s disease, there have been several studies noting its correlation. A study in France noted a reduction in Parkinson’s symptoms with a dose of just 4000 IU of vitamin D a day! (1)

When you get your vitamin D test results back, you want to be AT LEAST in the 50-65 ng/ml range. In order to fight or prevent Parkinson’s, an optimal range would be at 65-90 ng/ml. It is quite easy to raise vitamin D blood levels. The best, cheapest and quickest way is to step outside for 20-30 minutes a day of sun exposure.

During the fall and winter months or for those living further from the equator, supplementing with natural vitamin D3 is the best option to raise vitamin D levels. The general rule of thumb is take 65 IU of vitamin D3 per lb. of body weight is a good start for getting your levels up.

Have your blood tested again after 3 months to evaluate whether you have had an adequate increase. Adjust your supplemental D either by taking more or less, depending on your results.

A helpful tip is to take your vitamin D in the morning. Vitamin D can affect your melatonin production. Many people who take vitamin D at night notice that it keeps them from sleeping!

CoQ10

CoQ10, an antioxidant important in the energy processes of cells, has shown to be very promising in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Better known for its ability to treat heart disease and lower blood pressure, CoQ10 has been the subject of several research trials for its uses for Parkinson’s.

Research suggests that CoQ10 inhibits neuron deaths. A Parkinson’s study performed in 2002 showed that those who supplemented with CoQ10 had improvement in function and a reduction of Parkinson’s symptoms. (4) Although low doses didn’t show much promise, a higher dose of 1200 mg a day showed the best results. Taking 1200 mg of CoQ10 can definitely affect your pocketbook; it is an expensive supplement. However, the price tag can definitely be worth the results.

A separate study also confirmed positive results at a much lower dose of 360 mg of CoQ10 a day. (5) This would be a great place to start. If you see small improvements at this dosage after a month, increase your dosage and note any more progress.

Some other benefits from supplementing with CoQ10 include:

Increased energy
Anti-aging benefits
Lowered blood pressure
Increased immunity
Increased heart health

Vinpocetine

Found in the common periwinkle plant, vinpocetine is a fantastic natural supplement for treating Parkinson’s disease. Vinpocetine works by enhancing circulation and blood flow to the brain. This in turn increases oxygen levels and can prevent blood clots. Because of this, research has found vinpocetine to be a great stroke-preventing supplement!

Further research found that vinpocetine prevents neurological death in the brain. It has real potential for cognitive enhancement because of its anti-inflammatory action. This ability not only helps prevent further degeneration due to Parkinson’s, but also helps treat and prevent other neurological issues like:

Tinnitus
Memory loss
Alzheimer’s
ALS

The standard dose of vinpocetine is 10-20 mg a day. As with all supplements, be sure and buy from a quality supplement company.

Lithium

Lithium is the supplement, more specifically the mineral, which I am most excited about when it comes to Parkinson’s disease. I ran across low dose lithium several years ago and I was amazed at its abilities to actually promote the growth of gray matter in the brain! When you read the words “gray matter,” you are actually reading about neurons, otherwise known as nerve cells. Your brain is made up of around 100 billion neuron cell bodies, which give the brain a gray color.

Studies have shown that lithium can enhance nerve cell DNA replication. This is the first step in forming new neurons. Lithium protects existing cells in the brain, too. This makes it beneficial at not only treating and preventing PD, but also:

Strokes
Alzheimer’s
Brain cell death due to normal aging
Brain cell damage due to prescription drugs

Most people equate lithium to mood disorders like bi-polar disorder. The prescription lithium dosage is anywhere from 900-1800 mg of lithium carbonate and can result in side-effects. Lithium orotate is a form of lithium that can be purchased over the counter in a safer, lower dose. For brain renewing benefits, take 10-20 mg of lithium orotate daily.

Lithium was studied for its effects on Parkinson’s disease back in 1982. The results were extremely positive. However, because lithium cannot be patented, big drug companies have found no interest in promoting its benefits or funding new studies on this mineral.

Thankfully, another study was performed in 2011 on mice with very promising results, as well. The scientists who performed this study hope to perform a human trial as well. More and more attention is being given to lithium’s positive effects on Parkinson’s. It is my hope that in the near future it will be standard protocol to recommend low dose lithium to those with PD. (2)(3)

Revive Functionality with Natural Supplements

I recently read an article about Michael J. Fox’s return to television. He has been blessed to be able to get many of his symptoms under control. I see this as a true breakthrough of hope to those suffering with Parkinson’s. His new TV series premiering this fall is loosely based on his own struggles dealing with PD in the television industry.

These natural supplements can help you to achieve your own breakthrough in battling Parkinson’s disease! No cure does not equal no hope! By using the above supplements you can reduce your Parkinson’s symptoms and continue on to live a long active life! Expect a revival of functionality, including improvement in speech, brighter eyes, better concentration and improved demeanor with positive signs of improving PD symptoms.

If you liked this article, then you’ll love:

(1) http://www.lef.org/newsletter/2011/0318_Vitamin-D-Insufficiency-Could-Play-Role-Parkinsons-Disease.htm?source=eNewsLetter2011Wk11-2&key=Article&l=0#article
(2) http://www.buckinstitute.org/buck-news/lithium-profoundly-prevents-brain-damage-associated-parkinsons-disease
(3)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6816132
(4) http://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/article_content.asp?article=297
(5) http://naturalmedicinejournal.net/pdf/NMJ_NOV10_LR.pdf