A 2016 estimation showed that India has around 0.58 million individuals struggling with Parkinson’s disease. Also, it is anticipated that there could be a significant rise in its prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in the future. Despite the numbers, there is limited knowledge regarding Parkinson’s disease in the Indian population.

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder affecting movement. It manifests itself gradually. In most cases of Parkinson’s disease, there is no known reason for its appearance. Sometimes, Parkinson’s disease begins with a tremor in a hand that often goes unnoticed. Other symptoms include stiffness, slowing of movement, tremors, and slurred speech. Parkinson’s disease worsens over time.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. However, homeopathy can bring about significant improvement in the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Role of homeopathy in Parkinson’s disease

Homeopathy is proven to be very effective in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

There are two ways homeopathy helps in Parkinson’s disease. Firstly, it treats the person as a whole. Thus, it treats the root cause of Parkinson’s disease. Secondly, it treats different symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and prevents its recurrence.

Top five homeopathic medicines for Parkinson’s disease

Gelsemium sempervirens (Gels.)

Common name: Yellow jasmine

Gelsemium shows wonderful effects in treating vigorous hands and leg shaking, tongue shaking, and slurring of speech. There is excessive weakness along with this shaking.

Gelsemium works well in Parkinson’s disease with diminished coordination of muscles. These Parkinson’s disease patients feel their muscles do not work according to their will.

These people often feel tired, dull, and exhausted. Gelsemium is very beneficial for Parkinson’s disease patients who feel difficulty in maintaining balance while walking due to sluggish gait. 

Mercurius solubilis (Merc.)

Common name: Quicksilver

Merc. sol. is one of the best remedies for vigorous hand trembling in Parkinson’s disease. This natural medicine is of great help in Parkinson’s disease with drooling saliva from the mouth.

Tongue trembling with talking difficulty in Parkinson’s disease can be wonderfully controlled with Merc. sol. Tongue trembling is associated with an offensive odor from the mouth. 

Plumbum metallicum (Plb.)

Common name: Lead

Plumbum met. has a significant effect on Parkinson’s disease with slowness in movements or bradykinesia. This remedy is indicated for Parkinson’s disease patients whose body muscles work at a very slow and sluggish pace. 

The physical and mental slowness is associated with the wasting of the affected muscles. Also, comprehension and memory get weak in these people due to Parkinson’s disease.

Plumbum met. is best suited for Parkinson’s disease patients who have unstable walking, leading to tottering. Parkinson’s disease, with a blank look on the face, lacking expression, calls for this remedy.

Causticum (Caust.)

Common name: Hahnemann’s Tinctura acris sine Kali

Causticum is indicated homeopathic medicine for Parkinson’s disease with excessive rigidity. It is among the top homeopathic medicines for treating Parkinson’s disease with hardened muscles, leading to extreme body stiffness. The rigidity is marked in the muscles of the back and lower limbs. These pains get better from warm applications.

The patient has difficulty maintaining balance while walking. Causticum is best suited in Parkinson’s disease, where the person walks slowly and has a tendency to fall easily. These people find it challenging to get up from a sitting or lying position. 

Argentum nitricum (Arg-n.)

Common name: Nitrate of silver 

Argentum nitricum is the top natural medicine for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease with a lack of control and the trembling of hands. This remedy is indicated for loss of balance while walking. 

In case of unsteady gait where the person keeps on falling due to impaired balance, this remedy acts well. These Parkinson’s disease patients experience rigidity of calf muscles, where the muscles in the back of the lower leg get hardened and stiff.

Take Homeopathy Treatment for Your Health Conditions

Causes of Parkinson’s disease

The common causes for Parkinson’s disease include:

Genetics

Parkinson’s disease can be genetic in origin. It can be inherited from one or both of your parents. There are around 28 chromosomal regions linked to Parkinson’s disease.  

Idiopathic 

The cause behind this is a protein called ?-synuclein. When some proteins are not in the correct shape, your body can’t break them down and it  builds up in specific cells. This build-up can cause toxic effects and cause Parkinson’s disease.

Induced Parkinsonism

The causes of induced Parkinsonism include

  • Medications

Several medications have an impact that resembles Parkinson’s disease. 

  • Encephalitis

Parkinson’s disease can be caused by encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain.

  • Toxins

Parkinson’s disease can be brought on by exposure to several toxins. It includes manganese dust, carbon monoxide, welding fumes, or some insecticides.

  • Injury

Injuries during contact or high-impact sports like football, hockey, and boxing are some examples of brain injury. This condition is known as post-traumatic Parkinsonism.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

A common symptom of Parkinson’s disease is loss of muscle control. Other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:

Motor symptoms

These are symptoms related to movements. These include:

  • Bradykinesia

It’s the term used for slowed movements in Parkinson’s disease. However, this happens due to a loss of muscle control, but there’s no actual loss of strength.

  • Resting tremors

Most patients with Parkinson’s disease experience this rhythmic shaking of muscles even while not using them or at rest. 

  • Rigidity or stiffness

The two kinds of rigidity that are common in Parkinson’s disease are lead-pipe rigidity and cogwheel rigidity. 

Lead-pipe rigidity is a constant, unchanging rigidity when trying to move a body part. Cogwheel rigidity is a combination of lead-pipe rigidity with tremors.

  • Walking gait

Gait changes start appearing as Parkinson’s disease gets worse. It is characterized by slowed movements and stiffness that causes a stooped stance.  

While walking, the person moves their arms less and has shuffling strides. Parkinson’s disease patients need several steps while turning.

  • Decreased eye blinking 

Reduced control of eye muscles causes the eye to blink less than usual in Parkinson’s disease. 

  • Small handwriting

This cramped handwriting is known as micrographia. Muscle control problems due to Parkinson’s disease cause micrographia.

  • Drooling

Saliva drooling occurs due to loss of facial muscle control in Parkinson’s disease.

  • Mask-like facial expression

This is known as hypomimia, where facial expressions change very little or do not change at all.

  • Trouble swallowing 

Dysphagia is the term used for difficult swallowing. Decreased throat muscle control due to Parkinson’s disease leads to dysphagia. 

  • Soft speaking 

A soft voice while speaking is termed hypophonia. Decreased throat and chest muscle control in Parkinson’s disease is the cause for soft speaking.

Non-motor symptoms

These are symptoms of Parkinson’s disease that are not related to movements. However, non-motor symptoms are early warning symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. These include:

  • Low blood pressure when the person stands up
  • Constipation 
  • Gastrointestinal issues 
  • Urinary incontinence 
  • Sexual dysfunctions
  • Depression
  • Loss of smell sensation
  • Sleep problems 
  • Trouble thinking
  • Dementia

Treatment for Parkinson’s disease

Currently, conventional medical science has no cure for Parkinson’s disease. However, there are several treatments to manage symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. 

Medications

Parkinson’s disease is treated with various medications that work differently. These include:

  • Adding dopamine

Medications like levodopa can raise the amount of dopamine in your brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. When a dopamine molecule hooks onto a cell, it causes that cell to behave in a particular way. Thus, dopamine medication is virtually always effective in  Parkinson’s disease.

  • Simulating dopamine

Medications that mimic the effects of dopamine are known as dopamine agonists. Dopamine agonists can cling to cells and modify behavior in Parkinson’s disease.

  • Dopamine metabolism blockers

Your body naturally breaks down dopamine and other neurotransmitters. Medications that prevent your body from degrading dopamine prolong the amount of dopamine that is available to your brain. 

  • Adenosine inhibitors

Combining Levodopa with medications that inhibit specific cell utilization of adenosine can be beneficial in Parkinson’s disease.

Surgery

In some cases of Parkinson’s disease surgery is done. A device is implanted that will stimulate a specific area of your brain with a moderate electrical current. This is known as deep brain stimulation. 

Dietary modification for Parkinson’s disease

  • Balanced diet

Consume a well-balanced diet to provide essential nutrients.

  • Antioxidant foods

Including foods high in antioxidants help  reduce the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

  • Omega-3 fatty acids

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids have neuroprotective benefits in Parkinson’s disease.

Lifestyle modifications for Parkinson’s disease

  • Regular exercise

Engaging in regular physical activities improves mobility, balance, and overall fitness in Parkinson’s disease.

  • Speech and physical therapy

Consider therapy sessions to address speech and movement challenges that accompany Parkinson’s disease.

  • Stress management

Practicing stress-reduction techniques can help relieve Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

  • Fall prevention

Make changes in your home to reduce the risk of falling due to Parkinson’s disease.

Conclusion

Parkinson’s disease can be distressing, affecting your movements and routine activities. If left untreated, it can worsen over time. It’s essential to consult a homeopath to create an individualized plan that addresses your specific needs and challenges in managing Parkinson’s disease. Homeopathy and the right dietary and lifestyle modifications can help you improve your overall quality of life.

 

References