Mucuna Pruriens-Varying Amounts of L-dopa Confusing

[rideabike]

I bought mucuna Kapikakacchu powder first and have no idea the content of L-dopa but it works. I took 1 tbsp. 2x a day. The whole powder doesn't seem as smooth when I come off of it but is supposed to have beneficial ingredients. Just not sure how much to take but once a day to replace another dose of something else seems like a good idea.

I had ordered Zandopa and it works fine too and recommends 7.5 g 2x a day. (says it's 87% MP). Probably needing 3x a day.

Bought Solaray enteric coated DopaBean and the capsule is easy to take when on the go. Maybe now my body is really gaining something with the regular usage of MP (just under a month) as I feel so much more motivated to do things and have less neck pain and tremor.

Question is I'm still not sure of the amounts I'm reading on this site that others are taking of 40%?? It's a bit confusing as the Solaray bottle says: (seed extract) (Guaranteed 66 mg [20%] catecholamines including 50 mg [15%] L-dopa). If anyone can decipher that I'd be grateful. Would 30 g a day (2 capsules) Solaray DopaBean be comparable with the 40% others are taking? Is that what they are referring to, the 20% catecholamines?

Thanks to anyone who can help get this straight in my head.

[KERRINGTON]

PURE MP POWDER HAS A RANGE OF 5 TO 7 %

1/2 TSP IS 1500 MG OF MP POWDER. IF MP IS 5 %-7% DOPA THAT'S 75 % DOPA. IN 1/2 TSP. I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY TSP = A TBLSP

THE SOLARAY CAPSULES DIDN'T HELP ME....STRANGE, BUT PURE BANYAN MP TABLETS DO.

SORRY FOR THE CAPS

[rideabike in reply to KERRINGTON]

Thanks...that helps. Tbsp is 3 tsp. so maybe I was taking too much of the powder.

[KERRINGTON in reply to rideabike]

Ha ! Maybe I'm not taking enough

But you're right, try taking less when starting...I began MP in Feb this yr at 1/4 tsp 3x day, now I'm up to maybe 2 tsp a day., sometimes less.

[rideabike in reply to KERRINGTON]

I'm sorry I made a mistake. I'm taking 1 and 2/3 tsp. whole powder. Got it mixed up with Zandopa which is about a tbsp. I am like you with the DopaBean. I don't find that 1 capsule does anything although it says 15% L-dopa. I'm highly doubtful. Thanks and I'll keep trying until I get the correct amount.

[KERRINGTON in reply to rideabike]

Thanks for the update !

[rsacdoolittle in reply to rideabike]

RideABike, my dad has had Parkinson's for 12 or more years. His PD symptoms were getting so much worse, he switched from 15-20% to 40% strength Mucuna Prurians a couple weeks ago.... and his tremors are nearly gone. Thanking God!

[ParlePark in reply to rsacdoolittle]

May I ask what brand? Thx

[rsacdoolittle in reply to ParlePark]

Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs

[ParlePark in reply to rsacdoolittle]

How much is he taking of the 40% ?

[Grumpy77]

I don't understand your post or the follow-up replies. You are currently taking

mucuna Kapikakacchu powder

Zandopa

Solaray enteric coated DopaBean

all 3 work for you and you're relieved of neck pain and tremor,

But you're not sure of the dose of solary DopaBean

Does this correctly summarise your post?

[rideabike in reply to Grumpy77]

Morning! Solaray says on bottle each capsule is 333mg of which 15% is L-dopa (50mg). Doesn't do much for me but now I'm thinking it's milligrams not grams and I seem to get that mixed up easily. Therefore not enough and I wish I had not purchased it as it's not cost effective.

Zandopa dose is 1 tbsp. measure that comes in the bottle and it's 7.5 g. Can easily take 2x a day, wears off in about 1 1/2 hours but I'm experimenting for now. Says it's 87% MP. Takes forever to come from India to Canada. Much more cost effective though.

MP Kapikacchu is as Kerrington says and it works too. I have been taking 1 2/3 tsp or around 5 grams from what I've read. It varies from different sites.

So I guess Solaray is good for keeping the off time from happening but I was wondering if this is going to work for me. Maybe need to have more regulation in what I'm taking. This is all experimenting so far. Have any suggestions?

[Grumpy77 in reply to rideabike]

many thanks

I hope you find the correct dose combination

The fight against PD must be won!

[rideabike in reply to Grumpy77]

Yes it can sure be better and never hurts to try new things. 🌞

[reedboat2]

I weighed out Barlows 40% powder on a jewelers scale. 1 tsp weighed 3300mg. So 1/4 tsp = 825mg x 40% = 330mg L-Dopa.

My current dose is 3/16 tsp = 250mg L-Dopa. I take it 4x per day, so my daily L-Dopa intake = 1gm.

Keep in mind a few things:

* a dose of M-P lasts around 5 hours (same as Sinemet)

* M-P is most effective on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal

* if you follow Sylvestrov on this forum he has some interesting posts on supplements that make M-P more effective, minimize off-time, etc.

I've been using M-P for 1.5 years, achieving pretty good symptom relief with no side effects. I take no prescription drugs.

I hope this helps and best of luck on your M-P journey - John G

[ParlePark in reply to reedboat2]

Reedboat2. Do you experience any nausea at 250 mg?

[reedboat2 in reply to ParlePark]

I’ve never experienced nausea with Mucuna. No side effects.

The two products I’m taking these days are Barlow’s 40% and Herbal Island 20%. Both available from Amazon. Herbal Island comes in 500mg capsules. My dose is 2 capsules which if their potency claim is correct = 200mg L-Dopa. I switch off between the two products, approximately every 6 hours. Hope this helps - JG

[ParlePark in reply to reedboat2]

Thanks!

[rideabike]

Yes I double that thanks to reedboat 2 for that explanation.