I came across this guy's website. He's written a book about how he "cured" his PD, and also claims to have helped multiple PWP cure theirs too. He evidently uses oriental teas and Qi-gong exercises. I'd rather not spend money on his book, or really waste any time on him if someone can tell me that he's not worth it. OTOH, I am trying to keep an open mind. fightingparkinsonsdrugfree.com
(I removed the direct link to his book in order to avoid the appearance that I was promoting it.)
Yes, I bought and read his book. My take on him is that he honestly believes that he's cured his PD. It's an interesting read. His mother had PD for 25 years and suffered greatly. When he was dxed with it, the symptoms hit him very quickly and hard. His mother took PD meds, so he resolved not to.
The book details how much pain and hardship he suffered while he attempted to perform the qigong, meditation, etc. He became a vegetarian, and had his wife help with things like food prep and giving him foot rubs. After 9 months of this, he claims that he simply broke through. In his view, PD was a symptom of his life's imbalance. He had to find the balance, stop struggling and accept the healing. (There was more to it, but you get the gist). Even before his dx, he seems to have had a strong belief in oriental medicine and qigong. How much of it was placebo, I couldn't say.
Several people have evidently followed his methods and 6 or 7(?) also claim to be cured. Their emails and his blog posts are on his website that you put in your post.
He has a few videos on youtube in which he's showing how to perform the qigong exercises he used. They are simple and fairly easy to do. By themselves they couldn't possibly have had any chance of curing him. Again placebo effect?
Also, I question whether he is completely cured, because in his videos he seems to still have weakness, slight tremor, etc.
I didn't pursue it because I simply don't believe that strongly in "fire in the liver" and all the rest of oriental medicine that he uses to explain why what he did worked. If you do, it might be worth your time.
I hate to be negative and any hope of a cure would have us all reaching out and doctors and neuroligists getting on board and screaming it from the rooftops so excuse me for being a bit sceptical if there was any way to stop taking these shite drugs we would take it im pretty sure I do believe Chinese medicines are the future I firmly believe exercise is the best way to control symptoms wether it is cycling or walking all the best
I started his program this past February and was taking 9 Sinemet and 9 mucuna pruien and now I am able to function better than before at 2 1/2 Sinemet and 3 mucuna pruien. I perform the exercises every day, walk 45 minutes rain or shine, drink Kombucha every day and do at lot of things to calm my vagus nerve (sing, humm, dance, use a brush up an down on my skin and my husband massages my feet every night). I was a skeptic at first but feel I am on my way to full recovery. I saw my neurologist three weeks ago and she was pretty amazed and told me to continue what I have been doing. I tried to get off the medication several years ago and it was a disaster, I could barely walk. This time I am having success and I attribute it to his program and fixing my gut with Kombucha. Time will tell but I am very optimistic. I was diagnosed in 2010.
Thanks for your insights. I can understand the idea that the vagus nerve is involved. Sometimes, it feels very much as though I'm stuck in "flight mode". I've been vegetarian and almost vegan for 4 years now, and I think that helped. I meditate and fast-walk, and that also helps.
I've been working on healing my gut too. Haven't tried Kombucha, but I'll look into it. I've been eating healthy - no processed food. Lots of good fiber. Foot massages sound like a good idea.
Please let us know how it goes!
Here is a good website for Kombucha supplies, culturesforhealth.com/start...
If you do decide to use the program I would get the workbook. It details daily regiment and I use it every day.
You may find this useful regarding vagus nerve, outthinkingparkinsons.com/a....
Check also this guy >>> Bruno Donatini (in French...) gut and left (?; I don't know why specially left) vagus......
Sounds like great results did you also change your diet ?
My diet is non-GMO,organic foods, grass fed beef-when I do eat red meat. No alcohol, occasional paleo dessert but very infrequent. Here is a good article, read all 3 parts. No milk products. See. acupuncturebrooklyn.com/alt.... Read all 3 parts.
Exercise has been well documented to help. It may not be his method but the motivation it gave you to start moving and choosing a healthier lifestyle.
I was diagnosed in 2010 as well. I tried to cut my amount of meds only to have extreme freezing up and restlessness. Will you let us know what you meant by "... it was a disaster"? Thanks
I pretty much stopped functioning and was extremely fatigued and could barely walk but a few steps. I wasn't doing Quigong or and exercise or vagus nerve relaxing and I had to go back on carbidopa-levodopa. This time I am reducing slowly and keeping up with exercise and I have had success so far.
Howard who? If he is so great and cured his PD, why doesn't he give his full name?
My diet is non-GMO,organic foods, grass fed beef-when I do eat red meat. No alcohol, occasional paleo dessert but very infrequent. Here is a good article, read all 3 parts. No milk products. See acupuncturebrooklyn.com/alt....
People can write what they like on line, its up to each of us to check out claims. How do we know they are true? What proof does he give of his diagnosis? Was he correctly diagnosed in the beginning? I know people incorrectly diagnosed who havent found out until a year or more on treatment.
I am not doubting his sincerity, well maybe I am, it seems he lost his liscense to practice law. Is this him named here?
thefreelibrary.com/Discipli...
I read his book. I believe is completely sincere and he did have Parkinson's. He explains what went down on the legal front that caused the loss of his license.
With all that said, he also had some heavy emotional issues that surely impacted his health, and releasing those was a big part of his recovery. So his prescription will not necessarily work for others.
Mmm well I find it pushes my credulity to believe that a disease that generally has taken at least 10 years to develop (some specialists say longer) can be cured in 9 months with attitude and Qigong.
Sorry park bear, i read of the miracles (most in the US for some reason) but have never met a person who has been cured nor met a person who has met a person who has been cured.
I need to read his blog again to check howhe was diagnosed and what proof he has of being cured.
I’m not against complimentary practices and they have their place in our wellbeing but not in cure at least in my book
Maybe so. I suppose his symptoms could have been psychogenic. I personally have experienced significant improvement with Qigong but can't claim cure, at least not yet, after 18 months. Nonetheless feel very happy and blessed.
I've met and talked to Bianca Molle. She cured herself by practicing qigong.
I just recently bought her book (one of them) and a dvd, which I intend to read and look into - but doesn't she still have tremors? or am I confused about that?
Hikoy,
We could ask the same questions for each of us here on HU, do not you think?
Indeed yes and sometimes I do ask - Some people are self diagnosed GioCas.
I dont think symptoms need to be psychogenic, Park-Bear as many of our symptoms are shared with other illnesses or conditions. Glad you are getting relief from QuiGong and I think it a very good activity for us to do.
Jas there will be other threads on here about Howard Schife that may be of interest. You can find by doing a search.
Someone could even ask you Hikoy 😀
Go for it! As I’m about to have DBS I seriously hope my DAtscan was accurate along with my 10 years of pd treatment.
But I do think it is not good if skepticism and/or questioning is not encouraged and accepted on a forum, not directed at you GioCas, this is a general statement.
Hikoy,
I do not need it and I will not do it. I do not think the correct skepticism is missing here on HU. Good intentions make the difference as I see them from you. When the science says with certainty that the PD has no known causes, it has no possible cure and the same certain diagnosis is possible only with autopsy as they can affirm with equal certainty that a treatment can not work without even taking a scientific look at it? How is progression in Parkinson's measured? With the UPDRS test and the datscan (which is perhaps too inaccurate). It would take a biomarker for the PD. I think that any organization that wants to scientifically find a cure should first have a precise method to measure the progress of the disease And after that, 90% of the discussions here on HU would make no sense.
Qigong has helped me greatly, and I continue to practice. Lest there be misunderstanding about the purpose of Qigong, it is for the cultivation of the subtle energy. It feels warm and tingly and pleasurable and at its best fills the entire body. The purpose of the various exercises is the cultivation of this energy. If the energy is already strongly present there is nothing to do but sit and direct it for one's own healing and the healing of others. My Qigong story here: healthunlocked.com/parkinso...
Common sense people! Come on give me a break.
If we are listing people who have recovered, dont forget Chris Lacey who went from much medication to being signed off by his neurologist as PD recovered over about three years. A man from Tasmania who carved chess pieces and found himself recovering. He doesnt have a website but you can find him with a Google search.
Well in 2016 there were 6·1 million individuals worldwide living with Parkinson’s I guess maybe 10 people claim to be cured but I think there could well be other explanations for such a small number. There is widely varying rates of progress, some with very slow change and some quite rapid. I always find decrease in meds taken interesting as some people are heavily over medicated and it takes someone they believe in to challenge that, so the decrease isnt disease regression so miuch as appropriate medication adjustment.
I read about the Tasmanian man a while back and it didnt sound like regression as I remember, more he had found a purpose and a focus and adjusted to his diagnosis. So many people I know are far better at 4 or 5 yrs post diagnosis than at one or two years.
I have seen a video of when he had PD and his gait is very typical PD and a second video, filmed several years later, when he is walking normally and even doing a couple of spins! You can believe what you want but you are not going to knock my hopes and dreams!
May 2012 he was diagnosed and Feb 2016 is the most recent reference I can find. He doesnt say there he is cured though. Do you have any more recent info?
I have often noticed, people are far better at 4 yrs than when diagnosed. There could be lots of explanations for this. The power of taking ownership and responsibility for ones wellbeing is one that makes a huge difference.
Being positive in outlook isnt new. In 1952 Norman Vincent Peale popularised it when he published his book “The Power of Positive Thinking. I can still be positive about my life (and I am) without having to believe in others dubious stories of cure. In fact Daph to me your story is far more inspiring than these others who claim to be cured.
Last year he emailed me, attaching a photocopy of a form for the driving people, where his neurologist had put that he no longer suffered from PD. Sorry i forget the exact words.
Also, Norman Doidge has met him and endorsed his story.
I'm touched that you think my story is inspiring. Do you know my story?!
Thats interesting, of course always the doubting Thomas I would need to see the wording to be convinced. I have never heard of a neurologist in anŷ country saying some one who had PD no longer has it.
In Oct 2015 the newspaper article said he had PD and Mr Lacey said. "If you approach it the right way there it is amazing what you can do. You can still have pretty good bloody life!"
The article went 9n to say “Lacey has been undergoing revolutionary treatment that has made his Parkinson's disease a much more manageable condition”. I have no idea what that refers to.
As to Doidge’s endorsement that has a negative effect for me.
theguardian.com/books/2015/...
sciencebasedmedicine.org/mi...
medium.com/myndplan/would-y...
greatergood.berkeley.edu/ar...
As to your story I know what you have written here and it appears to me that you manage your PD very well with pleasing results. You may be lucky in the type you have too but that doesnt detract from your self care.
One thing Ive noticed that has come out of this discussion is that those who claim cure seem to be in the early stage of the disease, the first couple of years when the diagnosis is up for questioning and could be changed anyway.
Thank you very much Hikoi for your posts !
Interesting also that you are so long on this forum.
I have some serious links extra. Really interesting this man, but also shows how complicated the whole issue is.
Today was a sunshine day in Switzerland but I couldn't enjoy it much do to the stiffness. (and perhaps yesterday by seeing my colleagues in the self-aid group, and there "evolution").
I still hope for the Mucuna, and the light therapy (but too expensive), Inosine,
and
"........a produkt that can easily dissolve alpha-synuclein.........(preferably by taking only 5 drops a day)"
""""""And dreaming ("hoping") to win the lotto, that I can start an interdisciplinar centre, with MD, ND, neurologists if they want, osteopaths and acupuncturists (and detox specialists) to work together....
(why hasn't the MJF organisation started this already.....?)"""""""
I have found that exercises of different kinds and a Mediterranean diet, most of the time, portion control, using vitamin supplementation and meditation, has been very helpful for me in dealing with, and relieving some PD symptoms. When one has more advanced PD symptoms, that affect the autonomic system, like I have, then it’s a different story. Medicines, such as Sinemet help relieve resting tremor, muscle rigididy, but not dysphagia or NOH, or extreme constipation, and other advanced problems, that result from the nature of neuro- degeneration processes within the brain. So, for those, lucky enough to have less severe symptoms, that are able to get some relief with various different programs, they may seem like a cure, and perhaps, for some patients, neuro-degeneration does not progress. I am not a doctor or scientist, so it is not for me to say if one is cured or not. I don’t have the credentials to determine that. All I know, is that dealing with PD and it’s symptoms, and how it has affected nearly everything for me, has been extremely difficult. If a person can find something to help them cope with symptoms, make them feel better, improve their outlook on life and/or their situation at the time, that is great! I’m all for people educating themselves, and helping themselves, and challenging themselves, when faced with a diagnosis, such as PD, Ataxia, other neuro-degenerative diseases, and other serious chronic health problems.
A passional belief, however sincerely held, is not proof.
Some sufferers are lucky to have a mild form of Parkinson’s, which as we all know, can vary in intensity. They then convince themselves that whatever treatment they tried is responsible for any improvement,
I was diagnosed two years ago, and I am much better now , on a full dose of Prolopa (Madopar), and no supplements, and no exercise. If I had been taking some bizarre herb, I probably would be touting it.
As far as current knowledge can tell us, it is LUCK.
Hello,
Howard is genuine. I have been working with his protocol since 2016 and remain medication free. You have nothing to lose by reading the book and following the protocol- which is all free on his website (the book is available through Amazon). I am looking forward to full recovery. I do have tremor and some other issues such as difficulty with cutlery on left side and intermittent back pain.
I strongly recommend you “have a go”.
All the best.
Lots of responses.. stress if we remember is a big part. Stress is in all of our lives and affects everyone differently. Our bodies respond differently act differently and are treated differently. A pharmacist in Sam's club have me advice that Parkinson's and many others start in the digestive track. Which puts all the diets and exercise and stress reduction into effect. Reduction of stress reduction of symptoms. Healthier eating means reduction of all the chemicals in our body.
But that's my take. Does his remedy work, maybe.
One things for sure everybody's different.
Everything that Howard does and recommends can’t hurt and is good advice for everyone, whether diagnosed with PD by a physician or not. His website provides detailed instructions and videos and is totally free. I try to follow most of his suggestions as best as I can although I am not really feeling the “chi” when practicing qigong. I do take the Sinemet and Rasagiline as I remember how I was before and it wasn’t good!
For me, attitude is everything. I can be experiencing so called PD symptoms but if I’m grateful for everything good in my life and avoid playing the victim role, I am healed, even if others don’t see it. Call it the placebo effect or denial, who cares? Many of Howard’s followers report similar experiences.
What I find incredulous about this post is
1 Posted by a “new” member.
2 The post leads to a marketing lead.
3 A similar discredited post failed last year.
This post is unbelievable, in my opinion.
David
1. (Relatively) new? Guilty.
2. Sorry - but I did say that I didn't want to buy his book. I didn't really say anything nice about him/it/whatever. I've removed the link to his book, but left a link to his website.
3. "Last year"? A search for Shifke brings up 2 replies 6 months ago, 4 replies 2 years ago, and a total of 73 replies 6 years ago.
4. Your opinion is that something like this should only be thoroughly discussed less than once in 6 years?
5. This has been a useful discussion for me, so thank you all for participating.
6. For the record, I won't be buying his book.
7. I have started some Qi Gong to see if that helps, but his overall approach is just too woo-woo for me.
Just in case anybody thinks JAS9 is talking about me, John Pepper, and my book, "Reverse Parkinson's Disease", I just want to assure everybody that I DO NOT CLAIM TO BE CURED!
I claim to have reversed many of my symptoms, and to have been able to maintain a state of health whereby I am able to avoid needing any Pd medication, as long as I do my FAST WALKING!
I also notice that his website also offers a book on Pd. I wish him/her all the luck in the world!
I have been practicing yoga 3-4 times per week since my diagnosis 6.5 years ago. I rarely see it mentioned in relation to PD, but it has been of enormous benefit, both physically and mentally. Yoga is about strength, balance, agility, and connection--of and between body and mind--and benefits both.
Yes I found his website six years ago when I was first diagnosed. He caught it early and addressed it with qi gong and lots of greens. He inspired me to become vegan. I believe I was doing fine until I started to treat my symptoms with drugs.
Interesting. I was vegetarian for 4 years, turned vegan 9 months ago, and started fast-walking 8 months ago. I also do a bit of qi gong and consume a lot of greens, so we have some overlap. I've been on Rytary for 3 years. I feel that I've been doing better since starting the fast-walking and vegan diet.
How do you feel your meds have affected you?
Not doing well on meds at all. I haven't been able to find the right dosage. Whenever I increase them I get rocking and altered gait. If I lower them I'll get increase PD symptoms. Glad to hear you're doing well 
The only prescription med I take is Rytary. I've tried others over the years, but I've learned that they just don't affect me well. I had been sort of ok on Rytary for 2 years, but was slowly losing ground. I tried to walk for exercise , but I just had no energy and my gait was very poor. So then, 10 months ago, I finally made the switch to vegan. That gave me more energy and seemed to improve Rytary's effects, and I was able to exercise more each day. I've gotten better with practice and can now fast-walk and I haven't had to increase my Rytary for over 6 months.
I'm also trying the B1 therapy but it's too soon to tell if the benefits I'm seeing will last. I hope things get better for your soon!
That's great news, I tried Rytary once and I ended up on the couch all day spaced out unable to function. That was just one pill! Walking is my only form of exercise, it's the closest I feel to normal
"A Type of Parkinson's that Does Not Respond to Any Medications"...the neurologist said about my dad. Anyone know about this?
Coenzyme a . Has anyone used this?I'm going to test Dr. Bredesen's theories on myself. Anyone else interested? Here's a brief introduction:
Newbie Question
I have no laces in my shoes
