Going to Dom. Rep. Therefore to avoid complications at the airport just ordered mp and thiamine in capsules which I normally use in powder form. It'll also give me a break from the powders. Thank you all for your continued input on this forum for you all make life with PD a but more simple. I bought the high potency B1 because it doesn't contain gelatin, it's on sale and it has added magnesium which is essential for absorption. The MP I bought is the Barlow's 40%.
These are the links:
Ernie,
How many grams of B-1 are you currently taking per day?
If it is 3 or 4 grams, you may have a problem with those caps in that they will give you too much magnesium. Yes magnesium is useful in the utilization of B-1 and is generally good for the body , but too much is too much and 600 or 800 mg per day plus what you get from food and any other supplements is well above the DA of 350 to 400 mg. That supplement also contains 4 types of magnesium, two of which are well known to "loosen things up" and diarrhea is a possibility. Diarrhea is bad, but diarrhea while traveling is worse!
Dr. C is opposed to the use of B-1 sources that include supplemental magnesium because they can push your magnesium level too high.
Art
4 grams. 🙂oh no, I'll have to let my wife and kids use those up.
That's why I didn't put any links for those type of thiamine supplements on the "thiamine primer page". You can still use them up yourself so they are not wasted. Just use those for your lunch time dose and your powder for your morning dose. That much magnesium is probably okay for as long as the bottle lasts.
Art
Ordering the solgar tablets. Thanks Art. Yeah I don't have a problem with bowel movement so I think I'll stay way. Oops out of stock
If they are in stock, the Vitacost brand is cheaper and their capsules are easier to swallow than the Solgar tablets. I think their bottle may have free shipping, but I haven't checked lately.
Also, if you take a look at the links section of the thiamine primer page, I think the newer bulk powder supplier that I put up may be even cheaper than your current supplier. Let me know.
Art
They’re in stock but contains gelatin
Is gelatin a problem for you? This is just for your trip isn't it?
Art
Yes I don't eat meat for a long time. Some fish occasionally which is something I have to consider getting more disciplined about because of the mercury and other heavy metals. Yes I saw you posted that link as cheaper for bulk thiamine, I'll definitely look at it and let you know. 😊 thanks
Vitacost doesn't say, but perhaps it is vegetable gelatin capsules instead of animal gelatin. You can contact them and they will usually let you know within a day or two.
Art
I will. Thank you. Gelatin usually means animal.
It's a great price even with shipping, but it's in the UK. That might work better for them, I'd rather pay a little more for state side in case anything goes wrong. You're still the best 🤗. Check this out and they manufacture in my state and reseller next town over. nutrabio.com/mm5/merchant.m...
Those were almost perfect for you, Ernie, but they are the wrong kind of thiamine!
They are the thiamine mononitrate form. Sorry.
Art
Thanks again Art, 👍😊
Ernie,
Since you have been taking the pure powder B-1 and are now quite familiar with how you react to it and are going to at least temporarily switch to the tablets or capsules, I was wondering if you can do me a favor and pay close attention to how you react to the pills in comparison to the powder?
I ask this because a PWP friend of mine who uses both, told me he wasn't positive, but he felt he did better on the powder over the capsules. I would like to get another opinion on that idea and you will, in short order, be able to give that opinion!
Thank you!
Art
It's amazing how I was just thinking of posting on that specifically to you. I received the B1 high potency from source naturals today and was excited to try it, but followed your advice about too much magnesium in these for someone who's taking 4 grams of B1 as I am. So I decided to do 1 gram of powder and 1 gram tablets (2x 500mg tablets). So my right dominant arm was shaking like a leaf in hurricane Sandy and hence I felt stressed out, overwhelmed and a list of symptoms. Then I took my regular concoction which consists of 16 herbs (will share list as requested), 1/8 tsp. of Mucuna pruriens, 1 gram of B1 powder mixed in a very little water like a mud mix and finally the 2 tablets of B1(500mg). The initial response was too harsh on my stomach, but 15 minutes later I feel WONDERFUL, NO TREMOR, BETTER THAN EVER. The response to the tablets form is better
What a coincidence!
The problem with those particular capsules is the magnesium....it could easily be the reason for the added improvement (best ever) because it helps to activate the thiamine.
Art
Yup 😁👍.
Hi ErnieMay I have your list of herbs?
I use Mucuna and B-1 as well!
Hi Citizen1, this the link where you’ll find the list of herbs I experimented with but not using at the present time healthunlocked.com/cure-par...
It was quite a number of years ago but when I last went to the Dominican Republic I had trouble with bringing my supplements with me. At the time I was taking a regiment vitamins, minerals and natural supplements so I brought everything in their original bottles and had official letters from 2 doctors. They almost confiscated the whole lot.
Thank you for the heads up.
what r side effects of taking MP and does it cross the BB barrier?
I've experienced no side effects except when trying to get the dosage right at the beginning I took too much and couldn't sleep, and dyskinesia from taking too much also. I think due to the fact that I use 100% pure powder extract form made it more difficult to get the dose right. But MP has no known side effects as far as I know. While taking the mp just now with some herbs I realized I did not answer that question completely, you need an mao inhibitor to aid it in crossing the BBB, I use many herbs with my concoction, but one that silvatrov recommends its Tribulis terestris.
I was recently diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Dr. recommended MP, and on reading up on it came across this interesting tidbit:
"According to Kurtak, mucuna can be used as a natural remedy. However, she recommends taking it while rehabilitating the dopamine receptors. “Otherwise, it actually exacerbates the problem and causes further damage.”
Her suggested stack of supplements to take alongside macuna:
L-tyrosine: 1000 mg two times per day on an empty stomach
Rhodiola: 50 mg twice a day
Serotonin-Dopamine drops
N-Acetyl Cysteine: 1000-2000 mg of to support glutathione production and prevent loss of the naturally occurring dopamine"
Is she saying that what a lot of Drs. are recommending are actually "exacerbating the problem". This seems an outrageous accusation, besides discouraging the use of MP on its own which is my prescription. And without citing any studies.
I´d appreciate your take on this.
Meinrad.
Do you have PD with LBD? My aunt had LBD alone and PD drugs- I don't know which one but I've always assumed levodopa- made her worse.
The Dr. is not sure about the diagnosis and has prescribed Sinemet and MP, probably on a trial and error basis. Besides the tremors, weakness, shuffling, etc. my worst symptom is acting out my dreams and leaping from the bed while asleep. So far no broken bones, only a near concussion from landing on my head. The sleep medication he prescribed, Quetidin, may or may not work, but I can´t take the chance so tying myself to the bed seems like at least a temporary solution.
For the other symptoms, will try increased exercise to try to retard the symptoms.
Meinrad
Where are you? Can you get a
dat-scan? Although expensive insurance covers it some places.
I'll look into it. Will get back to you. But as far as I remember reading something like this, what I thought was, I think she's right mp alone does not do the trick for repair of dopamine deficiency. But I have to read more on this. Do you have a link to her statement?
This is the link where she made the statement:
karenkurtak.com/mucuna-prur...
I must say I agree with her, being that, I'm a reformed junkie (former heroin addict). The way I understand it is as she stated:
quote (Dopamine is artificially elevated in response to chemicals contained in alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine, crystal meth and heroin as well as from overeating. Excessive exposure to dopamine results in dopamine receptors not working properly. As the nervous system needs higher and higher levels of dopamine to produce the same response, an individual seeks out more and more of the stimulating substance or activity. This is the heart of addiction.)
I believe this is a major contributor to the cause of my Parkinson's. And many practitioners do not subscribe to this, including the neuros I've dealt with, Artificial supply of dopamine in the form of heroin resulted in dopamine receptors not working properly. So in essence Mucuna is an artificial supply of dopamine and therefore her statement is, according to my experience very clear:
quote (I think Mucuna pruriens is a natural substance that practitioners need to actively educate themselves and the general public about).
We need to learn more. Because the artificial supply of dopamine dependency is not ultimately what we want. I think what she's ultimately saying is... We must be careful and not just take even the practitioners word on anything. Remember they are practicing on us.
Ernie Diaz,
Thanks so much for your response. Another question: do you have any idea about the stack she recommends. If its necessary to take that bunch of supplements, etc, I might just decide to avoid everything. As for my most dangerous symptom which is acting out my dreams and leaping from my bed - a concussion the last episode,- tying myself to the bed may be the best solution for now. And increased exercise to try to retard the other symptoms.
Meinrad
Funny 😁 tying yourself to the bed, but not funny you're having such a hard time. You might want to try B1 and magnesium. I'll look into her list of recommended things to take with mp a little further and let you know what I think. I agree it's lots of work.
You say you were taking B1 powder form, just wondering what you mixed it with
to get past the bitterness?, I have some on the way and I wondered what I'd mix it with .
I mix with many herbs, but still bitter so I chase it with a bit of grape juice.
Mucuna Pruriens is a life saver
Mucuna Pruriens in Parkinson's disease, dosages and effects, A double-blind, randomized, controlled, crossover human study (2017)
mucuna pruriens 
New Clinical Study regarding Mucuna Pruriens
