My older brother, a retired physician but not a neurologist, has taken a great interest in my current health status as a person with prodromal symptoms of Parkinson's Disease but no motor issues as of yet. He suggested I start taking Mucuna Pruriens as a way to supplement what my body is beginning to lack.
I'm afraid things are never that simple. From your experiences, what are the downside risks of doing this?
Mucuna Pruriens: There are no downside risk if you do not overdose. This is from someone with out a diagnosis of Parkinson who has tried this.
May I suggest a formulation I have used and which my spouse - who has Parkinson - use daily: DopaBoost.
amazon.com/gp/product/B004L...
UNIQUE DOPAMINE SUPPORT - Five synergistic ingredients designed to support the body's natural production of dopamine, one of the primary catecholamines.
HIGHLY STANDARDIZED MUCUNA - Mucuna pruriens naturally contains L-DOPA, the metabolic precursor to dopamine. The Mucuna material in DopaBoost is standardized to contain an extremely high 60% L-DOPA.
SYNERGISTIC FORMULA - Additional ingredients include Green Tea Extract standardized to 45%EGCg (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), acetyl L-tyrosine, quercetin and vitamin B6.
One capsule a day. (The recommended dose of two capsules per day is intended for those diagnosed with PD, and experiencing its symptoms - rigidity, shakes, slowness.)
Do radically alter your diet, if you have not done so, away from the traditional Western Diet: processed foods, high sugar, and so called ‘vegetable oils’.
Supplements:
Omega 3, B Complex, Trace Minerals, Magnesium and Lithium.
Your brother is right: the time to start is now.
Addendum: Do use the search function on this site to develop a better understanding of what you are facing 🌹
I'm scheduled for a DaTscan in precisely one week. That being the case, I will delay the addition of any supplements that the clinic has not previously cleared until after the procedure. Thanks so much for your response!
I agree with this 100%. I have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s for about 7 years and I was experiencing too much dyskinesia with the prescription meds. So a year ago I cut my prescription meds dose in half an order to include Dopaboost. I’m now taking two Dopaboost capsules two times a day as well as two 1/2 tablets of levodopa carbidopa. I still have some dyskinesia, but it’s much better. I think Dopaboost is a good way to start and I would highly recommend it as something to try. Some people have had good outcomes from using powders or other kinds of mucuna supplements but Dopaboost is easy and effective.
"I'm afraid things are never that simple." I agree.
One risk is it is possible it could hasten the onset of dyskinesia.
Mucuna comes with a lower risk of dyskinesia, but it is not zero risk.
No one knows in your case what dose might cause it.
VinylHound, Mucuna is levodopa without carbidopa. It is a grain you should take as powder ( smashed grain ) accompanied with green tea to add natural carbidopa BUT you should begin taking it, only if you have started being medicated with Levodopa as it can lead you to horrible diskinesyas. Regards
I have zero motor symptoms at this time. I have only prodromal symptoms; e.g., REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, occasional dizziness upon standing, etc. Gait is fine, good arm swing, handwriting intact. My neurologist has not given me a diagnosis of Parkinson's yet but did suggest a DaTscan, which I get one week from today. I'm fine at present but vigilant. I was worried about starting anything with dopamine when I have no symptoms to be helped. Thank you for your response. Very helpful.
Why take something like that if you don't need it and you may not need it for many (5 - 10) years.
You are smart to prepare for it in advance.
I am in almost the exact same boat as you (except I have a sore left shoulder and am not getting anything scanned). I am working to prevent this from progressing. This is my stack (I am adding Curcumin to it): rbd-pd-protocols.blogspot.c...
If you have no symptoms, that’s another story. But I would definitely work on gut health, start an exercise program if you’re not doing that already. watch your diet (mediterranean diet is good) get rid of toxins, and include B and D vitamins and magnesium in your supplements.
The thing to get started with early are the treatments that are thought to be disease modifying. A regular vigorous exercise program is one. Another is high-dose thiamine. Dosing instructions and other information at the links. Allow four months for full effect:
healthunlocked.com/cure-par...
healthunlocked.com/cure-par...
facebook.com/groups/parkins...
A good source of thiamine HCl is here:
vitacost.com/vitacost-vitam...
There are others but I think this is enough for now
Eat a Dopamine rich diet, particularly broad/Lima beans.
Search "scienceofparkinsons": Mucuna Pruriens. scienceofparkinsons.com/tag...
Mucuna Pruriens 
Mucuna Pruriens
Mucuna Pruriens
Mucuna Pruriens 90% vs ET.
Mucuna Pruriens and B1 capsules 
