Has anyone tried Mucuma Pruriens herbs

[srarndt]

Hi Anthony,

I almost did, until my neurologist pointed out that as with many herbal supplements (which generally I prefer over prescription meds), there is no strict controls over the amount of the active ingredient and also, like many herbal based supplements, the efficacy of the supplement varies much more than prescription meds do from individual to individual.

Also, two of the members of my PD support groups did try using the MP herbs and didn't have any luck with them.

Best wishes!

Steve (Bisbee, AZ)

[soniadakini]

HI Anthony,

I have been using Mucuna since Dec 2009 and find the effect almost immediate.There is a form of Mucuna that has been standardised to extract the L.Dopa .It is sold under the name Zandopa.

At first my neurologist was dismissive but now on my last visit in Dec 2011 he

suggested that I should up the dose of Zandopa.

I find that using Zandopa has enable me to keep medication to a extreme minimum.

I was diagnosed in 2007 and I am on 3X 100mg L.Dopa and 8mg Neupro per day and 3X 2 scoops of zandopa per day.

I know someone who after 2 years said it did not worked for him.

For me it is still working and definitely something I would want to be without.

All best

soniadakini

[GillRob4 in reply to soniadakini]

Hi, I have just bought some zandopa but it doesn't have any dosage instructions with it and no scoop supplied. Could you give me an idea of dosage measured in teaspoons please? Thanks Gill

[hilarypeta]

I am also interested to try..

I have refused all meds so far. Take co enzyme q10 and vit e..naturpath has prescribed me rtre..lots of vits etc in it. I await results..I just keep exercising and try to eat more dopamine foods..

[reverett123]

A group of us over at NeuroTalk have experimented quite heavily with it.

neurotalk.psychcentral.com/...

It works. No ifs, ands, or buts. But it does have some problems. It is messy. Have you ever seen something stain a porcelin sink black?

I found that when it was used up it happened quickly but no more so than sinemet does.

The published research used a dosage that is WAY too high. Instead of their 50 gr or so, a dose of five gr is a good start.

Zandopa is NOT mucuna. It is levodopa extracted from mucuna and has none of the several hundred other substances that are found in mucuna and which may be important.

As an indiation of its promise, a patent was issued for its use in PD about seven years ago. The patent was issued to one of the most widely published neurologists in the US. See wipo.int/patentscope/search... Just why a patent was issued for a use that has been known for centuriesn is a good question.

If I were just starting down the PD trail, I would ride mucuna as far as possible. It seems to offer significant advantages over levodopa and maybe even a healing influence.

[maryalice in reply to reverett123]

reverett I tried the mucuna that was in a capsule and it did help with the tremor. Could you tell me how to order the powder? I haven't been able to find it. Someone told me that it was what is used in India to treat Parkinson's. I don't want to take drugs because of the side effects. I've had PD for almost 13 years. I'm now on Mirapex and Amanadine.

Also are you familiar with John Coleman's story about how he recovered from stage 4 Parkinson's.

[reverett123]

maryalice-

Amazon has several vendors selling it. The ayurvedic name is "kapi kacchu" so you might want to search for that. The brand that I have used is "Banyan Botanicals" and is organic and US-grown. Other than cost, there is no reason to avoid the capsule form so long as it is simply the ground seed. I say this because the mess can be daunting. And just to get you thinking "right", mucuna is a drug and a very complex one. Treat it with respect. Start with a low dose and work up. And, there is no delicate way to put this, it is a true aphrodisiac for both genders. That can be good or bad depending on one's circumstances. I am only faintly familiar with the Coleman story and won't comment at this time for that reason. Good luck.

[maryalice in reply to reverett123]

reverett123 I'm a little confused. I looked at the neurotalk link you gave in your previous comment. It seemed as though Zandopa was recommended. When I researched Zandopa, I watch a video about it

and it said it was a pure form the the mucana bean with all the ingredients. Is it not the pure ground seed? Do you think that Banyan Botanicals is a better choice? I know that I am asking a lot of questions, but you seem knowledgeable about the subject. One other question, do you know if it has any long term side effects? Thanks for the information.

[reverett123 in reply to maryalice]

maryalice-

Zandopa is manufactured by a division of the largest chemical company in India. If you think about it, the phrase "a pure form of the mucana bean with all the ingredients" is a little odd. If it has all the ingredients, what was removed to purify it? And, no, Zandopa is not the pure ground seed. I have both in my cupboard right now and they are obviously different. Zandopoa is pure white and somewhat crystalline in appearence. Mucuna powder looks like, well, like you took a handfiul of large beans and ground them up. Beige color with tiny dark specks from the outer coating. For myself, Banyan is the better choice. But they really are two different drugs. Long term side effects? I'm sure there are but only because anything that works will probably have some. The research that has been published shows it to have fewer problems than levodopa. But you have to understand that we PWP live with great uncertainty and a hint of desperation. All our options carry individualized packets of risk.

One thing that I will emphasize- the published studies use a dose level of the powder that seems to be far higher than needed. I found that five grams (about a tablespoon) was enough for me. I must also point out that I am not, at present, still using mucuna myselr, although I do keep it on hand in case of supply problems and for occasional experimentation. Two reasons. One, it really is messy. And two, as I mentioned, it boosts libido and can put a real strain on a marriage. I value my wife more than my health. I was already half billy goat anyway.

[maryalice in reply to reverett123]

Thank you for your patience and all my questions. I now have a better understanding of the difference.

[micaela1969 in reply to reverett123]

thanks good information!!!

[reverett123]

1. Phytother Res. 2004 Sep;18(9):706-12.

Neuroprotective effects of the antiparkinson drug Mucuna pruriens.

Manyam BV, Dhanasekaran M, Hare TA.

Department of Neurology, Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX

76508, USA. [e-mail]

Mucuna pruriens possesses significantly higher antiparkinson activity compared

with levodopa in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned rat model of Parkinson's

disease. The present study evaluated the neurorestorative effect of Mucuna

pruriens cotyledon powder on the nigrostriatal tract of 6-OHDA lesioned rats.

Mucuna pruriens cotyledon powder significantly increased the brain mitochondrial

complex-I activity but did not affect the total monoamine oxidase activity (in

vitro). Unlike synthetic levodopa treatment, Mucuna pruriens cotyledon powder

treatment significantly restored the endogenous levodopa, dopamine,

norepinephrine and serotonin content in the substantia nigra. Nicotine adenine

dinucleotide (NADH) and coenzyme Q-10, that are shown to have a therapeutic

benefit in Parkinson's disease, were present in the Mucuna pruriens cotyledon

powder. Earlier studies showed that Mucuna pruriens treatment controls the

symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This additional finding of a neurorestorative

benefit by Mucuna pruriens cotyledon powder on the degenerating dopaminergic

neurons in the substantia nigra may be due to increased complex-I activity and

the presence of NADH and coenzyme Q-10.

Copyright (c) 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID: 15478206 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[maryalice in reply to reverett123]

Thanks! Good article.