Getting a broad view

[Donzim]

One thing to keep in mind: Parkinson's is just a name given to a constellation of symptoms and how they affect different individuals. All humans have multiple strengths and weaknesses in all the systems which have to work together in order for the body to function. Each individual comes with a different composition so not everything will work on everybody. People mean well when they tell you that such and such works but be very careful of wasting your energy and money on this kind of advice. An example is in my former note about exercise...a lot of exercise may work for some if the body doesn't regard it as 'stress', but it may be detrimental to others. We have to try a lot of ideas but with discernment.

As to the lively supplement debate, the answer is very simple. Go to your doctor, ask for a Spectracell test which will tell the nutrients in the cell, not the plasma, and you will know what supplements to spend your money for. After using it as a guide to raise or lower levels, my PDhusband and I (not a Parkie) both improved as shown by the way we felt and the results on subsequent tests. Just saying supplements work or don't work is total conjecture unless tests and studies are done. Not many studies are done due to the inordinate cost of studying something which has no promise of a financial return.

Have to smile when people wonder if supplements do damage long term...like the PD drugs don't! Well use your heads, friends, read and think and don't do anything stupid like take 200,000 mg of vitamin A.

You should all read Abraham Hoffners work on niacin and hallucinations, common to PD (med side effect or the disease?). My husband had them in spades for six months...I thought daily I would have to call the police...and in a moment of wild desperation, I went online and found Hoffners protocol which I used the next day. The hallucinations? Gone within 24 hours and as long as I gave niacin regularly, they stayed gone. If I forgot a dose or ran out, the brown dog appeared in the corner again and escalated into terrible, totally irrational behavior.

There's nothing wrong with anecdotal evidence as long as we don't think everything works for everyone. That doesn't even happen with drugs.

[faridaro]

Abram Hoffer was a brilliant doctor, however before someone starts on niacin, it would be good to get educated on different forms of niacin first, as some (in timed release form) in mega doses may have serious side effects.

[Donzim in reply to faridaro]

It was not time release, nor was it niacinamide.

[Beckey]

Thank you for a wise post!

[NancyJHP]

I'm going to run out and get some niacin, sounds like it might work for that particular unpleasant problem. Thanks.