When considering any type of alternative treatment for Parkinson’s disease, one very important point needs to be kept in mind – there is as yet no cure for Parkinson’s disease. The various treatment options available can only help to treat the symptoms of the disease and provide some degree of relief.

Treatment by means other than conventional Western medicine (allopathic medicine) falls under the banner of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). These are considered as natural therapies. Many natural forms of treatment are based on ancient systems of healing as were practiced in India, China, Africa, Tibet, and the Americas.

The basic difference between conventional and alternative medicine lies in the understanding of disease. Conventional medicine considers health as absence of disease. Disease may be caused by aging, pathogens, or biochemical imbalances in the body and is normally treated by medication or surgery. Alternative medicine, however, considers health as a perfect balance between the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspect of a person. Any disturbance that upsets this balance results in ill health. Alternative treatment aims to restore this balance by enhancing the body’s own defenses.

Reasons for Trying Complementary Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease

When faced with a chronic, progressive, and debilitating illness such as Parkinson’s disease, which requires lifelong treatment with drugs, many people will consider alternatives. Some of the reasons for this include :

• Natural treatments are thought of as being safe.
• The considerable side effects due to conventional medicines.
• Conventional treatment is not providing much relief.
• Unwillingness to continue with long term treatment as is necessary in PD.
• The expense involved in long term drug treatment.
• The mistaken belief that drugs stop providing relief from PD symptoms when continued for too long.
• Unjustifiable claims in advertisements about the ability of natural products to cure the disease.

Caution in Treating Parkinson’s Disease with Natural Therapies

• Stopping conventional PD drugs to try natural therapies is never advisable. Refer to Quitting Parkinson’s Disease Drugs.
• Natural treatments may be tried along with conventional therapy only after consultation with the doctor.
• Treatment should be done only under the guidance of trained and experienced professionals in complementary medicine.
• Herbal and natural preparations should be taken with caution as they may contain toxic substances or ingredients which may cause interaction with the PD drugs.
• Some herbal preparations may contain natural forms of levodopa but this will not be in the purified form, neither can the exact dose be controlled.
• Contrary to belief, certain natural remedies do have side effects.
• Natural therapies that involve manipulation of the body may result in injury.
• Many claims made about complementary therapies have not been substantiated with reliable clinical trials. The possibilities of side effects and long term complications from using these natural remedies have therefore not been verified.

Types of Natural Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease

• Biologically based therapies include diet and herbal therapy.
• Energy therapies include Reiki, Therapeutic touch, yoga, tai chi, and magnet therapy.
• Mind body medicine and techniques include meditation, relaxation techniques, hypnosis, biofeedback, and guided imagery.
• Manipulative and body based therapies include chiropractic, massage, reflexology, physical therapy, and postural re-education. While physical therapy and chiropractic are based on sound medical principles, there are practitioners within these disciplines who practice alternative techniques that have not been scientifically verified.
• Whole medical systems include Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese medicine, Homeopathy, and Naturopathy.