Homeopathy is a system of medicine developed some 200 years ago by the German physician, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. It is based on the principle of ‘like cures like’. By administering substances in a specially diluted form known as potencies, the remedy is supposed to stimulate the body’s innate healing ability to overcome the disease and restore the state of health. While a popular system of alternative medicine globally, homeopathy is a subject of much controversy as many members of the medical science field see homeopathic remedies as nothing more than a placebo.
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Chemical changes in the Brain
In Parkinson’s disease (PD) there is slow and progressive loss and deterioration of nerve cells of the brain especially those involved with regulation and control of movements.
In a healthy person, an adequate amount of dopamine (a chemical messenger present in the body) is present in substantia nigra (an area of cluster of nerve cells in the brain). Normally, dopamine is carried by the nerve cells from this area to another cluster of nerve cells known as the corpus striatum where these nerves terminate. Here, along with dopamine, acetylcholine, another chemical messenger, regulates the bodily movements.
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Loss of taste or smell can occur over a period of time in Parkinson’s disease but it may be so gradual as to remain undetected in many patients. Some studies have shown that impaired sensation of smell may occur in a PD patient even long before the development of motor symptoms.
Disorders of taste (gustatory) and smell (olfactory) may occur normally with advancing years but suffering from a neurodegenerative disorder such as Parkinson’s disease seems to increase chances of such disorders.
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Surgery may be contemplated in a Parkinson’s disease patient either to control symptoms of the disease or for some cause unrelated to Parkinson’s disease, such as a hip replacement or prostate gland removal. The risks associated with surgery need to be analyzed so as to decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks and if surgery is justifiable in such patients. Considerations such as age of the patient, type of surgery, and the stage of Parkinson’s disease should be kept in mind before arriving at a decision.
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The typical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement, and postural instability may also occur in certain other conditions not related to Parkinson’s disease. These symptoms are grouped together under the term “Parkinsonism” and the conditions may be called “secondary Parkinsonism”.
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Parkinson’s disease is difficult to diagnose in the early stages. The first signs and symptoms of the disease are so subtle that its often missed. Often an observant family member or friend will notice the beginning of the changes in a person, which may be so vague that it is often dismissed as occurring due to old age. Diagnosis is frequently missed in younger people since the first signs and symptoms, even when noticed earlier, may be attributed to other conditions instead of Parkinson’s disease.
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Parkinson’s disease, unless in the late stages, should not be a contraindication for traveling, provided adequate preparations are made in advance. Although it may be intimidating for a PD patient to consider traveling to distant unfamiliar places, certain basic considerations, if kept in mind, can make the trip comfortable, enjoyable, and problem-free.
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Natural remedies for Parkinson’s disease may vary from herbs to homeopathic remedies, nutritional substances and floral extracts. Many modern drugs have been sourced from plants and once the active ingredient was identified, it was synthetically manufactured in easy to acquire and convenient dosage forms like tablets and capsules. In the more traditional approach to health care, the naturally occurring ingredients are either used for its pharmacological action or based on alternative approaches to treating disease. Nutrition is a cornerstone of most complementary therapies for Parkinson’s disease but individual beliefs have varied according to regional and cultural differences.
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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.
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