Parkinson disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that often impairs the sufferer’s motor skills and speech. Parkinson disease affects nerve cells, or neurons, in a part of the brain that controls muscle movement.

In Parkinson disease, neurons that make a chemical called dopamine die or do not work properly.

Dopamine normally sends signals that help coordinate your movements. Parkinson’s is a disease that causes a progressive loss of nerve cell function in the part of the brain that controls muscle movement. Progressive means that this diseases effects get worse over time.

Early symptoms of Parkinson disease are subtle and occur gradually. Affected person may feel mild tremors or have difficulty getting out of a chair.  They may notice that they speak too softly or that their handwriting is slow and looks cramped or small. They may lose track of a word or thought, or they may feel tired, irritable, or depressed for no apparent reason.

Patients with Parkinson disease often develop a so-called Parkinsonian gait that includes a tendency to lean forward, small quick steps as if hurrying forward (called festination), and reduced swinging of the arms. They also may have trouble initiating movement (start hesitation), and they may stop suddenly during walk (freezing).

 Primary symptoms

Tremor. The tremor associated with Parkinson’s Disease has a characteristic appearance. Typically, the tremor takes the form of a rhythmic back-and-forth motion at a rate of 4-6 beats per second. It may involve the thumb and forefinger and appear as a “pill rolling” tremor.

Tremor

Usually disappears during sleep or improves with intentional movement.

Rigidity

Rigidity, or a resistance to movement, affects most people with Parkinson’s Disease. A major principle of body movement is that all muscles have an opposing muscle. Movement is possible not just because one muscle becomes more active, but because the opposing muscle relaxes. In Parkinson disease, rigidity comes about when, in response to signals from the brain, the delicate balance of opposing muscles is disturbed. The muscles remain constantly tensed and contracted so that the person aches or feels stiff and/or weak.

Bradykinesia

Bradykinesia, or the slowing down and loss of spontaneous and automatic movement, the person cannot rapidly perform routine movements, activities once performed quickly and easily — such as washing or dressing — may take several hours.

Postural instability

Postural instability, or impaired balance, Patient can’t stand and/or walk properly, may develop a stooped posture in which the head is bowed, and the shoulders are drooped.

Difficulty with swallowing and chewing

Muscles used in swallowing may work less efficiently. In these cases, food and saliva may collect in the mouth and back of the throat, which can result in choking or drooling.

Speech changes

About half of all Parkinson’s Disease patients have problems with speech. They may speak too softly or in a monotone, hesitate before speaking, slur or repeat their words, or speak too fast.

Urinary retention and/or constipation

Due to the improper functioning of the autonomic nervous system (responsible for regulating smooth muscle activity) patient has problems with urination and/or stool. Constipation can also be caused by inactivity, eating a poor diet, or drink too little fluid.

Skin problems

In Parkinson’s Disease, it is common for the skin on the face to become very oily, particularly on the forehead and at the sides of the nose and sometimes scalp too becomes oily. And in some cases, skin can become very dry.  Excessive sweating.

Sleep problems

Sleep problems common in Parkinson’s Disease include difficulty staying asleep at night, restless sleep, nightmares and emotional dreams, and drowsiness or sudden sleep onset during the day.

Dementia or other cognitive problems

Some Parkinson’s patients may develop memory problems and slow thinking (this is condition called Parkinson’s dementia).  This dementia may affect memory, social judgment, language, reasoning, and/or other mental skills.

Orthostatic hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension is a sudden drop in blood pressure when a person stands up from a lying-down position.  This may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and, in extreme cases, loss of balance or fainting.  Studies have suggested that, in Parkinson disease, this problem results from a loss of nerve endings in the sympathetic nervous system that controls heart rate, blood pressure, and other automatic functions in the body.

Muscle cramps and dystonia

The rigidity and lack of normal movement associated with Parkinson’s Disease often causes muscle cramps, especially in the legs and toes, but sometimes Parkinson’s Disease also can be associated with dystonia — sustained muscle contractions that cause forced or twisted positions.  Dystonia in Parkinson’s Disease is often caused by fluctuations in the body’s level of dopamine.

Fatigue and loss of energy

The unusual demands of living with Parkinson’s Disease often led to problems with fatigue, especially late in the day.  Fatigue may be associated with depression or sleep disorders, but it also may result from muscle stress and/or from overdoing activity when the person feels well.  Fatigue may result from akinesia – trouble initiating or carrying out movement.

Sexual dysfunction

Because of its effects on nerve signals from the brain or because of poor blood circulation Parkinson’s Disease often causes erectile dysfunction. Depression and use of antidepressant medication also may cause decreased sex drive.

Vision disturbances

Impaired visual contrast sensitivity, spatial reasoning, color discrimination, convergence insufficiency (characterized by double vision) and oculomotor disturbances.

Cause of Parkinson Disease

The main causes could be:

• Genetic.
• Toxins.
• Head injury.
• Drug induced.

Diagnosis

Diagnose of Parkinson’s disease based on the patient’s symptoms, neurological examinations and medical history. No blood tests or x-rays can show whether a person has Parkinson’s disease.

The disease can be difficult to diagnose accurately. The Unified disease rating scale is the primary clinical tool used to assist in diagnosis and determine severity of Parkinson’s Disease. CT scan and MRI brain scans usually appear normal.

Hoehn and Yahr Staging of Parkinson Disease

• Stage one Symptoms on one side of the body only. 
• Stage two Symptoms on both sides of the body.  No impairment of balance.
• Stage three Balance impairment.  Mild to moderate disease.  Physically independent.
• Stage four Severe disability, but still able to walk or stand unassisted.
• Stage five Wheelchair-bound or bedridden unless assisted.

Prognosis of Parkinson disease

Parkinson’s Disease is not by itself a fatal disease, but it does get worse with time.   The average life expectancy of a Parkinson’s Disease patient is generally the same as for people who do not have the disease.  However, in the late stages of the disease, Parkinson’s Disease may cause complications such as choking, pneumonia, and falls that can lead to death.  Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for people with Parkinson’s Disease.

The progression of symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease may take 20 years or more.  In some people, however, the disease progresses more quickly.  There is no way to predict what course the disease will take for an individual person.

Allopathic treatment for Parkinson Disease

There is no cure for Parkinson disease in allopathic drugs, doctors just try help to control the symptoms. Several allopathic therapies are available to delay the onset of motor symptoms and to ameliorate motor symptoms. All of these allopathic therapies are designed to increase the amount of dopamine in the brain either by replacing dopamine, mimicking dopamine, or prolonging the effect of dopamine by inhibiting its breakdown.

The most effective therapy for Parkinson’s disease is levodopa (Sinemet), which is converted to dopamine in the brain. However, because long-term treatment with levodopa can lead to unpleasant side effects (a shortened response to each dose, painful cramps, and involuntary movements), its use is often delayed until motor impairment is more severe. Levodopa is frequently prescribed together with carbidopa (Sinemet), which prevents levodopa from being broken down before it reaches the brain. Co-treatment with carbidopa allows for a lower levodopa dose, thereby reducing side effects.

In earlier stages of Parkinson’s disease, substances that mimic the action of dopamine (dopamine agonists), and substances that reduce the breakdown of dopamine (monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitors) can be very efficacious in relieving motor symptoms. Unpleasant side effects of these preparations are quite common, including swelling caused by fluid accumulation in body tissues, drowsiness, constipation, dizziness, hallucinations, and nausea.

For some individuals with advanced, virtually unmanageable motor symptoms, surgery may be an option. In deep brain stimulation (DBS), the surgeon implants electrodes to stimulate areas of the brain involved in the movement. In another type of surgery, specific areas in the brain that cause Parkinson’s symptoms are destroyed.

An alternative approach that has been explored is the use of dopamine-producing cells derived from stem cells. While stem cell therapy has great potential, more research is required before such cells can become of therapeutic value in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Allopathic drugs have lot of side effects on all internal as well as external organs and decreases patient’s health and life span.

Homeopathy Treatment for Parkinson Disease

As we know, Homeopathy treats the person as a whole not just symptoms.

Murphy called Parkinson disease: Paralysis-agitans.
Henery Clarke called it: Paralysis agitans.
Boericke called it: Paralysis agitans.

Mercurius Solibus

Weakness of limbs, trembling of extremities, especially hands. Paralytic agitans. Lacerating pain in joints. Cold and clammy sweat on limbs. Oily perspiration. Tremors everywhere in body. Weakness with trembling from least exertion. All symptoms are aggravated at night, warmth of bed, in Damp, cold, rainy weather and during perspiration. All symptoms always associated with weariness, prostration and trembling.
Slow in answering questions. Memory weakened and loss of will power.

Stramonium

The entire force of this medicine seems to be expended on the brain, Skin and throat show some disturbance. Suppressed secretions and excretions. Sensation as if limbs were separated from body. Delirium tremens. Absence of pain and muscular mobility especially of muscles of expression and of locomotion. Gyratory and graceful motions. Parkinson’s disease.

Devout, earnest, beseeching and ceaseless talking. Loquacious, garrulous, laughing, singing, swearing, praying, rhyming. Sees ghosts, hears voices, talks with spirits. Rapid changes from joy to sadness. Violent and lewd. Delusions about his identity; thinks himself tall, double, a part missing. Religious mania. Cannot bear solitude or darkness; must have light and company. Sight of water or anything glittering brings on spasms. Delirium, with desire to escape.

Raises head frequently from the pillow. Pain in forehead and over eyebrows. Boring pain, preceded by obscure vision. Rush of blood to head; staggers, with tendency to fall forward and to the left. Auditory hallucinations. Graceful, rhythmic motions. Convulsions of upper extremities and of isolated groups of muscles. Chorea: spasms partial, constantly changing. Violent pain in left hip. Trembling, twitching of tendons, staggering gait.

Zincum Metallicum

Violent trembling (twitching) of the whole body especially after emotions. Twitching in children. Chorea.  Paralysis of hands and feet. Trembling of hands while writing. Lameness, weakness, trembling and twitching of various muscles. Feet in continued motion, cannot keep still. Worse touch, between 5-7 pm., after dinner, better eating, discharges.

Rhus Toxicodendron

When the tremors start with pain which is relieved by motion. There is stiffness of the parts affected. Numbness and formication, after overwork and exposure. Paralysis; trembling after exertion. Limbs stiff and paralyzed. All joints hot and painful. Crawling and tingling sensation in the tips of fingers. Worse during sleep, cold, wet rainy weather and after rain, night, during rest, drenching and when lying on back or right side. Better warm, dry weather, motion, walking, change of position, rubbing, stretching out limbs.

Gelsemium

Best medicine for nervous system, causing various degrees of motor paralysis…Dizziness, drowsiness, dullness and trembling are the hallmark of this remedy. Trembling ranks the highest in this remedy, weakness and paralysis, especially head muscles. Paralysis of various groups of muscles like eyes, throat, chest, sphincters and extremities. Mind sluggish and muscles are relaxed. Staggering gait. Loss of power of muscular control. Cramps in muscles of forearm. Excessive trembling and weakness of all limbs. Worse by dampness, excitement, bad news. Better by bending forwards, profuse urination, continued motion and open air.

Argentum Nitricum

It is complementary to Gelsemium. Memory impaired; easily excited and angered; flatulence and greenish diarrhea. Incoordination, loss of control and imbalance with trembling and general debility. Paralysis with mental and abdominal symptoms. Rigidity of calves. Walks and stands unsteadily. Numbness of body. Specially arms.

Agaricus Muscarius

Trembling, itching and jerking, stiffness of muscles; itching of skin over the affected parts and extreme sensitiveness of the spine. Cannot bear touch.

Chorea and twitching ceases during sleep. Paralysis of lower limbs with spasmodic conditions of arms. Numbness of legs on crossing them. Paralytic pain in left arm followed by palpitation. Stiffness all over with pain over hips. Jerking and trembling are strong indications.

Cocculus

Head trembles while eating and when it is raised higher. Knees sink down from weakness. Totters while walking with tendency to fall on one side.  Lameness worse by bending. Trembling and pain in limbs. One-sided paralysis worse after sleep. Intensely painful, paralytic drawing. Limbs straightened out and painful when flexed.
It shows special affinity for light haired females especially during pregnancy.

Lathyrus

Tremors of the upper extremities with paralytic weakness of the lower limbs. Feels as if limbs are hard and contracted; limbs feel heavy. Feels as if floor is irregular and is obliged to keep his eyes on the ground to guide his feet. Affects the lateral and anterior columns of cord. Does not produce pain.

Reflexes always increased. Lateral sclerosis and Infantile paralysis. Fingertips numb. Tremulous, tottering gait. Excessive rigidity of legs with spastic gait. Knees knock against each other while walking. Cannot extend or cross legs when sitting. Stiff and lame ankles.

Avena Sativa

Nervous exhaustion, sexual debility, and the morphine habit call for this remedy in rather material dosage. Best tonic for debility after exhausting diseases. Nerve tremors of the aged; chorea, paralysis agitans, epilepsy. Post-diphtheritic paralysis. Rheumatism of heart. Colds. Alcoholism. Sleeplessness, especially of alcoholics. Bad effects of Morphine habit. Nervous states of many female troubles. Inability to keep mind on any one subject. Nervous headache at menstrual period, with burning at top of head. Occipital headache, with phosphatic urine.

Physostigma

Marked fibrillary tremors and spasms of the muscles, worse from motion or application of cold water. Palpitation and fluttering of the heart felt throughout the body.

Depresses the motor and reflex activity of the cord and causes the loss of sensibility to pain, muscle weakness and paralysis.  Paralysis and tremors, chorea.

Meningeal irritation with rigidity of muscles. Pain in right popliteal space. Burning and tingling in spine. Hands and feet numb with sudden jerking of limbs on going to sleep. Crampy pain in limbs.

Ambra Grisea

Tremors with numbness, limbs tingling on the slightest movement, coldness and stiffness of limbs. The fingernails become brittle and are shriveled. Cramps in hands and fingers. Worse grasping anything. Cramps in legs.

Extreme nervous hypersensitiveness. Dread of people and desire to be alone. Music causes weeping.

Heloderma

Trembling along nerves in limbs. Tired feeling, very weak and nervous, fainting, numb sensation. It causes locomotor ataxia.

The eyes become more prominent and corneal opacities visible. Very depressed and sensation as if would fall on right side. Sensations if walking on sponge. As if the feet were swollen. When walking, lifts feet higher than usual and puts down heel hard. Stretching relieves pains in muscles and limbs.

Magnesia Phosphorica

Trembling; shaking of hands, involuntary. Paralysis agitans. Cramps in calves, feet very tender. Twitching, Chorea, cramps. Numbness of fingertips. Worse right side, cold, touch, night. Better warmth, bending double, pressure and friction.

Causticum

Causticum is one of the great poly chrest medicines of the Chronic Diseases. The weakening effect of potassium in allopathic overdosing is well known and is strongly brought out in the Causticum proving. Paralytic weakness. Paralysis of single nerves or single parts. Ptosis; facial paralysis; paralysis of tongue; of extremities; of vocal cords; of bladder; of rectum; lead paralysis. Allied to paralysis are convulsions, chorea, cramps, starting, restlessness, twitching. Contraction of flexor tendons. Trembling. Neuralgic and rheumatic affections; tearing, drawing pains. The paralytic element comes out in slow learning to talk and walk and stumbling on attempting to walk. In chorea the right side is more affected than left words seem to be jerked out. Melancholy. Parkinson’s disease (prosoplasia). Epilepsy.

Bufo Rana

Special action on nervous system. Painful paralysis. Pain in loins, numbness and cramps. Staggering gait. Feels as if a peg is driven into joints. Worse in warm, better bathing or cold air.

Tarentula Hispanica

Remarkable nervous phenomena. Chorea, extreme restlessness and Paralysis agitans. Must keep in constant motion even though walking aggravates. Numbness of legs with twitching and jerking. Extraordinary contractions and movements.

Cuprum Metallicum

Melancholy, with attacks of extreme anguish, like fear of death; restlessness. Convulsion. Dementia. Loss of sense and thought. Delirium. Whirling vertigo. Stupefying depression. Epilepsy. Distortion of the head on one side and backwards. Parkinson’s disease.

Plumbum Metalicum

Paralytic agitans. Paralysis of single muscles. Cannot raise or lift anything. Extension is difficult. Paralysis from over exertion of extensor, wrist drop, Loss of patellar reflex. Pain in right big toe at night, Hands and feet cold.

Infantile paralysis and neuritis.

Conium

Heavy, weary and paralyzed limbs. Trembling and unsteady hands. Muscular weakness especially of lower extremities. Perspiration of hands. Putting feet on chair relieves. Ascending paralysis ending in death by failure of respiration. Worse by lying down, turning or rising in bed, cold, exertion. Better by darkness, limbs hanging down, motion, pressure.

Argentum Nitricum

Fearful and nervous; impulse to jump out of window. Faintish and tremulous. Melancholic. Headache with coldness and trembling. Emotional disturbances cause appearance of hemi-cranial attacks. Sense of expansion. Brain-fag, with general debility and trembling. Headache from mental exertion. Vertigo, with buzzing in ears and with nervous affections. Aching in frontal eminence. Boring pain; better on tight bandaging and pressure. Itching of scalp. Hemicrania; bones of head feel as if separated.

My (Dr. Qaisar Ahmed MD, DHMS) experience treating Parkinson’s:

Zincum Metalicum, Hellebores Niger, Strychninum Phosphoricum, Strychninum Purum, Strychninum Arsenicum, Baryta Carbonicum, Phosphor, Kali Phos, Kali Carbonicum, Physostigma Venenosum, Absinthian, Coculas, Causticum, Bufurana, Viscum Album, Cuprum Metalicum, Veratrum Viride, Rhododendron, Aethusa Cynapium.

Advise any of them or in combination according to individual symptoms and constitution.

P. S: This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).

For proper consultation and treatment, please visit our clinic.

None of above-mentioned medicine(s) is/are the full/complete treatment but just hints for treatment; every patient has his/her own constitutional medicine.

Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS), Abdominal Surgeries, Oncological surgeries, Gastroenterologist, Specialist Homeopathic Medicines.

 Senior research officer at Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine.

Location:  Al-Haytham clinic, Umer Farooq Chowk Risalpur Sadder (0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.

Find more about Dr Sayed Qaisar Ahmed at:

https://www.youtube.com/Dr Qaisar Ahmed

https://www.facebook.com/ahmed drqaisar

https://www.drqaisarahmed.com.