The symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, such as tremors, rigidity, postural instability, and other disorders of movement, are considered a result of declining levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. In Parkinson's Disease there is a degenerative process in the brain that leads to a marked decrease in synthesis of dopamine and a resultant drop in its levels in the substantia nigra and corpus striatum (two areas of the brain where dopamine synthesis is important). The lowering of dopamine results in raising the ratio of acetylcholine to dopamine, in cells of the nigrostriatal system. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter that stimulates muscle cells. It is considered that the higher ratio of acetylcholine to dopamine leads to over-stimulating muscle cells and this imbalance contributes to the various disorders of movement found in Parkinson's Disease.

Dopamine is the precursor to norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is a precursor to the hormone epinephrine. Norepinephrine and epinephrine are anti-stress chemicals in the body. Obviously there is great stress from Parkinson's Disease. This will lead to the chronic release of epinephrine into the bloodstream. Adrenaline hormones such as epinephrine are designed to be released only in a state of emergency, such as flight or fight, and not chronically as in Parkinson's Disease.

To decrease the amount of dopamine needed as a precursor for epinephrine and norepinephrine, thereby helping to preserve dopamine, you can increase the efficiency of epinephrine. This will result in less depletion of dopamine.

Furthermore, "epinephrine is involved increasing the power of muscles and prolonging the action of muscles (Oxford Dictionary of Biology)," by its ability to activate "the release of glucose from glycogen (stored carbohydrate energy) - (Harper’s Biochemistry 25th edition, Page 731). Thus, optimizing the ability of epinephrine may help achieve more muscle control, perhaps reducing motor symptoms of Parkinson’s.

Thus, controlling acetylcholine activation and controlling the overstimulation of epinephrine activity can have important effects involving motor control. If acetylcholine and epinephrine can be calmed down (inhibit), this can help calm down motor symptoms of Parkinson's.

Dr. Bob was a MD internal medicine, orthomolecular doctor, MD psychiatrist, chiropractor, and healer 65 years. He was a diabetic who lived to 108 years with only 1 side effect 2 years before he passed away. Dr. Bob practiced a system of medicine called orthomolecular medicine. It is a system of medicine that uses mainly natural substances that are non-toxic and safe in wide range of doses. It uses mainly herbs and minerals/vitamins.

Dr. Bob advised the following orthomolecular ideas to help calm down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and the hormone epinephrine:

1. Dr. Bob advised the supplement GABA to inhibit acetylcholine activation. From Oxford Dictionary of Biology, "(GABA) An inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (principally the brain) that is capable of increasing the permeability of postsynaptic membranes." Further, "GABA is released into the synapse and causes a slight increase in the potential difference across the postsynaptic membrane. This makes the neuron less likely to transmit an impulse." Dr Bob explained that GABA inhibited neurotransmitters, which means it may have the ability to reduce acetylcholine activation in Parkinson's. You can consider precursors of GABA. See a nutritional specialist or orthomolecular doctor to help administer GABA.
2. Dr. Bob advised the supplement inositol. It is sometimes classified as a member of the vitamin B complex. It is a mediator of cellular events in its role as a second messenger molecule. According to the Oxford Dictionary of Biology, second messenger molecules, which are produced from phosphatidyl inositol, "mediate adrenaline secretion." Thus, inositol helps regulate adrenal secretions. Epinephrine is part of the adrenaline system. Inositol therefore helps to regulate epinephrine secretion. Oftentimes, in orthomolecular medicine, inositol is supplemented to calm down a person. Its ability to help regulate the stress hormone epinephrine is probably where it gets this ability to calm down nerves. Dr. Bob advised 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon in the AM and PM. He also advised you take a B-50 at the same time with inositol to help prevent vitamin B deficiencies. Inositol works with B vitamins and increasing inositol and not increasing B vitamins can lead to insufficiency. Dr. Bob also advised to monitor your B6 dose. He recommended 25-100 mg of B6 total, each day for Parkinson’s. Any doses higher than this, consult with a nutritional specialist or consult a doctor.
3. Dr. Bob advised taurine. This is an amino acid that calms nerves down. According to, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, by James F. Balch, M.D., "It (taurine) is used to treat anxiety, epilepsy, hyperactivity, poor brain function, and seizures." Dr. Bob advised supplementing a vitamin B-50 or a multivitamin and mineral, when supplementing taurine. You can read more about taurine in the article, "Dilantin and Taurine."
4. Dr. Bob occasionally advised Dilantin. Although Dilantin is a drug, it has been proven low toxic over many years of use and beneficial in helping restore electrical balance to cells. Dr. Bob advised its use because he felt it fell close to orthomolecular definition, being a non-toxic substance and safe in a wide range of dose. The motor symptoms of Parkinson's creates electrical imbalance of cells. There are many reasons this is true, such as pH is altered from tremors, which slightly alters chemical reactions, which can slightly change voltage inside cells. The motor symptoms themselves can be observed to stimulate parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves at various times, indicating both nervous systems are out of balance. Imbalance of the autonomic nervous system can overly stimulate or inhibit neurotransmitters and hormones, possibly leading to changes of electrical voltage inside cells. This can result in improper activation of acetylcholine and adrenaline (epinephrine). Dilantin can help restore electrical balance to cells, which may help to inhibit the overactivation of acetylcholine and epinephrine in Parkinson's. Also, Dilantin can help decrease stress to cells. This can help to reduce adrenaline, the stress hormone, which will help to conserve it. This can help in Parkinson's.

In conclusion, Parkinson's is a disease of accelerated aging. Motor symptoms, brain degeneration, decrease in cognitive function, and other problems of Parkinson's lead to decline in efficiency and function of the brain and body, which results in further degeneration, aging, and breakdown. This is a downward spiral of declining efficiency and function. Each symptom and problem of Parkinson's needs to be neutralized, in order to slow down the aging process. There is no magic bullet cure. Each specific condition must be dealt with and methods of anti-aging can be used. The ideas in this article are to help in one aspect of Parkinson's, to help inhibit the activation of acetylcholine and the overstimulation of epinephrine. Good luck.

Note – In order for these anti-aging ideas to be successful, you must use supplements of the highest quality. Dr. Bob often said, "almost all supplement companies produce poor quality." You can consider the product page of this web site. Almost all the products met Dr. Bob’s approval. Since he passed away we have attempted to keep the same high standards.

WARNING:  DO NOT STOP ANY TREATMENT OR MEDICATION YOU CURRENTLY USE.  CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING THE USE OF SUPPLEMENTS. 

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The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated any of the statements contained on this web site. The information contained in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Remember each person's body is different and will react differently to various herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements. Therefore, any supplementation must be administered on an individual basis. Use the information found on this web site as precisely that: Information. You and your doctor must make any final decisions. This information is not meant to replace any doctor and patient consultation. This information should in no way replace your personal physician's advice.