One of the conditions of Parkinson's Disease is tremors.  Tremors can be produced by ammonia toxicity or can increase ammonia toxicity.  Thus decreasing ammonia levels can slow down tremors.   

Furthermore, ammonia toxicity increases hydrogen molecules.  Hydrogen molecules lead to the loss of buffering of the muscles.  Buffering is a solution that resists change in pH following the addition of acid or base.  "Increase of protons (decreased pH) can affect the function of muscle in a number of ways" and "fatigue of muscles, primary cause is accumulation in muscle tissue not of lactate but rather protons (hydrogen molecules).  (Ref. Robert K. Murray, MD, Ph.D., Daryl K. Granmer, MD, Peter A. Mayes, Ph.D., D.Sc., Victor W. Fodwell, Ph.D., Harper’s Biochemistry, 25^th Edition, Appleton & Lance, Stanford, Connecticut, 2000, Page 733.) Thus neutralizing acid products such as ammonia can slow down muscle fatigue and decreasing pH levels.  The loss of muscle strength makes it more difficult to control muscle tissue, making the susceptibility to tremors greater.  Decreasing ammonia levels in Parkinson's may help maintain muscle strength longer.

There are natural products that can help decrease ammonia levels in the body:

1.      The supplement OKG.  Dr Michael Colgan, one of the leading nutritional scientists in the world, in his book "Optimum Sports Nutrition," describes OKG as an excellent supplement to scavenge ammonia.

2.      Consider supplementing carnosine.  A buffer is a solution that resists change in pH following addition of acid or base.  “The amino acid histidine is the only amino acid that can act as a buffer at normal pH of about 7 (Ref. Pamela C. Champe, Richard A. Harvey, Biochemistry, 2^nd Edition, Lippincott-Raven Publishers, 1994, Page 12).”  Histidine produces carnosine, which is found in human skeletal muscle and can act as a buffer for muscle.  The more acid the pH of muscle tissue, the weaker the muscle becomes. “Fatigue of muscles during exercise, what is the cause?  The primary cause is accumulation in muscle tissue not of lactate, rather of protons.” Thus a buffer for muscles can prolong the start of fatigue.  The greater the fatigue, the less muscle control.  The less muscle control, the less ability to contract and relax muscle.  The ability to relax muscle can give it the ability to resist tremors that occur in Parkinson’s.  Thus supplementing carnosine may help decrease tremors in Parkinson’s.

Neurotoxicity --  In Parkinson’s Disease the brain chemical dopamine is produced from the amino acid L-dopa.  Low levels of dopamine are considered by modern science as the root cause of Parkinson’s’.  In Parkinson’s Disease, the major problem in the production of dopamine is L-dopa is inadequately converted to dopamine.   L-dopa is oxidized (chemical reactions in the body involving oxygen and loss of electrons) – resulting in a breakdown of L-dopa at a rate that produces inadequate levels of dopamine in Parkinson’s Disease.  Neurotoxicity can result in oxidation.  If the neurotoxicity is occurring in areas of the brain where L-dopa is converted to dopamine, the neurotoxicity can inhibit this conversion. 

A.       Neuroactive steroids - The study of neuroactive steroids is a developing science.  Neuroactive steroids in physiological concentrations regulate neuronal function through their concurrent influence on transmitter-gated ion channels and gene expression. (2) They help modulate and balance the central nervous system.  In the case of Parkinson’s disease where hyperammonia levels, free radical damage, decreased brain circulation, and many other neural toxic events can be happening, neuroactive steroids can be vital to help balance and modulate these adverse events.  Progesterone, pregnenolone, DHEA and metabolites made from them are vital neuroactive steroids of the central nervous system that accumulate in the brain after local synthesis or after metabolism of adrenal steroids.  You can check with a hormonal specialist to laboratory test your progesterone, pregnenolone, and DHEA levels.  If the levels are improper consider hormone replacement therapy to restore levels to optimal low youthful levels.  Many hormonal specialists consider normal ranges adequate for laboratory measurements of hormones.  In the case of Parkinson’s’ you should find hormonal specialists who consider restoring hormone levels back to low youthful levels, since this may result in optimal benefits.  A group of doctors called the A-4 anti-aging doctors are tested on the cutting edge ideas of the hormonal sciences before they can become A-4 doctors.  We recommend them.  Their national phone number is 773-528-4333.

B.       The mounting evidence is neuroactive steroids help modulate the effects of the neural inhibitory neurotransmitter (chemical messengers of the brain) GABA.  GABA helps control neural excitability, as may be the case in hyperammonia levels.  There may be several other compounds that enhance GABA effects.  In supplement form they are the B vitamins niacinamide and inositol, and the inhibitory amino acid taurine. Orthomolecular medicine is a system of medicine practiced by medical MD’s throughout the world.  It is a system of medicine that uses mainly vitamins/minerals and herbs.  It mainly uses natural substances that are non-toxic and are safe in a wide range of dose.  Orthomolecular methods of building up doses of these compounds is described in the article, “Anxiety/Panic Attacks,” in the section of the site directory called ‘mood disorders’.

Consult with your doctor to consider hormone replacement for important neuroactive steroids. Buffering muscle tissue and decreasing ammonia levels are other important considerations in Parkinson’s.  Also consider supplementation of GABA and the other supplements that can enhance the effects of GABA.  The article “Panic Attacks / Anxiety” in the section Mood Disorders describes GABA and other methods to enhance GABA.

The reason the modern medical establishment does not use many natural substances may be that there is not much money available for research for natural substances.  Natural substances are not compounds that can be patented.  Pharmaceutical companies work on making a profit so they need to discover drugs that can be patented and become profitable.  The doctors are busy with patients and depend a great deal on their pharmaceutical salespeople to keep them updated on the latest information on new treatments.  Therefore the lack of research on natural substances is a flaw of the system and not a reflection on natural compounds.  The lack of research on natural compounds is an issue of money.  Orthomolecular doctors are familiar with the effects of natural compounds and can guide you in the use of natural methods for healing.  Most natural compounds are safe at the proper doses.  Orthomolecular doctors can start you off at safe low doses and build up your levels slowly until symptoms start to decrease.  

In Parkinson's, there are many degenerative conditions.  There does not appear to be a magic bullet cure for all the various symptoms and conditions.  Therefore each condition and problem may have to be handled with various methods to neutralize the conditions.  The ideas in this article may help with handling tremors in Parkinson's.

(1)        Albrecht J.  Roles of neuroactive amino acids in ammonia neurotoxicity.  J neurosci Res 1998 Jan 15,51(2:)133-8

(2)        Rapprecht R. Holsboer F.  Neuropsychopharmacological properties of neuroactive steroids.  Steroids 1999 Jan-Feb;64(1-2);83-91 

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 evaluate 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. 

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