I just completed hosting an interview with naturopath John Coleman who has just released his new book Rethinking Parkinson’s Disease. Be sure to listen to the interview by visiting your member radio show page. Click on the radio show icon shown on this member page or visit the member radio show by clicking here. It will well be worth taking an hour our of your day to hear John’s perspective on recovery from Parkinson’s and his answers to questions from various Parkinsons Recovery members.
John’s new book is, to date, the most thorough exploration of the etiological pathways (causes) leading to diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease or similar neuro disorders.
Rethinking Parkinson’s Disease explains how and why trauma, toxins and stealth infections create symptoms diagnosed as a “disease”, usually treated without any further investigation into prodromal history, early life, toxic load or the possibility of infection.
The major section of this work details strategies to create wellness and reverse the illness processes, much available to patients with little or no cost. There are sections on Western Allopathic Medical treatments (symptom control), Complementary Medical treatments and therapies to avoid.
Click the arrow below to hear my interview with Bill McAnalley PhD who discusses why food can fix things that drugs can’t. His discussion focuses on explaining the causes of Parkinson’s and the right foods to treat each cause.
Information about Dr. McAnballey’s company, is accessed by visiting  Aroga
Below are the talking points that Dr. McAnalley prepared for my interview with him on Parkinsons Recovery Radio where he explains why food can fix things drugs cant Â
Parkinson’s disease (PD), characterized with bradykinesia, static tremor, rigidity and disturbances in balance, is the second most common neuro-degenerative disorder. Alzheimer disease is first.
With the global trends in aging, the incidence of PD has increased year by year and the prevalence rate is up to 1–2% among the elderly over the age of 65 years. So far, there is still no exact cure for PD due to its diversity of etiology and complexity of symptoms.
Currently, Parkinson’s disease is treated with Levodopa and maybe Monamine, Oxidase Inhibitors (MOAs) or Acetylcholine inhibitors. Levodopa makes more Dopamine available for the dopamine receptor, MOAs increase the amount norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin at their prospective receptors and acetylcholine inhibitors make more acetylcholine available to its receptor.
None of which address the physical cause of the disease.
The cause of PD has not been completely elucidated, but it has been generally acknowledged that the improvement of oxidative stress is one of the most important patho-physiological mechanisms.
Dr. Bill’s research has focused on stopping the causes of diseases like Parkinson’s by:
The inhibition of oxidative stress:
PD patients are in a state of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is caused by the increase of free radicals in the organism, while the ability to eliminate free radicals is decreased at the same time. A large amount of lipid peroxide, such as Malondialdehyde (MDA), hydroxyl, carbonyl, etc., will cause cell death, which leads to neuronal apoptosis ultimately.
The mitochondria is the “power plant†and “energy conversion station†of cells. It also regulates the process of gene expression and apoptosis. Recent reports have suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction is closely related to a variety of neuro-degenerative diseases including PD.
The reduction of toxic Excitatory Amino Acids (EAA):Â
Glutamate (Glu), Also, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and enkephalin can can produce excitotoxicity effects on nerve cells. Glutamate creates an excitatory effect on nerve cells, and is toxic when Dopa Amine neurons are fully or partially degenerated.
The inhibition of neuroinflammation:
Neuroinflammation is a common and important pathological mechanism in nervous system diseases and different neurological diseases are involved in neuroinflammation at some stage. At present, it is believed that neuroinflammation was involved in an important cascade reaction in neuronal degeneration of PD.
When the central nervous system suffers from exogenous antigens stimulus, such as pathogenic microorganisms or foreign bodies, microglia will be rapidly activated. Then, the activated microglia cells can secrete various cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, etc. The cytokines cause neuroinflammation.
The inhibition of neuronal apoptosis:
Parkinson’s is caused by the premature death of dopaminergic neurons by abnormal apoptosis activation. Energy for normal activities of brain cells comes directly from aerobic energy, and there is little energy storage. However once brain damage occurs, it will cause nerve cell apoptosis or death.
The Bcl-2 family of proteins regulate apoptosis. It is divided into two categories: anti-apoptosis gene (such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bcl-w, Bcl-1, etc.) and pro-apoptosis gene (such as Bax, Bak, Bad, Bid, etc.). Their ratio regulates apoptosis.
The inhibition of abnormal protein aggregation:
Misfolded and aggregated proteins play a key role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease. Protein aggregates differ from disease to disease. This common characteristic shows that protein deposition is toxic to neurons.
Studies confirmed that the activity of the proteasome dropped substantially in substantia nigra of patients with PD, which weakened the ability of the substantia nigra to degrade α-syn and other proteins.
Targeting Nrf2 to Suppress Ferroptosis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Neurodegeneration:
Nrf2 is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) protein that regulates the expression of antioxidant proteins that protect against oxidative damage triggered by injury and inflammation. Several drugs that stimulate the NFE2L2 pathway are being studied for treatment of diseases that are caused by oxidative stress.
Listing of Core Food Ingredients that Address the Structure and Functional Causes of the Disease
The inhibition of oxidative stress:
Brahmi, Bacopa monnieri
Maca root powder, Lepidium meyenii (Walp.)
Tongkat Ali (Longjack), Eurycoma Longifolia
Turmeric root powder, Curcuma longa
The reduction of toxic Excitatory Amino Acids EAA:
Brahmi, Bacopa monnieri
The inhibition of neuroinflammation:
Turmeric root powder, Curcuma longa
Wild Yam root, Dioscorea villosa
The inhibition of neuronal apoptosis:
Noni Fruit, Morinda citrifolia
The inhibition of abnormal protein aggregation:
Amia powder, Emblica officinalis
Turmeric root powder, Curcuma longa
Targeting Nrf2 to Suppress Ferroptosis and
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Neurodegeneration.
Chaga Mushroom, Inonotus Obliquus
Milk Thistle Seed Extract, Silybum marianum.
Tongkat Ali (Longjack), Eurycoma Longifolia
Aroga
Dr. Bill offered suggestions on the products he recommended for persons diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He recommended three
Aroga products: (1) the Core (2) the Plus Brain and Nerve and (3) the Bone, Joint and Endocrine (which supports hormones). At a minimum. the Core would take top priority.
Information about these products and the opportunity to order is available at:
Here is a short list of questions I answered on the third part of my Q&A’s this week:
What are the best techniques to reverse Parkinson’s?
Are probiotics and prebiotics helpful?
What about juicing to remove heavy metals like lead?
How about taking mucuna for tremors?
Is there anything that will stop my tremors?
Where does one start when deciding to travel down the road to recovery?
What about taking lots of supplements to address the symptoms?
I am doing all of the therapies that people say will calm tremors but they continue to increase. Can you recommend a tremor treatment that will help?
Is  ketogenic diet useful to address Parkinson’s symptoms or are there other diets that are better? I am confused. There are so many opinions out there!
Additional Parkinsons Recovery Resources Discussed During the Program
