Connect with others who understand.

Sign up Log in
Resources
About MyParkinsonsTeam
Powered By
Real members of MyParkinsonsTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Herbs

A MyParkinsonsTeam Member asked a question 💭
New York, NY

Does anyone take herb supplements such as L-Tyrosine or mucuna pruiens?

June 5, 2016
•
View reactions
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

I've tried L-tyrosine tentatively and it has some effect. Preliminary studies show that it can have better outcomes than L-DOPA, but taking them both might cause issues, so I haven't gone too far with it yet. Remember that in PD drugs, L-DOPA is "cut" with other drugs/co-factors. The reason they did this is because pure it created horrible dyskinesia [still does eventually]... just watch the film Awakenings with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, based on the true story. It seems that sources of L-DOPA within natural matrices (i.e. food derived) also provides better outcomes than the nasty chemicals they drugs are made up with. L-tyrosine is one of several amino acids, amino acids are essential for normal functioning brains and bodies [just like fatty acids]. They are found in proteins [food] and produced naturally by the body.
L-tyrosine is the precusor to L-DOPA. L-DOPA is the precusor to Dopamine. Dopamine is the precusor to nor-adrelnaline. Each is created one from the other in chemical reactions. Dopamine can't get through the blood brain barrier so this is why we aren't given Dopamine pure - it wouldn't end up where needed. But starting with the intermediate L-DOPA is actually a scientifically perverse thing to do. It would be much better if L-tyrosine was studied and optimized as this is the natural pathway. L-DOPA is also used to produce Dopamine in other parts of the body, including kindneys, and other parts of the brain not affected by PD [which is why it causes dyskinesia and hallucinations in the end]. When we ingest L-DOPA, it's completely untargetted and floods the system. Which is why sometimes the drugs don't work or we get all sorts of nasty side effects - it ends up in the wrong places in ways which are totally uncontrolled. The conversion from L-tyrosine to L-DOPA is the slowest stage [we say "rate limiting"] and requires a catalyst called an enzyme. This enzyme is also connected with thyroid functionality. On the other hand, conversion of dopamine to nor-adrenaline is super fast [fight or flight] so if you get stressed, it's goodbye to your dopamine supply and then you have to wait for the slow build up again. Vicious cycle is PD.

June 6, 2016
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

Thank you for your helpful response

June 5, 2016
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member. Yes, I take anti-oxidants and several supplements. Original glutathione is one of the supplements and antioxidants that I take. These supplements do not guarantee that you wont still get sick at one particular point in your life with Parkinson's. But it helps. There's one supplement that I take called Neuro-Mag or aka as Magnesium L Threonate. This I take for memory and cognitive function. I also use essence oils nose drops for congested sinuses and nasal passages. Good stuff. Thank you for your question. Best wishes. Sterling

June 5, 2016 (edited)
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

I take B12, and recently started Co Q 10. It could be a coincidence, but I have noticed a significant improvement after starting Co Q 10. Time will tell.

June 18, 2016
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member. Yes indeed. We all need to know how we get our supply of dopamine and how we can use it for our best performance. Do you see or hear from research, if there is anything on the horizon even close to getting through the blood brain barrier other than levodopa? I have never understood why carbodopa cannot get through but levodopa can. Is there any other dopamine carrier, that you know of, being researched and tested at this time? I'm guessing that when we find a more controlled way to safely refuel our dopamine, we will have our cure for PD. Your thoughts? Sterling

June 7, 2016

Related content

View All

Not A Person With Parkinson's But A Support To My Husband Who Has Been Diagnosed With Parkinson's. How Do I Correct That In My Profile?

A MyParkinsonsTeam Member asked a question 💭
Littleton, CO

There Can Be Only One

A MyParkinsonsTeam Member asked a question 💭
Button Moon

Does Anyone Use The Herb Mucuna

A MyParkinsonsTeam Member asked a question 💭
Miami, FL
Continue with Facebook
Continue with Google
By joining, you accept our Terms of Use, and acknowledge our collection, sharing, and use of your data in accordance with our Health Data Policy and Privacy policies.Your privacy is our priority Lock Icon
Already a Member? Log in