Kari Pollock

Prof. Cook

English 1201

27 October 2021

Are Alternative Medical Treatments as Effective as Conventional Medical Treatments When

Living with Parkinson’s Disease?

What would you do if you found out you had an incurable disease like Parkinson’s

disease? One day you are completely fine and then the next day you are told that your brain and

nervous system are failing you. There is no cure, it will just get worse over time, and all you can

do is find a way to manage the symptoms. In the western world we tend to look for a quick fix

with conventional medication but, with a disease like Parkinson’s, there is no conventional

medication that can fix you. There is medication that can help manage the symptoms, but with all

drugs come side effects and over time the medication stops working. In the Eastern world they

rely heavily on alternative and holistic medicine to treat and manage PD. Are alternative medical

treatments as effective as conventional medical treatments when living with Parkinson’s disease?

With a disease like PD, there is not a right or wrong way to treat it. All you can do is figure out

what works for you and do your best to mitigate the symptoms. When living with Parkinson’s,

alternative medicine is not only as effective as conventional medicine, but even better because it

targets symptoms individually, there are no side effects, and gives the patient a better quality of

life.
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There are over 6 million people in the world living with Parkinson’s Disease. In the

United States alone there are 1 million people with PD and at least 60,000 people are diagnosed

each year. (Parkinson’s Foundation). Up until a few years ago, PD was considered a rare

disorder. However now, we are seeing the effects of Industrialization. Specific pesticides,

solvents, heavy metals, and many other neurotoxic chemicals have been linked to PD. What’s

worse is we have this knowledge and continue to use these things and more frequently. Because

of this, PD has now been considered a pandemic that will require heightened activism. (Dorsey

et al.). It is scary to think that the government programs that are supposed to protect us know

about the damage these products are doing to our health, yet they continue to allow them to be

used. Because of their negligence and lack of concern, Parkinson’s and many other neurological

disorders may very well be a reality for all of us in the not-so-distant future.

Figure 1: The stages of Parkinson's Disease. (Understanding the Five Stages of Parkinson's).

Parkinson’s Disease is a disorder that attacks the neurons that produce dopamine. The

symptoms develop slowly over the years and the rate of progression is different for each person.

The symptoms of Parkinson’s include: Tremor, limb rigidity, bradykinesia, gait and balance

problems, depression, anxiety, constipation, apathy, loss of sense of smell, impaired speech,
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cognitive problems, impaired sleep, and in some cases dementia. Basically, the chemical in your

brain that tells your body how to move slowly stops being produced. Your muscles tighten, daily

tasks become harder, you have no balance, your hands shake constantly, you lose the ability to

show facial expressions, and speaking becomes more difficult. A normal person can stand up and

walk with out thinking about it but, a person with PD is forced to think about every movement.

Dopamine is also important when it comes to controlling emotional responses and that is one of

the reasons people with PD are more susceptible to depression and apathy. During the last stages

of PD, the person has little to no movement at all. While Parkinson’s Disease is not fatal,

complications of the disease can be. (Parkinson’s Foundation).

The topic of alternative medicine vs. conventional medicine has always been

controversial. Conventional medicine relies heavily on synthetic remedies of multinational ‘Big

Pharma’ and alternative medicine has a more natural approach. The conventional approach to

Parkinson’s consists of medications called Levodopa or Carbidopa. In some cases, they will also

try surgery. (Parkinson’s Disease Medications: Types of Common Drug Treatments). The

alternative options for the treatment of Parkinson’s consist of acupuncture, guided imagery, Tai

Chi, yoga, movement therapy, physical therapy, herbal remedies, massage, CBD, Bowen

therapy, Cranial Sacral therapy, and many others. Music and Art therapy have also been used.

(Parkinson’s Disease Alternative Treatments).

There have been a lot of changes over the years with the medications used and most

people can get significant relief from these conventional medications. When you have

Parkinson’s Disease, your brain is not producing Dopamine the way that it should. Dopamine is

the chemical that tells your body how to move. The medication works because your brain turns

the medication into dopamine. In general, conventional medicines are great at controlling slow
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movements and stiff, rigid body parts. The downside to the medication is that over the years you

need more and more and eventually it may not work at all. Also, once you begin the medication

you cannot stop taking it. Like most medications it also comes with side effects like nausea,

vomiting, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, restlessness, and unusual movements.

(Parkinson’s Disease Medications: Types of Common Drug Treatments).

As I mentioned earlier, one of the downsides to conventional medicine, is that over time

you need to increase your dosage and eventually it does not work at all. When this happens, the

next conventional option is surgery. Deep Brain Stimulation is a common surgery for people

with PD. This surgery involves implanting electrodes in certain areas of the brain. These

electrodes are controlled by a pacemaker and it helps to regulate abnormal impulses. Like any

surgery, there are risks and side effects. In general, this surgery is considered low risk, but in

some cases, there can be quite a few complications. They include but are limited to seizures,

stroke, infection, breathing problems, nausea, and heart problems. There are also side effects that

can occur after the surgery and from the stimulation. These side effects include problems with

speech, balance, vision, mood, confusion, and muscle tightness. There can also be hardware

complications that can lead to more complications and surgeries. (Deep Brain Stimulation).

Alternative medicine for Parkinson’s is becoming more and more popular. The

medication can help with a patient’s motor function, but it does not help with things such as

cognitive impairment, sleep, anxiety, and depression. All these things can greatly decrease a

patients' quality of life. Because PD has such a wide variety of symptoms that cannot be

sufficiently treated with conventional medicine, people living with the disease are slowly

becoming more interested in alternative options. (Yang, Jung Yun, et al.) In an evidenced based

review on Eastern practices, it was shown that people living with PD can have significant relief
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from their symptoms and a better quality of life when using alternative treatments. There is also

evidence that alternative treatments can help to preserve physical function and slow down the

degeneration, making it possible for patients to remain physically independent longer. (Bega and

Zadikoff).

Tai Chi and yoga are great alternative treatment options because they reduce stress,

improve balance, help with posture control, and improve strength. There have been many studies

that have been published about the effectiveness of these practices. In one study, 195 people

were picked at random. Half of them participated in Tai Chi and the other half participated in

conventional training. Over the course of the study all the participants improved significantly.

However, the Tai Chi was shown to have better results and be more effective. (Bega and

Zadikoff). In a study done in 2012, they found that people participating in yoga had better

balance, flexibility, strength, and increased mobility. It also is proven to help with depression,

anxiety, mood, and sleep. (Parkinson’s Foundation). There are several other movement therapies

that have been shown to be effective in treating PD. There is the Alexander Technique, which is

a therapy that helps to improve a patient’s posture and balance. The Feldenkrais method is

another form of movement therapy that helps retrain the patient’s ability to do certain

movements. (6 Medication-Free Ways to Feel Better with Parkinson’s Disease).

There are several options for people with PD that are looking for immediate relief from

their symptoms. Muscle Rigidity, tremor, and the pain can be hard to bear at times and the

medication does not always work for these things. Massage therapy is a great alternative for

someone looking for immediate, although temporary relief. One study showed that after a

massage there was significant improvement in movement and tremor. (Casciaro). So not only
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can massage offer instant relief but, it is also another way to mitigate those two symptoms

without medication. (Casciaro).

Acupuncture is the most popular form of alternative treatment for people with PD.

Clinical trials have reported and shown improvement in symptoms such as tremor, improved

sleep, balance, constipation, muscle rigidity, depression, anxiety, and overall motor function.

There is more and more evidence that shows the effects of acupuncture on PD. The research

shows that not only can help with the symptoms of PD, but that it also can help slow down the

progression of the disease. (Park, Ji-Yeun, et al.). Out of all the alternative options, this is the

only one that has shown to be neuroprotective, meaning it slows the degeneration of neurons. If

you look at Parkinson’s from a western or conventional point of view, they will say that nothing

can slow down or stop the progression of PD. However, if you look deeper, you can find that

there are multiple case studies and an overwhelming amount of evidence that shows acupuncture

can do just that and more. One of the downfalls to conventional medication is that over time you

must continue to increase the amount of medication and eventually it no longer works. Studies

show that one of the biggest advantages of Acupuncture is that it can lead to a decrease in your

dosage of PD medications and greatly decrease the side effects of the medication as well. (Parks,

Ji-Yeun, et al.).

Herbology has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Korean Medicine.

Recently, there has been an overwhelming amount of research that shows certain combinations

of herbs can have neuroprotective effects. Herbology, like acupuncture, can be used to decrease

the dosage of conventional medication. (Parks, Ji-Yeun, et al.). When compared to conventional

medicines, there were over 59 different herbal preparations that were better at improving motor

functions and offered anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. (Kim, Tae-Hun, et al.).
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Currently, there is an active-controlled study in China to investigate the effectiveness of the

Chinese Herbal medication Xifeng Dingchan. This is proposed to reduce striatal dopamine

metabolism and protect against cell death. (Bega and Zadikoff).

CBD is extracted from either the hemp plant or the marijuana plant. It gives the user all

the benefits of medical marijuana, but without the high that is associated with THC. There are no

psychedelic effects, and it is considered safe for consumption. (Rodgers pg. 73). Pre-clinical

studies have shown promise for CBD reducing Parkinson’s Symptoms. CBD has been shown to

have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has been hypothesized that CBD might be a

neuroprotective agent because inflammation in the nervous system has been linked to

neurodegeneration. People living with PD are already using CBD as an alternative option and

report that they have some relief of symptoms including insomnia, anxiety, tremor, dystonia, and

pain. (Parkinson’s Foundation). This could be a great alternative therapy if it does in fact

improve sleep in people with PD. Trouble sleeping is one of the symptoms of PD and the lack of

sleep makes the rest of the symptoms worse. (Parkinson’s Foundation). CBD could be a great

way to offer relief for many of the things that conventional medication cannot.

In general, any form of exercise can be beneficial for people with PD. However, physical

therapy that is designed specifically for PD Patients can be life changing. It can help a patient

increase mobility, strength, balance, and help them to remain independent. LSVT Big and LSVT

Loud are types of alternative physical therapies that are specifically for people with Parkinson’s

Disease. LSVT Big is a form of therapy to help patients with PD increase amplitude of

movement. What this means is they encourage patients to exaggerate normal physical

movements to retrain the muscles. This is especially helpful with hypokinesia. This is a symptom

of PD that affects the way they walk. Over time people with PD steps become smaller and more
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exaggerated. They shuffle their feet and over time this can lead to more dangerous falls. LSVT

Loud is similar except that is therapy that is used to amplify the voice. Physical therapy for PD

also includes reciprocal patterns, balance work, strength training, and flexibility training.

(Physical Therapy for Parkinson's Disease).

Craniosacral Therapy is a form of therapy that uses gentle touch to heal and create

movement around the central nervous system. It can alleviate pain and contribute greatly to your

overall health. It helps to reduce stress and release trapped trauma on a cellular level. Because

stress makes the symptoms of PD worse, anything that can reduce stress will improve PD

symptoms. (Rodgers pg. 148). There was a Parkinson’s Energy Project in Portland, Oregon and

it showed that Craniosacral work does relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. It showed

that participants of the study were able to function in ways that had been impossible before the

Craniosacral work was done. They had better posture, greater ease walking, enhanced mental

clarity, greater flexibility, significantly less anxiety, reduced stress, and more assertiveness. It

was very clear that there was a huge impact on the overall health and well-being. (Rodgers pg.

150). You simply can not get these benefits from conventional medicine.

The Bowen Technique is another form of alternative medicine that is very similar to

Cranial Sacral therapy. This technique uses a series of adjustments for any part of the body that

is out of balance. The energy is blocked because of trauma, and the technique helps to release it.

Once this release happens, the neurological system can begin to heal and find balance. (Rodgers

pg. 151). The book “A Road to Recovery from Parkinson’s Disease” is written by a Biologist

that has dedicated his life to helping people with Parkinson’s disease after losing several family

members to it. In his book he talks about how recovery is possible and backs up that claim with

evidence and studies. In this book Rodgers talks about how there is actual evidence of a man in
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Australia who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Parkinson’s in 1995. After three and a half years of

Bowen Therapy he made a full recovery. (Rodgers pg. 27). Conventional medical doctors will

tell you this is impossible.

Over the last decade, there has been data and research which suggests that music and art

therapy have an impact on social function, cognition, anxiety, depression, apathy, and mobility.

This form of therapy is said to induce unique chemical, psychological, and anatomic changes that

are relevant to neurodegenerative diseases. (Bega and Zadicoff) Music, art, and dance have been

shown to release certain neurochemicals and hormones. A functional magnetic resonance

imaging-based study showed a relationship between music and increased dopamine release.

(Parkinson’s Foundation). There have also been several studies that show musical rhythm and

auditory cueing can help with gait problems and other motor functions. (Bega and Zadicoff).

Conventional medicine wants you to believe that recovery is impossible and sadly most

people living with Parkinson’s believe this to be true. They want you to believe that your only

options for living with PD are pharmaceutical drugs and surgery. The drugs prescribed to people

with PD do work, but only help with a few symptoms, only work for a short period of time, and

come with nasty side effects that can sometimes be worse than the original symptoms. There is

evidence and proof that with alternative medical treatment, people with PD can recover and

people with PD can feel better. The recovery I am talking about does not mean that the disease is

cured, but it does mean that a person can get substantial life changing relief from the symptoms.

People in the Western world doubt this and call it “quackery” even though there are real people

using alternative methods and living symptom free. It is very clear to me that alternative

treatment is not only as effective as conventional treatments, but it is so much better. Earlier I
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asked, what would you do if you found out you had an incurable disease like Parkinson’s? Well,

after doing the research, I can say without a doubt or any hesitation exactly what I would do.
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Works Cited

Bega, Danny, & Cindy Zadikoff. “Complementary & Alternative Management of Parkinson’s

Disease: An Evidence-based Review of Eastern Influenced Practices.” Journal of

Movement Disorders vol.7, 2 (2014): 57-66. Doi:10.14802/jmd.14009.

“Better Lives. Together.” Parkinson's Foundation, www.parkinson.org/.

Casciaro, Yolanda. “Massage Therapy Treatment and Outcomes for a Patient with Parkinson's

Disease: A Case Report.” International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork,

Multimed Inc., 4 Mar. 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4771486/.

“Deep Brain Stimulation.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research,

3 Sept. 2021, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/deep-brain-

stimulation/about/pac-20384562.

Dorsey, E Ray, et al. “The Emerging Evidence of the Parkinson Pandemic.” Journal of

Parkinson's Disease, IOS Press, 2018,

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6311367/.

Kim, Tae-Hun, et al. “Herbal Medicines for Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review of

Randomized Controlled Trials.” PLoS ONE, vol.7, no. 5, 15 May 2012, p. e35695. Gale in

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u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVIC&XID=2f035597. Accessed 20 Oct. 2021.

“Parkinson's Disease Medications: Types of Common Drug Treatments.” WebMD, WebMD,

https://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/guide/drug-treatments.
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“Parkinson's Disease Alternative Treatments.” WebMD, WebMD,

https://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/guide/alternative-treatments-parkinsons.

Park, Ji-Yeun, et al. Neurological Research,

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/citedby/10.1179/016164109X12537002793643?

scroll=top&needAccess=true.

“Physical Therapy for Parkinson's Disease.” Johns Hopkins Medicine,

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/physical-therapy-for-

parkinsons-disease.

Rodgers, Robert. 2018 Update of Road to Recovery from Parkinson’s SIC Disease. Robert

Rodgers, 2018.

“6 Medication-Free Ways to Feel Better with Parkinson's Disease.” Johns Hopkins Medicine,

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/parkinsons-disease/6-

medication-free-ways-to-feel-better-with-parkinsons-disease.

“Understanding the Five Stages of Parkinson's.” Parkinson’s NSW |, 5 Apr. 2021,

https://www.parkinsonsnsw.org.au/understanding-the-five-stages-of-parkinsons/.

Yang, Jung Yun, et al. “Patients with Parkinson Disease in a Traditional Korean Medicine

Hospital: A Five-Year Audit.” Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine

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