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Parkinson's Disease

1. Overview and Causes
2. Symptoms
3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation
4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM
  a. Deficiency of both Qi and Blood
  b. Yin of Kidney and Liver low function
  c. Weakness in Spleen and Stomach bod...
5. Healing by Other Therapies
  a. Qigong and other
  b. Medicated diet
  c. Life style
6. Psychological Adaptation


1. Overview and Causes

Parkinson's disease is a disease of the central nervous system which is characterised by muscle rigidity (stiffness) and involuntary movements (tremors, esp. of hands). It is a progressive disease which is caused by degeneration (wear and tear) of special nerve cells in the brain. Symptoms usually start between 60 and 70 years of age and may lead to dementia (confusion, disorientation, memory loss, personality changes and a lessening of intellectual capacity). According to current statistics, it strikes 1 in every 100 people over the age of 60. Because of increased longevity, this amounts to roughly 60,000 new cases diagnosed annually in the United States alone.

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2. Symptoms

(a) Patients often complain of "slowing up"; they have trouble dressing, rising from a seated position, climbing or descending stairs, writing and turning over in bed.
(b) On examination, "rigidity", "hand tremors", "bradykinesia" (slowness in initiating and executing movement), "mask-like expressionless face" and "festinant gait" (shuffling walk) are observed.


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3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this kind of disease is liver related. It also has to do with "Wind" converse in the muscles and ligaments system. Treatment of this using herbal medicine is effective and it can adjust this nervous system's condition through TCM theory. Acupuncture and electroacupuncture intervention improves muscle and ligament function in 50-70% of affected people. Clinical observations have noted that acupressure is effective in promoting qi in muscle and joints, reducing tremors and relieving pain. Tuina massage acupressure can improve muscle rigidity, akinesia (lack of movement) and neural system functions. In western medicine, the cause for this disease is unclear, but it is believed to be a degeneration of special nerve cells in the brain, and long term care is very important.

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4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM

This ailment, according to TCM, has different syndromes. The treatment for these syndromes using herbal medicine and acupuncture is shown below.

Syndrome (a)
Deficiency of Both Qi and Blood

According to the TCM known as "Yin less", whenever there is a defect in Qi (energy) and Blood of the body, the result is muscle spasms, tremors, restlessness, insomnia, night sweats, festination and muscle numbness. The tongue is pale and swollen and the pulse is weak.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Herbal medicine restores yin energy to the kidney and the liver. It may also stop the higher wind of the yang energy.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for promoting Qi and blood Kidney and Liver channel. Ginseng, Tuckahoe, Atractylodes white, Angelica, Gastrodia tuber, Uncaria, Eucommia, Sichuan Achyranthes at each 15g; White Peony Root, Haliotis, Loranthus, Salvia at each 20g; Rehmannia, Leonurus at each 10g.

Simple Prescription: Eight treasure pill twice a day.

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Acupuncture and moxibustion can help by regulating the circulation of qi and blood by using points mainly from the Ren and Du meridian points, as well as the urine bladder meridian and the Spleen meridian point.

Prescription/Formula: Pi-Shu (UB20), Zusanli (St36), Sanyinjiao (Sp6), Bai-Hui (Du20), Qi-Hai (Ren6), Ge-Shu (UB17). Acupuncture 20-30 minutes or with Moxibustion at each point 10-15 minutes.

  

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Syndrome (b)
Lower function of the Yin of Kidney and the Liver

According to "Yin less", the impaired function of the Yin of kidney and liver also results in muscle spasms, tremors, restlessness, insomnia, night sweats, dry mouth, festination and muscle numbness. The tongue is usually pale and swollen and the pulse is weak.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Using Herbal Medicine to adjust Liver and Kidney for the proper function of the nervous system and for the solution of the "wind" in the body.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for adjusting neural system. Cornus, Phellodendron, Rehmannia cocked, at each 10g; Fleece-flower root, Scrophularia, Red peony peel, Anemarrhena, Uncaria, Tuckahoe, at each 15g; Tortoise plastron, Rehmannia root, White caltrop, crude Oyster shell, Dioscorea, at each 20g;

Simple Prescription: Six gout Di-Huang Wan one time a pill, twice a bag.

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
 Therapeutic principle: Acupuncture can help regulate the circulation of qi of the liver and restore the kidney energy by using points mainly from Back side Shu Points and Du meridian Points.

Prescription/Formula: Shen-Shu (UB23), Tai-Xi (K3), Feng-Chi (GB20), Feng-Fu (Du16), Shang-Xing (Du23), Tai-Chong (L3) and Bai-Hui (Du20). 15-30 minutes Acupuncture and 10-20 minutes Moxibustion.


  

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Syndrome (c)
Weakness in Spleen and Stomach body humid up

According to the TCM theory, when the spleen is defective, the whole body becomes humid, indicating a by-product of heat sputum of the "wind" move. Clinically, this defect shows as muscle tremors and spasms, decreased appetite, insomnia, a pale tongue with a yellow coating and a rapid pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Using TCM theory to restore body energy and blood by restoring the function of the spleen and removing the humid and the sputum from the body.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for restoring energy and blood in the body. Pinellia tuber, Citrus, Tuckahoe, Immature Bitter Drange, Atractylodes white, Gastrodia tuber, Alisma, Plantain Seed, Scutellaria, Gardenia and Bamboo bud at each 15g; Liquorice at 10g.

Simple Prescription: Monkey Chinese date scatter powder each one bag, twice a day. Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi Tang at each one bowl twice a day.

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Acupuncture can help regulate the circulation of qi of the liver and restore the stomach and spleen system functions by using points mainly from Back side Shu Points and Du meridian Points.

Prescription/Formula: Yin-Lin-Quan (Sp9), Feng-Long (St40), Zhong-Wan (Ren12), Feng-Chi (GB20), Qu-Chi (LI11), He-Gu (LI4), Zusanli (St36), San-Yin-Jiao (Sp6) and Tai-Chong (L3). Acupuncture 10-20 minutes or with Moxibustion at each point 10-15 minutes.

  

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5. Healing by Other Therapies

(a) Qigong and other therapies
1. Qigong: Qigong is an effective method for a Parkinson's disease patient. It is advised that the patient leran from a Qigong master. Try to use the self control exercise, the setting or lie down exercise 10-30 minutes every day and try to , relax and lead the Qi to centralize in abdomen area twice a day.

For effect of Qigong on the Nervous System, click here.

Generally speaking, Qigong is good for healing effect of this specific ailment, however individual results may vary. It improves the flow of the qi and the circulation of the blood, so you'll experience more energy, but, you won't see/ feel any immediate effects, as with many exercises and therapies, it takes a few weeks or even months of practice before you'll see any significant improvements.

The following types of Qigong may help:

For the information of different types of Qigong ,just click a link above.

This information is for education purpose only. We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong master to learn the correct ways to conduct these exercises before attempting them.

2. Tuina Massage: Using the TCM kind of manual therapy massage twice a week.

3. Acupressure Shiatus: Finger pressure helps to reduce the involuntary hand tremors.

4. Caput skin acupuncture: Capu skin acupuncture is found to be useful.

5. Injection: Using Vitamin B1/B12 with liquor 1ml acupoint inject once a day.

(b) Medicated diet
Wheat conjee: Wheat 50-60g with water 1L cooked 1.5 hours then eat.

(c) Life style
1. Diet: Avoid fatty foods and stop smoking and alcohol consumption.
2. Note in Life: Avoid too much excitement and stimulation in life and try to remain calm and in good mood.
3. Life habit: Keep the body warm and don't stay in one position for long hours, often take some Rehab exercise program and do have a good relaxation.

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6. Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness
One encounters different health problems in the course of one's life. Some problems are acute yet minor and often improve by themselves or yield to simple self-management. Severe and acute conditions often necessitate the help of health professionals who may provide fast relief with specific interventions. However, when the condition is chronic, the management required is quite different.

Please click the following button to learn "Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness".

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Acknowledgments:
Healthphone.com greatly acknowledges the support and dedication of our
Healing Centre Panel, without whom this section would not be possible.

We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir, MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir simplified the highly technical medical documents into easy-to-read documents, for the enjoyment and education of our numerous visitors.