Ayurveda for Parkinson: Can it Help and Why?

Why Ayurveda helps treat Parkinson's Disease

Scroll down to check all the resources we have on this topic in the "Library Center" below.

Meanwhile, we are working on this section's content, and we will publish it soon. If you are an expert on this topic, please suggest related information.

Together we work to help the community.

How Ayurveda works for Parkinson's Disease

Ayurveda works to treat Parkinson's disease by balancing the doshas to help regulate the body and treat Parkinson. 

According to Ayurveda, a person is just like the universe, made of five elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth.

These elements combine in the body to create three energies or doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha.

- Vata dosha consists of the elements of space and air. It is the energy of movement.

- Pitta dosha consists of the elements of fire and water. It is the energy of digestion and metabolism.

- Kapha dosha consists of the elements of water and earth. It is the energy that forms different structures in the body, including the bones, muscles, and tendons. Kapha also provides the glue that holds all the cells together and helps the body move smoothly.

Ayurvedic Medicine for Parkinson Disease: Treatment Protocol

Ayurvedic treatment for Parkinson's disease is specifically tailored to each individual’s case and looks at the dominant dosha in their constitution as well as their symptoms.

However, Ayurvedic treatment for Parkinson's disease generally involves the following aspects:

A- Purvakarma treatments:

Purvakarma is Sanskrit for “foremost action.” It comprises herbal and oil treatments that loosen the accumulated toxins in the gut. Ayurvedic medicine believes these toxins cause Parkinson’s disease.

Accordingly, purvakarma practices direct the toxins to specific waste and elimination centers in the body. They help prepare people for Panchakarma (detoxification therapies).

Purvakarma consist of three treatments:

1- Pachana (digestion therapy): a practice where herbal treatments are administered to the patient. These herbal formulations help the body digest and eliminate toxins that may accumulate in the gut and cause Parkinson’s disease.

2- Snehana (oleation therapy): is a practice where oils, ghee (purified butter), or oils mixed with herbs are taken internally or applied externally to loosen toxins in the body. Snehana also helps lead the toxins to elimination centers in the body where they can later be expelled via panchakarma therapies.

The following snehana practice helps people with Parkinson’s disease:

- Abhyanga (massage therapy): is a practice where oils, ghee, or oils infused with herbs are massaged vigorously into the skin to loosen the accumulated toxins in the body that may cause Parkinson’s disease. Abhyanga also helps nourish the body’s tissues and restores balance to the vata dosha in people with Parkinson’s disease. It can also be part of dinacharya (daily routine).

3- Swedana (sudation therapy): is a practice that involves a thermal treatment to help release toxins through the skin. It typically occurs after oleation therapy as the oils help the body absorb the steam. Swedana for Parkinson’s Disease targets the whole body (bashpa swedana).

During swedana, the patient sits in a wooden box or room filled with herbal steam to help the patient eliminate the toxins in his or her body by sweating. Ayurvedic practitioners recommend having a warm shower after swedana therapy.

Swedana helps pacify vata-related disorders like Parkinson’s disease and increase blood flow throughout the body, particularly the brain. Increased blood circulation to the brain protects it from damage and provides oxygen and nutrients to injured cells.

B- Panchakarma treatments:

Panchakarma, which is Sanskrit for “five treatments” is a five-step detox program in Ayurveda. These treatments help detoxify the body and restore balance to the vata, pitta, and kapha doshas.

The five treatments are:

1. Vamana (medicated emesis)

2. Virechana (medicated purgation)

3. Vasti (medicated enema)

4. Nasya (nasal medication)

5. Raktamokshan (bloodletting)

An Ayurvedic practitioner would manage Parkinson's disease using the following Panchakarma treatments:

1- Virechana (medicated purgation): a practice where patients are given herbal treatments to induce diarrhea. This helps clear out toxins in the gut and restore balance to the pitta and vata doshas. This helps increase blood flow to the brain and rejuvenate affected tissues. It also helps the brain absorb nutrients more efficiently.

2- Vasti/Basti (medicated enema): vasti is a practice where patients are given oils or liquids that help cleanse their colon. Basti is a practice where patients are given oils infused with herbs to eliminate toxins in their colon.

Both oil and herbal enemas help manage and prevent Parkinson’s disease because they eliminate toxins in the gut. The brain and the gut are connected via a brain-gut axis. By cleansing the gut, basti and vasti prevent the accumulation of toxins in the brain. Enemas also help pacify the aggravated vata dosha in Parkinson’s disease.

3- Nasya (nasal medication): a practice where oils are administered through the nose. It helps restore balance to the aggravated vata dosha in people with Parkinson’s disease and soothes the mind. Nasya eliminates toxins that have accumulated in the body due to the imbalanced vata dosha.

C- Rasayana (Rejuvenation treatments):

In Ayurveda, rasayana, which is Sanskrit for “path of essence,” consists of practices that help rejuvenate and nourish the mind and body.

Rasayana practices include consuming herbal treatments or decoctions and maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. It also incorporates exercise, yoga, and a regular self-care routine (dinacharya) to maintain balance in all aspects of life.

Rasayana practices are explained in more detail below:

1- Dietary Modifications:

The Ayurvedic diet aims to balance all three life energies or doshas in the mind and body. Patients should maintain a diet that restores balance to the vata dosha (energy of movement) to treat or prevent Parkinson's disease.

An Ayurvedic diet also prescribes eating specific foods as part of Purvakarma (preparatory treatments) before Panchakarma (detoxification therapies) to help loosen the accumulated toxins in the gut that cause Parkinson's disease.

Patients should maintain the Ayurvedic diet even after they complete Purvakarma and Panchakarma therapies.

2- Herbal Treatments:

Ayurveda prescribes herbs or herbal treatments to treat Parkinson's disease. The treatments are specifically tailored to the person’s symptoms. Practitioners prescribe different herbs depending on the person’s symptoms.

Some of these herbs include:

- Tulsi (Holy Basil): an herb that helps the body react better to stress and calms the nervous system, which protects the body against Parkinson’s disease. Tulsi also regulates sleep and helps people who have Parkinson's disease because they often have insomnia.

- Triphala: an herbal treatment consisting of three different fruits, amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki. They help cleanse the gut and normalize bowel movements, preventing constipation, one symptom of Parkinson's disease.

- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): an herb that helps balance the vata dosha in the body. By restoring balance to the vata dosha, Ashwagandha helps strengthen the nerves and protects neurons against damage that might result in Parkinson's disease.

- Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri): an herb that calms the nervous system and restores balance to the vata dosha. It also has neuroprotective effects against Parkinson’s disease and prevents the death of nerve cells that produce dopamine.

- Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica): an herb that helps stimulate the central nervous system and protects it from damage.

- Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens):an herb that is a natural source of levodopa, the precursor to dopamine. It helps boost dopamine levels in the body. Kapikacchu helps protect the body from Parkinson's disease because it prevents dopamine deficiency.

- Bala (Sida cordifolia): an herb that helps pacify the vata dosha in the body and has neuroprotective effects against Parkinson’s disease.

- Jyotishmati (Celastrus paniculatus): an herb that has antioxidant properties and protects brain cells from any damage caused by free radicals, protecting the brain from Parkinson's disease.

- Psyllium husk (Plantago ovata): an herb that helps prevent constipation and cleanses the gut, which allows the brain to absorb dopamine more efficiently. It also reduces involuntary muscle movement in patients with Parkinson's disease.

- Ginkgo biloba: an herb with antioxidant properties that protect the brain from potential nerve damage and increases blood flow to the brain. It also prevents the body from breaking down dopamine quickly, allowing dopamine to remain in the body for a longer period of time. The presence of dopamine in the brain decreases the side effects of Parkinson's disease.

3- Dinacharya (Routine):

Dinacharya or establishing a routine is one aspect of Rasayana that helps treat Parkinson’s disease and restores balance to both the body and the mind.

It includes:

1- Adjusting dietary habits: Patients should eat foods at regular times. They should also eat healthy foods that help restore balance to the imbalanced vata dosha to treat Parkinson’s disease.

2- Regulating sleeping habits: Patients need to adjust their sleeping habits and begin sleeping at regular times every night. This helps Parkinson’s patients avoid insomnia. Sleep also helps the brain repair itself and regulates the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.

3- Exercising regularly: Patients should engage in physical activity every day at regular times to stabilize the vata dosha. Exercise helps strengthen muscles and relieves muscle rigidity.

4- Practicing yoga: Patients should practice at least 10 minutes of yoga every day to improve muscle tone, relieve muscle rigidity, and release stress.

5- Practicing breathing techniques: Patients should practice breathing techniques or pranayama every day. Pranayama increases oxygen levels in the body and increases circulation to the brain. Anulom-vilom is one breathing exercise that helps manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

6- Massaging yourself: Give yourself an oil massage every day to help excess vata (the energy of movement) move throughout the body. Daily massages also help relax the body.

Ayurvedaic Medicine for Parkinson Disease: recommendations

- Don’t skip meals: Skipping meals makes it harder to establish a routine. Skipping meals also affects digestion and might cause toxins to accumulate in the body.

- Exercise regularly: Engage in physical activity for 30 minutes every day to restore balance to all the doshas. Exercise also helps build muscle tone and prevents muscle rigidity.

- Sleep well: Maintain a regular sleep schedule and get at least 7 hours of sleep. Sleeping well helps relieve stress. It also helps the body repair itself.

- Practice yoga: Practice at least 10 minutes of yoga, including pranayama (breathing techniques), every day to relieve stress, which helps strengthen muscles and prevents stiffness.

- Practice activities that increase mindfulness: Practice meditation for at least 20 minutes every day. Meditation helps relieve stress.

- Give yourself an oil massage: Give yourself a massage using oil to soothe the nervous system. Use a warm oil like sesame oil to help excess vata (the energy of movement) move throughout the body.

Foods to eat:

According to Ayurveda, all foods possess certain gunas (qualities). The gunas in the foods are transferred into energies that influence the balance of the doshas in the body.

People with Parkinson's disease should eat foods that posses light, sour, sweet, and salty gunas (qualities). These foods restore balance to the vata dosha. 

These foods include:

• Fruits: mangoes, pineapples, pears, grapes, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, avocados, bananas, lemons, cherries, figs, melons, peaches, and plums

• Vegetables: carrots, beetroots, broccoli, spinach, kale, asparagus, and sweet potatoes

• Dairy products: ghee and home-made milk

• Legumes: chickpeas and red lentils

• Fish: tuna, salmon, and mackerel

• Grains: oats, sorghum, finger millet, and brown rice

• Spices: caraway, cinnamon, dill, and cardamom

Herbs to use:

The following herbs and herbal preparations are beneficial for Parkinson's disease because they help the body eliminate toxins, stabilize the vata dosha, and prevent nerve damage.

- Tulsi (Holy Basil): an herb that helps the body react better to stress and calms the nervous system, which protects the body against Parkinson’s disease. Tulsi also regulates sleep and helps people who have Parkinson's disease because they often have insomnia.

- Triphala: an herbal treatment consisting of three different fruits, amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki. They help cleanse the gut and normalize bowel movements, preventing constipation, one symptom of Parkinson's disease.

- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): an herb that helps balance the vata dosha in the body. By restoring balance to the vata dosha, Ashwagandha helps strengthen the nerves and protects neurons against damage that might result in Parkinson's disease.

- Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri): an herb that calms the nervous system and restores balance to the vata dosha. It also has neuroprotective effects against Parkinson's disease and prevents the death of nerve cells that produce dopamine.

- Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica): an herb that helps stimulate the central nervous system and protects it from damage.

- Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens): an herb that is a natural source of levodopa, the precursor to dopamine. It helps boost dopamine levels in the body. Kapikacchu helps protect the body from Parkinson's disease because it prevents dopamine deficiency.

- Bala (Sida cordifolia): an herb that helps pacify the vata dosha in the body and has neuroprotective effects against Parkinson's disease.

- Jyotishmati (Celastrus paniculatus): an herb that has antioxidant properties and protects brain cells from any damage caused by free radicals, protecting the brain from Parkinson's disease.

- Psyllium husk (Plantago ovata): an herb that helps prevent constipation and cleanses the gut, which allows the brain to absorb dopamine more efficiently. It also reduces involuntary muscle movement in patients with Parkinson's disease.

- Ginkgo biloba: an herb with antioxidant properties that protect the brain from potential nerve damage and increases blood flow to the brain. It also prevents the body from breaking down dopamine quickly, allowing dopamine to remain in the body for a longer period of time. The presence of dopamine in the brain decreases the side effects of Parkinson's disease.

Ayurvedic Medicine for Parkinson Disease: things to avoid

- Avoid drinking coffee and tea: these drinks aggravate all three doshas and disrupt their balance.

- Avoid or limit alcohol consumption: alcohol consumption disrupts the balance of all the doshas in the body.

- Avoid soft drinks: these drinks contain a lot of sugar and aggravate the pitta dosha, which can cause toxins to accumulate in the body.

- Stop smoking: smoking aggravates the doshas and causes the accumulation of toxins in the body.

Foods to avoid:

According to Ayurveda, all foods possess certain gunas (qualities). The gunas in the foods are transferred into energies that influence the balance of the doshas in the body.

People with Parkinson's disease should avoid foods that have  bitter, pungent gunas (qualities) that aggravate vata dosha and lead to the accumulation of toxins that cause Parkinson’s disease.

These foods include:

• Vegetables: cabbage, broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants

• Grains: refined flour, white rice

• Meat: red meat

• Legumes: all lentils except red lentils

• Dairy products: industrially-processed milk, cheese

• Spicy foods

• Sugary foods

• Processed foods

• Canned fruits and vegetables

• Ice cream

Ayurveda for Parkinson: precautions

Ayurveda uses natural and herbal remedies to treat diseases. However, if you want to use Ayurvedic medicines, herbs, supplements to treat a particular condition, you should consider the following precautions:

- Consult your Ayurvedic practitioner before taking Ayurvedic products on your own. Let them know if you have diabetes or are taking medication that may affect your treatment plan. They should adjust it to avoid any harmful interactions with the medication you are taking.

- Some Ayurvedic products and practices are banned in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve or review Ayurvedic products. Some herbal compounds or preparations may contain lead, mercury, or arsenic in toxic amounts.

They can cause serious illnesses in children and may be life-threatening for pregnant or lactating women and their babies. Other compounds from untrustworthy manufacturers may contain steroids, which may cause further health issues.

WARNING:

- Make sure to disclose to your primary care physician that you are seeing an Ayurvedic practitioner and are taking Ayurvedic formulations. This ensures you stay safe and avoid medication interactions that might cause serious side effects.

- If you are taking medication for diabetes, don’t stop taking them if you begin Ayurvedic treatment unless your doctor approves it.

- Some Ayurvedic practitioners may not be qualified to treat you. Make sure that your Ayurvedic practitioner is well-trained, certified, and has the relevant experience to meet your needs.

- Be careful when buying Ayurvedic herbs or formulas. Don’t buy Ayurvedic products unless they have a GMP (Good Manufacturing Product) stamp on them if you are buying them from India. Be extra careful when purchasing herbs online because online stores may be selling counterfeit products.

Ayurveda for Parkinson: side effects

Since Ayurvedic treatments are derived from natural herbs and plants, most treatments do not cause adverse events. However, if you take some Ayurvedic preparations or herbs, you may experience the following side effects.

- Some Ayurvedic products contain toxic amounts of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, or mercury, and they might cause heavy metal poisoning.

- Some Ayurvedic herbal formulations might cause headaches, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, rashes, or allergic reactions.