PARKINSONS’ &

Neuromuscular disorders

A Talk for the Scarborough chapter of the Parkinson’s Society of

Canada.

Morwenna Given

BA MA (Oxon) BSC m.OHA BHG RH

www.medicusherbis.com

16/11/2012

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WHO AM I? I am a medical herbalist, trained in University,

Hospital and clinics in the UK & USA

With a practise in downtown Toronto

focussing on:

Chronic auto immune diseases including MS,

Cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and women's’

issues

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What Do I Do? A person who treats medical disease

‘wholistically’ on an evidence based

basis with whole plant extracts

A person who treats the cause of the

problem not just the symptom

We are specialists in the use of medicinal

plants and their ability to resolve disease

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What is Parkinson's Parkinson’s disease belongs to a group of

disorders which affect the brain

Other group disorders include ALS, MS,

Alzheimer's and dementia

Most serious movement disorder in the world

characterised by

A loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain (

substantia nigra )resulting in signs and

symptoms negatively impacting on life

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Common Pathologies for

neurodegenerative disorders

All these disorders have much in

common. Aetiology is surprising uniform

Brain Nerve. 2012 Jun;64(6):675-9.

Are neurodegenerative diseases "protein cancers"?.

Hasegawa M.

Department of Neuropathology and Cell Biology, Tokyo

Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Japan.

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MICROBIOME Auto immunity diseases arise from the gut

Kirsten Berer Max Planck Institute Freiburg

Gut bacterias trigger the reaction that causes the body’s immune system to misbehave – which is why amyloid deposits in the brain are a late stage feature…….Parkinson's develops years before signs and symptoms lead to a diagnosis

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YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT The microbiome is the most exciting

development in science in the last 50 yrs.

What you eat is totally under your control

and preventable medicine

There will never be a drug for bacteria as

they mutate like viruses

Most plants have anti bacterial and anti

viral properties!

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Diseases of Excess Longer life spans – 25 more years

Diet – heavily processed with grains &

sugar

Lack of exercise – the motor car

Alcohol smoking and stress

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Symptoms Gait and motor symptoms – petit pas

Depression and fatigue

Hearing, taste, smell abnormalities

Bowell dysfunction

Urinary dysfunction

Respiratory difficulties

Restless legs

Dementia

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Exercise "It is clear from this study and others that physical

performance in late life plays an incredibly important role in our cognitive health," said Dr. Erickson. "Although more research is needed into the causal mechanisms and pathways by which this works, it is clear that physical performance in late life is critical for retaining a healthy brain."

Arch Neurol. Published online October 22, 2012. Exercise May Beat Mental Activity in Preserving Cognition. Medscape. Oct 24, 2012.

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Arch Neurol. Published online

November 5, 2012

research has shown that exercise programs among patients with neurologic disorders "increase the patients' sense of self-efficacy, their sense of involvement in their care and overall belief in their abilities to perform certain activities."

“… patient involvement leads to higher satisfaction with care, and greater likelihood of following provider recommendations,". "In essence, exercise puts the patient — not a pill — at the center of care, which is exactly where patients want and ought to be."

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Diet Gluten intolerance may be a factor

Hybridised grains and overconsumption

Poor nutrition – lack of key vitamins, minerals in immunocompromised patients directly relates to poor function

Inflammation mediated memory dysfunction and effects of a ketogenic diet

Kim do et al Plos One 2012 7(5) 35476

High glucose levels affect the HPA

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Sugar Like all diseases of excess sugar plays a key role in

destabilising the body’s normal mechanisms including brain function

Excess sugar is derived from an inappropriate diet i.e. one high in grains

Insulin resistance a hall mark of co morbidities e.g. PCOS

High circulating levels of glucose affect the brain

J.Physiol 2012 590:2485-2499 Gomez-Pinella

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CAN I HELP? Yes!

How do I treat ?

I review all aspects of the health of the person

Diet, exercise

Drugs, supplements

Co-existing conditions – obesity, diabetes, women’s issues, impotence, constipation etc.

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Review Medications & their side effects

Diet / exercise/ vit d

Symptoms and impact on life

thyroid

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Vitamin D Ontario is well known for its lack of vitamin D in

the population – it is recognised to be endemic

Reduced vitamin D is associated with the geographic incidence of neuromuscular disorders

Loss/Lack of vitamin D affects bones, muscles, thyroid, liver etc.

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Plant Medicine

There are a number of plants which have

been shown to inhibit the development of

Parkinson's and other neurological

disorders

Plants are the basis for most medicine

today

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Selection of Plants Turmeric – Curcuma longa

Centella asiactica

Macuna Puriens

Brahmi – Bacopa monnieri

Panax ginseng

Kudzu Pueria Lobata

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THEY WORK! Reversible worsening of symptoms after taking

Cat’s claw ( Clin.Neuropharmacol 2008)

We use a combination of plants in a tincture to synergise and maximise

effectiveness which is not possible in a conventional drug

A diversity of compounds isolated from herbal materials

were reported to be effective on neurotoxic models of PD

by modulating multiple key events or signaling pathways

implicated in the pathogenesis of PD j.Ethnopharmacol

2012 feb 15

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Key Missing Nutrients Our locally grown vegetables do not have

sufficient zinc, selenium

Most people do not eat enough fish- iodine

Most people eat too much processed flour based food – inhibiting bromine.

All of which is interesting considering that is now recognised neurological diseases starts in the gut.

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Carers The role of carers is vital to minimising the

progression of Parkinson’s

It is very important the carer must not neglect their own health

The basic advice for Parkinson's’ in respect of diet/exercise is the same for carer’s!

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Drugs not OTC PLEASE NOTE: IT IS ADVISED, THAT ANY PLANTS MENTIONED

IN THIS TALK, ARE ONLY USED UNDER PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE.

BOTANICAL MEDICINE AS COMPOUNDED BY A PROFESSIONAL IS NOT AVAILABLE OVER THE RETAIL COUNTER.

It is not advisable to self treat

A professional: will recognise all the issues within the body ; Select herbs that will impact positively on these issues

without causing problems in order to co exist with other medications

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References www. Pubmed, Science direct

I have a full list of references for those who

are interested – if you would like either to

email me or put your name down tonight I

will send them to you. It is several pages!

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THANK YOU!

16/11/2012

MORWENNA GIVEN

WWW.MEDICUS HERBIS.COM ©

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