Category: meditation

Karen Cook on Art, Exercise and Meditation as Therapies for Parkinson’s

Karen Cook was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2004. In this teleseminar, she talks about what therapies have helped her get great relief from her symptoms.

I was diagnosed with PD in September 2004 by Chadwick Christine, the chief Parkinson’s researcher at UCSF. He spent almost two hours with me, and is a wonderful human being–that made a huge difference to me in the way I was able to handle the news. He prescribed Lexapro for me, and gave me a very large sample package of Mirapex. I took only the first medication; it turned me into a psychotic, but I had to wean myself from it gradually. A hellish time. I found a first-rate neurologist at Virginia Mason in Seattle, John Roberts. He has been marvelous for me–meticulous, conservative with meds, deeply attentive.

I have tremor-dominant PD–lucky me; I don’t have hallucinations, freezing, rigidity (except in my neck–ouch!) , and my tremor is hardly noticeable except when I’m agitated about something (but it’s in my non-dominant hand). I do have what I call Head Symptoms–horrendous anxiety (about NOTHING), near-panic, an acute sense of dread, etc. These episodes occur at irregular intervals–I could have as many as six a day in the past, often accompanied by tachycardia which scared me to death.My cardiologist put me on a beta-blocker (metaprolol) and this eliminated the tachycardia, but not the acute angst. For that I take a Xanax when needed (usually no more than 2-3 a week). But I have a feeling of intense pressure inside my head WITHOUT PAIN; just a feeling that my skull is too small for my brain. It is an awful feeling, and accompanied by some disorientation.

I have noticed definite cognitive changes over the past year especially. It is very difficult for me to take in new informatioon, especially of a technical nature. Any kind of instruction manual is like Greek to me. I easily get confused. My neurologist laughs when I say I’m probably experiencing the onset of PD dementia, but…

What I do for my PD: SWIM! Quilt (I design and hand-quilt art quilts. I think they are very good–but their main value is that they are my bliss, and I have NO tremor when working on them–or on my collages, of which I also do many, with great pleasure. I do not believe in the American model of “fighting” a disease. I’m just trying to learn from it. So far I have learned a lot about myself–most of which is unwelcome news (e.g. I am very impatient, irascible, have an exaggerated sense of entitlement, etc.) I never ask WHY ME? with respect to PD: I feel blessed that I DON’T have ALS, MS, or any one of a number of other neurological conditions.

I exercise like crazy: an hour of yoga and Pilates six days a week, gym 3X weekly, swimming ditto, as much walking as I can manage with a bum right knee. I believe exercise is KEY for me! For meds, I take one 25/100 carbolevodopa 3X daily along with a 1 mg. Mirapex tablet. I also take 1200 mg. of Coenzyme Q-10 daily. I drink in moderation–understand the risks for breast cancer, but it really helps with PD tension. I’ll be seeing Dr. Chad Christine next week for an annual checkup. His special field of interest is the NON-motor symptoms of PD–the things that most bedevil ME.

Hear the Story of John Carlin who is “In Recovery”

Listen to John Carlin’s story in this teleseminar. He is getting incredible relief from his symptoms by accessing a combination of therapies and treatments. Find out what he is doing to get relief from his symptoms by listening to this hour long interview.

 

 

Tim Burnett on The Healing Power of Meditation

How can the simple, daily practice of meditation help heal chronic diseases like Parkinson’s? Find out the answer from one who has mastered the art of meditation and teaches others how to meditate.

Zen Priest Norman Tim Burnett has been a student of Norman Fischer since 1987 when he was a resident at San Francisco Zen Center’s Green Gulch Farm. After sitting practice periods at Green Gulch and Tassajara Zen Monastery, Tim helped found Red Cedar Zen Community in Bellingham, Washington in 1991. Tim was ordained as a Zen Priest in June, 2000, and began teaching Zen in 2003. Tim is interested in the possibility of deep and complete practice by lay people.

A person of wide-ranging professional interests, Tim has been a botanist, elementary schoolteacher, writer, and computer programmer. In addition to his work as the Spiritual Director of Red Cedar Zen Community, Tim works as a software developer.

Tim also is a caretaker of his wife who has a chronic disease. In this interview he addresses issues for caretakers in a most moving and compelling fashion.

 

Meditation, Family Entanglements and Cellular Healing: Dr. Lee Nelson

Did you know that most people have cells that come from their mothers and, if you are a woman, from your children? Are these foreign cells friendly to the body? Can they help heal Parkinson’s? Do they promote regeneration of damaged tissue? Or, do they obstruct the healing process?

Dr. Lee Nelson researches these issues with a specific focus on rheumatism and arthritis. She is Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington who was interviewed by Nancy Welch, author of Meditation Medicine: Illness, Body, Mind and Breath and myself.

Dr. Nelson also talks about the profound impact meditation has had on her research and on her life. This is a fascinating discussion on chronic illness and suffering you will not want to miss.