Jean Oswald, RN, is an aromatherapist who has specialized in identifying the essential oils that help people with neurological challenges. Jean talks about the recent research which has evaluated the effectiveness of essential oils for persons with Parkinson’s symptoms.
Decide Success: John Baumann Offers His Advice and Wisdom about Recovery
Diagnosed in 2002 at the age of 41, John Baumann worked 6 more years as an executive officer of a major corporation before dedicating his life, on a full-time basis, to making a difference in the Parkinson’s community. John has inspired those with Parkinson’s to live their lives to the fullest, family care partners to realize what a difference they make and how much they are appreciated, and professional healthcare providers to maintain their passion and commitment to the cause. John has traveled far and wide as keynote speaker at symposiums to bring his message of hope and positive perspective (Reclaiming Posi-spective) including, among other locations, Cincinnati at the Sunflower Revolution, Indianapolis before a Pacers game, Houston, Birmingham, Burlington, Saskatchewan in Canada, St. Thomas of the Virgin Islands and often in his hometown of Louisville. John has also written a book providing a template for others to live life to the fullest with Parkinson’s Disease, Decide Success (Twelve Action Steps).
Coconut Oil: Energy Food for the Brain
My guest Dr. Mary Newport, MD, author of Alzheimers, What if There was a Cure?, discusses the potential support that coconut oil and MCT oil can provide for persons who currently experience symptoms of Parkinsons, especially those involving dementia.
Plaques and tangles are known to be hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, but another important aspect of Alzheimer’s is decreased glucose uptake into cells due to decreased production of insulin and resistance to insulin.
In 1967 it was first reported that the brain can use ketone bodies or ketones as an alternative fuel to glucose; this normally occurs during starvation for more than 48 hours or when adhering to a strict ketogenic diet, one that is high in fat and low in carbohydrate and protein.
Levels of ketones produced from consuming MCT oil have been shown to produce cognitive improvement in nearly half of people with Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment after one dose and also after three months of treatment. Coconut oil contains about 60% of medium chain fatty acids and is the richest natural source, and MCT oil is extracted from coconut oil or palm kernel oil and is 100% medium chain fatty acids.
Glucose PET scans in persons with Parkinson’s disease and certain other neurodegenerative diseases also show decreased glucose uptake in certain parts of the brain. In addition, many people with Parkinson’s will go on to develop Alzheimer’s type dementia, therefore this dietary intervention could be beneficial both to treat Parkinson’s and also to prevent and treat the related dementia.
Dr. Newport’s website: www.coconutketones.com
Painting and Art as Therapy for Parkinson’s Symptoms
Painting with Parkinsons is an art group for people with Parkinson’s and their carers. Founded in 1994 by artist, curator and lecturer Nancy Tingey, the group has been meeting on Friday mornings continuously for 17 years in the Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Australia. The program has been inspired by Nancy’s research into art as a therapy for Parkinson’s on a Churchill Fellowship in 1996.
Recently this has become the role model for groups in Melbourne led by Anne Atkin who featured on the Parkinsons Recovery Radio Show last year.
Although Nancy’s husband Bob Tingey who has had Parkinsons 25 years is the only surviving member of the original group, Nancy’s group currently has 17 participants, five facilitators and a team of volunteer helpers. This semester she is collaborating with the Canberra School of Music on a program in which musicians play live in the classroom to inspire paintings. A selection of these will be exhibited in a local arts centre with film and photographic documentation in December, 2012. The exhibition will tour Australia in 2013.
The amazing art work you see displayed to the left was done by three of the participants in Nancy’s Painting with Parkinsons class: Jock, Norma and Bob.
Terry Wahls MD on the Wahls Diet for Parkinson’s
Dr. Terry Wahls is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa where she teaches internal medicine residents in their primary care continuity of care clinics, sees patients in a traumatic brain injury clinic and conducts clinical trials.  She is also a patient with a chronic progressive neurological disorder, secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, which confined her to a tilt-recline wheelchair for four years. But thanks to the power of intensive, directed nutrition, Dr. Wahls restored her health and now pedals her bike five miles to work each day. She is the author of Minding My Mitochondria: How I Overcame Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and Got Out of My Wheelchair and teaches the public and medical community about the healing power of intensive nutrition. Proceeds from sales of her book, Minding My Mitochondria 2nd Edition, support her research.
We Agreed I Don’t Need to Have Parkinson’s
It’ has been five years since Phyllis Rogers was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. Today she is virtually symptom free. She has done her research and has figured out what really matters when it comes to therapies. Phyllis talked with God and they agreed that she did not need to have Parkinson’s. Among other incredible contributions to the Parkinsons community, Phyllis works with adults to help them become physically fit and is the author of Over 40 and Gettin’ Stronger.Â
Balance Based Torso Weighting for People Prone to Falls and Mobility Challenges
Improve your balance and mobility with Balance-Based Torso-Weighting (BBTW). The BBTW method — an assessment of directional instability and subsequent strategic weight placement on the torso — has been shown to provide same day improvements in people with balance and mobility challenges. Join me as I interview Cynthia Gibson-Horn, PT, cofounder of Motion Therapeutics, to discuss this innovative treatment that produces immediate improvements in balance and mobility for people with Parkinson’s disease and others with balance and mobility challenges. For more information, visit: www.motiontherapeutics.com
During the radio show today, Cindy began by previewing a video of a person with Parkinson’s symptoms who was helped immensely by Cindy’s jacket that is weighted to address the imbalances in a person’s body. Click on the link below to see this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRbmOkUzoq4&list=UUApZX-0NOFentcTAv9-xp3A&index=1&feature=plcp
Judith Lynne on Harmonic Healing
Sound healer and vocal alchemist Judith  Lynne shares the story of her journey with PD and how the teachings she received from Hawaiian kahuna and High Chief Hale Makua helped her move from “Suffering with Parkinson’s” to “Partnering with Parkinson’s”. Judith will share how she has successfully applied her self-developed sound healing methods of Vocal EnergeticsTM and Harmonic HealingTM to her personal healing program. Plus she’ll share some simple exercises anyone can easily do in the comfort of their own home.
Website: Judith Lynne’s Website
Reiki Offers Sustained Relief from Parkinson’s Symptoms for Karl Robb
This show highlights, Karl Robb, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 23 and has had it for over 20 years. Hear how Karl deals with the disease and is improving his condition with Reiki and other compleentary therapies. Karl will offer some of the daily tips that he has learned from Parkinson’s Disease. For more information, visit Karl’s website at: http://www.asoftvoice.com
A Three Pronged Approach to Recovery
You will no longer have any doubts about whether a person with a very advanced stage of Parkinson’s can recovery after hearing this interview. The Cypress Alternative’s Parkinson Outreach Program is a three-prong approach to caring for those individuals living with Parkinson Disease—education, support, and fitness. The programming offers daily fitness programs, monthly support groups, and monthly educational seminars on various topics of interest to those with PD, as well as having a comprehensive training program for their staff. Programming is offered at Cypress Palms, an Enhanced Assisted Living Community, located at The Palms of Largo, in Largo, Florida. The Bonsai Holistic Spa, a state-of-the-art wellness center, located in Cypress Palms, provides therapeutic services to the public and has tailored services to meet the unique needs of the Parkinson’s community throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Of particular interest in this interview is the success story of Jim I, a 53 year-old patient in the advanced stages of Parkinson Disease who appears to be showing signs of recovery from what is thought to be a chronic and progressive condition. Over the past six months, Jim has shown improvement in fine and gross motor skills as well as his overall attitude. Jim lives at Cypress Palms and regularly works out at The Bonsai Holistic Spa. Here he frees himself of the need to use his wheel chair. He has been training on a recumbent trike on the 90-acre Palms of Largo campus and gets his speed over 20 miles per hour. He participates and enjoys classes in Parkinson’s balance and agility, Yoga, aquatics, progressive muscle relaxation and autogenic training at Cypress Palms.  He also enjoys dancing, billiards, shuffle-board and karaoke at Cypress Palms.