Parkinsons Recovery

Since appearing on this show last fall, Dr. Hageseth has consulted with scores of what he calls Parkinson’s People (PPs). PPs consist of Person’s with Parkinson’s (PwPs), caregivers, interested family and many different professionals. Overall PPs are dissatisfied with allopathic medicine, but dissatisfied or not, many take medications with considerable benefit. The majority feel their neurologists do not take enough time with them or discuss other options with them. The Internet abounds with alternative approaches, but sadly, most offer little data or studies to support their claims. I have interviewed several PPs who tried different treatments but with no success. Holistic medicine should have a ‘W’ at the start of the word. Allopathic medicine helps, but it has its difficulties. I envision Wholistic medicine to include allopathic medicine and a healthy dose of Alternative Medicine as well. The following quotes sum up my approach to PD Don't battle PD . . . challenge it - better yet, dance with it. Do not resign yourself to PD, accept it and get on with your life. Only you can engage your BodyMind to bring about self-directed neuroplastic change that will rewire your brain. BUT it's not up to your neurologist, IT'S UP TO YOU!

Dr. Christian Hageseth, a 75-year-old retired psychiatrist has had PD for 5 1⁄2 years. He tried three medications briefly early in his illness, but stopped due to side effects and expense. The day after his diagnosis he started studying yoga and now practices it daily. For exercise he does what he calls Mindful Power Walking and High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT, also called Tabata). Finally, he has studied Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and meditates for 45 minutes each morning. He has fewer motor symptoms that are less severe since the time of his diagnosis. Last year he hiked up a 14000-foot mountain peak in Colorado. When meeting people for the first time most cannot tell he has PD. He now feels it’s his mission to train other Persons with Parkinson’s (PwPs) how to reduce their medications, reduce some motor symptoms, and live a fuller life. His program is called Integrating the BodyMind. www.sweatingoutpd.com

Lyle Gibson is a life-long resident of Burlington, Iowa who is author of “A Lifetime in Motion: Lessons Learned From a Student of the Game(s)”. He was a baseball player, tennis pro, a Boston Marathoner and local high school baseball and tennis coach. He won over 400 games as a high school baseball coach and has always had a thirst to be in motion and with this developed into a very competitive individual. He is featured in the “cover” stories in the latest “Live it!” magazine put out by the Iowa Parkinson Association . He has been interviewed on the “Paula Sands Live” television Show in the Quad Cities Iowa/Illinois), has had several radio and newspaper interviews and spoken to over 30 groups. His book is full of true stories of his life in sports as a player and as a coach and the “life lessons” learned from those experiences. The final (unplanned) chapter deals with his diagnosis of Parkinson’s approximately two years ago and the changes in priorities and the new life lessons he has learned from it. He discusses the faith, the importance of family and friends and the open-mindedness that is necessary to continue to lead a meaningful, productive life. He also tells people of the importance of exercise to both healthy individuals and more importantly those with some type of an affliction.

My guest is Bob Stahl, Ph.D. who answers the question "What is mindfulness?" and discusses how mindfulness would help living better with Parkinson's. As explained on his website [www.mindfulnessprograms.com]: "Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of what’s happening in the present moment. Whenever you bring awareness to what you’re directly doing or experiencing in your body and mind, you’re being mindful." Dr. Stahl founded 7 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programs in medical centers throughout the San Francisco bay Area and currently directs programs at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, El Camino Hospital in Mountain View and Los Gatos. He serves as a Senior Teacher for the Oasis Institute for Mindfulness-based Professional Education and Training. Dr. Stahl is a co-author of "A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook", "Calming the Rush of Panic" "A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook for Anxiety", "Living with Your Heart Wide Open" and other marvelous books.

My guest today is Dr. Laurie Mischley ND who will be discussing her exciting research program and discoveries as they pertain to Parkinson's disease. The focus of her work is on describing conditionally essential nutrients in Parkinson’s disease (PD), attempting to describe the nutritional status and requirements unique to individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. She has published on coenzyme Q10 deficiency in PD, completed her master’s thesis on lithium deficiency in PD, and is currently completing her doctoral dissertation on glutathione in PD. In 2013, she and her team completed a “Phase I Safety & Tolerability Study of Intranasal Glutathione in PD.” Dr. Mischley is a clinical research assistant professor at Bastyr University, where she is principal investigator of other PD studies including, “CAM Care in PD” and “Cannabis in PD Tremor.” Her current CAM study is designed to identify common traits among those who maintain their health despite the disease.To join the CAM study (which can be completed online) visit; www.CAMCarePD.bastyr.edu Know your score! Print out a copy for your records : www.PROPD.org Dr. Mischley is the author of an amazing book: Natural Therapies for Parkinsons Disease