Parkinson's disease is one of the most common age-related disorders in the United States. Over a million people are suffering from Parkinson's, and its frequency is expected to triple in the next 50 years.
Although nobody knows exactly what is causing this increase in Parkinson's occurrence, many experts do know about an all-natural remedy that has been proven throughout a variety of studies to be able to treat Parkinson's disease. This remedy comes from the leaf of the ginkgo biloba, and scientists believe that it has properties that can protect the brain from Parkinson's.
But, before we talk about the remedy, let's take a more in-depth look into what Parkinson's disease really is.
What is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that is caused by the degeneration of nerve cells that connect the brain and bodily movements.
The first signs of Parkinson's disease are usually not very noticeable. They can include the feeling of weakness or stiffness in a specific limb, or the faint trembling of a hand when it is resting. Eventually these symptoms become more noticeable. The tremor worsens and turns into full-on shaking, muscles and joints become more stiff, and then movement, coordination and balance all begin to deteriorate.
As the disease becomes worse, mental conditions can such as depression and cognitive problems often accompany Parkinson's.
Movements in the body are regulated by a part of the brain called the basal ganglia. This part of the brains requires cells that have a proper balance of two substances called dopamine and acetylcholine, as they are both involved in transmitting nerve pulses.
In patient with Parkinson's disease, the cells that produce dopamine degenerate, which cause an imbalance between neurotransmitters that result in the shaky movement that is typical of Parkinson's patients. Most experts believe that this degeneration is caused by genetics, however factors that are said to increase risk of Parkinson's include:
- Reaction to prescription drugs
- Use of illegal drugs
- Environmental toxin exposure
- Stroke
- Thyroid disorders
- Head trauma (concussions)
- Brain tumor
- Inflammation of the brain
Ginkgo Biloba for Parkinson's Disease
The main cause of Parkinson's disease is the degeneration of neurotransmitting cells found in the brain. The main benefits of ginkgo biloba for Parkinson's disease is its ability to protect the brain from many factors that cause this degeneration.
One study found that an extract from the leaf of ginkgo biloba was able to protect the brain from Parkinson's caused by mercury poisoning. The study was conducted on rats that were experiencing symptoms of Parkinson's disease due to mercury exposure. It found that rats who were given a ginkgo biloba leaf extract had more balanced dopamine levels and less cell death then rats who were not given the extract.
Scientists attribute ginkgo biloba's neuroprotective abilities to its anti-oxidation and anti-apoptosis properties.
A similar study also found that ginkgo biloba extract was able to balance dopamine levels by inhibiting an enzyme that metabolizes dopamine and leads to the creation of free radicals. This again points to ginkgo biloba's anti-oxidation properties as a reason for why it is so effective at treating Parkinson's disease.
How to Use Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba supplements can be purchased online or at your local health food store. Although there is no standard dosage of ginkgo biloba given, most clinical studies advise to start off taking 40 milligrams of ginkgo biloba three times a day to benefit from its neuroprotective properties.
Although both Parkinson's disease and dementia patients take anywhere between 120 milligrams and 600 milligrams of ginkgo biloba a day, it is advised to start off taking 120 milligrams split up into three doses throughout the day, and to gradually begin taking more.
Original source: Healthy Holistic Living
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar