Brain & Nervous System Parkinson's Disease Living With Alternative Treatments for Parkinson's Disease By Cathy Wong Cathy Wong Facebook Twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 26, 2022 Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD LinkedIn Diana Apetauerova, MD, is board-certified in neurology with a subspecialty in movement disorders. She is an associate clinical professor of neurology at Tufts School of Medicine. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print For people with Parkinson's disease, treatment typically involves the use of medications that help minimize movement problems and control symptoms. A disorder of the central nervous system, Parkinson's disease also can be better managed with the help of certain lifestyle changes. In addition to medication, people who have Parkinson's disease often seek alternative treatment options. Arno Masse / Getty Images The Importance of Treatment As Parkinson's disease takes its course, nerve cells responsible for the production of dopamine (a brain chemical that helps control muscle movement) slowly die off. The condition causes tremors, muscle stiffness, and difficulty with motor function. Treatment for Parkinson's disease helps reduce the following symptoms: Problems with movementDifficulty swallowingImpaired balance and walkingMuscle aches and painsRigid or stiff musclesShakingSlowed speech Treatment for Parkinson's disease also might help reduce the risk of Parkinson's-related complications, such as depression, sleep problems, urinary problems, constipation, and sexual dysfunction. Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease Standard Treatment Standard treatment for Parkinson's disease often involves the use of medications that help boost the brain's supply of dopamine. Although these medications can help improve symptoms, many drugs prescribed to Parkinson's patients can cause side effects (including hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea). What's more, many symptoms respond less to treatment over time. Therefore, if you have Parkinson's disease, you will need to work closely with your healthcare providers to monitor your symptoms and adjust your treatment programs. The New Anti-Parkinson's Drug Safinamide In many cases, physical therapy and occupational therapy can help improve mobility and range of motion in Parkinson's disease. Sometimes, surgery can also be a treatment option. Lifestyle Changes Healthcare providers often recommend the following lifestyle changes as part of treatment for Parkinson's disease: Good nutritionRegular exerciseRegular rest and good sleep hygieneStress managementUse of assisting devices, such as special eating utensils Coping With Parkinson’s Disease Alternative Treatments The use of alternative medicine in the treatment of Parkinson's disease has not been extensively researched. However, a small number of studies suggest that the following natural approaches may be of some benefit to Parkinson's patients. Acupuncture Some research suggests that receiving acupuncture (a needle-based Chinese therapy) may help improve motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Further research studies are being conducted to assess the effectiveness of this therapy on different symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Tai Chi Research on the effects of Tai Chi on Parkinson's disease suggests that long-term Tai Chi training can improve gait and balance problems for people who have the condition. According to the researchers, the underlying mechanisms may include enhanced brain network function, reduced inflammation, improved amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and neurotransmitter metabolism, and decreased vulnerability to dopaminergic degeneration. How Tai Chi Can Help With Parkinson's Disease Coenzyme Q10 Parkinson's disease is associated with low levels of coenzyme Q10, a substance essential for the basic functioning of cells. It's thought that taking dietary supplements of coenzyme Q10 might aid in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, and supplementation is well tolerated. The specific effects are still being investigated. Essential Oils for Parkinson's Disease Using Alternative Medicine for Parkinson's Disease Conventional medicine and alternative therapy have not been found to stop the progression of Parkinson's disease. If you're interested in using alternative medicine as part of your Parkinson's disease treatment program, talk to your healthcare provider about which alternative therapies might be helpful for you. Self-treating or avoiding or delaying standard care can have serious consequences. Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed healthcare provider. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstance or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your healthcare provider before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen. 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Kwon M, Cheong MJ, Leem J, Kim TH. Effect of acupuncture on movement function in patients with Parkinson's disease: network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Healthcare (Basel). 2021 Nov 5;9(11):1502. doi:10.3390/healthcare9111502 Fan JQ, Xu ZQ, Chen YY, Lu WJ, Xie XY, Wang YT, Zhuang LX. Efficacy of acupuncture for Parkinson's disease anxiety: two-stage protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Feb 9;2022:5180193. doi:10.1155/2022/5180193 Li G, Huang P, Cui SS, Tan YY, He YC, Shen X, Jiang QY, Huang P, He GY, Li BY, Li YX, Xu J, Wang Z, Chen SD. Mechanisms of motor symptom improvement by long-term Tai Chi training in Parkinson's disease patients. Transl Neurodegener. 2022 Feb 7;11(1):6. doi:10.1186/s40035-022-00280-7 Mantle D, Heaton RA, Hargreaves IP. Coenzyme Q10, Ageing and the nervous system: An overview. antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Dec 21;11(1):2. doi:10.3390/antiox11010002 Additional Reading Hackney ME, Earhart GM. "Tai Chi improves balance and mobility in people with Parkinson disease." Gait Posture. 2008 28(3):456-60. Lee MS, Lam P, Ernst E. "Effectiveness of tai chi for Parkinson's disease: a critical review." Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2008 14(8):589-94. Lee MS, Shin BC, Kong JC, Ernst E. "Effectiveness of acupuncture for Parkinson's disease: a systematic review." Mov Disord. 2008 15;23(11):1505-15. MayoClinic.com. "Parkinson's disease: Alternative medicine". Shulman LM, Wen X, Weiner WJ, Bateman D, Minagar A, Duncan R, Konefal J. "Acupuncture therapy for the symptoms of Parkinson's disease." Mov Disord. 2002 17(4):799-802. Storch A, Jost WH, Vieregge P, Spiegel J, Greulich W, Durner J, Müller T, Kupsch A, Henningsen H, Oertel WH, Fuchs G, Kuhn W, Niklowitz P, Koch R, Herting B, Reichmann H; German Coenzyme Q(10) Study Group. "Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on symptomatic effects of coenzyme Q(10) in Parkinson disease." Arch Neurol. 2007 64(7):938-44. The National Institutes of Health. "Parkinson's disease: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". The National Institutes of Health. "Coenzyme Q10: MedlinePlus Supplements". By Cathy Wong Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? 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