Parkinson’s symptoms, such as muscle tremors, slowness of movement and rigidity, are caused by the progressive destruction of brain cells that produce dopamine. Previous work has suggested that an abundance of a protein called alpha-synuclein may be to blame. Current treatments aim to boost levels of dopamine, which only partly alleviates symptoms and does not affect the protein clusters.
It is thought that clumps of alpha-synuclein accumulate because brain cells cannot remove them through autophagy – a type of programmed cell death. Mice without the genes needed for autophagy quickly develop Parkinson’s-like symptoms.
Chinese medicine may be effective in battling certain symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, and lessening side effects from the drugs used to treat the condition, according to a new study.
Researchers at Hong Kong Baptist University said Gouteng, a traditional Chinese herb used to treat hypertension, helped patients better communicate and made them less prone to depression and sleeping difficulties.
“There is no cure for Parkinson’s right now, but the study showed Chinese medicine can help treat the disease,” a university spokesman told AFP Thursday.
Parkinson’s is a progressive motor-system disorder which usually affects people over the age of 50, although it can strike earlier, often causing severe symptoms including body trembling, stiffness and loss of balance.
The condition is usually treated with a drug called levodopa, which the brain converts into dopamine to relieve the symptoms, but it can also cause nausea and hallucinations.
The Baptist University study found that patients who took Gouteng together with levodopa experienced fewer side effects from the drug while showing a marked improvement in their communication skills. Li Min, an associate professor who led the study, said the findings could also help boost the profile of Chinese medicine.
“They provide not only pharmacological proof of the efficacy of Gouteng in treating Parkinson’s disease, but will also help promote the effectiveness and safety of Chinese medicine to the international medical arena,” she said.
Li – whose team has applied for a US patent, told the South China Morning Post that she expects the herb would start being used to treat the disease after the second phase of the study in 2013.
Parkinson’s symptoms, such as muscle tremors, slowness of movement and rigidity, are caused by the progressive destruction of brain cells that produce dopamine. Previous work has suggested that an abundance of a protein called alpha-synuclein may be to blame. Current treatments aim to boost levels of dopamine, which only partly alleviates symptoms and does not affect the protein clusters.
It is thought that clumps of alpha-synuclein accumulate because brain cells cannot remove them through autophagy – a type of programmed cell death. Mice without the genes needed for autophagy quickly develop Parkinson’s-like symptoms.
Chinese medicine may be effective in battling certain symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, and lessening side effects from the drugs used to treat the condition, according to a new study.
Researchers at Hong Kong Baptist University said Gouteng, a traditional Chinese herb used to treat hypertension, helped patients better communicate and made them less prone to depression and sleeping difficulties.
“There is no cure for Parkinson’s right now, but the study showed Chinese medicine can help treat the disease,” a university spokesman told AFP Thursday.
Parkinson’s is a progressive motor-system disorder which usually affects people over the age of 50, although it can strike earlier, often causing severe symptoms including body trembling, stiffness and loss of balance.
The condition is usually treated with a drug called levodopa, which the brain converts into dopamine to relieve the symptoms, but it can also cause nausea and hallucinations.
The Baptist University study found that patients who took Gouteng together with levodopa experienced fewer side effects from the drug while showing a marked improvement in their communication skills. Li Min, an associate professor who led the study, said the findings could also help boost the profile of Chinese medicine.
“They provide not only pharmacological proof of the efficacy of Gouteng in treating Parkinson’s disease, but will also help promote the effectiveness and safety of Chinese medicine to the international medical arena,” she said.
Li – whose team has applied for a US patent, told the South China Morning Post that she expects the herb would start being used to treat the disease after the second phase of the study in 2013.
929755 592269This really is a good topic to talk about. Sometimes I fav stuff like this on Redit. This write-up probably wont do nicely with that crowd. I will be confident to submit something else though. 739199
Hello, i belioeve that i saw you visitred my blog thus i got herre to return thhe desire?.I’m attempting to find issues to enhance
my web site!I suppose its ok to make use of some of
your concepts!! https://Glassiindia.Wordpress.com/
798047 887942Hi there, just became aware of your weblog by means of Google, and discovered that its truly informative. Ill be grateful if you continue this in future. Lots of individuals will benefit from your writing. Cheers! 685876
44752 931692Wow, superb weblog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging appear effortless. The overall appear of your website is magnificent, as properly as the content! xrumer 424333
310774 682533I see something really particular in this internet site . 951141