Effects of Traditional Japanese Massage Therapy on Various Symptoms in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease:A Case-Series Study

Effects of Traditional Japanese Massage Therapy on Various Symptoms in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease:A Case-Series Study 2012 https://sci-hub.st/10.1089/acm.2011.0148

Abstract:

Objectives: Massage therapy is one of the most commonly used complementary therapies for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the effects of traditional Japanese massage therapy on various symptoms of patients with PD.

Design: The study design was a case series study. Setting: The study was conducted at the Center for Integrative Medicine, Tsukuba University of Technology, Japan.

Subjects: The subjects were 10 patients with idiopathic PD (mean age, 69.6 – 7.7 years; range, 55–85 years) who presented for consultation with a neurologist between February and April 2009 and who desired massage therapy in conjunction with standard pharmaceutical treatment.

Intervention: The intervention comprised a 30-minute session of traditional Japanese massage in conjunction with standard conventional medication.

Outcome measures: The outcome measures were as follows: Gait speed in the 20-m walk test (10-m walk and return) for gait disturbance, angular range of shoulder joint motion for frozen shoulder, and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for assessing the severity of each of various symptoms (hypophonia, shoulder stiffness, muscle pain, heaviness or lassitude of a body part, and fatigue), as determined before and after the massage session.

Results: (1) Patients with gait disturbance showed improved gait speed, (2) those with frozen shoulder showed improved range of motion of the shoulder joint, and (3) VAS scores for assessing the severity of other subjective symptoms were improved.

Conclusions: These results suggest that traditional Japanese massage therapy used in combination with medication is effective for alleviating various symptoms in patients with PD and may contribute to enhancing their health-related quality of life. Larger studies with a control group are required to verify these findings.

TauRx Parses Subgroups to Make the Case for Methylene Blue Derivative, Again

I just added an edit to my old pro Methylene Blue post: Interesting Methylene Blue Dosing Story https://healthunlocked.com/cure-parkinsons/posts/edit/147878332

According to this paper, TauRx Parses Subgroups to Make the Case for Methylene Blue Derivative, Again https://www.alzforum.org/news/conference-coverage/taurx-parses-subgroups-make-case-methylene-blue-derivative-again some researchers are not really buying the effectiveness of LMTM (a stable reduced form of MB) for AD. Apparently this drug company goes through a lot of statistical and analytical gymnastics to find the silver lining in their trial results.

For the record, I have been off MB for over a month. I don't plan on re-starting it, but you never know.

Wheat Diet may Exacerbate Multiple Sclerosis Severity

Wheat Diet may Exacerbate Multiple Sclerosis Severity

Wheat diet may exacerbate multiple sclerosis severity, research finds - Jan 2024

by Natkritta Hüppe, Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-wheat-diet-exacerbate-multiple-sclerosis.html

Highlights:

A research team at the University Medical Center Mainz has discovered that a diet containing wheat can increase the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS). This is due to the amylase trypsin inhibitors (ATI), natural proteins in wheat, while the gluten proteins did not influence the inflammatory reaction.

The studies confirm that diet and gut health can influence the course of chronic inflammatory diseases, including MS. What is special, is that a specific food, in this case, a defined ingredient, can promote this inflammation.

Until now, however, there was no clear evidence that a wheat-containing diet can also influence inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system. We have now been able to show, both in an animal model and in a clinical pilot study, that the ATI proteins in wheat can enhance the severity of MS. These ATI proteins play a broader role in inflammation than the gluten proteins."

Amylase trypsin inhibitors (ATI) are natural proteins found in cereals such as wheat, barley and rye. The ATI proteins are hardly digested and cause mild inflammatory reactions in the intestine. However, they do not only act in the intestine: Inflammatory cells and soluble inflammatory mediators activated by ATI can also be transported from the intestine to other parts of the body through the bloodstream.

As the scientists have discovered, the ATI proteins promote existing inflammatory processes in organs such as the liver or lungs and, what's new, even in the central nervous system. As a result, the ATI proteins can exacerbate the symptoms of MS.

The research team was then able to confirm the results from the animal model in a clinical pilot study. Patients with moderately severe, mildly active MS took part in this study. One study group followed a wheat-reduced diet for three months, while the other group continued their wheat-containing diet.

After the three months, the groups switched to the other diet for a further three months. The MS patients reported significantly less pain during the wheat-free diet. Fewer inflammatory immune cells were also measured in their blood.

On a Related Note:

Sourdough Fermentation Degrades Wheat Alpha-Amylase/Trypsin Inhibitor (ATI) and Reduces Pro-Inflammatory Activity July 2020

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7404469/

“The ingestion of gluten-containing foods can cause wheat-related disorders in up to 15% of wheat consuming populations. Besides the role of gluten, α-amylase/trypsin inhibitors (ATI) have recently been identified as inducers of an innate immune response via toll-like receptor 4 in celiac disease and non-celiac wheat sensitivity. ATI are involved in plant self-defense against insects and possibly in grain development. Notably, they are largely resistant to gastrointestinal proteases and heat, and their inflammatory activity affects not only the intestine, but also peripheral organs.”

“In conclusion, this work provided fundamental knowledge on the fate of pro-inflammatory wheat ATI in different strategies of bread-making. ATI tetramers were disassembled/degraded and showed a significantly lower pro-inflammatory bioactivity after sourdough fermentation. Sourdough was the main leavening agent for bread production until the late 19th century. The introduction of baker’s yeast in 1871 resulted in a gradual replacement of sourdough fermentation by a straight, short-term dough processes. The use of sourdough in bread production has increased again in the past decade, owing to the superior organoleptic properties of sourdough bread; this study, apart from prior studies related to the degradation of FODMAPs during sourdough fermentation [47], suggested that the product development strategy using sourdough fermentation may benefit the community by reducing the severity of inflammatory non-celiac wheat sensitivity.”

Research Demonstrates Massage Therapy’s Positive Role in Aiding Brain Health

Research Demonstrates Massage Therapy’s Positive Role in Aiding Brain Health

Jan 2024

https://www.integrativehealthcare.org/mt/research-demonstrates-massage-therapys-positive-role-in-aiding-brain-health/

Research on Massage and Neurological Health:

Excerpts:

Cognitive Function

• In Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, researcher Jeong-Hwan Lim concludes positive results with the usage of mechanical massage within a mechanized chair coupled with binaural beats (two different frequency sounds played in each ear through headphones) has a positive impact on cognitive function and reducing mental fatigue.

• Participants received massage in the mechanical chair while listening to the binaural beats. Measures of EEG (Electroencephalogram) readings and results of five cognitive tests were examined. (1)

Balance and Stability:

• The International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork published research showing short-term improvements in balance, neurological, and cardiovascular measures with the usage of massage therapy. Participants were elderly individuals.

• The study concluded that a single 60-minute massage therapy session was shown to have stabilizing effects on measures of static and dynamic balance and physiological factors related to stability in older adults. This may lead to improved balance, thereby decreasing the risk of falls in elderly individuals. (3)

Parkinson’s Patients:

• The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a case-series study in 2012 highlighting Japanese massage therapy, commonly referred to as Shiatsu, aids Parkinson’s patients with their symptoms.

The three main results shown in the study were:

• patients with challenges walking witnessed improved gait speed

• patients with frozen shoulder displayed greater shoulder range of motion

• and improved VAS (visual analogue scale) scores regarding patient pain.

Shiatsu massage was shown to be an effective treatment for Parkinson’s patients. (5)

The same journal published similar findings in 2018 indicating that “Acupoint massage,” massage that involves stimulating traditional Chinese meridian points, is an effective intervention for maintaining cognitive health in elderly adults. Improvements were witnessed with measures of the Wechsler Memory Scale, Visual reproduction, Logical memory and Associative Learning markers. (6)

References:

• “The Effects on Mental Fatigue and the Cognitive Function of Mechanical Massage and Binaural Beats (Brain Massage) provided by Massage Chairs”, Lim, Jeong-Hwan, Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, August 2018

• “Multiple Sclerosis Patients Benefit from Massage Therapy”, Field Tiffany, et al, Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, July 1998

• “Massage Therapy Produces Short-term Improvements in Balance, Neurological and Cardiovascular Measures in Older Persons”, Sefton, JoEllen, International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, 2012

• The Handbook of Wellness Medicine, Ishak, William, Cambridge University Press, copyright 2020, first edition

• “Effects of Traditional Japanese Massage Therapy on Various Symptoms in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Case Series Study”, Donoyama, Nozomi, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2012

• “Acupoint Massage for Managing Cognitive Alterations in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analaysis”, Liu, Fang, et al, Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, 2018

• “Effect of Massage on Sleep Quality and Motor Development”, Kusumastuti, et al, Universitats Sebelas Maret, 2013

"Shiatsu massage was shown to be an effective treatment for Parkinson’s patients. (5)"

Wikipedia says: In the Japanese language, shiatsu means "finger pressure". Shiatsu techniques include massages with fingers, thumbs, elbow, knuckle, feet and palms; acupressure, assisted stretching; and joint manipulation and mobilization.[4]

I sure like my massage chair thingy: COMFIER Shiatsu Back Massager with Heat -Deep Tissue Kneading Massage Seat Cushion, Massage Chair Pad for Full Back, Electric Body Massager for Home or Office Chair use. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07M699ZHV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I did not realize it might be therapeutic.

The one I bought seems to not be available, but there are plenty like it. It has the hard balls going up and down your back.

Proximity proteomic analysis of the NRF family reveals the Parkinson’s disease protein ZNF746/PARIS as a co-complexed repressor of NRF2

Proximity proteomic analysis of the NRF family reveals the Parkinson’s disease protein ZNF746/PARIS as a co-complexed repressor of NRF2 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scisignal.adi9018

"Editor’s summary: The cell death that occurs in neurodegenerative diseases is due partly to decreased function of the transcription factor NRF2, which mounts cellular responses to oxidative stress. LaPak et al. sought to identify binding partners for NRF2 and related family members with proximity proteomic analysis. They found that the transcription finger ZNF746 (also known as PARIS), which is increased in abundance in Parkinson’s disease, bound to and repressed the activity of NRF2. A neuronal cell line commonly used in Parkinson’s disease studies showed greater apoptosis and oxidative stress upon ZNF746 overexpression. These data reveal a potential mechanism that may contribute to the suppression of NRF2 activity in Parkinson’s disease. —Wei Wong"

I have a High School degree and no medical training, but I think my daily dose of broccoli sprouts are boosting NRF2, and if PD represses NRF2, then boosting it might be a good idea. Or not. I am not giving advice.

Exploring the anti-inflammatory activity of sulforaphane 2023 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/imcb.12686

(This study has a Summary of studies on sulforaphane/glucoraphanin given to human volunteers in vivo) "The phytochemical sulforaphane, well established as an activator of NRF2 antioxidant signaling, has demonstrated broad anti-inflammatory effects."

I will continue my daily breakfast of a 1.5 cups of broccoli sprouts. https://rbd-pd-protocols.blogspot.com/p/broccoli-sprouts-sulforaphane.html

My Failed Pickle Experiment (Lectins)

First off, for those who don't know me, I have NOT been diagnosed with PD. I was diagnosed with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder back in April 21, which the experts say will lead to PD or something worse. When I was diagnosed I did have some other odd symptoms. Mild balance issues, Seborrheic dermatitis on my face, left shoulder so sore I had to use a mouse right handed, tension in my neck, random involuntary muscle movements, and a sore left leg. I joined this group very soon after being diagnosed and have been working on stopping my progression since then. This page shows what I am doing currently: https://rbd-pd-protocols.blogspot.com/p/my-stack.html

Okay, 2.5 years in and I am doing pretty well. No more balance issues, no more Seborrheic dermatitis, my left shoulder and leg are much better. I am back to being left handed. The random jerks are diminished greatly. My neck is still tense, but better than it was. It used to feel hard to hold up my big head.

My REM Sleep Behavior Disorder was also much improved. I went from originally having 2 or 3 fairly extreme episodes a week, falling out of bed, hitting walls, throwing pillows, to gradually getting down to about 1 mild episode every 10 days to 2 weeks. I have not hit a wall or thrown anything or fallen out of bed for over a year.

A big part of my success, I think, was going gluten free and lectin free (as much as you can go lectin free). Dr. Paul Mason - 'How lectins impact your health - from obesity to autoimmune disease' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjQZCCiV6iA

Bolt's Failed Pickle Experiment: So you know how when things are going well, you think that you can take a chance and things might continue to go well? My diet is pretty restricted, cutting out gluten and lectins, and I saw something about fermenting destroying lectins and how fermented pickles are a GREAT source of probiotics. So I thought... if I could find fermented pickles, even though cucumbers are nightshade vegetables and chock full of lectins, I should be okay.

Before adding fermented pickles to my diet I did a lot of research. I posted about it here: Some people think Lectins might cause PD, some people think Gundry is a Quack. This great article has plenty of evidence for both sides https://healthunlocked.com/cure-parkinsons/posts/150178158/some-people-think-lectins-might-cause-pd-some-people-think-gundry-is-a-quack.-this-great-article-has-plenty-of-evidence-for-both-sides

So I went and bought a jar of Bubbies Fermented Pickles! From what I read you should have 2 pickles a day, so that is what I did! 2 pickles a day for about a week! I felt great, and my poop got better (per the Bristol chart).

The Experiment Failed. I have had 4 RBD episodes in the last 8 nights. 2 of the episodes were not bad, but in one I was trying to kick a gun out of somebodies hand in a car. And last night's was the worst. I was driving along a highway and saw a man on a motorcycle had stopped on the side of the road and kicked a falcon so I tried to honk my horn. I kept pushing the horn with my thumb but it did not make any sound and then my wife woke me up. I was pressing my cat (normally, for safety, he does not sleep with us). Thank God the cat is fine.

So... I seem to be back to square one on the RBD. I guess I flooded my body with lectins for a week. Or maybe this was caused by the clocks changing, which coincided, but I think it was the pickles. I read all I could to figure out if the pickles would be okay. There is not as much info out there on lectins are you might think. Some articles said fermentation destroys all the lectins, some say it reduces the lectins, Gundry said fermented pickles were better than regular pickles.

I am just sharing this because, being early days, I feel like a canary in a coalmine. Maybe somebody will find this info useful. I am back on my pre-pickle protocols. Hopefully my sleep will be back to "not too bad" soon.

What Are Foods High in Lectins? [2023 Updated]

I'm one of those people that believe Lectins could be causing autoimmune disease and that PD is an autoimmune disease. I got on this trail after watching this video: https://youtu.be/mjQZCCiV6iA?si=6ZH1DBZovBJV-xDE

This is the best, most detailed, and yet easy to understand article on Lectins that I have read.

There is a LOT in this article. Some of my takeaways are:

- Dr Gundry is correct that these Lectins are a problem, but he comes off as being all knowing, when in fact, there is a lot of unknown. Gundry does deserve credit for raising the alarm and getting the ball rolling.

- There have been a lot of skeptical articles and videos that have said concerns about lectins do not line up with science, but as science advances it looks like the skeptics are the ones out of step with science.

- Everything has Lectins, and the lectins in different foods are different lectins. So... maybe just some of them are causing problems, but nobody knows which ones are bad for which people.

So... there is something about those lectins, but I don't think there is an authority that can completely guide us. I will use Gundry as a basic template and modify based on what else I can learn.

What Are Foods High in Lectins? [2023 Updated] https://superfoodly.com/foods-high-in-lectins/