Last week I blogged about my recent back injury and how acupuncture boosts GABA to reduce back pain and how oral GABA further reduces the pain. Both these interventions have helped me so much and I’m doing so much better.
I love the feedback I receive in the blog comments and the great questions – which get to help the person asking the question and everyone else reading the blog and comments. So thank you if you comment!
I received this lovely feedback about GABA and anxiety, and a question about Parkinson’s disease (on the above blog) and want to share it and my response here so you and families with a loved one with Parkinson’s disease will also have access to this information:
I have loved reading your articles for a long time and listen to you whenever you are on a summit. I have learned a lot. GABA definitely helps me to relax, reduce my monkey mind and sleep better.
My mom has Parkinson’s disease and is very stiff and tight. She hurts often, especially her back. She also has afternoon anxiety, some call it “sundowners”. Can she take GABA with carbidopa-levidopa and blood pressure meds? She needs some kind of help!
Thank you in advance for any suggestions you might have to give her any quality of life as right now it is not good and the doctors offer no suggestions beyond possibly more prescriptions.
I responded saying how glad I was to hear GABA helps her to relax, reduces her monkey mind and also helps her to sleep better and how sorry I was to hear about her mom’s stiffness, pain and anxiety.
I posted this regarding the stiffness and back pain: share this paper with your doctor and get his/her approval to do a trial of GABA – Parkinson’s Disease and Neurodegeneration: GABA-Collapse Hypothesis:
the original description of Parkinson’s disease (PD) as due to the selective damage of dopaminergic neurons in the mesencephalon should be updated into the concept of a severe multisystemic neurodegenerative disorder of the nervous system, whose clinical symptoms reflect the localization and progression of the most advanced GABA pathology. A future and more complete therapeutic approach to PD should be aimed first at slowing (or stopping) the progression of Ca(2+)/GABA functional decline.
I have worked with a few people with Parkinson’s disease and GABA has been very helpful for the stiffness and pain, the physical anxiety, easing some of their tremors and helping with insomnia. I always do a trial so we know how much the individual will need.
For someone on blood pressure medication I’d start with a GABA-only product or GABA-theanine product rather than GABA Calm which does contain tyrosine.
I posted this regarding the “sundowners” question: I’d share this with your doctor and get the approval to do a trial of tryptophan – Sundown Syndrome in Persons with Dementia: An Update
sundown syndrome is characterized by the emergence or increment of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as agitation, confusion, anxiety, and aggressiveness in late afternoon, in the evening, or at night.
Although this paper refers to dementia, these symptoms also happen to be classic low serotonin symptoms that typically respond really well to tryptophan. The paper mentions melatonin as an intervention but since tryptophan converts to melatonin I’d start with tryptophan (based on doing a trial) and then consider adding melatonin too if needed.
I shared a few more resources on Parkinson’s disease:
- Chris Kresser has an excellent blog post called New Research and Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease where he writes about the microbiome, constipation, SIBO, gluten, the HPA axis, low-dose naltrexone (LDN) and the possible autoimmune aspect, iron overload and the benefits of curcumin, a ketogenic diet and glutathione.
- The Wahls Protocol for MS (some versions of which are ketogenic diets) shows promise for many neurodegenerative diseases and is also being researched for Parkinson’s disease
I also shared this amazing and inspiring video created by physical therapist Anicea Gunlock, on how using music while gait training can be beneficial for those suffering from Parkinsons’s disease
You read more about this music approach Anicea Gunlock used with her patient here.
The amino acids GABA and tryptophan can often be used in conjunction with all of the above approaches and often provide immediate relief for anxiety, pain, agitation and insomnia while some of the other root causes are being addressed.
I’ve recently updated the Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements blog with some of my favorite GABA and tryptophan products mentioned above. You’ll also see the amino acid questionnaire and amino acid precautions on this blog.
Instead of only considering the amino acids for someone whose primary issue is anxiety, I’d like you to start thinking about using the amino acids for anyone who has a medical diagnosis – such as autism, cancer, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, MS, Alzheimer’s disease or anything else – and who also happens to suffer from anxiety.
Have you used GABA or tryptophan to ease stiff and tense muscles and pain in your Parksinson’s disease, for a family member or for a patient/client?
And have you used tryptophan for the low serotonin worry-type of anxiety, agitation and insomnia?
Sara says
Wouldn’t it make more sense, from a solutions perspective, to assist the body in making more GABA? I truly think a lot of these GABA deficiencies are ultimately linked to the gut. Specific strains of bacteria either make GABA or consume it for energy. Wouldn’t it make more sense to identify which strains of bacteria need to be consumed to favorably alter the microbiome?
Trudy Scott says
Sara
I have all my clients address gut health because both GABA and tryptophan are produced in the gut. We also provide the raw materials for making GABA and other brain chemicals when we eat real whole food including quality animal protein like grass-fed read meat and wild fish. But we also like to use the amino acid precursors GABA and tryptophan so individuals get relief on day 1 – this gives them hope and motivation to make all the dietary changes.
Deborah says
Hi,
I have Parkinson’s disease and found this article while searching for natural remedies for my anxiety and depression. Where can I find the best GABA and Tryptophan?
Thanks so much
Debbie
Trudy Scott says
Deborah
There is a link to my supplements blog in the above post – see Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements blog
Marshall A Wilson says
My husband Marshall has Parkinson. I have been using GABA and it has helped him when he is stiff. What about Theanine Serene with Relora?
Kerry Browman says
I have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease since 2010, by the VA. I found that none of the current medications worked (side effects for me). I currently take pramipexole dihydrochloride three times daily. It isn’t working well neither. I still have some tremors. Was on carbidopa levodopa but only lasted 90 minutes then wore off. Down side of carbidopa is after reaching max dosage it will no longer give relief, nothing was working for me and to make matters worse there has been little if any progress in finding a reliable medical treatment for Parkinson’s disease without spending thousands of $, finally this year I was introduced to an effective Parkinson’s herbal protocol. This protocol relieved symptoms significantly, even better than the medications I was given.. No case of Parkinson’s, hallucination, weakness, muscle pain or tremors. I’m strong again and able to go about daily activities.
Trudy Scott says
Kerry
Wonderful to hear. Let us know if you also explore GABA and tryptophan.
Cari says
Hello Kerry. Can you please share with me what the herbal protocol entails? Thank you!
Linda Kelly says
My husband has Parkinson’s and takes Carbidopa-Levodopa. Can he take these supplements along with his meds? He has trouble sleeping and is getting slower.
Many thanks,
Linda Kelly
Trudy Scott says
Linda
It’s best to discuss with his prescribing physician and be sure to share this research/article
Leslie Bartnicki says
The love of my life for the last 17 years was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease nearly 4 years ago, at age 52. He had a stooped posture, tremors, muscle stiffness, horrible driving skills, and slow movement. He was placed on Sinemet 50/200 at night for 7 months and then Sifrol and rotigotine were introduced which replaced the Sinemet but he had to stop due to side effects. He started having hallucinations, lost touch with reality. Suspecting it was the medications I took him off the Siferol (with the doctor’s knowledge) In March this year his primary physician suggested we started him on herbs which eased his anxiety a bit, i’m happy to report this treatment worked very effectively. His Parkinson’s is totally under control, he had a total decline in symptoms, the tremors, shaking, stiffness, slow movement and speech problems stopped. I can personally vouch for these remedy but you would probably need to decide what works best for you
Sarno Debbie says
I’m just starting to take half a sinamet at night to be titrated. What herbal supplements helped your husband?