Mucuna pruriens For Parkinson’s & Naturally Increasing Dopamine Production

Both Eastern and Western physicians have been known to use Mucuna pruriens for Parkinson’s disease.

Also sometimes called velvet bean, cowitch, or cowhage, Mucuna pruriens is a leguminous plant that thrives in tropical forests throughout the Indian subcontinent, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Mucuna pruriens has been used for more than 3000 years in the traditional Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine.

It has been used primarily for male infertility and libido, to prevent premature aging, and to remedy the symptoms of Parkinson’s (kampavata).

Parkinson’s disease is caused by the death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra area of the brain. When these neurons cease to function, they are unable to replenish Dopamine levels, and normal functioning is impaired.

The amino acid Levodopa (L-Dopa, levodopamine) is Dopamine’s direct metabolic precursor. L-Dopa is naturally produced in the body from the amino acid Tyrosine.

L-Dopa is also naturally found in fairly substantial amount in Mucuna pruriens, especially in the seeds. Using Mucuna pruriens for Parkinson’s disease may help to relieve symptoms by increasing levels of L-Dopa available in the brain.

Some natural health practitioners say that velvet bean extracts are safer than synthetic L-Dopa sources, however this claim has not yet been validated by clinical trials. Research has shown however that Mucuna pruriens may help improve Parkinson’s sypmtoms as well as conventional treatments.

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• Elevates dopamine & norepinephrine
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Dosage:

Between 500 - 1000 mg per day

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Mucuna pruriens for Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is an often idiopathic disorder in which the cells of the substantia nigra die off in massive amounts.

Located in the midbrain (mesencephalon), the substantia nigra has roles in reward sensing, addiction, and muscular movement.

Cells inside the substantia nigra secrete Dopamine which is a neurotransmitter integral for human health on various levels.

When too many substantia nigra cells die, its functioning becomes impaired. Dopamine cannot be synthesized and released in adequate amounts. To increase levels of endogenous Dopamine, L-Dopa is administered clinically.

Using Mucuna pruriens for Parkinson’s provides a natural source of L-Dopa. The seeds of this plant contain roughly 5% levodopamine. Mucuna supplements sold online are often concentrated to contain between 15-20% pure L-Dopa.

Using Mucuna pruriens for Parkinson’s Symptoms

During the initial stages of the disease, common symptoms of Parkinson’s include body stiffness, impaired movement, and uncontrollable shaking in the limbs. As the disease progresses, dementia often develops, and eventually death follows.

At some point, too many substantia nigra cells have been lost to accommodate necessary Dopamine synthesis and secretion, no matter how much L-Dopa may be present.

This inability to synthesize Dopamine via Levodopa likely causes the mechanisms that regulate metabolism in dopaminergic cells to become erratic. This may lead to the development of Dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS). With DDS, patients fluctuate between periods of paralysis and periods of hyperactive movement.

Supplementing Mucuna pruriens for Parkinson’s is being investigated as a natural therapy to control these symptoms. Initial trials have shown effectiveness in reducing symptoms when used in conjunction with conventional medicines such as amantadine, selegiline, and anticholinergic agents.

L-Dopa Long-Term Safety

While research is ongoing, there is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease at this time. Instead, at this point, management of symptoms is the primary focus for people with Parkinson’s and their doctors.

L-Dopa therapy is the most effective way known to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Most Parkinson’s patients are prescribed some combination of synthetic L-Dopa and Carbidopa to improve their symptoms.

Using Mucuna pruriens for Parkinson’s may offer a natural alternative source of L-Dopa for reducing tremors, body stiffness and slow movement. In some studies, it has been observed to improve walking, muscular control, and balance.

However, it does not help with other common symptoms of Parkinson’s like freezing during motion, dementia and/or autonomic disorders with defecation, urination, pain, and/or lacking sexual virility.

Using Mucuna pruriens as an adjunct therapy with other Parkinson’s medication will not inhibit the development of the disease. However, research suggests it may reduce symptom expression, improve motor capacities, and possibly delay the onset of severe Parkinson’s symptoms.

Most Parkinson’s patients using synthetic L-dopa will develop complications with long-term usage, especially if taken for more than 5 years. Drug-induced dyskinesias (DID) is prevalent in the majority of cases.

Dyskinesia is involuntary, uncontrolled, abnormal movement that can affect parts of the body such as the arms, legs, and head, or potentially spread to the whole body. Also, DDS is a probable reason for concern.

Use of synthetic Levodopamine drugs, especially long-term use, has been associated with the following side effects:

• Hallucinating, visually and/or audibly
• Anxiousness, grinding teeth, clenching
• Tremors and uncontrollable body movements
• Fatigue and/or weakness
• Double vision, dizziness
• Hot flashes and/or heart arrhythmias
• Eye spasms, excessive blinking
• Loss of eye movement
• Bloody/tarry stool
• Seizures
• Spontaneous, prolonged, painful erections
• Excessive sex drive
• Vomiting blood
• Loss of bladder control
• Swelling, especially in the face and throat

One study compared taking Mucuna pruriens as a source of natural L-Dopa to conventional Levodopa in combination with Carbidopa. The study found that compared to taking 200 mg of conventional L-Dopa combined with Carbidopa, taking a 30 g dose of Mucuna pruriens containing 1000 mg of L-Dopa had a considerably faster onset of effect, a longer duration of action, and higher peak plasma L-Dopa levels.

No significant differences in negative side effects, specifically dyskinesia, or tolerability was observed using Mucuna versus conventional treatment.

The researchers concluded that “the rapid onset of action and longer on time without concomitant increase in dyskinesias on Mucuna seed powder formulation suggest that this natural source of L-Dopa might possess advantages over conventional L-Dopa preparations in the long term management of PD [Parkinson’s disease]. Assessment of long term efficacy and tolerability in a randomised, controlled study is warranted.”

There is limited clinical research into the side effects of Mucuna pruriens as a source of L-Dopa with long-term use. It is generally considered safe for short-term use at low dosages and few adverse effects have been reported in human research trials.

Some researchers believe that this natural source of L-Dopa may not have as many long-term side effects as synthetic sources, although this has not been studied at this time. Long-term studies on Mucuna pruriens for Parkinson’s disease are needed to fully assess the effects this supplement may have.

The research on Mucuna pruriens for Parkinson’s diease has been very promising so far, however more research is still needed to fully determine the effects it may have compared to conventional treatment, and its long-term effects. At this time the FDA has not approved Mucuna pruriens as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions. It is available as a dietary supplement only.

Additional Therapeutic Benefits of Mucuna pruriens

In addition to its use as a natural therapy for Parkinson’s disease, velvet bean extracts are being researched for their potential capacities to:

• Help manage the long-term symptoms of diabetes via enhanced glucose regulation
• Neutralize cytotoxins and cardiotoxins to remedy bites from poisonous snakes
• Aid in the treatment of skin disorders like psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema
• Combat free radical damage via ROS (reactive oxygen species) scavenging
• Inhibit parasitic worms
• Provide anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, and lipid-metabolizing effects

Although there is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease, L-Dopa administration can be useful for controlling its adverse symptoms. Using Mucuna pruriens for Parkinson’s has been shown in preliminary research studies to improve symptoms when used in conjunction with conventional drugs and when used alone.

As a natural source of L-Dopa, this supplement helps to increase Dopamine levels in the brain to support the regulation of movement. Dosages of between 75 to 220 mg per day of L-dopa from Mucuna pruriens extract has been used successfully in clinical trials.

Always consult with a doctor before beginning any supplementation program, especially in the management of Parkinson’s Disease. Do not combine Mucuna supplements with your Parkinson’s medication before checking with your doctor to determine if this is appropriate for you.

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