Nearly one million people in the United States today live with Parkinson’s disease. Another 90,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. Worldwide, over 10 million people have been diagnosed with this disease.
Clearly, Parkinson’s disease is relatively common. In fact, it’s the second most common degenerative brain disease after Alzheimer’s disease. The risk of developing this disease increases as people get older, and more men develop the disease than women. Although it is more likely to develop in people with a family history of the disease, others develop Parkinson’s disease with no family history at all.
There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease yet, although doctors, scientists, and researchers are all hard at work trying to find one. Fortunately, there are treatments that can help manage the symptoms, but some are more effective than others.
In recent years, doctors, researchers, and clinicians have found that ibogaine may provide some relief for Parkinson’s disease patients. Ibogaine, a psychoactive indole alkaloid that is extracted from the Tabrernanthe iboga plant and other similar plants from the same family, is currently being used – successfully – to help people break free from various addictions. Although research into its applications for Parkinson’s disease is still in its early stages, it seems possible or even likely that this natural substance can also be used to treat this widespread disease.
Read on to learn more about ibogaine treatment for Parkinson’s disease and the ways that a plant from central Africa may be able to help millions of people struggling with this neurodegenerative disease worldwide.
Understanding Parkinson’s Disease and Its Challenges
Parkinson’s disease is a disease that affects the whole individual. It affects both the motor and non-motor systems of the body. Although symptoms develop gradually, it can become debilitating in a relatively short time after diagnosis. It is difficult for the individual suffering from the disease as well as for everyone who knows and loves that individual. Watching this disease progress can be extremely challenging for all parties involved.
The motor symptoms are felt by the individual with Parkinson’s disease and are soon visible to others as well. Most people who have Parkinson’s disease experience tremors that make it difficult to speak, move, and perform simple daily tasks independently. Further, people with Parkinson’s disease struggle with slowness of movement, rigidity, and difficulties with balance.
Further, non-motor symptoms develop in time as the disease progresses. Many people with Parkinson’s disease struggle with anxiety and depression as a result of the disease; due to the decline caused by the disease, this is not surprising. As time goes on, individuals with Parkinson’s disease also may experience hallucinations, impulse control disorders, dysphoria, fatigue, sensory deficits, slowness of thought, cognitive impairment, dementia, and other non-motor issues.
Parkinson’s disease is devastating in so many ways. The average life expectancy after a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis is around 15 to 20 years. Sadly, because this disease is progressive, it will grow worse and worse for most patients as time goes on.
How Ibogaine Works in the Brain
Research suggests that people with Parkinson’s disease may benefit from ibogaine treatment. The reason for this is directly related to the way that the brain reacts to ibogaine treatments – and it is, in many ways, directly related to the ways that ibogaine works to help people break free from addiction.
Ibogaine works to restore dopamine function in the brain. It accomplishes this by modulating the dopamine transporters in the central nervous system to enhance dopamine uptake. In turn, this makes the dopamine receptors more sensitive to dopamine.
Potential Benefits of Ibogaine for Parkinson’s Disease
The ibogaine function described above can help people with Parkinson’s disease in many ways. Parkinson’s disease is a disorder that affects the central nervous system, and that’s the main body system that ibogaine works on, too. Its interactions with dopamine receptors can help Parkinson’s patients regain control over movement and coordination and can potentially reduce the frequency and severity of tremors caused by the disease. Parkinson’s is charactarized by the loss of dopamine-producing cells, so a drug that can stimulate dopamine receptors would undoubtedtly be helpful to those struggling with this disease.
This benefit alone is well worth investigating. All people suffering from Parkinson’s disease would benefit immensely from improved control over small and gross motor functions. Not only would they experience reduced physical pain, but they would also be able to enjoy greater independence and freedom.
Furthermore, ibogaine may be able to help Parkinson’s disease patients with non-motor symptoms as well. Ibogaine is also used to help treat people struggling with depression and anxiety – issues that many Parkinson’s patients struggle with as well. Ibogaine may help them to manage these types of mood disorders in a new and productive way.
Risks and Challenges of Ibogaine Treatment for Parkinson’s
Research into the risks and benefits of ibogaine treatment for Parkinson’s disease is promising, but it’s just beginning. Only a few research studies have been conducted so far to find out the ways in which ibogaine may be able to help Parkinson’s patients, but more are in the planning stages or are underway.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that ibogaine is a psychoactive substance – so it’s not for everyone. Anyone interested in taking ibogaine for any reason should speak to a professional about ibogaine at length before diving in. Plus, ibogaine comes with a variety of risks for anyone who wishes to try it for any reason. Side effects can include irregular heartbeat and other cardiac issues, seizures, respiratory depression, anxiety, and even death. Because of the potential for these types of side effects, ibogaine must only be used in a medical setting under a doctor’s supervision.
Still, it seems likely that the benefits of ibogaine may very well outweigh the potential risks. It will certainly be interesting to see the results of research into the affects of ibogaine on Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
The Future of Ibogaine Research for Parkinson’s Disease
It’s likely that there is a bright future for ibogaine therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Not only does early research suggest that ibogaine can help people with existing Parkinson’s symptoms, but it seems possible that ibogaine may even be able to reverse some symptoms of Parkinson’s that have already developed. Ibogaine for Parkinson’s disease may someday even become a primary treatment for this common and challenging disease.
Exploring Ibogaine Treatment: What Patients Need to Know
At Transcend Ibogaine, we currently offer ibogaine treatment for substance use disorder, behavioral addictions, PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and certain other, clinical conditions . Our innovative ibogaine treatment can help people break free from dependencies on substances and from unhealthy behavioral addictions and can help people work through emotional issues with much success. Our clients leave our facility in Cancun, Mexico with a new lease on life.
However, we do not yet offer ibogaine treatment for Parkinson’s disease as research into its effiacy is still in its infancy. As more studies are conducted and as risks and challenges are further evaluated and understood, Transcend Ibogaine may offer this type of treatment in the future.
If you’d like to learn more about ibogaine, our friendly and experienced staff is standing by to answer your questions about this substance, our facility, and our methods. Please give us a call today. We look forward to hearing from you.