Natural therapy for Parkinson's disease

Definition
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a motor system disorder caused by the chronic, progressive degeneration of neurons (nerve cells) in regions of the brain that control movement. PD causes a decline in the initiation, speed, and smoothness of movement. Over time it may come to affect many bodily functions.

Description
Parkinson's Disease (PD) was first described in 1817 by James Parkinson. It affects more than one million people in the United States, including some 500,000 people who have yet to be diagnosed. About 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The average age of PD onset is 60. Symptoms of PD are seen in as many as 15% of those between the ages 65 and 74 and almost 30% of those between the ages of 75 and 84. Only 5 to 10% of PD cases occur before the age of 50. Young-onset PD occurs in those under age 40. A parent or sibling with PD increases one's risk of developing the disease.

Causes & symptoms
Causes
Although the cause of Parkinson's Disease (PD) is unknown, it appears to result from a combination of environmental and hereditary factors as well as oxidative damage and aging. Factors for PD may include:

herbicide and pesticide exposure
an as-yet-unidentified toxin or virus
cellular damage from oxidation by free-radicals (atoms or molecules with an unpaired electron)
loss of dopamine-secreting cells with age, particularly with accelerated aging
fewer dopamine-secreting cells at birth
Symptoms
Early symptoms of PD often are quite subtle, developing on one or both sides of the body. The primary symptoms of PD are:

tremors (shaking) while at rest. (The classic PD tremor is the rubbing of the thumb and forefinger at a frequency of about three rubs per second. Tremors may spread to the hands, arms, legs, feet, jaw, and face. The tremors increase with stress. However, many people with PD do not experience tremors)
slow movement (bradykinesia) or freezing during movement (akinesia)
stiffness or rigidity of the limbs and trunk
poor balance leading to frequent falls

Treatment
There is no cure for Parkinson's disease, nor is there a treatment that slows its progression.

Many factors can help relieve PD symptoms, at least temporarily:

maintaining general health
regular, moderate, muscle-building exercise
erequent rest
smaller, more frequent, meals to accomodate gastrointestinal slowdowns
physical, occupational, and/or speech therapies
encouragement and emotional support
Fatigue, anxiety, and depression can aggravate PD symptoms significantly.

Therapies that may relieve muscle tightness in PD:

acupuncture
massage
yoga
feldenkrais
t'ai chi
qigong
meditation.