A recently published study in Journal of Parkinson’s found that more than a third of Parkinson’s patients use natural health products to treat the symptoms of their disease. However, the results of this study also showed that a worrying percentage of these patients do not tell their doctors that they are using products such as coffee, turmeric and cannabis for Parkinson’s.
The study – whose authors include Sandra Diadhiou from Université Laval in Canada and Professor Bas Bloem from Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands – surveyed 367 people with Parkinson’s from across the Netherlands, all of whom are part of the PRIME-NL database (Proactive and Integrated Management and Empowerment of Parkinson’s Disease – Netherlands).
The aim of the study was not only to find out how frequently natural remedies are used to relieve Parkinson’s symptoms, but also whether respondents were aware of possible interactions between natural remedies and their Parkinson’s medications and whether they had discussed the use of natural remedies with their doctor.
The results showed that:
- 36% of respondents confirmed that they use natural remedies such as coffee and cannabis for Parkinson’s.
- Of that Coffee was the most frequently used product (16% of respondents), followed by cannabis (13%) and turmeric (10%).
- Other supplements used were Velvet bean And chamomile.
- 39% of users of natural health products were aware of possible interactions with prescribed Parkinson’s medications.
- Only 39% of users had discussed these dietary supplements with their doctor.
Based on the results of the survey, the study makes two recommendations: first, that “additional research efforts are needed regarding the health benefits and safety of these products,” and second, that “open discussions with healthcare providers should be encouraged to ensure effectiveness and safety.”
A previous survey by the Michael J. Fox Foundation in the US in 2022 found that of nearly 2,000 people surveyed, 70% used medical cannabis for Parkinson’s, but a third had not yet told their doctor.
Cannabis against Parkinson’s: the facts so far
Alongside Parkinson’s Europe, the Michael J. Fox Foundation is one of several prominent Parkinson’s organizations, including the Parkinson’s Foundation in the US, Fight Parkinson’s in Australia and Parkinson’s UK, that have urged people to be cautious when using cannabis for Parkinson’s, as there is currently insufficient evidence of effectiveness and safety.
Our research director Amelia Hursey explains:
“With homeopathic and natural treatments, it is rarely possible to buy over-the-counter products that have a high enough concentration of the active ingredient to produce a therapeutic effect. For example, using cannabinoids or CBD (an active ingredient in cannabis extracted from the hemp plant) can work as a relaxant, but it is very difficult to say what the concentration is in the product you are consuming and how much you need to achieve a therapeutic effect.”
Parkinson’s UK is currently conducting a research study to find out whether cannabidiol (CBD) can be used by Parkinson’s patients to treat hallucinations and delusions.
Coffee against Parkinson’s: the facts so far
There is mixed opinion about the effectiveness of coffee in treating Parkinson’s symptoms.
While some studies suggested that caffeine might slow the progression of symptoms, other research found that certain symptoms improved with caffeine treatment, but others slightly worsened.
A recent study appeared in Annals of Neurology Journal in May 2024, concluded that caffeine does not relieve symptoms.
Turmeric for Parkinson’s: the facts so far
Turmeric is a spice made from the ground rhizome of the turmeric plant. One of the active ingredients in turmeric is curcumin, which has long been believed to have medicinal properties.
This article in Science behind Parkinson’s gives an excellent explanation of how and why turmeric is thought to help with certain Parkinson’s symptoms, including its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. We’ve also previously reported on a Japanese study that found that turmeric oil may be helpful in treating Parkinson’s.
Learn more about cannabis and Parkinson’s on our Complementary Therapies page and read articles on Parkinson’s Life
