Reviewed by Dr Angelica L Dumapit and Physician Brandon Yew on May 24, 2022

Can TCM Help With Parkinson’s Disease?

Published August 5, 2022| 8 min read

Parkinson's disease is best supported by a combination of Western and TCM treatments. Learn more about this progressive disease and what your best treatment options are here.

Parkinson’s disease is a nervous system disorder that causes uncontrolled movements. But did you know it may also lead to depression, memory problems, and fatigue?

Although there is no cure for the disorder, treatment options are available to ease symptoms and slow the disease progression.

This guide can help walk you through how to use Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to support your Parkinson’s disease treatment.

What Is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a nervous system disorder that targets the brain and affects movement. It may cause uncontrolled movements, such as hand tremors, shaking, stiffness, or balance and coordination problems.

Most of the time, the disease will begin slowly starting with hand tremors. It may progress into more serious complications, such as having a hard time walking or standing and an increased risk of falling. This can be especially problematic with the elderly.

Parkinson’s disease may also cause mental complications, such as trouble sleeping, depression or mood disorders, poor memory, and fatigue.

What Causes It?

Parkinson’s disease may begin with hand tremors and progress into problems walking.

Parkinson’s disease occurs when the nerve cells located in the basal ganglia die or become impaired. These cells are located in the substantia nigra or the part of the brain responsible for controlling movement.

Normally, these neurons (also called nerve cells) create a brain chemical called dopamine. This is, in part, responsible for controlling movement. Health experts are not sure what causes these brain cells to die.

People with Parkinson’s disease also lose nerve endings that produce the sympathetic nervous system’s main chemical messenger: norepinephrine.

Norepinephrine helps control many body functions, such as blood pressure and heart rate. The loss of this chemical messenger may explain some of the signs of Parkinson’s disease that don’t involve movement, such as:

Sudden drops in blood pressure upon standing up
Decreased motility (fewer bowel movements due to sluggish digestion)
Fatigue
Irregular blood pressure readings

Parkinson’s disease may also be heredity, due to certain genetic mutations, or caused by environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins.

Parkinson’s disease, according to TCM

From a TCM point of view, Parkinson’s disease may be caused by work stress, poor work-life/rest balance, and unhealthy dietary and other lifestyle habits.

These factors may cause the formation and accumulation of pathogenic factors like Wind, Fire, Dampness, Phlegm, Blood Clots, and Stagnated Qi within the meridian channels, muscles, and sinews.

According to TCM Physician Brandon Yew, “As Parkinson’s disease is a systemic disease, it also affects the five major viscera, namely the Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lungs, and Kidneys. Over time, as the disease progresses, deficiencies of the Qi, Blood, Yin (bodily fluids and cooling energy), and Yang (warming energy) will arise, too.”

Symptoms Of Parkinson’s Disease

Postural instability is one of the cardinal symptoms. Research shows there are about 4-6 cardinal symptoms. A good way to remember this is TRAP: T for Tremor, R for Rigidity, A for Akinisia/Dyskinesia, and P for Postural Instability.

Here are some other common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease:

Tremors in the hands (known as a “pill-rolling” tremor), legs, arms, jaw, or head
Muscle stiffness or rigidity (muscles can stay contracted for a long time)
Slow movements (also known as bradykinesia)
Impaired balance and coordination due to postural instability may lead to falls

Depression and other mental health changes
Difficulty swallowing, chewing, and speaking
Problems going to the bathroom
Skin problems

People with Parkinson’s disease may also have a Parkinson’s-like gait (also known as a shuffling gait). It is characterized by leaning forward while walking, taking small, quick steps, and not swinging your arms. Symptoms may start on one side of the body and then gradually move to the other side.

Western Medicine Treatment Options

Western medicine states that there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. Treatment options seek to slow the progression of the disease and ease symptoms.

Medications

Commonly prescribed medications include:

Enzyme inhibitors that increase dopamine by slowing down the enzymes that break it down in the brain
Amantadines that help reduce involuntary movements
Anticholinergic drugs to reduce muscle rigidity and body tremors

Brain stimulation

Your doctor may prescribe brain stimulation if you do not respond well to medications. During this process, your doctor implants electrodes into your brain and connects them to a device inserted in the chest.

The electrodes and the device in your chest stimulate certain areas in the brain that control movement. The idea is to stop many of the uncontrolled movements associated with Parkinson’s disease. This method is often painless.

How Can TCM Help Parkinson’s Disease?

TCM can help manage the various symptoms of Parkinson’s disease through TCM herbal medication, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and tuina (Chinese manual therapy). These treatments are formulated carefully by the TCM physician to address specifically the unique body constitution of every individual patient. Hence, it’s best to always first consult a TCM physician for proper assessment.

Acupressure is an easy self-help remedy you can practice. Place fingers or a blunt object like a massage stick at certain acupoints. Apply an appropriate amount of pressure to elicit a tolerable sensation of soreness or tenderness. At the same time massage, in both clockwise and anticlockwise circular motion 20 times each. Repeat for at least three minutes per acupoint.

Acupressure

Baihui DU20: On the top of the head, along the midline of the human body. It lies approximately on the midpoint of the line connecting the apexes of the two ears. Taiyang EX-HN5: Located on the temples, about one finger-breadth posterior to the midpoint between the outer end of the eyebrow and the outer canthus. Tiantu RN22: Find this point in the depression just above your sternal bone in front of your neck. Shenmen HT7: This point is on the transverse wrist crease, in line with your little finger. Hegu LI4: You can find this on the back of the hand, between the thumb and index finger bones. Zusanli ST36: This point is located on the shin, four fingers-breadth below the knee joint Taichong LR3: You can locate this point on your foot, in the depression above the ankle joint. Sanyinjiao SP6: Find this point on the inner part of the leg, four-fingers-breadth above the tip of the inner ankle bone, just behind the shin bone.

Yintang (EX-HN3): on the forehead, at the midpoint between the two medial ends of the eyebrow.

Taiyang (EX-HN5): in the area of the temples, in the depression about one-finger width between the lateral end of the eyebrow and outer canthus area.

On the face, in the depression superior to the inner canthus.

On the anterior median line of the neck, in the center of the suprasternal fossa.

Shenmen (HT7): on the wrist, at the end of the crease of the wrist, in the depression on the radial side of the tendon.

Daling (PC7): the midpoint of the transverse crease of the wrist, between the two tendons of the anterior aspect of the forearm.

On the dorsum of the hand, between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones.

On the anterior aspect of the lower leg, 4 fingers-breadth below the outer depression of the knee joint, one finger-breadth (middle finger) from the anterior crest of the tibia.

Taichong (LR3): located on the dorsum of the foot, in the depression of the first metatarsal space.

On the inner lower leg, 4-fingers-breadth above the tip of the inner ankle bone, just behind the shin bone.

Located about a hands width below the bellow button.

Located along the midline of the lower abdomen, 2-fingers-breadth below the navel.

In depression midway between the tip of the medial malleolus and the attachment of the Achilles tendon, level with the tip of the medial malleolus.

The acupoints that might help relieve symptoms are:

Bai Hui DU20

Yin Tang EX-HN3
Tai Yang EX-HN5
Jing Ming BL1
Tian Tu RN22
Shen Men HT7

Da Ling PC7
He Gu LI4
Zu San Li ST36
Tai Chong LR3
San Yin Jiao SP6

Guan Yuan RN4
Qi Hai RN6
Tai Xi KI3

Physician Yew warns, “Do take note that acupressure can only help to manage mild symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. It is still strongly recommended to seek professional TCM help, especially for those suffering from moderate to severe form of PD, in conjunction with the medical doctor.”

Herbal remedies

Below listed are some TCM herbal formulations to help:

Di Tan Tang: Dispels Wind, Dampness, Phlegm and Qi Stagnation
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang: Dispels Dampness, Phlegm and Wind; strengthens Spleen Qi
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang: Dispels Fire and Wind; regenerates Blood and Yin to nourish Liver and Kidneys
Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang: Dissipates Blood Clots and unblocks the meridian channels for better Qi and Blood Circulation
Xiao Huo Luo Dan: Dispels Wind, Dampness, Phlegm, Blood Clots; unblocks the meridian channels for better Qi and Blood Circulation

Da Huo Luo Dan (more potent than Xiao Huo Luo Dan): Dispels Wind, Dampness, Phlegm, Blood Clots; unblocks the meridian channels for better Qi and Blood Circulation
Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang: Regenerates the Qi of the Heart, Spleen and Lungs to restore meridian circulation; dispels Wind and Blood Clots
Di Huang Yin Zi: Regenerates Blood, Yin and Yang of the Heart, Liver and Kidneys; dispels Wind and Phlegm

According to one study, Lingzhi Cracked Spores (also known as Reishi) have been shown to improve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease when used as an add-on therapy in conjunction with levodopa medication. Reishi mushrooms may also support Parkinson’s patients as a stand-alone therapy, especially in regard to mental health help.

Physician Yew concluded, “As Parkinson’s disease is highly complex, sufferers are strongly advised against self-medicating with any TCM herbs or formulas lest they run the risk of aggravating their condition. They need to seek medical help with a TCM professional.”

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Reviews (1)

CherryAug 05 2023

It was after my Parkinson disease second P.T called my doctor about the weakness in my legs and arms, by this time I have developed a gait in my walk and I fell more frequently. Only then did my doctor send me to a specialist and it was found that I had Parkinson’s and that I have had it for a while. I think because I was a woman that my signs and symptoms weren’t taken seriously and therefore left untreated for so long,I was taking pramipexole dihydrochloride three times daily, I Was on carbidopa levodopa but only lasted 90 minutes then wore off. I found that none of the current medications worked effectively for me.I got tired of using those medications so I decided to apply the natural herbs formula that was prescribed to me by my second P.T, I purchase the herbal formula from WWW MADIBAHERBALCENTER COM WhatsApp +16183561110 , There has been a huge progression ever since I start the treatment plan which will last for months usage. all the symptoms and signs begin to disappear and am fully back to my shop like nothing happen to me.