All posts by Parkinsons Recovery

Eating Watermelons Fights Parkinson’s Symptoms

hydration, watermelon

Back at the farm things are going very well. I mentioned one time that I felt eating watermelon helps fight my Parkinson’s symptoms. Well, I am sure that they do now.

Our watermelons are almost gone (2 left). I took a two  week break without eating any to see if there would be a change or not. Well, there was. I had to go back to taking my tincture made from fava bean tops several times a day again. When eating watermelons, I hardly ever needed to take a dose of my tincture and then only a very small one occasionally. After a 2 week break, I cut into another watermelon and ate it two days in a row and was back to needing very little support again!!! Pretty cool. This needs studies I think.

A friend who is also going non-prescription l-dopa (using fava & Mucuna) and making her own fermented dried papaya like I do took a container of watermelon to work with her one day and just kept snacking on it. She skipped two doses of l-dopa and didn’t realize it until she was ready to go home for the day. That confirmed to me that it would help other people too.

I purchased a very tiny fig tree at a farmers market in spring and just ate my first figs the other day. It is beautiful and has grown to taller than me. My one main problem now is still constipation and I am still looking for a very natural remedy for this…perhaps figs??? I hope.

The greenhouse supports are up but it still has a long way to go to be under cover. Pray I can protect my young papaya trees somehow and not loose a whole year starting new ones again. Papaya leaves are even good against cancer….the more I study about them, the more anxious I am to see if they can be grown here. [P.S. Don’t use papaya if you have a latex allergy!]

I started a fava bean tincture with fava bean sprouts and it will be finished by next week. We are all very anxious to see if this will work or not. If so, anyone can make their own l-dopa support and not have to grow a garden. I will report again as soon as this experiment is tested on the “white rat”…..me.

God Bless You All

Aunt Bean

This is the first report of a how eating watermelons fights Parkinson’s symptoms after five years of research on Parkinson’s. One possible explanation for the beneficial watermelon effect reported bu Aunt Bean is that eating watermelon naturally hydrates the body. When our bodies are adequately hydrated we are able to remove the toxins and wastes that accumulate within the tissues of the body.

I have heard a number of reports from people with symptoms of Parkinson’s that when they hydrate their body, their symptoms are reduced significantly.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
http://www.parkinsonsdisease.me

 

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Fermented Papaya Chips as Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease

harvesting fava beans, Papaya Chips

Hello from Bean Acres. Things are going well on the farm. The greenhouse is partially up and my papaya “trees” are growing well. One is as tall as me. Actually they are not a tree , but a very fast growing plant that can live many years, continuing to grow and produce larger fruit each year.

I am doing very well. Not sure if it is from watermelon or other things…I am the best outdoors working hard in the sunshine. Taking very little tincture right now, but still using 2 dried fermented papaya chips every morning. My 86 yr old dad takes them too and it has helped with his balance issues also. Have several bean patches planted (over 600 plants now) and starting to harvest the tops now.

I want to try a tincture made from sprouted fava beans next and will let you all know how it turns out next month. If it works, anyone could make their own tincture without having to try to grow a garden of favas.

God Bless You All

Sandra

Summer Farm Update

Uncategorized

An exciting week at the farm.  “Bean Acres”  is in the process of getting an 80 foot greenhouse put up in a portion of the garden area.  It was given to us by a neighbor, but we had to pay for getting it disassembled and then put back up again.  They only had to move it down our driveway….but it all had to come apart first.  We will have to purchase a new plastic covering. … and new treated timbers for a few places, carriage bolts, etc.  that had to be sewn off to get it apart. (There is still a list of things to head to the store for.) It will be in the neighborhood of $1,300 (perhaps more) before it is completed again.

I pray it will be able to feed us year round and solar dehydrate food in quantities that are impossible in my little electric dehydrator.I have baby papaya trees growing, that will hopefully supply us with organically grown papayas to make “fermented papaya chips” that really have been wonderful against my PD symptoms.  They seem to have helped my 85 yr old father’s balance , also!

I have just planted a couple of raised beds with favas and hope to plant more in a couple of weeks.  We are harvesting green beans and cucumbers, rhubarb and beets right now….corn soon.

The farm is a lot of work, but I hope in the years to come it will be a blessing and inspiration to many people

God is good.   He has brought many people into my life that have helped to set the course to keep my PD under control…I thank Him for each one of them and pray that I can pass on these blessings to others.

Sandra

Instructions for Making the Fava Tincture

fava bean tincture
I have received several  inquiries from readers interested in having instructions for making the fava bean tincture. I wrote Aunt Bean and here is the full and complete step by step guide.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
www.parkinsonsdisease.me

The farm is doing well.  We finally had rain…what a blessing …it had been a dry start to the summer.  Things have really perked up after three good rains.  We are having our support group picnic the third Saturday of July.  Hopefully the garden will be producing well by then.

Just had a new grand baby and made a trip to Indiana.  What a wonderful , perfect child God has blessed us with.  Something else to keep me going in the fight against PD.

As far as the instructions for making the fava tincture…here you go.

You have to grow the plants  to have the material to work with (or know someone who can grow them for you).  This is the only difficult part.

Once you have the plants, you collect the “tops” (the small ball of immature , unopened flowers and leaves that grow at the top of the stem. )  The plant will later make these unopened balls at the base and on the stems as the plant matures..these also can be used.

Once you collect the “balls” , dry them in a dehydrator til completely dry. 

Place them then into a clean jar with a lid ( glass peanut butter jars work fine). Pour brandy over the tops until they are covered completely. Put the lid on and place it in a dark cupboard.  Shake the tincture one to three times a day for a month.

Now the tincture is ready to be strained.  I use a stainless steel tea strainer and press the liquid out of the leaves.  Let the tincture stand at least a day in a dark cupboard, and then decant off (this means to pour very slowly, leaving the sediment in the bottom of the jar). Now you are ready to pour the tincture into small dropper bottles . 

The tincture tested out at 2 drops = 1 mg l-dopa. (Of course this may vary with the type of soil the favas are grown on/ weather/etc. the amount of brandy used…should just cover the tops in the jar). Also the fava plants should be grown organically so it is safe for food.

If you are going to use fava beans for supplementing l-dopa for PD….be sure to have aG6pd blood test done to make sure you are not deficient in a specific enzyme that is necessary to metabolize fava.  There is a genetic disorder called favaism that you should research before using any product of the fava plant or bean.  If you have inherited this disorder…favas can be fatal to you.    Favas can also react with certain PD Meds and you must consult with your doctor and do your research before you use yourself as a guinea pig like I did. 

I took a big chance taking it the first time myself. And if you try using favas for supplementation, you are taking a risk too…..everyone’s PD is different, different causes, different symptoms, different reaction to meds, different progression.  What helps one person will not help another.   God is good and blessed me with just the thing that I needed to take care of my symptoms.. If you try the tincture…it is at your own risk, like me.

I started out taking 2 drops in the morning / 2 drops in the afternoon / 2 drops at bedtime. My symptoms have progressed, but the tincture still makes them disappear.  I now take about 6 to 8 drops of tincture, 4 to 6 times a day. Basically about 1 1/2 teas tincture daily. I also make fermented dried papaya and take it every morning….it is amazing too.

Well, that is all I have time to write now.  I hope this helps someone. 

God Bless You

Aunt Bean

Fava Bean Spring Harvest

harvesting fava beans
Well, the farm has been officially named:   “Bean Acres”  .   Remember the Green Acres series on TV, we are developing our own song now to go along with the farm.

Newest development…a new neighbor has moved in and he owns a Kabota with a shovel on the front and a tiller on the back……he tilled under the buttercups that were trying to take over my garden!  It looks wonderful.

Also he is a “goat person” and we are hoping by next year to be set up to have a couple of milk goats. He was milking several when he moved. We are still looking for someone able to move the huge hoop greenhouse  that is on his place…but he said , no rush.  God is good!

The fava beans under the row cover in the 50′ bed are now making beans. I have started my first tincture off their tops (which will make enough for about 2 months of doses for me). I am excited..spring has come!

Blessings …………..

Aunt Bean 

Good Hydration Makes a Huge Difference

Aquas, hydration

I forgot to mention that I am enjoying the Aquas...my elbow are not brittle now, the dry skin on my feet is going away, my eyes are moist, not dry and agravating and I am actually wanting to drink water again. Haven’t wanted it for quite a while.  Mentioned them on Neurotalk and have already had an inquirey about it….so you may hear from more people with PD

Take care

Aunt Bean
(Sandra)

A New Treatment for Constipation

constipation, farm update, fava bean tincture, Papaya Chips

Just a quick note to let you know that I have come across something else that is helping two of my difficulties: Organic Blackstrap Molasses. I was researching to see if it is healthy or not, because it is a byproduct of sugar cane. The information said it was good for acid reflux and constipation.

Constipation has been a problem since my diving accident in 7th grade (when my foot drag first appeared). I don’t have acid reflux (have very rarely)  But, have a problem with the “door” to the stomach not opening to receive food or liquids sometimes.

I thought, that’s the same area at least needing help … can’t hurt to try it. Well, I have taken a teaspoon every day for a week or so and my bowels are moving much better and the digestive system is cooperating also.

Fermented papaya still a major blessing.  Also still eating stewed rhubard and strawberries.

Favas in the 50′ covered raised bed are starting to flower. I planted 3 raised beds with favas on Monday in a cold rain (about 100 sprouting seeds).  So, this year’s garden is on it’s way.   I should have a lot more planted by now, but the weather is not cooperating.

God is good, we still have tincture from last year to go on.

I have just enjoyed “Howard’s blog on Chi Gong….interesting enough….I do alot of the same stretches with no involvement in yoga, etc.   The stretches & torquing my muscles (like full body isometrics…using my muscles against each other) have been part of my life since about 2003.  Perhaps that is a major part of my not succumbing to my symptoms of PD/ along with a mostly vegetarian diet. I eat eggs, a small amount of deer meat occasionally/ and fish plus dance /do hard work in the garden/ play music and sing.

God is so good.

Blessings from Aunt Bean
(Sandra)

Papaya Chips Offer Relief from Parkinsons Symptoms

Papaya Chips

Still having wonderful effects from the fermented papaya that I have been making since November. It has truly helped my symptoms, especially the night time difficulties that had become increasingly worse. I felt like the hunch back of Notre Dame from a movie watched in 6th grade.  My left hand was drawn to my chest/ severe right foot drag/ and right arm flailing to try to keep my balance on the once nightly trip to the bathroom.

In the last month, I decided to take a little more than I had been using and low and behold…the night  time trips are back to normal walking again.  It still takes walking on my right foot for about 10 minutes in the morning for it to straighten up & Fly Right!   But that is ok with me…it is the slowest thing to “come around” after my first fava tincture dose in the morning. (The foot drag was the first major symptom after a diving accident in 7th grade.)

A lot of PD’ers had symptoms early in life when major stress emotionally or physically came into their life.  Then the symptoms will disapear until the next major stress comes along.

Here is my current recipe for making the Dried Fermented Papaya Chips

1.  Buy a papaya and let it sit on the kitchen counter until ripe (can gently push skin like a peach)
2.  Wash outside of skin with soapy water & rinse well/Peel and discard skin….mash the fruit.
*the seeds are edible in small amounts-like a few on salad/but can possibly cause miscarriage
if  pregnant
3.  Place mashed fruit in a very clean container (I use a 2 Quart corningware casserole)
4.  For 3 Cups I mix in 1 teaspoon each of turmeric and cinnamon spice
5.  Place plastic wrap directly on the top of the papaya mash and chase out air bubbles starting at the
center . You want to block out all air.  Seal on the side/ then place another sheet of plastic on top .
(to create a double seal
6.  Let the mixture sit on the kitchen counter for 7 days to ferment
7.  Remove plastic. Check color of mixture…it should still be pretty orange top to bottom
If there is some dark areas on the top./or any mold….remove and discard this
*use only nice clear orange…if it has spoiled, throw it out. I lost one batch & had to remove an
inch from the top from another,   usually the whole amount is usable.
8   I add about 3 Tablespoons of ground flaxseed, a teaspoon of salt, a Tablespoon of Agave
to about 3 Cups of mash .  Stir well and let stand about 20 minutes , stir well again.
9.  Place in a dehydrator. on unbleached parchment paper in teaspoonful blobs
10.  Turn on dehydrator (I use living foods temp on excaliber) but if  yours has no temperature control
It will work at higher temperature

Well, this came from reading about the last Pope using papaya for his PD. Hope some of you are able to make this and try it for yourself.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL

Aunt Bean

Spring Update on the Farm

farm update

Greetings from TN.  We had a beautiful day today, up to 70 degrees, but we will have more cold weather for sure.  I have planted my first fava beans for 2011.  The ones that I planted in the 50 feet raised bed with hoops and a row cover are finally starting to grow.  They have been sitting kind of dormant since planted in November….they must have gotten the signal from nature that it is finally time!  They are beautiful and I crawled down the middle of the 2 rows and weeded.

Also, was able to weed and remulch the 100 asparagus plants that were started from seed last year,  The spears are starting to pop thru the ground now.   A few spears broke off and were immediately enjoyed fresh and raw ….delicious!

We still haven’t found anyone to work at moving the big greenhouse that the neighbor gave us…but, there is a new person coming to look at it on Monday.  His wife has PD.    He helped a couple of days in the garden last summer, and we hope he will have a good idea how to get started.

I am looking forward to having more beautiful days to enjoy digging, planting, harvesting. Have started making a few arbors to plant vines on and create shaded places for people to sit thru-out the garden.

Also,  hope to find a source for old carpet to turn upside down and lay in the pathways…making a  smooth pathway for wheelchairs to travel on. I’ve read that the old carpet will hold up for several years before falling apart.   I will have a lot of work just keeping the raised beds weeded, without constantly fighting the weeds and grass growing in the pathways (which will be wide enough for 3 people side by side/ wheelchairs , and a wider loop that a golf cart and wagon can go thru to haul water/ mulch, etc…)

Aunt Bean

Fava Bean Tincture

fava bean tincture

Well, the wind blew my row cover off my 50 foot raised bed of favas this week.   I was able to crawl down the center of the 2 rows and weed. The weeds were growing really good!  Managed to get the row cover back over the hoops and mend the hole it received twisting around a stake close by.  The favas will definitely make it thru the winter here with protection!

We still have not found anyone who will move the 80 foot greenhouse for us from the neighbors yard at the end of our driveway,   So close and yet so far away.

In the meantime…still conducting an experiment of growing 2 favas in a window in our kitchen. This is to tell me if those out there who cannot have a garden could grow them indoors for making tincture or not.. So far, they are growing well, not quite as green as those outdoors…mainly from receiving only about 6 hours of daylight and not full sun.  Spring is coming…keep your chin up!

People have been asking me about how much tincture I take a day.  Finally measured yesterday.  Approximately  1 1/2 teaspoons…..unless under unusual stress or exersion…then maybe 2 teaspoons over the course of the day total. ( 2 drops  equals about 1 mg l-dopa). I didn’t measure how many drops in 1/4 teas, which is a dose for me…….

God Bless.    Aunt Bean   (Sandra)