I have received six emails in the last 24 hours regarding the identical issue. Apparently, I am supposed to be writing about this issue. The issue deals with this: Each person is taking Sinemet (levadopa/carbidopa). Their chief complaints are increased symptoms (particularly tremors), insomnia (can’t fall asleep), insomnia (waking up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep), muscle stiffness in their legs and feet, plus tingling and/or cramping in their feet. Here are my thoughts.
As a side note, whether you are taking Parkinson’s medications or not, the explanations and recommendations in this post will benefit you as well.
There are a couple of things going on here. The gallbladder meridian is at its peak of functioning from 11pm until 1am and the liver from 1am until 3am. Since we are on daylight savings time, this translates into midnight until 4am. This means that you are having trouble going to sleep or are being awakened when your liver and gallbladder meridians are at their peak of energy for cleaning your blood. You are awakened because they are trying to clean your blood of Parkinson’s toxins and medication toxins (additional toxins for those on medications). The liver and gallbladder meridians are struggling for energy and this agitation prevents you from going to sleep or awakens you and keeps you awake.
The best thing for you to do is get out of bed and do Medical Qigong for the Liver. This will turbo-boost your liver and gallbladder meridians. Most people have reported to me that it takes between 4 to 8 rotations of Medical Qigong for the Liver for their body to calm down and relax, and then they get back into bed and sleep soundly until morning. Your symptoms are negatively impacted because the liver meridian goes up the inside of your legs and your gallbladder meridian goes up the outside of your legs all the way to 40 points in your head. With the medications causing even more blockages of those meridians than the Parkinson’s itself, your symptoms become more pronounced.
Click here for other things you can do to assist with the legs and feet pain, tingling, numbness and cramping.
If you go to Google and type in sinemet side effects, here is what you will find (this is the first link in my search), http://www.rxlist.com/sinemet-side-effects-drug-center.htm. Included in the list of serious side effects are: restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck; worsening of tremors (uncontrolled shaking); stiff muscles; anxiety; and pain spreading to the arm or shoulder. Included in the list of less serious side effects are: constipation; dizziness; sleep problems (insomnia); muscle pain; and numbness or tingly feeling.
Western Medicine has a standard position when one is confronted with this issues: Increase your medication and/or add new medications.
I have a standard position when one is confronted with this issues: Do the Recipe, and add the items I have recommended earlier in this post.
You have two choices. The choice is yours.
One way leads to further exacerbation of the symptoms and side effects.
One way solves the issues and leads to lessening and eliminating the symptoms and side effects.
You have two choices. The choice is yours.
Choose wisely.
You are worth it.
All my best,
Howard
PLEASE NOTE: Nothing in this post should be construed to suggest that if you are taking medications that you should decrease or stop taking them. I have been very clear about the potential pitfalls/dangers of just stopping medications cold turkey. Click here for more information on this issue.
I have been doing the Medical Qigong for the Liver for insomnia and
weak, numb legs. It works wonderfully! Thanx, Howard, for caring and
making yourself available.
That’s really interesting. Luca in the open his eyes at 5 am in bed. I’ll tell him to try this. Thank you Howard!
Such sweet support…as always, Howard…now sending you sweet gratitude…
Hi Everyone,
Thanks Howard for another wonderful post. I have tried doing Medical Qigong for the Liver when I could not sleep and I have had good results. For years before and then after being diagnosed I suffered from terrible insomnia. Over the past year or so my sleeping habits have just got better and better. I now go to bed and expect to fall asleep. I still wake up once or twice a night, but usually I go to the bathroom and then fall right back to sleep. I contribute this to doing the Recipe. For me, working on exercises (the physical part), as well as working on balancing out and changing the emotional, mental me has been the key to better sleep. I am grateful to Howard for providing me with important tools that I can use to change things that I know need to be changed. It is one thing to know that something needs to be changed, but it can be a totally different thing to know how to change it. Thank you Howard for these important tools! I am so grateful to God for my life and all my wonderful blessings. I am grateful to be sleeping better at night. It is a indication that my life is balancing out. It is much easier to enjoy all my blessing after a little sleep.
I am happy to learn about the acupuncture points for leg and foot pain as I do suffer with pain. Another great tool……thanks Howard. Thanks to all of you for sharing with me. I hope that you all have the best healing week ever!
Blessings and love
Debbie
PS Here is the night time affirmation I say: “I lovingly release the day and fall peacefully into sleep knowing that tomorrow will take care of itself. I love and approve of myself. I trust the process of life.”
Blessings and love
Debbie
Dear Howard, What a blessing! Had never crossed the mind to do Medical Qigong for the Liver in the middle of the night. This is terrific. Am looking forward to long deep sleep. What a treat! So much love, thanks and blessings for your extraordinary generosity and kindness. Not only is The Recipe supremely effective but your posts are like a sweet bathing of angelic light. Jane
oh thank God for you Howard,
I was wondering why I am doing qi gong and all the side effects mentioned have been going on with me, because the sinemet has been increased. Has anyone had any success with replacing sinemet with mucana?
Thanks,
StillsmilingSusanne
https://www.fightingparkinsonsdrugfree.com/2014/12/16/fighting-parkinsons-and-the-recipe-in-depth-part-1/
Susanne here is the link from December of Medical Chi Kong for the liver explained in detail incase you missed it, it’s really helpful in understanding the Recipe. ( there are a further 14 posts each day after in December 2014 detailing EXACTLY what each movement in The Recipe does. Hope this is helpful to you and any new warriors who have recently joined. 🙂 Karen xx
Hi Howard and fellow warriors, I think whether we are medicating or not, we are all on the same journey. I am not medicating so I truly feel for those who are experiencing more hastle with meds as well as the condition. God love you. My step-brother is on meds, he rarely gets more than 4 hours sleep a night. I thank God that I get a good 8 sometimes 10 hours sleep a night. I used to wake a few times, but I followed Howard’s advise in drinking a glass of water 15 mins before bedtime, it worked for me.
I am back in my heart again, thank God, so feeling good. I felt very loved last post with so many comments to me from so many of you. It truly made a difference, bless you all. Let are army of warriors MARCH ON, with our AMAZING, truly Inspirational leader, who we all love dearly. 🙂
Big Love and Gratitude.
Karen xx
I am ever-grateful to Howard for encouraging me during my efforts to get off of Sinemet–which were successful about 2 years ago. I sleep very well at night, and can’t say that my other symptoms have gotten any worse. In fact, they’ve all improved! Blessings to you all.
Laura
Debbie, Your night-time affirmation is great!! Thanks for sharing!! Bev
Thank you Howard every post you do is helpful. I am not on meds but feel the recipie has helped me sleep well. I had a dream recently that was so vivid and real I was walking normally. I got up from sleep and I walked easily to the toilet and went back to the dream it was a beautiful feeling. I woke with my leg and arm stiff again! But the memory of the dream was with me. I walk with a stick when I am out and have a wheelchair for long distance when a friend needs to push me if it’s too far to walk. I am saying this so as when I am walking again it will be written down what state I have been in. I am healing. I am recovering thank God . Howard, myself and everyone. Love Helen
Susanne, my husband is using macuna occasionally in form of Zandopa.
It also has levedopa , but kick off much faster, and so it is good to use , when you have to be ” in shape” faster.
Howard, thank you very much for your help today and always.
Good luck to everyone with withdrawing meds .
Thank you Rita, I may try this one.
Good luck Helen, I am sure that dream is a good premonition for the near future! Glad to hear you are feeling more positive Karen in Ireland, I am sure the weakness you were feeling was just your body doing extra cleaning inside as Howard says.
How are you doing Jimmy? I have keptkept to my promise and made a good start to re starting the recipe. Even if I dont have time to do the complete recipe I do at least one small thing every day even if just an affirmation.
I had also got up in the past doing the kidney qi jong and neck exercises which had the same good affect on my sleep and the drinking water trick . Also ear plugs as I found I am extremely sensitive to any noise at night, maybe common with this nervous disorder?
Thanks Debbie for your great comments, so encouraging.
Thanks Howard!
Love to all.
Hi Mayarita, good to hear your are sticking to your promise to yourself. Yes my hearing is very sensitive. I would hear a dripping tap downstairs lol. Even someone with a loud voice can be too much. I always put the phone on loudspeaker so I can adjust the volume. The recipe makes such a difference, I missed it for a few days as my son and I have this trick we do to my brain. My main symptoms are on right side. He walks on my right side, takes my right arm and becomes my arm swing( he swings my right arm forward as my left leg steps forward) It really works and I can walk for a few minutes like that up and down the drive like there is nothing wrong with me. It’s an amazing feeling when usually I am at a snails pace. It has to be someone as tall as you to get a full arm swing. Joyous! But, I am wrecked after so could not stand to do the recipe. So this weekend when he is home from college, I said we would do it after I have done the recipe at some stage in the day as I felt the difference in Not doing it.
Yes, Jimmy quiet this week. No doubt he will check in at some stage. 🙂
Karen xx
hola Karen aun estoy vivo ……ha ha ha….
ya veo que estas tomando de nuevo fuerza, y te sientes feliz con la ayuda y compañia de tu hijo…. ese es el mejor regalo de la vida.
al igual que tu mi lado dereecho de mi cuerpo es el mas afectado , yo los veo con mucho amor y compasion, el problema es porque yo escribo con la derecha es decir soy diextro y la izquierda ha tenido que aprender a escribir en las teclas del ordenador, mientras se recupera la derecha. aun estoy debil , mi cuerpo no me obedece ,pero he tomado un segundo aire, y al parecer las cosas marchan estables , gracias a los consejos de Howard a su apoyo y al gran amor a Dios que me he mantenido bien. y la verdad Karen tambien admiro de ti tu gran valor y fortaleza.
Translation:
Hi Karen, I’m still alive …… ha ha ha ….
I see that you are taking back hard, and you feel happy with the help and company of your son …. that’s the best gift of life.
like you, my one side of my body is the most affected, I see with love and compassion, the problem is because I write right it is, I’m dexterity and the left has had to learn to write keys computer, while the right is recovered. I’m still weak, my body does not obey me, but I took a second wind, and apparently things are going stable, thanks to the advice of Howard to your support and the great love of God that I have held up well. and Karen also really admire you your great courage and strength.
Hi Jimmy, glad to hear that you are getting a second wind again. Like you, I get my strength from God. I would be lost with him and like you say, Howard is also a life line. Stay strong in your knowing of your recovery and know that Gods Grace will get us there. 🙂 Karen xx
HOLA Mayarita es un gusto saber de ti, y que ademas estes haciendo la receta, admiro tu fortaleza sabiendo que eres madre de un lindo bebe, y cualquier esfuerzo que estes haciendo se vera reflejado positivamente en tu salud. yo tambien he estado haciendo la receta regularmente y finalizo muy cansado, camino todas las mañanas una hora , y leo diariamente una hora algun libro espiritual para ayudar a calmar la mente . mi cuerpo aun sigue muy debilitado, sin embargo mi fe es grande, mi lado derecho es el lado mas afectado, mi brazo sin fuerza y rigido, no lo puedo levantaar…. como tu sabes yo no tomo medicamentos, afortunadamente duermo bien y no tengo estreñimiento, y vivo el aqui y el ahora , agradeciendo a Dios estar vivo, mañana no se que pueda pasar , a toda la comunidad les deseo que haya paz en su corazon. mayarita tu eres un ejemplo a seguir para mi, bendiciones para ti y tu bebe continua por ese camino y sigue haciendo la receta, se que esto pasara.
Translation:
HELLO Mayarita is a pleasure to hear from you, and you are also making the recipe, I admire your strength knowing that you are a mother of a cute baby, and any effort you’re doing will look positively reflected on your health. I also have been doing regular recipe and ended very tired, road every morning an hour and one hour daily read some spiritual book to help calm the mind. My body still remains very weak, but my faith is great, my right side is the more affected side, my arm limp and rigid, I can not lift …. as you know I do not take drugs, luckily I sleep well and I have no constipation, and live the here and now, thanking God for being alive, am not that can happen, the whole community I wish you peace in your heart. Mayarita you are a role model for my blessings for you and your baby continues on this path and continues to make the recipe, I know this will happen.
Helen C. here – good to hear from you Mayarita; I was wondering how you were just the other day! But I guess the insomnia had got to you that day (you posted at 3.29 am…) if you are anywhere in Europe, that is. Great that you are back on track – I hope Howard’s suggestions help. Sleep is vital – says one single mother to another!
Love to all,
Helen C.
I love reading
the comments from all of you on this blog. I had a few experiences this weekend that helped me turn another corner in my recovery. I pushed passed another fear by attending a family event which I usually avoid. I had a lot of help getting to and from the event but came away feeling much love from my family resulting in less tremors for about an hour. I am so grateful for Howard and his recipe and the knowledge that we can be cured!
It’s so great to read everyone’s sharing. It really makes a difference to know that we are travelling the same path. I’m currently taking some time out away from my family in order to rest. I’ve been away 6 days and am beginning to feel more human. The biggest learning I’m having is about letting go of control with regards to the household and the children as well as a realisation about how exhausted I was. As Howard cites hard work as one of the causes, I’m finally getting present to that way of being. I didn’t realise until I took this break that my body was begging for relief. I’m sharing this with you in case you are in denial as I was, so you might just question yourselves.
I’m having a great time just doing the recipe, praying, being grateful and resting.
Thanks for sharing everyone.
Xxx
hello, all…..I would like to hear more about mucuna….is it used with meds, or standing alone without meds?…can you switch back and forth?….how effective is it?…thanx….love to you all….