Dr. Robert Filice's E-Newsletter
Natural Medicine Management of
Benign Essential Tremor
One of our patients (61 year-old-man) called us today and described the
recent onset of tremor in both hands. His mother suffered from the same
condition, so a genetic component is implied. This is not an uncommon
problem. Usually one would think of Parkinson’s disease first in such a
case, but Benign Essential Tremor (BET) is twenty times more common than
Parkinson’s. When he comes in, I will perform a neurologic exam that
will help differentiate Parkinson’s from BET.
The tremor in Parkinson’s is more pronounced when the patient is at
rest, looks like “pill rolling”, and the patient may have a loss of
facial expression, rigidity of the muscles, drooling, and loss of the
arm swing associated with a normal gait. It results from free radical
damage to a specific part of the brain known as the Substantia Nigra.
The BET diagnosis is a “wastebasket” type, and no doubt includes tremor
(more noticeable on movement of the hand) resulting from neuron damage
from a variety of causes. For the sake of “redundancy”, neurons in the
central nervous system perform their function in bundles rather than
individually. Thus some loss of neurons can be compensated for, and
function maintained. However, there comes a point in the disease or
toxicity process when so many neurons of a bundle are damaged that its
output is no longer adequate to maintain functionality. It is at this
point that neurologic symptoms such as tremor may be seen. Some neuron
loss occurs “normally” with age, but free radical damage and
neurotransmitter depletion may be accelerated by improper nutrition,
smoking, chemical toxins, pharmaceuticals (especially appetite
suppressants, stimulants, and psychiatric drugs), drugs of abuse
(especially amphetamines and ecstasy), and heavy metal toxicity
(especially lead, cadmium, and mercury).
The workup for this patient will include a neurologic exam, a survey of
life style and drug use habits (including the use of caffeine which can
obviously aggravate tremor), nutritional status, and neurotransmitter
and hormone levels. We may also perform some vitamin levels and
essential fatty acid analyses to define whether the neuronal lipid cell
membrane may be suffering from loss of integrity, and most definitely
will perform urine testing after an IV chelating agent to assess the
possibility of heavy metal toxicity.
Orthodox practitioners say they do not know the cause of of BET.
Logically, there can be only one root cause with numerous possible
contributing factors: damage to neuron bundles resulting in inadequate
electrical output from loss of neurons or inadequate neurotransmitter
levels. Orthodox physicians use Inderal, a beta adrenergic blocker, to
suppress the symptoms of BET. Sometimes it helps and sometimes it
doesn’t. It can cause fatigue and depression, and, as is so often the
case with pharmaceuticals, it fails to address the cause of the problem.
Natural medicine treatment would depend on the results of testing, but
in general, I expect to use specific amino acids to help increase
neurotransmitter in the remaining neurons of the damaged bundles which
may well compensate for the loss of neurons or neurotransmitter
deficiency and restore adequate electrical output. I will aggressively
chelate out any heavy metals that are found, and will probably use IV
glutathione, a powerful intracellular antioxidant to protect neurons
from further damage.
I would normally recommend high dose B12 and folic acid therapy even
when levels come back normal. These two vitamins are crucial to nervous
system function. The amino acids which replentish neurotransmitter
levels may have to be used the rest of this man’s life to compensate for
existing damage, but at least the underlying causes will have been
addressed and no side effects are to be expected.
Natural medicine offers better ways to treat common illnesses.
|
|
|
Ask a
Question
Caring Medical and Rehabilitation Newsletters
Prolotherapy,
The Hauser
Diet,
Chicago Sports Medicine, Woman's
Health
Ross
Hauser, M.D.,
Marion Hauser, M.S.R.D.
715 Lake Street, Suite 600 Oak Park, IL 60301
Caring Medical Appointment Information call
708-848-7789
The information on this website is presented as information
only and not a self-help guide. Never alter or change your
health management or begin any new health plans without
first consulting your personal health care provider.
Please note: Supplement recommendations by disorders is a
general recommendation. It is not our suggestion that these
supplements cure or improve these conditions, neither do we
make claims that these supplements in anyway are to be used
in place of medical advice from a licensed medial
professional, nor are they to be used in the place of
medications prescribed by a physician. The
Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated statements
made about specific supplements nor does the Food and Drug
Administration recognize that any nutritional supplement is
to be used as a cure for any condition. Nutritional, herbal,
mineral supplementation can be beneficial in certain health
circumstances but not in every circumstance. Before using
any nutritional supplement it is strongly advised that you
seek the guidance of a licensed health care professional to
help guide you in choosing any supplementation program.
Supplement suggestions ARE NOT to be considered
cures or possible remedies, but rather supplements that can
possibly enhance the quality of life by helping the immune
and/or nervous system. All medical procedures have risks,
these risks should always be discussed with your physician.
|