Download Essential Tremor

Naturopathic Solutions
Lina Mockus, ND
What is essential tremor?
 Everyone has some sort of tremor, but it is so small in most
people that it is not noticeable. The most common type of
tremor is essential tremor (ET). ET is eight times more
common than Parkinson’s disease.
 Essential tremor can occur in different muscle groups, such
as those of the arms, eyelids, or head, but it most
commonly occurs in the hands. It is rare that the tremor is
in the legs and feet. However, some people with ET have
problems with gait.
 In essential tremor, the affected body parts shake at a rate
of more than five times per second.
 Tremors occur during movement and are less noticeable
with rest (action tremor).
What is essential tremor?
 If the tremor is in the hands, the person has difficulty
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using tools, drinking from a glass or cup, writing, and
drawing.
The voice may shake or quiver if the tremor affects the
larynx.
The person affected may nod the head.
The tremor does not occur during sleep.
ET usually occurs on its own, not in combination with
other neurological disorders.
Who is affected?
 ET affects 4% of people 40 years of age and older, and
much higher percentages of people in their 60s to 90s.
It occurs most often in people over age 65.
Causes of ET
 The cause of essential tremor is not known, but it is
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evident that the nerves that enervate certain muscles
and/or the parts of the brain that govern the movement of
these muscles are not working properly.
About one-half of cases of essential tremor run in families,
so there is a genetic component (autosomal dominant
transmission; i.e., from one parent).
Environmental factors, especially toxins, are under
investigation as potential causes of ET.
Heavy metal poisoning, especially lead or mercury, can
cause ET. Dental amalgam fillings contain 50% mercury.
Chronic exposure to lead can cause ET. Sources of lead
include old paint, plumbing products containing lead.
Other Causes of ET
 Consumption of meat cooked at high temperatures in
men: elevated blood harmane (1-methyl-9Hpyrido[3,4-b]indole), a potent neurotoxin,
concentrations (also present in coffee and cigarettes)
 In one study, harmane concentrations were 50% higher
in patients with ET than in controls.
 Due to an inability to process harmane
 Other causes of tremor include medication side
effects, thyroid disease, exposure to organic solvents
and pesticides.
More on Amalgams
 Amount of mercury released from dental amalgam depends on the
 number of fillings
 surface area
 chewing and eating habits
 other chemical conditions in the mouth (galvanic action, evaporation,
heat, acidity)
 Amount of mercury released from dental amalgams ranges from
3 to 17 µg/day (Health Canada tolerable limit = 0.47 µg/kg/day).
 The mercury from dental amalgam may contribute from 0% to more than
75% of your total daily mercury exposure, depending on the number of
amalgam fillings you have, the amount of fish consumed, the levels of
mercury (mostly as methylmercury) in those fish, and exposure from other
less common sources.
 Exposure to very small amounts of mercury does not necessarily pose a
health risk.
Amalgams Continued
 Autopsy studies reveal that the number of amalgam fillings
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corresponds with the amount of mercury deposited in the brain
and other tissues.
Higher mercury deposits in the brain are found with greater
numbers of amalgam dental fillings.
Animal and human studies show that mercury toxicity causes
tremor.
Tremors might result from the tendency of metallic mercury to
accumulate in the cerebellum and basal ganglia of the brain.
Four amalgam fillings should cause no observable adverse health
effects in adults during a lifetime of exposure.
Canadian adults with an average number of fillings (7) might
exceed this limit.
Signs and Symptoms of Mercury
Poisoning
 personality changes (irritability, shyness, nervousness)
 tremors
 changes in vision (narrowing of the visual field)
 deafness
 muscle incoordination
 loss of sensation
 difficulties with memory
Signs of Lead Poisoning
 abdominal pain and cramping (usually the first sign of a
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high, toxic dose of lead poison)
aggressive behaviour
anemia
constipation
difficulty sleeping
headaches
irritability
loss of previous developmental skills (in young children)
low appetite and energy
reduced sensations
What makes ET worse?
 stress
 certain medications (antidepressants, lithium salts)
 caffeine
 low blood sugar
 heat, cold
 intense emotions
 fatigue
 performance situations (e.g., presentations)
What makes ET better?
 alcohol (induces relaxation)
 restful sleep
Conventional Treatment
 beta blockers
 anti-seizure drugs
 mild tranquilizers
 botox injections into the hands weaken affected muscles
For more severe cases where quality of life is severely affected:
 stereotactic radiosurgery (beaming X-rays to the affected
part of the brain)
 stimulating devices implanted directly into the parts of the
brain that control movement
Naturopathic Approach
Diet
 Stop eating processed food
 Eliminate Aspartame/Equal/NutraSweet/Canderel
 Probiotics (gut health)
 Essential fatty acids (EPA/DHA)
Supplements
 B complex (whole grains, egg yolks, peas, beans, leafy
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green vegetables, dairy (organic milk and cheeses),
and poultry)
Magnesium (sesame seeds, beans, nuts, and leafy
greens)
GABA
taurine
lecithin (protects myelin sheath from degradation)
l-theanine (green tea)
Herbs
 Scutellaria lateriflora (skullcap)
 Avena sativa (oat straw)
 German chamomile
 Centella asiatica (gotu kola)
 Valerian
 Passiflora incarnata (passionflower)
Acupuncture
 Scalp acupuncture produces good results. Patients
usually have an immediate positive response.
 Significant or complete reduction in tremor occurs in
about 80% of people who receive scalp acupuncture.
 The norm is that tremors gradually decrease with each
session.
 For some patients, the symptoms become worse during
treatment.
Why it Works
 Therapeutic areas in scalp acupuncture are related to
the distribution of acupuncture channels and network
vessels in the head.
 These channels and network vessels communicate
closely with the entire body.
 Areas stimulated in scalp acupuncture are projections
of areas of the brain onto scalp locations.
 Each area corresponds approximately to a specific
neurophysiological function in the brain.
Why it Works
 Functions of the brain can be accessed at specific areas
on the scalp.
 Many areas on the scalp interconnect with the brain
through channels and network vessels, so they can be
used to treat psychiatric and neurological disorders.
 The damaged brain can reorganize itself so that when
one part fails, other parts compensate. Scalp
acupuncture may stimulate the brain to create new
nerve pathways in an area of brain damage.
 Nerve circuits in the CNS may be able to reshape
themselves in response to external stimuli.
Acupuncture
 If tremors are not well controlled by scalp acupuncture
alone, patients may experience better results when
combining it with body and/or ear acupuncture
points.
Research
1. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. (Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 2010 Feb;30(2):107-9.
[Clinical observation on acupuncture combined with medication for treatment of essential tremor].
[Article in Chinese]
Sui KM(1), Li X.
Author information:
(1)Department of TCM, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao 266011, China.
[email protected]
OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with western medicine for treatment of
essential tremor.
METHODS: Sixty cases of essential tremor were randomly divided into two groups, 30 cases in each group. The combined
acupuncture and medication group was treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Taixi (KI
3), etc. and oral administration of Propranolol; the medication group was treated with oral administration of
Propranolol only. The comprehensive effects and the scores of tremor were observed after 30 days of treatment in the
two groups.
RESULTS: The total effective rate of 90.0% (27/30) in the combined acupuncture and medication group was obviously
higher than that of 56.7% (17/30) I the medication group (P < 0.01), the tremor score of the combined acupuncture and
medication group was obviously better than that of the medication group (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with oral administration of Propranolol has better therapeutic effect on essential
tremor than that of oral administration of Propranolol only.
How well does it work?
 80% of patients have a good response or major
improvement early on.
 Having a positive response after the first treatment
depends on
-the nature and duration of the illness
-the patient’s constitution
-the patient’s motivation to improve
How well does it work?
 In general, patients fall into 3 categories of
improvement:
-gradual and progressive
-improvement of symptoms followed by return to
presenting conditions (more likely in degenerative
diseases such as MS and Parkinson’s)
-exacerbation of symptoms followed by major
improvement
 In rare cases, there is no change.
How many treatments do I need?
 It may take two or more treatments to notice a
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difference.
It is common for patients to experience early positive
results and then to reach a plateau of improvement
after only a few treatments.
After major improvement, treatments can be
continued as infrequently as possible for maintenance.
Treatment is initially given twice a week.
A therapeutic course consists of 10 treatments.
Summary
Naturopathic treatments for ET:
 Eliminate toxins.
 Don’t cook meat at high temperatures.
 Avoid caffeine, alcohol, fatigue, stress, low blood
sugar.
 Get adequate sleep.
 Eat a healthy diet.
 Take herbs and supplements.
 Acupuncture
Should I have my amalgam fillings
removed?
 Do I have more than 8?
 Are they corroded or decayed?
No:
 Avoid acidic foods (tomatoes, grapefruit, vinegar,
coffee)
 Garlic, cilantro
Contact
www.linamockusnd.com
[email protected]
Health in Davisville (Wednesday and Friday 10-6)
101-1910 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON M4S 3B2
416-483-2555
Ushta Integrative Health Clinic (Thursday 10-7)
3300 Yonge St., Ste. 300
Toronto, ON M4N 2L6
647-748-7482