Introduction (read first)
[Updated: 4/15/21; 6/18/21; 9/24/21 added two links; 10/8/21 minor edit]
This blog reflects my experience using the approach developed by Dr. Janice Walton-Hadlock (JWH or JH) to work toward recovery from Parkinson's disease (PD). I hope it will be of help to others looking for ways of dealing with PD. I have no connection with JWH or the Parkinson's Recovery Project, and nothing here should be construed as sanctioned by or representing the official position of JWH. It is merely a place to share my own understanding and interpretation of her work as I attempt to implement it.
My tentative plan here is to offer a mix of reporting on what I've done and suggestions for readers, for what they're worth, based on my experience. Emphases and recommendations may change as JWH publishes new material. To locate a quotation from a JWH book, simply search for the quote (ctrl-f or command-f) in the downloadable document referenced.
I was diagnosed with PD at the age of 61 in early 2019. A series of three visits to medical professionals — a physician's assistant at a neurology practice, the neurologist at that practice, and finally a movement disorder specialist — confirmed the diagnosis. I am not on any prescription medications (or mucuna) and plan to delay them for as long as feasible.
Because it is a strength of mine, I immediately set about a great deal of online research. What I found prompted me to increase my exercise routine, to nudge my diet, already roughly Mediterranean, a bit more in that direction, and to develop an evolving supplement regimen. Mounting research suggests sufficient exercise can help to slow the progression of PD. What research there is suggests a Mediterranean diet low on dairy and red meat is associated with slower progression. Though, for obvious reasons related to the economics of the pharmaceutical industry, the medical establishment has paid little attention to supplements, there is a combination of research literature and much anecdotal evidence from people with PD suggesting some of those may also work to slow the progression.
With those three bulwarks in place, I began looking for treatment options that might go beyond what the Western medical establishment has to offer — which, prior to drastic procedures at later stages of the condition, is little more than toxic, often addictive medications providing some years of partial symptom relief as the underlying condition continues to progress. That meant exploring alternative medicine tools that might further address the PD process, particularly those approaches said to offer some possibility of complete recovery. I found a few such approaches, some paired with adherents with books and blogs about their recoveries (with some of those clearly having borrowed heavily from JWH, without always crediting her), and who now charge hefty fees for their advice. But for me the most compelling material by far was that provided by JWH via the Parkinson's Recovery Project. It was, in fact, a revelation!
Here was a highly trained doctor of Chinese medicine who, after stumbling upon some unexpected recoveries from PD in patients being treated for other issues, had spent years developing a comprehensive theory of the origins of PD along with a treatment approach designed to address those origins, offering the possibility of cure. She described many recoveries, and offered her approach, in free downloadable books, as a DIY treatment.
I believe that, by both training and avocation, I am well versed in assessing the value of a piece of information, determining whether it has enough substance and credibility to warrant serious attention — in short, estimating the probability it is valid. And after carefully considering what JWH put forward, it became obvious to me that she was very likely onto something of great significance. So I committed to following her approach.
I began implementing it sometime near August of 2019, though less intensively then than now. Even now, in January of 2020, I still feel like a “beginner” at it, a recognition that I need to allow it to occupy much more of my time during daily activities. Still, I do believe I'm making progress!
John Feeney
Disclaimer
Nothing on this website should be construed as medical advice. I am not a medical professional. This site is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Update – 4/15/21: In case you missed them in the text, these are two key, introductory posts you might want to read after this one:
How do I know JWH is really onto something?
Update – 6/18/21: Note that some earlier posts may contain quotes from an earlier eight chapters of RFP that were available prior to the release of the full 2020 edition. It is possible that revisions in that edition may have changed the wording of some passages so that the exact quotes I featured in those posts will not turn up on a simple text search of the PDF of the new edition. The same thing may occur in the future regarding SOP, once the full, new edition is released.