this section will help you understand the basics of parkinson’s disease, how parkinson’s disease affects the brain, its symptoms and ongoing research. we are committed to scientific research and have been a funding partner in many major parkinson’s disease scientific breakthroughs, investing more than $51 million in research since 1961. read about what we fund and explore opportunities for funding. learn more as the country’s largest grassroots parkinson’s organization, we rely on the community to help us in our cause. complementary approaches to treating parkinson’s disease can include yoga, massage, and acupuncture. even music therapy and art therapy have been used to treat parkinson’s symptoms.

because no two parkinson’s disease patients are alike, a michigan medicine neurologist encourages patients to consider conventional and alternative treatment options. “everybody is very different in their overall needs, as well as in their responses to treatments and medications.” for this reason, when it comes to the topic of alternative therapies for treating parkinson’s disease, spears believes that patients are the best educators. one last desperate option is to put you on an alternative medicine.’” “the term alternative therapies implies that they are really in opposition to conventional therapies for parkinson's disease.” because of this, spears prefers the term “complementary and alternative therapies.” many alternative therapies, he says, “can be used together with conventional therapies for pd.” in the u.s. alone, approximately 40% of pd patients have tried some form of alternative therapy for the treatment of their symptoms.

the term alternative therapy, in general, is used to describe any medical treatment or intervention that are complement tradditional treatments - complimentary medicine or cam (complementary and alternative medicine).. alternative therapy which has proven beneficial in treating parkinson's encompasses a variety of disciplines including acupuncture, guided imagery, chiropractic, yoga, hypnosis, biofeedback, aromatherapy, relaxation, herbal remedies, massage, and many others. however, they were found not to be effective or may even have harmful side effects alternative treatments can be helpful in some cases, yet some therapies can be ineffective, costly, and even dangerous. ask yourself the following questions: if you do decide to try an alternative treatment, make sure your health is protected. talk to others in a support group, your family and friends; although they may not always be supportive, they can help you make an educated, objective decision.