Acupuncture or Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease?
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 at
3:34 am
Question by the.chosen.one: Acupuncture or Stem Cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease?
My father needs treatment.
Currently there is a full fledged and Government sanctioned stem cell treatment center in Germany.
Chosen answer:
Answer by Lightning
Look at risk of the stem cell option. If he decides the risk is worth the potential benefit give it a try.
Otherwise if it isn’t successful give the acupuncture a go.
Provide your own answer to this question below!
Tagged with: acupuncture • cell • disease • Parkinsons • stem • therapy
Filed under: Parkinsons
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I assume you are speaking of the clinic in the link below:
http://www.xcell-center.com/treatments/diseases-treated/parkinson.aspx
Before your father embarks upon stem cell therapy, I suggest you do some serious reading about what is known today, the specific kind of therapy, the cost of both the procedure and after-care.
For starters, take a look at this recent abstract, “Stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease: a road map for a successful future” You might consider buying the article itself.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19715418
Please understand that this is Adult Stem Cell therapy and that the results can vary. You are not looking at a cure but at symptomatic relief. The length of time these results will last is still undetermined.
There is a flip side to the adult stem cell therapy discussion:
http://www.dgn.org/pressemitteilungen/nonproven-stem-cell-therapy.html
Why were only these 2 options selected?
You also asked about acupuncture. It probably can’t hurt and might help for some symptoms but it is not a cure. If your father is considering acupuncture, think in terms of permanent acupuncture:
There is a link within the next link to the pdf version:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:nmnsS8ajz80J:www.implant-acupuncture.co.uk/More%2520about%2520Implant%2520Acupuncture.doc+permanent+acupuncture+for+parkinson's+disease&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
You can also read about it here:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1292049/permanent_acupuncture_for_parkinsons.html?cat=5
If the acupuncture is for pain relief:
http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot.com/2009/06/pain-and-parkinsons-disease.html
Is your father currently receiving any treatment for his Parkinson’s disease? Does he exercise, has he adjusted his diet? Taking nutritional supplements. Does he receive medical massage?
I am not convinced that Yahoo! Answers is the best forum to inquire. You really should check at Patients Like Me – you may have to register but that’s ok, it is free. There are patients who do use acupuncture within the community:
http://www.patientslikeme.com/search?q=acupuncture&x=55&y=8
Given only the two options I would suggest the specific form of acupuncture. Although my first instinct was to suggest going with the stem cell therapy, because of the risks and the costs involved with stem cell therapy, why not find the best practitioner for permanent acupuncture and begin there.
Best Wishes and continue reading for information
I would go with the stem cell therapy
your avatar is a liitle weird