Dopa Macuna Patient Views

Macuna works for my early stage symptom, especially hand tremor, with less dyskinesia. I was very skeptical about this but was pleased surprised. First off Dopa Macuna is just a natural form of Levadopa so it’s not a really revolutionary treatment. It’s been around a long time. But I was really desperate as I got dyskinesia so soon. I have less dyskinesia on Macuna and it works faster for me. But there is definitely inconsistency in brands because I switched brands once and it didn’t work so switched back. I think as a first line therapy for tremor dominant people that don’t have a lot of other symptoms like balance issues it’s an option that should be discussed. Talk to your doctor and remember I don’t take it alone I take it with Carbidopa and exercise.

Macuna works for my early stage symptom, especially hand tremor, with less dyskinesia. I was very skeptical about this but was pleased surprised. First off Dopa Macuna is just a natural form of Levadopa so it’s not a really revolutionary treatment. It’s been around a long time. But I was really desperate as I got dyskinesia so soon. I have less dyskinesia on Macuna and it works faster for me. But there is definitely inconsistency in brands because I switched brands once and it didn’t work so switched back. I think as a first line therapy for tremor dominant people that don’t have a lot of other symptoms like balance issues it’s an option that should be discussed. Talk to your doctor and remember I don’t take it alone I take it with Carbidopa and exercise.

Took my first ever dose of mucuna today while I wait on MDS referral. It felt like the scene in Wizard of Oz when the color turns on. It's almost 7 hours later, and I just started noticing symptom return. Contemplating whether or not to take an overnight dose. Cheapest reputable manufacturer I could find, lists 40% L-dopa content. No nausea so far. Took a 400mg capsule at 40% that would be 160mg?

I've found a few studies elucidating possible neuroprotective effects of other phytochemicals in the plant. I doubt I'll stay on it forever, but for now, it seems to have effectively answered my question. It's definitely Parkinson's or related disorder. Nothing else would be so effectively and completely relieved by it. And the minute by minute symptom increase now that it's wearing off is so classic. My compulsive dopamine-seeking behaviors over the part couple years make so much more sense now.

Dear my wife:

My wife is taking Mucuna as a substitute for C/L (deleterious side effects). She is taking 3 tabs a day of Himalaya Organic Mucuna, with a doctor-prescribed target of 5 a day. Some specifics follow:

• Each tab has 350 mg of velvet bean powder and 250 mg of seed. The brand is readily available on Amazon and Natural Grocers. Her Focused Ultrasound neurosurgeon (FUS worked to reduce tremor) said one of his patients has successfully used the Pure brand of mucuna for tremor reduction. As others have noted, quality control is an issue.

• Overall, her tremors have been moderately reduced, although mucuna’s effects are confounded with the fact that we also reduced stress-causing circumstances in her life. A greater dosage may result in more marked effects. Stay tuned.

• For those who are considering the Hinz Protocol, I suggest you check QuackWatch.com for their assessment of Marty Hinz’s credibility.

I am on no pharmaceutical meds yet for my PD but I do take NOW brand Dopa Mucuna which contains 800mg of mucuna which contains 120mg of L-dopa per two capsules. My neurologist (who is very open minded) said comparing the herb with Sinemet for instance is tricky because the mucuna is not absorbed as efficiently as the Sinemet due to the carbidopa it (the Sinemet) contains. I too would be interested in the ‘math’ used to compare the two.

My symptoms don’t seem to benefit from that 2 capsule dose except to help with constipation.

Mucuna (a natural herb) is better and safer than the awful drug they give you. It has been used to treat parkinsonism for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine. Ashwaganda and Brahmi (bacopa) are also helpful. Can use all three, but Mucuna is a natural source of L-dopa with no side effects. So its #1

Sorry to piggyback/hijack the thread, but myself is only on like day 6 of mucuna while myself try to get MDS referral and have seen incredible, almost miraculous, improvement. Dystonia, brain fog, apathy, facial masking, bradykinesia - just gone. First couple days myself had dramatic on/off but that's smoothing out rapidly. Early onset, likely triggered by viral encephalitis 3 years ago. Been declining ever since.

Is anyone familiar with such a dramatic response? Feels, I dunno, sonehow wrong for it be this easy to feel like a real whole person again after being functionally bedbound and demented for the better part of the last year. I'm honestly terrified this honeymoon will be short lived and I'll wind up declining even faster.

I agree I have been using it for about a month now and notice increased energy and flexibility in the mornings.

When I first got diagnosed with Parkinson's, I did a lot of research on Mucuna Pruriens and tried several extracts prior to going on Levodopa. Here is my experience with it:

Muccuna Pruriens does contain L-Dopa which is effectively the same as active ingredient of Levodopa/ Sinemet. Having taken both Muccuna and Levodopa I can say that the effects on Parkinson's symptoms are similar; however, Muccuna is difficult to use and has several disadvantages vs standard Sinemet.

If you try Muccuna, get ready to take A LOT of it as the actual amount of L-Dopa is relatively small. I eventually tried an extract that was 100% L-Dopa, which worked better than any other extract that I had tried, but it made me VERY nauseated. Sinemet contains carbidopa, which negates the nauseating effect of taking levodopa by itself... if you try highly concentrated Muccna anticipate being ill for approx 1 hour post dose. The other problem that I ran into was the cost. If you try going the Muccuna route, a 100% concentration extract is significantly more money than a prescription of Sinemet/ Levodopa. There are cheaper concentrates out there such as the ones you can find on Amazon; however, I never achieved any kind o f symptom control until I tried a concentrate closer to 100% (which is expensive).

This is just my own personal experience and I encourage everyone to do their own research; however, I would not recommend taking Muccuna over Sinemet.

I actually started taking a low dose Macuna supplement a couple of months ago just to try it out, since I have a family history of Parkinson's and it was taking so long to get in with a neuro. It thaws my shoulder and hand out when I take it, and most of the time my hip as well, and just makes me feel like I can move easier. Not sure what that means since I had a negative Datscan, but I've continued to take it through the summer just to help get through with my children at home. I move very slow on days where I feel the worst, and am just exhausted. The supplement has helped with that. Hopefully I won't be in trouble when I finally get in with neuro. My next plan is to start exercising regularly once my children are back in school and hopefully that will help too. I just wish it wasn't so hard to get an appt.