For several years now, I have begun to experience a tremor in my hands. I was diagnosed with Parkinsonism. I am being treated under the supervision of a neurologist, but the
disease continues to progress. I have reviewed a large amount of medical literature about this disease and I worry greatly that I will have to take chemical (pharmaceutical) drugs for the rest of my life, and yet perhaps not gain a noticeable benefit. Therefore, I became interested in folk (traditional) medicine and found several recipes for treating Parkinsonism.
However, I do not know how beneficial their use would be for my health. I would like you to include a doctor’s commentary — to explain the medical significance of the ingredients in the recipe:
*Take 5 g of finely chopped amaralis (a plant with atropine‑rich properties, presumably “beladona” or “deadly nightshade” family), and the same amount (5 g) of belladonna root; pour 100 mL of white wine (8–10 % alcohol); add 1 g of carbonized cattle bone (charred bovine bone). Place over heat, bring to a boil, and simmer on low heat for 7–10 minutes. Then remove from heat and allow to cool for 2 hours; strain and store in a dark, cool place. Take one teaspoon (≈ 5 mL) three times a day before meals for one week. Then gradually increase the dose until you reach 2 tablespoons per dose. Also, other herbal infusions are considered effective:
Lenchopha infusion: put 1 teaspoon of crushed leaves in one cup of boiling water, steep for 30 minutes, strain, and take 1–2 tablespoons three times a day before meals.
Sage infusion: pour ½ L boiling water over 2 tablespoons of crushed sage leaves and keep (preferably in a thermos) for 8 hours; then strain and take in three doses 15 minutes before meals.*
Doctor’s commentary:
Parkinsonism is a chronic disease caused by disturbances of biochemical processes in the central nervous system. It manifests by movement impoverishment (oligokinesia), muscular trembling, and slowing of movement (bradykinesia). The idiopathic form of Parkinson’s disease is most common; it usually develops after age 50, beginning with hand tremor and partial or general rigidity. Gradually the tremor intensifies and gait becomes abnormal. To reduce rigidity, tremor, increased salivation, and other manifestations, medications from the atropine class, antihistamines, and neuroleptics are used.
The plant amaralis (beladonna) is particularly rich in atropine, as are belladonna and lenchopha; hence an infusion of these plants will undoubtedly exert a positive effect in Parkinsonism, but one must exercise great caution to avoid side effects. Treatment should begin at low doses. Overdosing may induce dry mouth, accommodation disturbance, pupil dilation (mydriasis), urinary retention, tachycardia, and constipation. More severe poisoning can give rise to significantly more serious disturbances. Contraindications for using atropine-containing preparations include glaucoma and organic cardiovascular disease.
The carbonized (charred) animal bone in the first recipe is a very powerful adsorbent, and its role in this recipe may be to neutralize the toxic properties of the plants.
Expanded Version (~1200 Words) — Discussion, Risks, and Considerations
For several years, I have been suffering from hand tremors. After medical evaluation, a diagnosis of Parkinsonism was made. Under the care of a neurologist, I am undergoing conventional therapy, but the progression of the disease continues, albeit gradually. In my reading across numerous medical sources, I have become increasingly uneasy about the prospect of having to take synthetic, pharmaceutical medications for the remainder of my life — especially since in some cases the therapeutic benefit may remain modest. Out of this concern, I have turned to traditional or folk medicine in search of additional supportive approaches and discovered several herbal formulations claimed to help in Parkinsonism.
Because I am uncertain how safe or effective these approaches might be for me, I would appreciate the inclusion of a physician’s commentary explaining the medical or pharmacological significance of the ingredients in such a recipe:
Proposed Herbal Recipe:
Take 5 g of finely chopped amaralis (a plant believed to contain atropine‑like alkaloids) and 5 g of belladonna root (another atropine‑rich herb).
Pour in 100 mL of white wine (8–10 % alcohol content).
Add 1 g of carbonized (charred) cattle bone.
Heat gently, bring to a boil, and simmer on low heat for 7–10 minutes.
Then remove from the heat, allow to cool for 2 hours, and strain. Store the filtrate in a dark and cool location.
Administer one teaspoon (~5 mL) three times per day, before meals, for a week. Then gradually increase the dose, aiming to reach 2 tablespoons (~30 mL) per dose.
In addition to that, the following herbal infusions are considered potentially beneficial:
Lenchopha infusion: Steep 1 teaspoon of crushed lenchopha leaves in one cup of boiling water for 30 minutes. Strain and take 1–2 tablespoons three times daily before meals.
Sage infusion: Pour ½ L boiling water over 2 tablespoons of crushed sage leaves, keep in a thermos for 8 hours, strain, and then take in three doses 15 minutes prior to meals.
Physician’s Commentary / Medical Analysis
Pathophysiology of Parkinsonism and Clinical Features
Parkinsonism is a chronic neurodegenerative condition characterized by dysfunction in the central nervous system’s regulation of movement, particularly due to disturbances in dopaminergic pathways within the basal ganglia. Clinically, it manifests as bradykinesia (slowness of voluntary movement), rigidity, tremor, and in many cases postural instability. Additional features may include excessive salivation (sialorrhea), autonomic dysfunction, and in advanced stages cognitive decline. The idiopathic (i.e., primary) Parkinson’s disease form is the most common variant, typically presenting after age 50, often beginning with unilateral tremor in the hands, and then slowly evolving to bilateral involvement and more generalized motor impairment.
Because no current therapy halts progression, treatment is symptomatic — aiming to restore balance in neurotransmitter systems (notably dopamine, acetylcholine, and others) to relieve motor symptoms. Typical medications include dopaminergic agents (levodopa, dopamine agonists), monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and sometimes anticholinergic agents (drugs that antagonize acetylcholine receptors) to help counter tremor and rigidity. However, these drugs carry the risk of side effects, and their effectiveness may wane over time.
Pharmacology and Risks of Atropine‑Containing Plants
The traditional recipe you propose relies heavily on plants (amaralis, belladonna, lenchopha) that may contain atropine or related tropane alkaloids, substances known to block acetylcholine (a key neurotransmitter) at muscarinic receptors (i.e. antimuscarinic action). In neurology, some anticholinergic agents are indeed used to treat Parkinsonian tremor (especially in younger patients), because the balance between dopamine and acetylcholine is disrupted in Parkinsonism: reducing cholinergic (acetylcholine-driven) activity can ameliorate motor stiffness and tremor in some patients. Thus, conceptually, a therapy based on plants containing atropine‑like compounds is not without a pharmacologic rationale.
However, the margin between a therapeutic effect and toxicity for atropine-like substances is narrow. Overdose or inadvertent high dose may cause:
Dry mouth (xerostomia)
Blurring of vision / accommodation disorders (difficulty in near vision)
Pupil dilation (mydriasis) leading to light sensitivity
Urinary retention / difficulty urinating
Tachycardia (increased heart rate)
Constipation
In more severe cases: hallucinations, central nervous system (CNS) excitement followed by depression, delirium, seizures, cardiovascular collapse, or even death.
Because of these hazards, medicines or herbs containing atropine derivatives are contraindicated in patients with glaucoma (particularly narrow-angle glaucoma) or significant cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, etc.). Also, in elderly patients, anticholinergic burden may worsen cognitive impairment or precipitate confusion.
Therefore, while the use of these plants may in theory provide symptomatic relief, extreme caution is necessary. Treatment should start at extremely low doses, under close clinical supervision, and patients must be monitored for side effects (cardiovascular, ocular, urinary, GI, CNS).
Role of Carbonized Animal Bone (Charred Bone)
The first recipe’s inclusion of carbonized cattle bone is interesting. Carbon (charcoal) has long been used as an adsorbent in various traditional preparations, with the potential to bind and neutralize toxins. In this context, it may be intended to adsorb or neutralize excess alkaloids or other toxic plant constituents, thereby reducing the risk of overdose or side effects. However, there is little rigorous scientific evidence supporting this specific use in neurological herbal recipes. Moreover, interactions between charcoal and active compounds may reduce the desired therapeutic dose.
Therapeutic Potential vs. Risks in Parkinsonism
Potential benefit: The anticholinergic effects derived from atropine‑like alkaloids may help reduce tremor and rigidity in some Parkinson’s patients by rebalancing cholinergic/dopaminergic signaling. Indeed, older anticholinergic drugs were once part of standard therapy for tremor-predominant Parkinsonism (especially in younger patients) though now used more selectively due to side effect risks.
Major risks: Because the compounds have narrow safety margins, unpredictable potency (especially in herbal preparations), variable absorption, and potential for drug–herb interactions, the chances of iatrogenic harm are significant. In traditional formulations, variability in plant alkaloid concentration (due to growing condition
