The following is a naturopathic case report summary of a patient with Parkinson’s symptoms who received intravenous (IV) glutathione therapy from her naturopathic doctor. There are many layers of a naturopathic approach to Parkinson’s; IV therapy is just one of the many ways this can be addressed (see more at the end of the article). This case report is for informational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose or self-treat Parkinson’s or any other condition.
Here’s What We Know about Parkinson’s
- Chronic exposure to toxic metals may increase Parkinson’s risk.
- Glutathione protects the body from damage. But heavy metal toxicity depletes glutathione.
- IV glutathione*, under doctor’s supervision, may safely slow Parkinson’s progression and help reduce symptoms like brain fog, memory problems, difficulty walking and uncontrollable shaking.
Shaking and Stumbling Through Life
When 70-year-old JN** first came to see Dr. Crispo her right hand was shaking, and she had trouble walking. Twelve years earlier, when she had started stumbling, she had received a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Shortly after her diagnosis, her neurologist prescribed the medication carbidopa-levodopa. Despite taking it for nearly 12 years, her symptoms had slowly gotten worse. In the last 6 months, things had taken a sharp downturn. JN could no longer walk without a cane and the tremor in her right hand had intensified. Her vision had become blurry, and she noticed that she couldn’t remember things or answer questions as quickly as she used to.
Her biggest challenge was stairs. Her 12-stair flight at home was getting harder and harder to climb. In fact, she couldn’t make it up and down the stairs more than once or twice a day.
JN’s history revealed a 25-year career working as a phone line installer, two hip replacements and surgery on her right shoulder. Dr. Cirspo’s physical exam showed that JN walked with short steps. Her right leg was slower and stiffer than her left leg. Her posture and neurological exam showed nothing unusual.
Dr.Crispo knew that JN had a neurological condition. But as there is no definitive test for Parkinson’s, Dr. Crispo was open to the possibility that JN may have another neurological condition that looks like Parkinson’s.
Nearly one million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson’s Disease. Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed each year. Source: Parkinson’s Foundation.
Hello? Its Heavy Metal Toxicity Calling
Dr. Crispo took careful note of JN’s former career as a phone line installer. He suspected that the resulting long-term exposure to heavy metals may have led to the symptoms that JN was experiencing. Research has shown that glutathione can protect cells from damage and help the body get rid of excess heavy metals, slowing progression of Parkinson’s and reducing symptoms. Knowing that glutathione is better absorbed when given as an IV infusion instead of taking oral supplements, Dr. Crispo prescribed one IV glutathione treatment to start. Most people don’t experience any adverse effects when taking glutathione. But people who are sensitive to sulfites, which are present in glutathione, may experience headaches, nausea, trouble breathing, and rashes. For maximum safety, Dr. Crispo opted to use a fairly low dose for the first treatment.
The first IV glutathione treatment took 5 minutes. The results were nothing short of astonishing. Before the 5 minutes was up, JN’s hand had stopped shaking. By the time the infusion was complete, JN could walk down the clinic hallway without a cane, and her gait was normal.
Despite these immediate and significant results, Dr. Crispo didn’t stop there. One week later, JN was still cane-free (even when climbing stairs), and the hand tremor had not returned. Dr. Crispo did another IV glutathione infusion at a higher dose.
One week later, and JN was still symptom-free. In fact, her husband noticed that her mind seemed sharper and that she was answering questions more quickly. The ultimate test was the couple’s regular Jeopardy!-watching sessions. Her husband was delighted to hear her calling out answers, just like she had done in previous years.
One week after that, Dr. Crispo did another infusion at an even higher dose. JN remained symptom-free for the next two weeks until she hit a snag. While away on vacation (and 18 days after her last IV infusion treatment), JN started having problems climbing stairs. Dr. Crispo arranged for her to get an IV infusion treatment while on vacation. It worked – she was quickly back to climbing stairs, and all symptoms continued to improve.
One month after the last IV infusion, and JN’s symptoms have not returned.
Outcome for Naturopathic Approach to Parkinson’s Symptoms
In Parkinson’s cases where exposure to toxic metals like lead is a factor, IV glutathione may have immediate, long-lasting, and significant impact, resolving Parkinson’s symptoms and slowing disease progression.
After 3 treatments of IV glutathione, JN is still going strong. She can still walk and climb stairs without a cane. Her hand tremor has not returned. And to the delight of JN and her husband – the Jeopardy! answers are coming fast and furious.
What’s next for JN? Because the treatment was so successful (with no reported adverse effects), JN will likely continue to receive IV glutathione infusions. How often she gets them, may depend on when/if her symptoms return.
* This case report is not meant to diagnose or treat Parkinson’s or any other disease. It is provided for educational purposes only. This case report is a short summary for one treatment for one patient’s experience and does not reflect a comprehensive naturopathic approach to Parkinson’s disease. Naturopathic medicine is designed to treat each person individually with whole-person care, so if you are experiencing health issues that need treatment, please consult with a naturopathic doctor right away. INM does not advise IV therapy without a naturopathic doctor’s careful oversight.
** Name changed for privacy.
Editor’s Note
What does JN’s case tell us about Naturopathic Medicine and Parkinson’s? Here are some key takeaways:
NDs Get to Root Cause by Treating the Patient, Not the Disease. Taking a detailed case history is where NDs shine, to see where the health issue fits into the patient’s life narrative. If Dr. Crispo hadn’t asked about her job history and factored that in, JN’s outcome may have been very different. Dr. Crispo’s focus on the impacts of JN’s long-term occupational toxic metal exposure resulted in a dramatic improvement in symptoms.
NDs Know How to Get the Lead Out. As a phone line installer for over 25 years, JN was routinely exposed to solder, wiring, and other sources of heavy metals. Dr. Crispo did urine testing, which revealed that JN’s lead levels were 8 times higher than normal. Dr. Crispo’s knowledge of potential sources of lead toxicity, testing, health impacts, and how to get it out of the body, resulted in a successful resolution of all symptoms.
NDs are Experienced IV Glutathione Providers. Dr. Crispo went ‘low and slow’, by starting JN off on a lower dose of IV glutathione, watching for potential sensitivity, and making gradual increases. As a result, the patient safely experienced all the benefits of IV glutathione infusions without any of the potential adverse effects.
Are you wondering if IV glutathione may help you or your loved ones reduce Parkinson’s symptoms and improve quality of life? A naturopathic doctor certified to perform IV therapy can help! Find a Naturopathic Doctor in your area with our Find an ND search portal.
More Resources from the Institute for Natural Medicine:
Naturopathic doctor Laurie Mischley is a leading specialist in naturopathic medicine and Parkinson’s therapy. The following are resources for her work and classes for Parkinson’s patients.
Who is Dr. Mischley? Learn about her groundbreaking work with Parkinson’s patients
Parkinson’s School: Online courses for Parkinson’s patients
Parkinson’s Summer School at Bastyr University
Participate in Parkinson’s clinical research
Clinical References (provided in the case report)
Hauser R, Lyons K, McClain T, Carter S, Perlmutter D. Randomized, double-blind, pilot evaluation of intravenous glutathione in Parkinson’s disease. Movement Disorders. 2009;24(7):979-983. doi:10.1002/mds.22401
Kalia L, Lang A. Parkinson’s disease. The Lancet. 2015;386(9996):896-912. doi:10.1016/s0140- 6736(14)61393-3
Otto M, Magerus T, Langland JO. The Use of Intravenous Glutathione for Symptom Management of Parkinson’s Disease: A Case Report. Altern Ther Health Med. 2018 Jul;24(4):56-60.
Sechi G, Deledda M, Bua G et al. Reduced intravenous glutathione in the treatment of early parkinson’s disease. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. 1996;20(7):1159-1170. doi:10.1016/s0278-5846(96)00103-0
Additional Clinical References
Andrew AS, Anderson FL, Lee SL, Von Herrmann KM, Havrda MC. Lifestyle Factors and Parkinson’s Disease Risk in a Rural New England Case-Control Study. Parkinsons Dis. 2021;2021:5541760. Published 2021 Jul 2. doi:10.1155/2021/5541760
Aoyama K. Glutathione in the Brain. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(9):5010. Published 2021 May 9. doi:10.3390/ijms22095010
Asanuma M, Miyazaki I. Glutathione and Related Molecules in Parkinsonism. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(16):8689. Published 2021 Aug 13. doi:10.3390/ijms22168689
Chang KH, Chen CM. The Role of Oxidative Stress in Parkinson’s Disease. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020;9(7):597. Published 2020 Jul 8. doi:10.3390/antiox9070597
Iskusnykh IY, Zakharova AA, Pathak D. Glutathione in Brain Disorders and Aging. Molecules. 2022;27(1):324. Published 2022 Jan 5. doi:10.3390/molecules27010324
Schwartz GG, Williamson MR. Lead service lines and Parkinson’s disease prevalence in U.S. States. Clin Park Relat Disord. 2021;5:100122. Published 2021 Nov 27. doi:10.1016/j.prdoa.2021.100122
Wang HL, Zhang J, Li YP, Dong L, Chen YZ. Potential use of glutathione as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Exp Ther Med. 2021;21(2):125. doi:10.3892/etm.2020.9557Wei Z, Li X, Li X, Liu Q, Cheng Y.
Oxidative Stress in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Mol Neurosci. 2018;11:236. Published 2018 Jul 5. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2018.0023
This article is provided by the Institute for Natural Medicine, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, partnered with the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. INM’s mission is to transform healthcare in America by increasing both public awareness of naturopathic medicine and access to naturopathic doctors for patients. INM believes that naturopathic medicine, with its unique principles and practices, has the potential to reverse the tide of chronic illness that overwhelms existing health care systems and to empower people to achieve and maintain their optimal lifelong health. INM strives to achieve this mission through the following initiatives:
- Education – Reveal the unique benefits and outcomes of naturopathic medicine
- Access – Connect patients to licensed naturopathic doctors
- Research – Expand quality research of this complex and comprehensive system of medicine
Anna-Liza Badaloo is a writer and program consultant, working at the intersection of health, environment, and social justice. With over 10 years of experience at non-profit organizations, she brings a combination of content writing, copywriting, and journalism to her work. Using her strong storytelling ethic, Anna-Liza strives to amplify traditionally silenced voices such as BIPOC, youth, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
