Ancient Wisdom, New Science: Exploring Ayurveda and Parkinson’s Disease
For more than two decades, my quest to understand Parkinson’s disease has taken me down some unexpected paths. What began with John's diagnosis in 2002 became a much larger exploration of the connections between our environment, our food, our microbiome, and our brains.
Along the way, I've learned that some of the most interesting questions emerge when we look beyond the boundaries of conventional medicine. Sometimes, ancient healing traditions have been asking questions about the body that modern science is only beginning to investigate.
That is why a recent paper published in Vascular and Endovascular Review caught my attention.
The paper, titled “Ayurvedic Neuroprotection in Parkinson’s Disease: A PRISMA-Based Systematic Review of Clinical and Experimental Evidence,” examines research on Ayurvedic approaches to Parkinson’s disease, including traditional herbal therapies and a cleansing and restorative practice called Panchakarma.
This research was particularly interesting to me because Panchakarma is something I have personally experienced and written about before.
And while I certainly don't believe we have all the answers, I think there is something worth exploring here.
What Is Panchakarma?
Panchakarma is an ancient Ayurvedic therapeutic practice that originated in India thousands of years ago. The word translates roughly to "five actions," referring to five traditional cleansing procedures intended to restore balance within the body.
Ayurveda approaches health through the interconnectedness of digestion, metabolism, lifestyle, environment, and the mind. Rather than focusing exclusively on individual symptoms, it considers how different systems influence one another.
That systems-based perspective is something I have always appreciated.
I have participated in Panchakarma retreats at Blue Sage Ayurveda, using the time to slow down, reflect, and focus on my physical and emotional well-being.
Our Personal Experience with Panchakarma
John also experienced Panchakarma firsthand. Around 2017 or 2018, he spent ten days at Blue Sage Ayurveda. When he returned home, he looked like a new person. The transformation was remarkable. The owners of Blue Sage told me that John was one of the people in whom they had observed the most significant changes in such a short period of time.
I’ve thought a great deal about what contributed to that change. I believe two things were particularly important.
The first was the calming of his nervous system. For ten days, John was in an environment of peace and quiet, away from the constant activity, demands, and stimulation of everyday life. Parkinson’s involves significant dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, and I believe we underestimate the profound effects that chronic stress and a nervous system constantly operating in a heightened state can have on the body.
The second was the emphasis on clearing accumulated waste through the body’s elimination pathways, including the lymphatic system. The oil massages and other treatments are intended to encourage circulation and lymphatic movement. Whether these practices measurably improve waste clearance is a question I would love to see investigated. The lymphatic system, and its relationship to the brain’s glymphatic system, deserves much more attention in Parkinson’s research.
Despite his remarkable experience, John had absolutely no interest in returning! The diet during Panchakarma is intentionally simple and quite limited, designed to give the digestive system a period of rest. John had experienced a seemingly insatiable hunger throughout his life, and the dietary restrictions were particularly difficult for him. No matter how good he looked afterward, he wasn’t eager to repeat those ten days.
I have continued visiting Blue Sage myself, generally every 14 to 18 months. I’m overdue for another visit. Each time, I appreciate the opportunity to step away from the demands of life and allow my body and mind some quiet.
I have included before-and-after photographs from my most recent visit because I think the visible changes are interesting. Photographs cannot tell us precisely what is happening physiologically, but they can invite us to ask questions about the effects of rest, therapeutic touch, digestion, circulation, and nervous system regulation.
For me, the most important question is not simply whether Panchakarma works, but which aspects of the experience contribute to the changes people observe. I suspect that calming the nervous system may be one of the most important, and perhaps most overlooked, parts of the entire process.
A traditional Panchakarma program is individualized and may incorporate several practices:
Abhyanga: Warm herbal oil massage, traditionally used to promote relaxation and balance.
Basti: Therapeutic enemas using specially prepared oils or herbal formulations.
Nasya: Administration of oils or herbal preparations through the nasal passages.
Virechana: Therapeutic purgation intended to support elimination.
Vamana: Medically supervised therapeutic emesis, or induced vomiting, used in certain traditional protocols.
Depending on the individual, a program may also include dietary changes, herbal preparations, steam treatments, meditation, and restorative practices such as Shirodhara, in which warm oil is gently poured over the forehead.
During my own retreats, I have followed a simplified diet centered on easily digestible foods, including kitchari, a traditional combination of rice, lentils, and spices. I have also experienced oil therapies, cleansing practices, and perhaps most importantly, the opportunity to step away from the constant demands of daily life.
For me, Panchakarma has been as much about quieting the mind as attending to the body.
Ayurveda describes these practices in terms of removing accumulated impurities and restoring balance. Modern medicine has not established that Panchakarma removes specific toxins or treats neurodegenerative disease, and some of its more intensive procedures carry real risks. These are not practices to undertake without appropriate medical guidance.
Still, I find the broader philosophy fascinating: What happens when we give the body an opportunity to rest, reduce stress, simplify digestion, and focus on recovery?
And could some of these traditional practices offer clues about supporting people living with Parkinson's?
What the New Research Found
The 2025 systematic review examined 39 publications from 2015 through 2025 exploring Ayurvedic interventions for Parkinson's disease. These included clinical studies, case reports, laboratory research, computational analyses, and other reviews.
The researchers looked at several traditional therapies, including Panchakarma, herbal formulations, and Rasayana therapies, a category of Ayurvedic practices traditionally associated with rejuvenation and healthy aging.
Among the findings were reports of improvements in tremor, rigidity, balance, and quality-of-life measures in some clinical studies.
The researchers also identified experimental evidence suggesting that certain Ayurvedic herbs may influence biological processes associated with Parkinson's disease, including oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and dopamine signaling.
One of the herbs receiving particular attention was Mucuna pruriens, a tropical legume that naturally contains L-DOPA, the precursor to dopamine and the basis of one of the most widely used medications for Parkinson's disease.
Another was Withania somnifera, commonly known as ashwagandha, which has been studied for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The review also discussed traditional treatments such as Basti, Nasya, and Shirodhara as potential components of integrative Parkinson's care.
These findings are intriguing, but there is an important distinction between promising research and proven treatment. Many of the studies were small, observational, or conducted in laboratory models. The treatments and study methods varied considerably, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions about effectiveness. We do not yet have convincing clinical evidence that Panchakarma slows or reverses Parkinson's disease.
Even the review's authors acknowledge the need for larger, well-designed clinical trials.
Nevertheless, I think this research raises some worthwhile questions.
The Connections That Interest Me Most
When I read a paper like this, I am always looking for connections to the larger picture of Parkinson's disease.
My work over the years has led me to examine the many stressors that may contribute to disease, including environmental exposures, microbial imbalances, chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and disruptions in the body's ability to maintain equilibrium.
Parkinson's is a complex disease. I have never believed that we will fully understand it by looking at one isolated mechanism.
Three areas of this Ayurvedic research stand out to me.
1. The Gut-Brain Connection
One of the most important developments in Parkinson's research has been the growing recognition of the relationship between the gastrointestinal system and the brain. Constipation and other digestive problems can appear years before the motor symptoms that eventually lead to a Parkinson's diagnosis.
Researchers are investigating how changes in the gut microbiome, intestinal inflammation, microbial metabolites, and the enteric nervous system may relate to Parkinson's disease. This is territory I have been exploring for years.
Panchakarma traditionally places considerable emphasis on digestion and elimination. Dietary simplification, digestive herbs, and intestinal therapies are central to many programs. Of course, the traditional Ayurvedic understanding of digestion is not identical to our modern understanding of the microbiome. But the overlap in areas of interest is compelling.
Could some aspects of these traditional practices influence the gut environment? Could dietary changes or reductions in stress affect microbial activity, intestinal function, or inflammation?
These are questions worth studying.
We cannot assume that cleansing the digestive tract improves the microbiome. In fact, aggressive purging or enemas may disrupt normal physiology and introduce additional risks. But understanding how individual components of these practices affect gut health could provide useful insights.
2. Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Cellular Energy
Another interesting aspect of the review is its discussion of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria are the energy-producing structures within our cells. Their health is particularly important in the brain, where neurons have enormous energy requirements.
Research has connected mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, and neuroinflammatory processes to Parkinson's pathology.
The review describes experimental findings suggesting that certain Ayurvedic compounds may influence antioxidant defenses and inflammatory signaling. Some studies also explored effects on alpha-synuclein, the protein associated with Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease.
This is an area where I think we need much more research.
A compound that reduces inflammation or oxidative stress in a laboratory experiment does not necessarily produce the same effect in a person living with Parkinson's. But these biological pathways are important, and studying them through different therapeutic traditions may reveal useful possibilities.
3. The Role of Stress and the Nervous System
This is perhaps the connection I find most personally meaningful.
Through my conversations with people living with Parkinson's and my own experience with John, I have become increasingly interested in the role of stress in health and disease. Stress is not simply an emotional experience. It involves physiological changes affecting hormones, immune function, digestion, sleep, and the autonomic nervous system.
These systems are constantly communicating with one another. One of the things I value most about my Panchakarma experiences is the opportunity to slow down. The structure of the retreat encourages rest, reflection, regular meals, and a temporary break from the constant stimulation of everyday life. Practices such as massage, meditation, and gentle movement may also support relaxation and emotional well-being.
None of this establishes that Panchakarma can prevent or modify Parkinson's disease. But it does remind me that caring for the nervous system involves more than treating a single symptom. Sleep, stress, nutrition, movement, digestion, and emotional well-being all deserve attention as part of comprehensive care.
Ancient Knowledge and Modern Scientific Questions
I have always believed that science advances when we remain curious enough to ask questions that don't fit neatly within existing frameworks. That doesn't mean accepting every traditional practice as effective simply because it has been used for centuries. Nor does it mean dismissing traditional knowledge because it originated outside modern Western medicine.
It means asking better questions.
Which components of these practices produce measurable physiological changes? Are any of those changes relevant to Parkinson's disease? What are the risks? Which patients, if any, might benefit? And how can we study these approaches rigorously?
It is also important to distinguish between the different treatments discussed in the review. For example, Mucuna pruriens contains pharmacologically active L-DOPA and can affect dopamine levels. That makes it scientifically interesting, but it also means it should not be treated as a harmless herbal supplement. Its potency can vary, and it may interact with Parkinson's medications.
Similarly, herbal preparations, enemas, purgatives, and other intensive Ayurvedic procedures require careful evaluation for safety, especially in people with chronic illness.
Complementary therapies should not completely replace Parkinson's treatments. The goal should be to expand our understanding and, ultimately, improve care.
Continuing the Quest
When John was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2002, I had no idea how far this journey would take me. What began as a search for answers became an exploration of biology, agriculture, environmental health, the microbiome, and the remarkable complexity of the human body.
That exploration has taught me to look for connections, to question assumptions, and to remain open to possibilities without losing sight of the evidence.
My personal experience with Panchakarma has given me an appreciation for its emphasis on slowing down, supporting digestion, and considering the whole person. This new research adds another dimension to that experience.
When we bring together different perspectives, ask thoughtful questions, and investigate them with both curiosity and rigor.
There is still so much we don't understand about Parkinson's disease. I'll keep asking questions, following the science, and looking for connections wherever they may lead.
Because the quest for answers continues.
With gratitude,
Martha
References and Further Reading
Yadav, A. K., Choudhary, A., & Mangal, G. (2025). Ayurvedic Neuroprotection in Parkinson's Disease: A PRISMA-Based Systematic Review of Clinical and Experimental Evidence. Vascular and Endovascular Review, 8(5s), 221–231.
Carlin, M. (2025). Spring Cleaning for Your Microbiome: Simple Steps for a Healthier Gut. BiotiQuest.
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