BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese medicine may be effective in relieving some Parkinson’s symptoms and reducing side effects from levodopa, a drug used to treat the disease, according to AFP’s report.
Guoteng, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, proved to be useful in helping patients communicate and sleep better, and treat their depression to some extent, according to a study conducted by researchers at Hong Kong Baptist University.
"There is no cure for Parkinson's right now, but the study showed Chinese medicine can help treat the disease," a university spokesman said.
Parkinson’s disease, also known as Parkinson’s, is a progressive neurological disorder involving degeneration of neurons in a region of the brain that controls movement. Its symptoms include shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and less of balance.
People over the age of 50 are prone to contract Parkinson’s disease. People affected by the disease usually take levodopa which has some side effects, such as nausea and hallucinations.
Li Min, an associate professor who led the study, said :"The findings provide not only pharmacological proof of the efficacy of Gouteng in treating Parkinson's disease, but will also help promote the effectiveness and safety of Chinese medicine to the international medical arena."