An exciting week at the farm. “Bean Acres” is in the process of getting an 80 foot greenhouse put up in a portion of the garden area. It was given to us by a neighbor, but we had to pay for getting it disassembled and then put back up again. They only had to move it down our driveway….but it all had to come apart first. We will have to purchase a new plastic covering. … and new treated timbers for a few places, carriage bolts, etc. that had to be sewn off to get it apart. (There is still a list of things to head to the store for.) It will be in the neighborhood of $1,300 (perhaps more) before it is completed again.
I pray it will be able to feed us year round and solar dehydrate food in quantities that are impossible in my little electric dehydrator.I have baby papaya trees growing, that will hopefully supply us with organically grown papayas to make “fermented papaya chips” that really have been wonderful against my PD symptoms. They seem to have helped my 85 yr old father’s balance , also!
I have just planted a couple of raised beds with favas and hope to plant more in a couple of weeks. We are harvesting green beans and cucumbers, rhubarb and beets right now….corn soon.
The farm is a lot of work, but I hope in the years to come it will be a blessing and inspiration to many people
God is good.  He has brought many people into my life that have helped to set the course to keep my PD under control…I thank Him for each one of them and pray that I can pass on these blessings to others.
Sandra
Monthly Archives: July 2011
Instructions for Making the Fava Tincture
I have received several inquiries from readers interested in having instructions for making the fava bean tincture. I wrote Aunt Bean and here is the full and complete step by step guide.
Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
www.parkinsonsdisease.me
The farm is doing well. We finally had rain…what a blessing …it had been a dry start to the summer. Things have really perked up after three good rains. We are having our support group picnic the third Saturday of July. Hopefully the garden will be producing well by then.
Just had a new grand baby and made a trip to Indiana. What a wonderful , perfect child God has blessed us with. Something else to keep me going in the fight against PD.
As far as the instructions for making the fava tincture…here you go.
You have to grow the plants to have the material to work with (or know someone who can grow them for you). This is the only difficult part.
Once you have the plants, you collect the “tops” (the small ball of immature , unopened flowers and leaves that grow at the top of the stem. )Â The plant will later make these unopened balls at the base and on the stems as the plant matures..these also can be used.
Once you collect the “balls” , dry them in a dehydrator til completely dry.Â
Place them then into a clean jar with a lid ( glass peanut butter jars work fine). Pour brandy over the tops until they are covered completely. Put the lid on and place it in a dark cupboard. Shake the tincture one to three times a day for a month.
Now the tincture is ready to be strained. I use a stainless steel tea strainer and press the liquid out of the leaves. Let the tincture stand at least a day in a dark cupboard, and then decant off (this means to pour very slowly, leaving the sediment in the bottom of the jar). Now you are ready to pour the tincture into small dropper bottles .Â
The tincture tested out at 2 drops = 1 mg l-dopa. (Of course this may vary with the type of soil the favas are grown on/ weather/etc. the amount of brandy used…should just cover the tops in the jar). Also the fava plants should be grown organically so it is safe for food.
If you are going to use fava beans for supplementing l-dopa for PD….be sure to have aG6pd blood test done to make sure you are not deficient in a specific enzyme that is necessary to metabolize fava. There is a genetic disorder called favaism that you should research before using any product of the fava plant or bean. If you have inherited this disorder…favas can be fatal to you.   Favas can also react with certain PD Meds and you must consult with your doctor and do your research before you use yourself as a guinea pig like I did.Â
I took a big chance taking it the first time myself. And if you try using favas for supplementation, you are taking a risk too…..everyone’s PD is different, different causes, different symptoms, different reaction to meds, different progression. What helps one person will not help another.  God is good and blessed me with just the thing that I needed to take care of my symptoms.. If you try the tincture…it is at your own risk, like me.
I started out taking 2 drops in the morning / 2 drops in the afternoon / 2 drops at bedtime. My symptoms have progressed, but the tincture still makes them disappear. I now take about 6 to 8 drops of tincture, 4 to 6 times a day. Basically about 1 1/2 teas tincture daily. I also make fermented dried papaya and take it every morning….it is amazing too.
Well, that is all I have time to write now. I hope this helps someone.Â
God Bless You
Aunt Bean