Comments for Fava Beans and Parkinson's Disease

Comment on Fava L-Dopa Tincture by Joe B

Joe B — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 22:22:18 +0000

I just listened to your radio broadcast and found it very encouraging. I was diagnosted recently with PD and am interested in growing fava plants and also in sprouting. Can you supply the variety of bean seed for sprouting and where you obtain the bean seed. Also if planting in a garden can you use the same bean seed for gardening?

Comment on Fava L-Dopa Tincture by Mary Klinger

Mary Klinger — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:51:53 +0000

Dear Sandra,
Can you be more specific with the process? I have ordered seeds to grow the beans to make a tincture. Getting info from you would be easier than re-inventing the wheel.

1-What will the bean look like when it is mature?

2-What then? Pick and let dry? Do they have to dry? Can dry beans be kept in freezer until ready to sprout at a later time, like in winter?

3-How do you sprout them? in water? wrapped in a damp paper towel? Rinse? I have seen your info after that; steam, mash, soak in brandy.

4-About how many beans make how much tincture?

5-Will the tincture “go bad” – thinking about how much can be made ahead.

6-In my research I found a Fava called “Ianto’s Return” (sometimes Ianto’s, or sometimes Lanto’s) “Originally introduced by Alan Kapuler of Peace Seeds. A large-seeded Guatemalan variety that reaches 6 feet tall. The bright yellow seeds are reputed to contain elevated levels of dopamine.” Is this the variety that you grow?

Perhaps you can write up some instructions to email when requested – I think you have come upon something wonderful for those of us with PD Thank you for your discovery and for sharing! I’m looking forward to trying this and getting off of or reducing pharmaceutical dopamine.

Comment on Fava L-Dopa Tincture by Neal Cullum

Neal Cullum — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:49:07 +0000

When you make this tincture, do you know how long it stays fresh once made? Also i read on a few websites people mentioning ECGC which is found in green teas, you take this with mucuna and apparently it helps L-Dopa reach your brain more, maybe it could work with the Fava Beans. Anyway i’m going to try some mucuna and if i’m happy then i’ll try the cheap alternative with Fava Beans and see where that leads me, cheers for the recipe anyway.

Comment on Fava L-Dopa Tincture by Linda

Linda — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:46:36 +0000

Dear Aunt Bean:
I thought that Mucuna Pruiens powder was derived from fava beans It is from part of the bean and what you are using is from a different part of the bean. Is that correct?. I order Mucuna powder in bulk from Gary Suns and have had some success in that gives me longer periods of time that are symptom free.
I mix it with applesauce or yogurt because it is kind of smelly, and I do not like the texture.
Would I be better off to grow my own fava beans and make a tincture? I grew up on a farm, and know lots about gardening. Would I ever like to be free of Sinemet and Comtan tablets for good! However I am not brave enough to give them up. Have you noticed any increase in Dyskinesia since you have been taking the tincture? And did you taper off your SInemet before you went the Fava Bean route?
Thanks for all you do for Parkis like myself. You are an angel!

Comment on Eating Watermelons Fights Parkinson’s Symptoms by nita

nita — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:57:32 +0000

it is very true that watermelon helps in fighting with parkinson.
i m better when eating watermelon before my medicine.
citrous fruits r also good.
turmeric powder also helps.
banana and apple r also brain boosters so r almonds.
tamarind chutney is also in the list.
in short what is good for stomach is also good for brain is the key to fighting with parkinson.
a well wisher with parkinson & for parkinson.

Comment on Fava L-Dopa Tincture by ante

ante — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:23:58 +0000

Hey Lynn,
You can buy velvet beans in bulk at http://www.velvetbean-mucuna.com I got a 5lb bag for $20 and I am experimenting with sprouting them.

Comment on Fava L-Dopa Tincture by Aunt Bean

Aunt Bean — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:03:24 +0000

Lynn…sorry it has taken me so long to answer your questions. My dad has been sick, leaving no time to get to the library to check emails,etc….
Question 1 Ken Allan grows mucuuna beans in Canada…starts them early in greenhouse…they do have a very long growing season (I do not have to start them early here, just plant thenm with the first corn & let them climb them.
Qustion 2 Mucuna beans are not the same as fava beans…..both require
steaming at least 6 to 8 minutes. Favas have increased l-dopa if sprouted
(soak 16 hrs more or less and then rinse daily several times a day for at least 3 days to increase l-dopa and remove toxins / then peel/ rinse/ steam
you can then put in salad/ use in stir fry with onion & garlic (my favorite way)
or mash and use like flour in no bake cookies (freeze til used)
Beans have to be digested..so it is not like taking a quick pill (some people find eating favas every other day in a meal is supportive. I eat them as a treat……and depend entirely on fava tincture for symptom relief. Eating beans one day means I don’t need as much tincture the next day to function optimally
Question 3 I do not sell favas or mucuna beans…just grow enough for me and 2 other people to use. The best buy I found for favas was thru a local health food store which got me in a 25 pound bag of organic
Question 4 I do have PD…it runs in our family….don’t know what I would do without the fava tincture….would be in diapers/ unable to drive, etc…..
Instead, I take care of an acre garden/ play music/ dance and care for a patient with PD/ do massage therapy and stretching with others with PD
Try buying mucuna capsules Certain health food store have them / Swanson
Catalogue carries them along with the other supplements I take (

I hope this information helps Aunt Bean

Comment on Fava L-Dopa Tincture by Jeannie

Jeannie — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:17:38 +0000

I have just received the new Baker’s Creek seed catalog. They have listed a new Fava bean named Ianto’s Fava. It states, “The bright yellow seeds are reputed to contain elevated leves of dopamine, and may have benefits for those at risk for alzheimer’s disease.”
They are also on the web at http://www.rareseeds.com
Jeannie

Comment on Fava L-Dopa Tincture by Lynn

Lynn — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:00:30 +0000

Dear Aunt Bean,

I think it’s great that you grow your own Macuna pruriens, or the velvet
bean, and I’d like to find out how you do it!.

But first, a couple of questions:

1. Can you grow Macuna p. in Zone 4-5? I live in Maine. How long a
growing season does it need?
2. Does eating the beans, alone, relieve PD symptoms? If so, raw or cooked?
How much do you consume?
3. Do you sell the macuna beans? If so, do they come in fresh, dried or
powdered form?
4. Do you have PD? If so, are you on any PD meds like Sinemet? Or, do you
rely solely on fava and macuna p.?

My son has been coping with early onset PD for 10 years. I grow a
patch of fava beans in my home garden, in limited amounts, every summer, but
my son does not seem to respond to fava, such as showing reduced symptoms or needing to reduce meds.

Thank you so much for your help! – Lynn

Comment on Latest News from the TN Fava Patch by Sandra

Sandra — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:56:07 +0000

I have found that when I take some tincture before bed, that I do not wake up with such a painful stiff neck , shoulders and scapula area of my back. I didn’t take any after 5 PM yesterday and woke up with all those things that I used to have every day. I seem to require a little l-dopa to keep me functional in the morning.
It doesn’t require much just a couple of drops, but oh what a difference it makes! Sandra