Parkinson's disease

For a lay person:

Parkinson's disease is a long-term brain condition that gradually affects movement. It typically causes shaking at rest, stiffness, slowness and balance problems, and can also affect mood, sleep and memory.

For a trained medical person:

A neurodegenerative synucleinopathy with loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Diagnosis is clinical: bradykinesia with rest tremor and/or rigidity. Non-motor features (hyposmia, REM sleep behaviour disorder, constipation, depression) often precede motor signs. Treatment is dopaminergic (levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors), with device-assisted therapies later.

In Chinese medicine:

Discussed under tremor (顫證) as internal Liver Wind. Maciocia attributes it to Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency or Liver Blood Deficiency failing to nourish the sinews, often with Phlegm-Fire.

When to get help: Herbal treatment can interact with Parkinson's medicines; tell your neurologist about anything you take.