The presence of monoamine oxidase inhibitors in tobacco may explain, in part, why smoking cigarettes seems to provide protection against developing Parkinson disease. However, the negative effects of smoking outweigh any benefits. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medical system, is a form of alternative medicine, and describes a large number of naturally occurring compounds for the treatment of many diseases and ailments. The Ayurvedia even describes Mucuna pruriens as a treatment for several diseases including Parkinson. Mucuna pruriens grows as a twine.
Mucuna pruriens is a legume indigenous to India.
At the time, the importance of levodopa was unappreciated in India and the West. In 1967, following the establishment of the role of levodopa in Parkinson disease, a screening of 1000 species of 135 plant families revealed that only plants from the Mucuna family contained sufficient levodopa to consider commercial development. Because of it's bulk, Mucuna pruriens acts as a laxative, aiding digestion and counter-acting, in part, the constipation associated with Parkinson disease. Finally, Mucuna pruriens , like other plant extracts, may contain other, as yet unidentified anti-Parkinson drugs. Dr. Manyam and associates prepared a formulation of Mucuna pruriens and studied it in Parkinson disease.