Can people with Parkinson's disease eat honey?

Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
Updated on May 19, 2025
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Parkinson's disease, also known as paralysis agitans, is a common neurodegenerative disease of the nervous system. Clinically, it is primarily characterized by symptoms such as bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, and resting tremors, as well as non-motor symptoms such as loss of smell. Patients with paralysis agitans also experience autonomic dysfunction, commonly manifesting as constipation due to slowed intestinal peristalsis. These symptoms can appear 10 to 20 years before the motor symptoms and may include lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and increased salivation. For patients with paralysis agitans, consuming honey is beneficial as it can help alleviate constipation by softening the stool and facilitating bowel movements, due to the reduced intestinal motility.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What foods should be eaten for Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease does not have any specific dietary restrictions, but the following aspects are recommended for patients: First, patients should consume more laxative vegetables and fruits, such as spinach, bananas, and celery, which help maintain the motility of the large intestine and promote bowel movements. Since many Parkinson's patients suffer from constipation, these foods can greatly improve their bowel movements and are recommended. Second, Parkinson's patients can also eat foods that nourish brain cells, such as pine nuts, walnuts, and pistachios. Third, patients may consume some plant oils, mainly olive oil, which can also play a good regulatory role. Fourth, Parkinson's patients should be cautious about the timing of protein intake in relation to their medication schedule, to avoid affecting the absorption of the medication.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What department to see for Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a very common degenerative neurological disorder in neurology, so if you go for treatment, you should definitely see a neurologist. Many neurologists have a high level of expertise in Parkinson's disease and have extensive experience in its diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment. Patients with Parkinson's disease generally exhibit significant motor slowness, such as dressing, buttoning, wrapping dumplings, and eating very slowly, and they also walk very slowly. In addition, they may also display obvious resting tremors, muscle rigidity, general fatigue, unstable walking posture, and other clinical manifestations. Moreover, they might experience some constipation, anxiety, depression, and reduced sense of smell among other related clinical symptoms. Therefore, for this disease, visiting a neurologist is sufficient, and you can definitely expect a very satisfactory diagnosis and treatment.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Can Parkinson's disease be cured?

Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder, and there are many medications and treatments that can improve the quality of life for patients and alleviate their clinical symptoms. However, from the current medical perspective, it is impossible to achieve a complete cure. Therefore, patients with Parkinson's disease must not be deceived and should seek treatment at accredited hospitals. Currently, treatment for this disease primarily involves pharmacotherapy. There are various medications available, commonly including dopamine receptor agonists, Levodopa-based drugs, as well as some amantadine and anticholinergic drugs. Each drug has its own characteristics and should be chosen based on the patient's condition. Additionally, some patients in the middle or later stages may also undergo deep brain stimulation surgery to improve symptoms. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician and do not medicate blindly.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Is Parkinson's disease progressing quickly?

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease of the nervous system that has a very concealed onset and progresses very slowly, making the progression of this disease not rapid. Patients can generally take care of themselves for about three to five years, or even five to ten years, without having to worry too much about this disease. This disease primarily causes patients to experience obvious bradykinesia, mask-like faces, drooling, resting tremors, and increased muscle tone among other clinical manifestations, which can significantly distress patients. However, the progression of this disease is relatively slow, and the signs and symptoms on the left and right sides of the body are also asymmetric. After effective pharmacological treatments, such as commonly used levodopa and dopamine receptor agonists, patients' symptoms can usually be well controlled and the progression is slow. If the disease progresses very quickly, it could potentially be Parkinsonian syndrome.

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Written by Zhang Hui
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How is Parkinson's disease diagnosed?

For the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, the patient's medical history and symptoms are very important, and physical examinations are also an important reference for diagnosis. The physical examination generally involves checking the patient's muscle tone and looking for signs of bradykinesia. In terms of auxiliary examinations, on one hand, it is necessary to perform ceruloplasmin tests, which primarily aim to exclude hepatolenticular degeneration. Brain MRI scans are also conducted to exclude other causes of secondary Parkinson’s disease, such as normal pressure hydrocephalus and cerebrovascular diseases. Additionally, these patients need to undergo olfactory tests and some PET-CT scans to clarify the diagnosis.