08/10/2026
Here’s What Slows Essential Tremors
December 2025Volume 35 | Issue 12
One of the most aggravating problems that many can have as they get older is essential tremors. Essential tremors is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, rhythmic shaking that typically affects the hands, arms, head, or voice. The stats are that up to 5% of the population has essential tremors. Over the years, I have found several treatments to be effective for my patients, and here are the ones that have worked. Additionally, I’m going to tell you about a new, unpublished study that points to a remarkably effective natural remedy.
The exact cause of essential tremors is “essentially” unknown, but genetics play a role, with approximately 50% of cases having a family history. Essential tremors do not lead to Parkinson’s disease, but they can easily be confused with Parkinson’s tremors. If you have tremors, just to be safe, consult with a neurologist to make sure you don’t have Parkinson’s. That said, there are some ways to distinguish essential tremors from Parkinson’s.
Essential tremors primarily occur during movement rather than at rest. A good test is to hold your arms and hands extended in front of you. If you notice tremors when you do this, you most likely have essential tremors. Essential tremors also typically happen when you are writing or holding a cup. In contrast, Parkinson’s tremors are mostly noticeable when your hands are at rest and may improve with movement. Another feature is that essential tremors are generally improved after drinking alcohol, while Parkinson’s tremors are not.
So, once you have decided that your tremors are not Parkinson’s tremors, here are some natural things you can do to help with the symptoms. As with all neurological disorders, the sooner you start on findingthe right remedy, the better it will work and the less chance your condition will worsen. Keep in mind that all these remedies only provide temporary relief from the tremors. They don’t cure them. But that’s not so bad since they are all natural and can be taken over long periods of time without any concern for side effects.
Researchers have found genetic variations in the gene that encodes the dopamine receptor D3 in patients with essential tremors. The drug pramipexole activates D3. When this drug is administered to individuals with essential tremors, the tremors are reduced by 52%, suggesting that any natural therapy that enhances dopamine levels may be beneficial. Mucuna pruriens is a plant containing the amino acid L-dopa. When Mucuna extract is taken orally, the L-dopa can be converted into dopamine. There have been some remarkable anecdotal reports over the years of patients experiencing almost complete relief of their tremors simply by taking Mucuna extract. The one I recommend is called MucunaDopa by Source Naturals. You can get it online. Start with 1 capsule. You can easily take up to 2-3 if one is not effective. If you don’t get noticeable relief from 3, it probably won’t work in your case. Give it a good 2-week trial.
Ni****ne is a naturally occurring molecule found not only in to***co but also in tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and potatoes. One study looked at the cigarette smoking habits in 3,348 men and women. 397 of them were smokers. The researchers divided the smokers into three groups depending on how much they smoked. Compared to the non-smokers, those who smoked the most were 66% less likely to have developed essential tremors than those who smoked the least. This should not be too big a surprise because ni****ne acts like dopamine in the brain. You can get a 3 mg or 7 mg ni****ne patch at the drugstore. Start with the 7 mg first. If it makes you nauseous, try the 3 mg patch. Apply the patch daily. If it improves your tremors, feel free to use it as needed.
What about diet and tremors? Researchers evaluated 148 patients with essential tremors and rated them according to how well they stuck to a Mediterranean diet. The people who adhered to the diet the most were 71% more likely to experience a reduction in their tremors than those who followedthe diet only occasionally. The authors stated, “The gradual reduction in essential tremors odds with higher Mediterranean diet adherence suggests a possible dose-response effect.” As I have said before, when you see a dose-responsive relationship, that tells you that the effect of the diet was a real one. You can learn how to follow a Mediterranean diet at https://ific.org/resources/articles/what-is-themediterranean-diet/.
The heavy metal lead is a powerful neurotoxin that can damage the brain and nervous system. Exposure to lead is particularly detrimental to the brain and can result in long-term, sometimes irreversible, effects. Two studies have looked at the relationship of having elevated blood lead levels and essential tremors. In one case-controlled study in Mersin, Turkey, the average blood lead concentration was almost two times (2.7 μg/dL) higher in patients with essential tremor. The researchers noted that every 1-μg/dL increase in blood lead concentration was associated with a 400% increase in the odds of a man or woman having essential tremors. A separate study in New York City also reported higher blood lead concentrations in patients with essential tremor.
The most likely reason that certain patients are more prone to getting essential tremors from lead is that they have a genetic variant in the ALAD gene that makes them more vulnerable to lead.
If you have essential tremors, have your doctor check your blood lead level of lead. Although the CDC has declared that a blood level of up to 10µg/dL is acceptable, any level greater than 2 µg/dL could be a problem. If your levels are higher than that, contact the American Academy of Environmental Medicine at 316-684-5500 to find a practitioner who is trained in reducing lead levels.
And now for a special surprise. Recently, I have been in contact with researchers looking at the effects of exogenous ketones on essential tremors. The results so far look amazing. Here’s how it works.
The brain primarily relies on glucose for energy production. However, one of the more common problems that many people experience as they age is that their brains do not respond well to glucose. The result is decreased brain function. Ketones are molecules that the body produces that can restore brain function by serving as a very effective alternative energy source. Normally, the way you increase your ketone levels is by sticking to a special diet called a ketogenic diet. However, another option is to consume exogenous ketones. Exogenous ketones refer to ketones that you can buy.
Just this past July, in an unpublished trial, a medical colleague treated 19 men and women with an average age of 68, all of whom had essential tremors. On separate days, he gave them either 12 grams, 24 grams, or no exogenous ketones. When the patients took the ketones, they also took 2 capsules of a nitric oxide formula. Here’s what happened.
Within 40 minutes of taking the supplements, 84% of patients reported noticeable relief from tremors. The improvement lasted 4–6 hours in 42% and greater than 6 hours in 26%. Patients younger than 60 years reported greater tremor improvement and were more likely to respond better to the 24-gram dose. In conclusion, the author stated, “Most participants experienced meaningful, short-term tremor reductions, especially in a younger cohort.”
To get the same ketone formula and nitric oxide capsules used in this experiment, go to www. approvedmedicalsolutions.com. Click on “Shop” and, when you register, use the code AB10. This gets you a 10% discount. Get one bottle of the nitric oxide capsules and six 2-ounce bottles of Clean Ketone. Each bottle contains 12 grams of exogenous ketones. Experiment with taking one or two bottles along with 2 of the nitric oxide capsules. If they relieve your tremors, continue to use the combination as needed.
Notice that there is a significant variation between how different people with essential tremors respond to different therapies. The only way to know how you will respond is to try each therapy. Fortunately, all these treatments are natural and have no significant side effects. A good game plan would be to start with the Mediterranean diet. Also, have your doctor check your blood lead level and treat it if it is too high. Then try the exogenous ketones along with the nitric oxide capsules. If that does not significantly improve the tremors, try the mucuna and/or the ni****ne patches.
REFS: Kosmowska B, Wardas J. The Pathophysiology and Treatment of Essential Tremor: The Role of Adenosine and Dopamine Receptors in Animal Models. Biomolecules. 2021 Dec 2;11(12):1813.
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Louis ED, Benito-Leon J, et al. Population-Based Prospective Study of Cigarette Smoking and Risk of Incident Essential Tremor, Neurology. 2008 May 6;70(19):1682–1687.
Louis ED, Jurewicz EC, et al. Association between essential tremor and blood lead concentration. Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Nov;111(14):1707–1711.
Parides M, Slavkovich V, et al. Interaction between blood lead concentration and delta-amino-levulinic acid dehydratase gene polymorphisms increases the odds of essential tremor. Mov Disord. 2005;20:1170–1177.
Scarmeas N, Louis ED. Mediterranean diet and essential tremor. A case-control study. Neuroepidemiology. 2007;29:170–177.
