Welcome!
Why Parkinson's Market?
Welcome.
When I was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s, I was frustrated by how difficult it was to find products and information specific to PwP (People with Parkinson’s). On forums, It was more common than not to have the comments section flooded with people asking where they could buy what was being discussed leading to a scavenger hunt for information and products. There had to be a better way.
When building Parkinson’s Market, I wouldn’t launch the store without the community and the ability to leave product reviews. The feedback loop of product and experience is foundational of what I wanted to achieve. People living with Parkinson's, caregivers, and family members carry hard-won, practical wisdom that no generic product description can replace. Which means your contribution is key, whether as a supporter or a detractor.
What makes Parkinson's Market different
We don't aggregate, we curate.
Every product on the site has been reviewed through a specific lens: does this genuinely serve someone living with Parkinson's? Does the grip work for reduced dexterity? Is the weight manageable when fatigue is a factor? Are the instructions readable? Is there anything about this product that could cause harm to someone in our community?
That last question is where things get interesting — and where we want to be honest with you about what curation actually means in practice.
Why we rejected St. John's Wort
Depression and low mood affect a significant number of people living with Parkinson's. So when we assessed St. John's Wort, a widely used natural supplements for mood support, it looked like exactly the kind of product we should carry. It's accessible, affordable, and recommended all over the internet for precisely the symptoms many PwP experience.
We passed.
St. John's Wort has a well-documented interaction with MAO-B inhibitors, with medications like selegiline and rasagiline which are commonly prescribed for Parkinson's. The combination can raise serotonin levels to dangerous levels, a serious risk that appears on no supplement label and in almost none of the wellness content recommending it. Someone browsing a general health store would have no way of knowing of that risk.
That's the whole point of what we do, assessing products through the lens of the symptoms and medications commonly used for Parkinson’s.
This is where you come in
The store is our contribution. The forum is yours. Whether you're newly diagnosed, a long-time caregiver, or somewhere in the middle of a journey, we would like to hear what has worked, what hasn’t, and how you cope.
To get started: introduce yourself below and tell us about a product where you've struggled to find something that works. That's exactly the kind of input we are looking for to shape what goes on the shelf next.
Welcome.
Doug
Founder, Parkinson’s Market