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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Harvard notices kudzu
        
(Message started by: nani on Nov 7^th, 2005, 7:26pm)

Title: Harvard notices kudzu
Post by nani on Nov 7^th, 2005, 7:26pm

Also posted on the General Board. I want to be sure everyone sees this. ;;D

I'm in touch with Dr Sewell at Harvard and I received an email the other day asking me to participate in a kudzu case series for publication in a medical journal. Here is part of what I received. If you have a kudzu story (successful or not, I think) please consider participating in this project. It could be a precursor to an actual study someday.

Hello everyone!

Thirteen of you have responded saying that you have tried kudzu to treat your cluster headache. I would like your permission to include your case as part of a case series for publication in a scientific journal.

There is unlikely to be any direct benefit to you from this (other than the entertainment value of seeing your story in print). However, there could be some indirect benefits. For example, by comparing the successful and unsuccessful treatments, it may be possible to identify what makes for a failed treatment and permit both you and other cluster headache sufferers to be more successful in the future. Furthermore, since the use of kudzu to treat cluster headache has not so far been described, it may be possible to use the case series to argue for a controlled clinical trial, which can test different doses and establish the most effective dosing regimen, which again could potentially help both you and hundreds of thousands of other cluster headache patients if kudzu proves to be effective.

What I would need from you would be two things:
1. Time. We would work together to write a case--a two- or three-paragraph story of your cluster headache and the effect that kudzu had on it. This might require a little “back-and-forth” over email.

2. A copy of your medical records. Unfortunately, scientists take a dim view of Internet surveys and such case series are unlikely to be published, since there is no way of knowing who the cases are or whether they have what they say they have. Objective evidence adds credibility, however. All I would need is something confirming your diagnosis and talking a little about what medication trials you have tried. We keep all records strictly confidential, and in fact have a Certificate of Confidentiality from the NIH that permits us to refuse a subpoena, should one be delivered to us. Do you have a fax number or snail address I could send a release of information form to that you could sign and give to your doctor?

Thanks in advance,

R. Andrew Sewell MD
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center
Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital

Dr Sewell's e mail addy is:
asewell@mclean.harvard.edu

Title: Re: Harvard notices kudzu
Post by Cathi04 on Nov 10^th, 2005, 12:06am

WOOOOO-HOOOOO, NANI!!!!!!!!!
dONT KNOW WHY i DIDNT SEE THIS SOONER!!!!

All Hail, N [smiley=bow.gif]ani, Queen of Kudzu!!!!!!!!!!

Many PF days ahead for YOU, and for the others for whom you are paving the way.... now, if ONLY it worked for everyone!

Congrats, Nani!

Cathi :-*

Title: Re: Harvard notices kudzu
Post by nani on Nov 14^th, 2005, 11:36am

So...has everyone who's tried kudzu contacted Dr Sewell, yet?

Title: Re: Harvard notices kudzu
Post by seasonalboomer on Nov 14^th, 2005, 11:43am

on 11/14/05 at 11:36:11, nani wrote:

So...has everyone who's tried kudzu contacted Dr Sewell, yet?

Yup, sure did, and finished my surveys and provided my headache diary info, too.

scott
;;D

Title: Re: Harvard notices kudzu
Post by nani on Nov 14^th, 2005, 11:50am

WTG Scott!!!
:-*