OK guys, I tried this last year and am into a cycle again now. I am in shock at the realization of this. I normally get my clusters every 2 years for 45 days. However that has changed to yearly starting last year. The natural food store did extensive research for me and we found that KUDZU seemed to be helpful.

I had topamax, verapamil on board and used the Kudzu at the first sign of a headache. The full blown headache cycle NEVER produced.

Here I am again this year into a new cycle. Kudzu in hand! Now....... many people would use KUDZU and drink an energy drink. Using topamax I cannot do that because I can't drink carbonated beverages. But, you might want to give it a try!!

SO glad to hear that you have found something that works well for you!

Kudzu has been used by many on this site, to great results.  It is fairly well documented, on this site, that it can be extremely effective for many sufferers.

It is also good to hear that others are aware of its helpfulness!

Chuck

what is kudzu???

                    Coach Bill

coach_bill wrote on Apr 26^th, 2009 at 10:07pm:

what is kudzu???                     Coach Bill

Bill i think it's an ancient form of karate. Once you get  anything above a kip 5 you give yourself a quick HIyaaaaaaa...! on the offending area of pain i.e left or right side and apparently the pain subsides within minutes...! :)

Sorry Bill I haven't a clue...

Lefty...!

Kudzu is a plant that was introduced into the United States in the mid to late 1800, to be used to enhance the soil and for erosion control.  Farmers were encouraged to plant it, for food for cattle, erosion control, and refreshing the soil.  In the 1950's it was finally listed as a nuisance plant.

The problem is, as was discovered, the southeastern United States has a PERFECT climate to nurture the growth of this fast growing vine.  It has and will grow over other plants and trees, and kill them, because they keep the sun from getting to the plants and trees that they cover.  It is said, never park your car next to a kudzu plant, because by morning, it will be totally engulfed by the kudzu plant.  That is stretching it a bit ... It takes TWO nights to do that ...LOL ... (JK)

It is a difficult plant to eradicate.  It has become quite the nuisance plant, here in the southeast.

So that is what the plant is, now to its medicinal properties.

Kudzu root, kudzu extract, and kudzu tea, have been claimed to have beneficial results when used to treat alcohol cravings for alcoholics.  It is claimed to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, too.  Some schools of thought feel that it is beneficial in preventing certain cancers.  It is suppose to be beneficial in treating diarrhea, allergies, post menopausal problems like diabetes type II and  hypertension.  

It has also shown to have helped in treating migraines and cluster headaches!  (I bet you never thought I would get to THAT!!! LOL)  It is not know why, but it has helped many cluster headache sufferers to skip cycles, repeatedly, or to at least lessen them, significantly.

Now you know absolutely EVERY thing there is to know about kudzu!  (Yeah, RIGHT!)

Chuck

where do u get it???? and how do u use it????

sshaikh01 wrote on Apr 27^th, 2009 at 12:58am:

where do u get it???? and how do u use it????

Health food stores.

Just be careful if you're on an SSRI, or MAOI. Anything that messes with the metabolisim of serotonin, or dopamine should not be taken with Kudzu.

ClusterChuck wrote on Apr 27^th, 2009 at 12:41am:

Now you know absolutely EVERY thing there is to know about kudzu!  (Yeah, RIGHT!)

It's a good bloody start though...! ;)

Would I be right in thinking you take as a preventive around the time your cycle begins. In my case each February ( episodic roughly every 2 years)

Lefty...!

I think I'm developing an allergic reaction to Topamax after being on to for over two years now. As I am a chronic sufferer I need a something in pretty short order as the itching  is starting to drive me mad. I'll have to drop by the health food store after work and see if they can get me some kudzu. I dropped back the Topamax by 25 mg at night and the eye twitches are starting but Monster Hitman shots can usually hold the devil back.

I love hearing success stories! It's fantastic when someone finds the magic bullet, even if it works just for one cycle.

Also thanks to our new public service network - ChuckTV. What's on next week?  ;)

Kudzu for clusters was just written up in Readers Digest. It has been published in peer-reviewed medical journals and is beginning to get the "play" it deserves.

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

This research began here and was done by Dr. Andrew Sewell of Clusterbuster fame ;-)

One more advancement in cluster treatments due solely to cluster sufferers and the dedicated people at this site. Much of the important background information and data/information collection was done by Flo and a few other dedicated people here willing to do the work.

If you want something done right, ya gotta do it yourself. Not many non-prescription (read:cheap and healthy) treatments being brought to market by the medical community.

Bobw

All it did for me was give me gas (or more gas).

but I probably did it wrong

Bob P wrote on Apr 28^th, 2009 at 7:13am:

but I probably did it wrong

Nobody does wrong, better than you Bob.

;)
Bobw

Thanks for all the great info.. Does anyone know if it is something that would interfer with the clusterbusters treatment, Or work along side it?? Thanks

                                Coach Bill

I think they recommend detoxing off kudzu before busting, but I'd ask Pink Floyd.

Also, notably, it does have blood thinning properties and can lower blood pressure (it apparently has calcium channel blocking properties, like verapamil), so if someone is on blood thinners or has low BP, kudzu should probably not be taken.  

Laurie

sounds great, i am going to ask my doc about it.  although since she wont get a kickback from a drug rep for it she probably wont recommend it.  (does that sound cynical?  oops)
:D