Senna herb gives fluency?

Blog readers often approach me to share their fluency "wonders". I cannot take away their experience, and believe that they indeed have had significant fluency gains. I can only disagree with their interpretation. I find that their stories follow a similar pattern: A takes X for Y. Suddenly, A experiences much greater fluency and is amazed that he/she can speak so fluently. Interestingly, they do not report 100% fluency but only a significant reduction of fluency. This pattern suggest to me that an underlying neurological issue is still present but that a change in brain chemicals (including being more relaxed or depressed) significantly influence fluency. I also want to warn you that I cannot check their stories or check their backgrounds. They could of course just try to manipulate me in promoting the substance because they have commercial interests in it. Anyway, here is the story:

About 6 months ago I had stomach issues so someone suggested to try senna herb it's known as a laxative for the stomach to make your bowl move after drinking the tea. So I bought the leaves from the Internet and started making it into a tea I started with not alot about 5 grams and 200 ml of water boil it for 5 min and drink it.. After 2 weeks or so I noticed a strange thing I started stuttering and blocking less.. M
aybe it was just a placebo effect. But continue using it the stuttering was i would say improved by 90% I would talk to people and not stutter, I would phone people and not stutter. I would have the occasional here and there but all in all it's such a big improvement.. Now the science part the stuff that makes u have diarrhea is senneniods in the senna herb that is what scientist have discovered. I am pretty sure it's not that that makes u stutter less. If scientists can remove the sennionds from the herb. I am sure there is something in this herb that doesn't make you stutter, if u cut down in it u will stutter again I tried leaving the herbs for 2 weeks and the stutter came right back. I hope someone can do research about this wonderful herb surely smth in it a chemical helps stuttering, I have given it to a friend who stutters as well after a while his stuttering was improved by 80%. Thanks thus was my experience with senna herb

Portuguese Stuttering Association: National Conference

On the 26th October, the Portuguese Stuttering Association will organize its VII Stuttering NAtional Conference. The program will be the following: 9:30- Opening session I and my stutter: life testimonies of people who stutter Speakers: Paulo Guerra, José Pedrosa, Tiago Almeida, Carlos Ferreira. Stuttering and employability Speakers: Maria Amélia Marques, André Carmo, Joana Caldas Success in therapy: What does it mean? Speakers: Iris Bonança, Brito Largo, Jaqueline Carmona, Gonçalo Leal, Mónica Rocha Rapporteur: Helena Germano SHGs and the online forum: The experience in Portugal Speakers: Rosa Paula Neves, José Carlos Domingues, Joana Caldas, André Caiado, Jorge Silva Commentators: Daniel Neves da Costa, Brito Largo 18:00- Closing session Registrations: members, relatives and students: 10 €, Professionals: 20 € Information and registrations on www.gaguez-apg.com

Please help researchers in Boston

Please contact Shanqing Cai (scai@bu.edu) to participate in a scientific study on the Rhythm Effect in Stuttering. It is very important that we help others:

The Speech Laboratory of Boston University is looking for volunteers who stutter to participate in an NIH-funded research on persistent developmental stuttering. Persistent developmental stuttering is a disorder of speech fluency characterized by frequency involuntary disruption of the normal flow of speech by syllable or sound repetitions, prolongations and blockages. It usually starts during early speech development between the age of 2 and 6 and persists into adulthood. This study focuses on the rhythm effect, also known as the metronome effect, which refers to the dramatic decrease in dysfluency when a person who stutters speaks to a regular rhythm. By using a combination of psychophysical and MRI techniques, we aim to elucidate the neural basis of this potent fluency enhancing effect in stuttering, which may also provide further insight into the basis of this disorder.

A letter from Africa

I received a letter from Dieudonn Nsabimana about an initiative on stuttering:

Background: Africa has a population of approximately 10 million people who stutter. Using the universally accepted incidence of stuttering What is the issue or challenge? Still now, People in Africa are not sufficiently informed about stuttering. Because of this lack of information, people who stutter are still mocked and humiliated. For now, almost all resources on stuttering are in internet in English language but 92% Africans people do not have access on internet And still now, there is also little information about any appropriate treatment for stuttering and almost, people who stutter in Africa, do not have access on stuttering therapy How we will solve those problems? AFRICA STUTTERING RESEARCH CENTRE have launch and have objective to promote research, to train Africans Speech & Language Therapists and to educate on stuttering in Africa About research, for moment a study on stuttering treatment from African Traditional Healers will be launched soon and a study of challenge and strategies on Telepractice in africa will be launched About stuttering treatments, Currently, Telepractice is only the therapy method that can be accessed by people who stutter in Africa. Call for applications Volunteer Speech & Language Therapists have launched and nine Therapists from America state have accepted to give stuttering therapy the PWS in Africa, first group will be treated stuttering, in this month of October About educate on stuttering issues in Africa, we have a project for translating, multiplication and distribution the many resources exist on stuttering For now we would like to translating, multiplication and distribution the fee books and brochures for America stuttering foundation The books and brochures will be translated in Swahili language. Swahili is most widely spoken African language. Swahili is spoken in 11 Africa countries and more than 120 million speakers. That makes Swahili the largest African language. Soon as possible we will be launched a fundraising campaign for raising money for translating, multiplication and distribution the books and brochures on stuttering in Swahili language, in 11 Africa countries What you can do for us: -You can interest Speech & Language Therapists in your community to be involved in research and stuttering treatment in Africa -When we launching our fundraising campaign, we would like that you can interest your community to be involved .fundraising campaign will be online fundraising on website Your contribution can help achieve a solution and I will be really appreciated all your great advice All the best, Dieudonne Nsabimana Kigali-RWANDA