Your doc may not have known about the mucuna patent because normally, mum is the word until the patent is filed and even then, still mum is the word until the patent is granted (or denied). No one would dare discuss something like this at a cocktail party, given the highly competitive climate out there for things that might actually WORK! It is all too easy to steal someone's idea, especially regarding something that has been around as long as mucuna, and has as much history usage behind it.