What is Kratom?
It is a Southeast Asian native tree(Mitragyna speciosa). *Oddly enough it is in the same family as coffee. sIt's a natural analgesic which has been used for hundreds of years to safely alleviate pain, combat fatigue and help with the effects of anxiety and depression.
The leaves of the tree have been used in low doses (as a stimulant) or high doses (as a sedative). It has been used to treat pain, diarrhea, arthritis, fibromyalgia, treatment for opiate addiction and much more.
How can you take it
You can remove the central vein and chew on it (not recommended). This is mainly done in its native region. Dried leaves can be powdered or crushed to make it easier to swallow.
The powder can be mixed with water or other liquids. It is quite bitter so fair warning. One site recommends making a chocolate milkshake to get it down the in the best tasting way possible.
You can have it put into capsules.
Small drops of the extract can be dissolved in hot water as tea, or mix the tea with the regular tea you drink.
extract |
When mixing coffee with it you can use milk, cream, sugar or honey to manage the bitter taste.
There are different strains for different effects. It has been banned in some states and in jeopardy in others. You can check the internet for a list, there is quite a bit of info anywhere you look. Make sure you fact check!
Malaysian strains, especially green malaysian varieties, tend to be effective for pain relief and can be less sedating than Indo, Borneo and Bali strains. Because of this, these strains can be great for anyone who would not like to experience a drop in their energy levels. If you do not want to experiment or do a lot of research thats involved in trying different strains for reasons of time, confusion or cost, red vein kratom tends to be overall better for pain relief than other strains.
"In an online survey of 6,150 kratom consumers by Pain News Network and the American Kratom Association, nine out of ten said the herb was a “very effective” treatment for pain, depression, anxiety, insomnia, opioid addiction and alcoholism."
Percentage who rated Kratom effecive for pain relief.
- 100% Cancer
- 97% Multiple Sclerosis
- 94% Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- 93% Migraine
- 93% Fibromyalgia
- 92% Rheumatoid Arthritis
- 92% Back pain
- 92% Acute Pain
- 91% Lupus and other autoimmune diseases
- 90% Osteoarthritis
- 90% Neuropathy
- 88% Trigeminal Neuralgia
- 79% RSD or CRPS
- 76% Ehlers Danlos syndrome
So what does this mean for us that suffer chronic pain? Well more reading, homework and guesstimating. There are many "natural" drug free remedies out there. You only need to look on face book, twitter, blogs and support groups. just do a google search and behold the plethora of options!!
There are products, pills, plans, books, vitamins, shakes, diet plans....This is another in a long list of things you may say why not try. Why not. Its less than other things, its a plant. But remember, PLEASE ALWAYS consult your doctor as there are always risks of side effects or interactions.
I would love to hear from anyone who uses this in any capacity to leave a comment on how you found about it and if you think it works. I see a lot of placed dedicate to information and it seems it has a big following. It would be great if someone shared some first hand info! Thanks!
Reddit User: Tea Recipe
Reddit User: Depression
5 Simple Kratom Recipes You’ll Love
Resources not linked aboved: Dosage conversion chart, Best strains for pain relief,