I know kratom very well from both experience and research. Since there has been a bit of interest posted about it here I decided to share my "Kratom File" here on RMN.

Information About the Herb Kratom

(as excerpted from the internet)

Note: This first section is NOT from me, it is just what I have compiled. You will find my own words and information about buying and using kratom at the end of this post.

Kratom Vs. Opiates

May 16, 2011

Kratom can replace all of those Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Ms Contin and other prescription opiates. I emphasize the word “can” because, unfortunately, not everybody responds to Kratom in a way that will allow them to make the transition but a lot of people do.

I once knew a guy who was on over 200mg of Oxycontin a day for pain. He now solely uses Kratom to control his pain.

I also knew a guy who was an IV Heroin user which hasn’t touched H since he found Kratom.

But wait!!! Am I comparing Kratom’ effects to Heroin or prescription opiates? Absolutely not. What I am saying is that there may very be an alternative out there for you.

Some people got hooked on opiates for emotional pain, others physical pain. Some were prescribed their addictions, others bought it off of the street. The end result was the same… addiction to opiates. So whether you want to get free from your overload of opiates for your chronic pain or for your depression that seems resistant to anything other than opiates, kratom may very well be able to help you.

Now, of course those are not the only ailments which can lead to opiate addiction but they are definitely a couple of the leading causes.

Believe it or not, the addiction post is coming later, this is more or less just a comparison (yes, the dreaded comparison of opiates to kratom). Addiction just happens to have a lot to do with this comparison.

We know that (alkaloids in) kratom bind to your MU-opiate receptor which causes a reduction in pain.

7-Hydroxymitragynine is primarily responsible for the MU agonist activity.

My primary method of understanding is witnessing people making the transition myself. I think Wiki can sum up the exact make-up of Mitragyna Speciosa better than I can but I have seen the comparisons first hand and watched people change their lives.

On top of all of this, Kratom appears to have a FAR better tolerance (or lack therefore of) than any full agonist opiate available by prescription. Personally, I have used Kratom at the same dosage, everyday, for several years and never had the desire to increase my amount taken. I am not, however, the end-all-be-all to Kratom tolerance though. Some people build tolerance quite quickly while others experience a reverse tolerance where less Kratom ends up giving them the same, if not better, effects then the amount they took before lowering the dose.

Kratom has showed zero signs as an herb which could cause an overdose as well. When I say that, I mean Kratom in it’s pure form, not Kratom in the form of these extracts that are made in Chinese labs. Pure plain leaf Kratom from plantations in Bali, Indonesia is, in my and many others opinion, a very safe alternative to very deadly prescription drugs.

At the end of the day, I am not a doctor and cannot tell you facts about Kratom, only life experiences of mine and others and the evidence that we do have so far in regards to the safety of Kratom.

There’s a lot going on in this blog post and I understand that. In time, we will cover everything. For now though, it would be great if anybody out there reading this would comment on this post. Ask a question. Post a statement. Help contribute to the available information on this amazing herb Kratom.

The effects of popular kratom strains

April 26, 2011

As much as I would love to discuss the effects of all kratom strains, it would take me about five hours (mostly due to naming off all of the ridiculous new “strains” coming out) and only about five to six of them would really differentiate all that much. So I will go into detail on the effects of what I (a true kratom connoisseur) feel are the most drastically (and potent) different strains of kratom. Let’s take a look…

Bali

Bali is the most well known strain and for good reason. Bali is both an energizing and a relaxing strain, usually people tend to find one quality more predominant than the other. It usually starts off giving one a sense of energy and motivation while tapering off into a relaxed state as the effects wear on. Bali gives one a very nice sense of total calmness and can definitely relieve stress. For those new to kratom, the effects can last around five to six hours, some have reported upwards of eight. The average for a person who has been using kratom for awhile though is around the three hour mark.

Maeng Da

The ole “Pimp’s Grade Kratom,” yes, Maeng Da does in fact mean Pimp’s Grade Kratom. Maeng Da has some of the highest amounts of active alkaloids of any kratom strain, meaning it is by far one of the most potent strains of kratom. It has an abundance of high end alkaloids (something we will later discuss), which makes it an incredibly energizing strain. This is the strain to replace (or add to) your cup of coffee in the morning, so now not only are you feeling energized but your also feeling great and ready for the day. The downside to this amazing strain is that for most people, even those new to kratom, it only lasts about three hours, sometimes four.

Super Indo

Their are many, many Indo strains out there but for the sake of it, I will discuss Super Indo, as it is one of the most popular and sums Indo strains up quite well for a lot of people. Super Indo is the strain for those looking to sit on the couch and just get lost in a movie or to converse on the phone with a friend for awhile. It is extremely relaxing and holds much more of the low end alkaloids in kratom. Super Indo is definitely up their with the amazing stress reliefs of Bali. Many people find this a great strain to help out with getting to sleep peacefully as well. The effects usually last as long as Bali kratom does for majority of individuals.

Super Green Malaysian

The ultimate Malaysian strain. Super Green Malaysian is known for it’s extremely well balanced effects of uplifting energy and calming relaxation. This description may sound a bit like Bali but is distinctly different and evident on ones first use that it is nothing like Bali. The energy and relaxation seem to perfectly co-exist with each other with this strain. Another great thing about Super Green Malaysian is it is known to mix very well with other strains to potentiate the effects of the strain it is mixed with. Super Green Malaysian can last up to eight hours for the beginner but tends to be another three to four hour strain for most long term users.

Conclusion

These effects are how most people react to these strains of kratom but by no means are they the only effects that can be had and some people may even experience none of these effects. I’ve known of some kratom users who get a sense of relaxation from Maeng Da and energy from Super Indo. The point I would like to leave you with is, although these descriptions of effects are quite true for most, kratom and it’s various strains are so incredibly subjective that it is hard to say for sure what one will experience. These descriptions are meant to give those new to kratom a sense of where to start.

Recommended dose amounts for common grade Kratom

Typical Mitragyna speciosa Kratom doses can vary greatly, depending on such factors as potency of the Kratom, tolerance of the user and personal metabolism / response.

It is rather clear that Kratom’s stimulant and sedative effects work in tandem.
Yet with regular use, a tolerance develops to the sedating opiate effect more quickly, which induces an increase of Kratom stimulation over time, on a regular rhythm of use, and this even with a lower Kratom dose, so keep track of one’s tolerance is crucial here.

In leaf form, strong ( “premium”) Mitragyna speciosa Kratom is often effective at a range of 3 to 5 grams of leaf material, and some new users might notice effects with as little as 2 grams- while experienced users might feel comfortable taking up to 10 grams of potent Kratom.

Weaker Mitragyna speciosa Kratom (commercial grade) might require doses of 20 grams to achieve effects, sometimes even more.

Here is a rough guideline of effects to be expected from commercial grade leaf form Mitragyna speciosa Kratom ( not for Kratom extracts):

2-6 grams = mild effects (typically rather stimulant-like)
7-15 grams = medium strength effects (the effects can be stimulant-like or sedative-euphoric-analgesic)
16-25 grams = strong effects (sedative-euphoric-analgesic effects; too strong for highly sensitive people)
26-50 grams = very strong effects (sedative-euphoric-analgesic effects; TOO STRONG FOR MOST PEOPLE)

Since Mitragyna speciosa Kratom leaf can vary greatly in potency, these dosage estimates should be regarded as loose APPROXIMATIONS, and one should take care, and first read the retailer’s potency estimations.

It is highly recommended that new Kratom users take smaller doses and then work up, a recommendation which also holds true for all users experimenting with a new batch of Mitragyna speciosa Kratom -and also read and follow the info and guidelines given by the Kratom retailer.

Starting from low, threshold Kratom doses, one can then increase the dose gradually, with the subsequent experiments, until one obtains the desired level of effects.

One should NOT take a strong, or very strong dose, the first time one is sampling a new / unknown batch of Mitragyna speciosa Kratom.

Dose recommendations for premium grade Kratom varities

Maeng Da Kratom 1-2grams per dose. extremely potent at 4-5g
Ultra Enhanced Indo Kratom - 1.5g - 2g per dose
Enhanced Bali Kratom - 4g - 6g per dose
Red Vein Thai Kratom - 4g - 6g per dose

My Own Experience with Buying and Using Kratom

Here is a post I made about kratom on 6/11/2016

I know quite a bit - more than I really want to - about pain and I also know a lot about kratom (he writes while sitting in a zero gravity chair with remote keyboard and mouse).

Kratom is something I have researched thoroughly as well as personally used for years now. If anyone would like the information I compiled send ma email and I will send you the MS Word document I have. Or perhaps I can post it here later??

Basically, kratom is the best legal natural alternative to prescription pain killers I have found and, depending on which strain you get, can also be a very good mood elevator.

Although some of the main compounds in kratom act on the same body opiate receptors as opiates, it is non-addictive. As a matter of fact, the internet is replete with testimonials of people who have used kratom to beat addiciton to opiates such as hyrdrocodone and even oxycontin.

Now, it is not quite as strong as a small dose of hydrocodone and certainly nowhere near an oxycontin, but it does make a noticeable difference. With some people, it completely eliminates their pain and with others, such as myself, it makes it much more manageable but does not get rid of it entirely.

The best source I have found, by far, for price, quality and variety is:

http://www.thekratomking.com/

As it turns out, their least expensive strain is also the best one for pain relief: Bali Kratom. Not the green or the red Bali, just the regular Bali. And it gives a slight mood elevation too - though other varieties are considerably stronger when it comes to mood elevation, such as the Maeng Da that is known as "Pimp Daddy kratom". I have tried many other varieties and those two are my choices – though I note that I have used kratom almost exclusively for pain relief and thus am not the best source of information for using kratom for anything other than pain).

You can typically get whichever strain/variety you choose in already made capsules or for a substantial savings buy either loose leaf, regular grind powder, superfine in quantities and either mix it with something like yogurt or chocolate milk to cut down on the nasty taste or do as I did and buy a capsule maker and blank capsules and make your own - it isn't at all hard to do and the units are pretty inexpensive. My choice is the size 00 capsule maker and capsules.

One last thing: Do NOT buy kratom from Amazon. The kratom sold there is absolute junk!