Kratom

In My Humble Opinion
1

Has anyone here tried Kratom? I love it I don’t drink, smoke, or use drugs so this stuff is perfect for me.

2

WTF?

It IS a drug.
NIH
And don’t come back at me with that all natural BS.
Cyanide is all natural.

With all due respect:)

3

The DEA has chosen not to schedule it so legally it’s just a botanical. What makes you think it is a drug like coke or heroin? It’s not narcotic.

4

On June 9, 2015, FDA announced an import alert for kratom, issuing guidance that shipments are to be seized without physical examination from several vendors listed due to concerns that there is no evidence that Kratom does not pose an unnecessary risk of illness or injury, further stating that “[C]onsumption of kratom can lead to a number of health impacts, including respiratory depression, nervousness, agitation, aggression, sleeplessness, hallucinations, delusions, tremors, loss of libido, constipation, skin hyperpigmentation, nausea, vomiting, and severe withdrawal signs and symptoms.”

5

Wiki.

It sure has side effects like a drug.
Just because it’s a botanical doesn’t mean it can’t be harmful.

6

It doesn’t mean it is harmful either.

7

Hill/Billy I was mostly responding to your “… don’t drink, smoke, or use drugs”.

Using Kratom is EXACTLY like using a drug. A weaker drug, but a drug nonetheless.

People aren’t using it for nutrition, people are using it to alter their perceptions.

Like a drug.

8

Just like coffee or marijuana. If it were even moderately dangerous the DEA would schedule it. It may be “like” a drug…but it’s not.

9

Caffeine IS a drug, Billy, as is THC! So that’s not much of a comeback really.
How does it make you feel? What does it do for you? Why is it ‘perfect’ for you? What effect do you get from it?

10

Sounds like it’s “perfect for him” because it allows him to enter altered states of consciousness, and still claim to be Straight Edge. :dubious:

11

Spam much, Billy?:dubious:

12

Agree with the crowd…it absolutely is a drug.

It’s a substance that changes your body/mind and is addictive. Basically the definition of “drug”.

13

Thailand was mentioned above. Just to be clear, kratom is illegal under Thai law and classified as a drug. More info here.

14

Yes, and it’s been fantastic for me in dealing with chronic fatigue issues and depression. Both the stimulant-like effect helps with providing energy and the opiate-like effect helps with the despair and stress/anxiety.

It’s a great substance, and unbelievably potent for something that’s technically legal (though a few US states have banned it, and I believe it is banned completely in the UK). Unfortunately it will probably eventually be banned for this reason, but for now I’m enjoying it and it’s been helping me immensely.

The only downside, which is probably the main reason it hasn’t become more popular/mainstream than it currently is, is that it’s bitter and disgusting to take. I put it in capsules but that’s labor-intensive, requires taking a lot of them (the standard dosage is a relatively high amount, which is why smoking it is not viable), and you still kinda taste it because the powder residue tends to get everywhere. Most people just mix it with some kind of liquid or juice and down it quickly. It’s nasty any way you slice it. But the effects are outstanding.

15

I’ve tried and really enjoy it. In fact I found I enjoyed it too much and had to stop. Of course, I’m very prone so addiction so not necessarily every one will get hooked like I did. Following my stopping I had a major bout of depression which prompted me to start taking Cetalopram again. I honestly don’t know if the kratom had anything to do with it, as I’ve struggled with it my whole life but I would be scared to death to ever take it again. I mean, the part of me that enjoyed it wants to but I can’t afford to go down the black hole again. And **Rigamarole **is right; it tastes like Satan’s nut sack.

16

http://www.kratomliteracyproject.com/2016/07/drug-policy/

This article states it better than I could.

It helped me break a long term addiction and I personally know of many others it helped.

17

Not really a Cafe Society thread. Since folks are discussing the medical benefits, let’s see how this fits in IMHO.

18

You clearly have an unusual definition of the word “drug”. What is your definition of that word?

19

It is schedule 1 in my state so I have never tried it. I’ve heard it isn’t as addictive or powerful as other opiates, but that if you use it too much you build tolerance and addiction. However those were people using it multiple times a week.

There is a subreddit devoted to this subject if you want to check it out.

I know some people trying to kick heroin addiction will use Kratom and/or immodium AD to step down their dosage and taper off to reduce withdrawals.

20

What’s the other drug I’m thinking of? It’s an orange fruit from west Africa and when people take it they have a trip and afterwards they don’t feel like being addicted anymore.

Anyone remember?