My Experience and What I've Learned While Using Kratom

                      Kratom! ! ! !
An herb I've been looking into for about a year now, and finally got the opportunity to try Kratom for myself, and of course I'm going to spill all and give you every bit of info I've found on Kratom, including my awesome experience with it so far.

                                                                                        Kratom has been described as many different things: a nootropic, mood enhancer, aphrodisiac, etc. because it produces so many effects. All of which I'll explain below. 

 As the back of the bottle of the Kratom I'm using reads, "traditionally, Kratom was used by Thai peasants, laborers and farmers as a stimulant to overcome the burden of hardwork."

 The Mitragyna Speciosa Kratom species is said to contain 25 active alkaloids, as well as psychoactive chemicals such as mitragynine , mitraphylline, and 7-hydroxymitragynine.

The Kratom I've been using is from The Root of The Matter (a trustworthy, awesome source) and the Kratom capsules and bottle is showed throughout this post.

Different Kratom-users prefer different forms of Kratom. The type I'm using is the Kratom Leaf Powder, in capsule form.

Other forms can come in loose-leaf to be added to teas.

There are also different species. The kind I got from The Root of The Matter uses the Mitragyna Speciosa.

Effects of Kratom

Kratom has been used recreationally -- mostly by those who do hard labor, and those who do it throughout the night such as rubber plantation workers, etc.

Image source: RotteneCards.com

• Kratom is considered a nootropic, which explains why so many of us feel inclined to work, and work hard, especially on mentally-taxing tasks such as writing, or doing work that requires a lot of brain power, because it can increase your ability to concentrate.

• Kratom is used as an aphrodisiac, to enhance  sexual experiences and to increase endurance and stamina. 

 

Image source:
Hemera / Thinkstock

• Positively affects your mood, which is one of the main reasons I wanted to use it. It's been used widely for this purpose. 

• Most people report that Kratom creates an opiate-like or narcotic-like effect for them. And some say it produces a sense of euphoria. Still, others find it relaxing and calming. 

•  Kratom can be particularly beneficial for menstrual-related issues like PMS (see my below section on my own experiences with Kratom where I share the changes I seen with PMS while using Kratom)

• Like opiates or narcotics, Kratom has analgesic effects, too, which is why it's used as a pain-killer.

 

•  There are also findings of lowered blood pressure, anti-viral, diabetes management, and appetite suppression. 

 

This is a photo of the Kratom plant (image source: Wikipedia. Author: Uomo vitruviano)

 

• Lowers anxiety and can be beneficial for depression. There aren't a lot of studies or information on Kratom (good thing some of us don't mind being our own guinea pigs!). While the studies and info are lacking, there's a lot of reasons to believe Kratom could be extremely beneficial in the treatment of depression.

• Kratom is a stimulant, so it increases physical activity, too.

• Kratom allows you to achieve a higher meditative state, something I hope to accomplish (I'm very new with meditation and still find it a bit of a struggle)

• I've personally read a lot of accounts where people have discussed their use of Kratom for depression and for opiate or narcotic dependency -- to help with withdrawals (including withdrawals from heroine and amphetamines, too) to help cut down, to help completely get off the medications, too! 
• • Kratom contains alkaloids (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine) that act as  mu-opioid receptor antagonist, which explains why Kratom is used as in place of  opiods (and for those with opiod dependancy. but Kratom doesn't affect the opiod receptors.)

And I've yet to hear or read any negative thing about Kratom, (except a couple people who over did it and ended up nausea) for very good reason. 

• Used as an anti-diarrheal, and to treat intestinal parasites.

(Intestinal Parasite. The Blood Fluke, to be exact.  There are many different types, though. Image source: Wikipedia. Author: David Williams, Illinois State University )        You're welcome! Just be glad I didn't include a photo of the real graphic looking parasites that have been known to invade intestines! Seriously, go to YouTube if you have a tough stomach and search for vids showing the removal of these suckers. All I can say is holy mother of pearl! You'll never forget it.

•     The antioxidant,  epicatechin is in Kratom, so to say it has antioxidant properties is correct, and the benefits of antioxidants are huge (they're anti-cancer, etc.)

•  Helps with opioid dependency in many, many ways. And I will just say right now that Kratom is probably the best thing for withdrawals from opiates, or for instances when you're needing to taper down on your meds or when you're out all together. 

Kratom does have similar effects as an opiate, but of course they're much less intense, and don't mess with me the same way. Kratom's effects are pleasant, not unpleasant like most opiates end up being. It also doesn't have a "crash" like medications for pain and energy products do. 

• Kratom is very unique, and a blessing because of its ability to produce somewhat opiate-like effects. It's great for methadone addiction, and methadone withdrawals, too, which are supposed to be some of the absolute worst withdrawals you can experience. I can say for certain that Kratom is a God-send in instances like these. It could be put to very amazing uses.  

• Aside from its opiate-like effects, Kratom can also produce sedative-like effects when taken in larger doses. 

   Low doses of  Kratom tend to produce stimulating effects, while higher doses can cause sedation, for some

 

Except the marijuana part... Cause that's illegal, ya know. (Image source: Someecards.com)

•  Possibly effective for treating ADD in adults!

• Possibly helps eliminate hay fever.

What Kratom Does for Me

One thing I really like using Kratom for -- working late into the night, especially when I'm mentally exhausted as Kratom's main effect on me is kind of like a "mental activation." It really works well to get me going and get the thought process working for me, even  when I'm beat.

Another thing that I can't believe I am confirming to be true as I didn't expect Kratom (or much of anything!) to have this effect on me, but you read about Kratom giving people this new found desire to work. How weird is that? 

I never thought such a thing could exist, but well... just come check out my bathroom walls for the answer to that. I cleaned the bathroom walls like a mad woman!

... In exchange of Kratom, yes. (Image source: Rottenecards.com)

 

 I began using a wash cloth,  and later grabbed the Swiffer Duster, and stuck one of the dusters on the end, wet it and went to town. 

It actually worked magnificently -- using the Swiffer like that, and I was able to clean the entire room using one duster as I could rinse the dirt off and put it back to the walls. Made the job much easier than standing on a chair, and I didn't have to worry about re-using paper towels that begin  to fall apart.

And the craziest part is...

I actually enjoyed the task! Ha Ha.

That isn't the only job Kratom has been useful for. In fact, I doubt I'd have ever bothered to clean those walls if Kratom wasn't working its magic on me.

I've also been able to endure a lot of writing work that involves a lot of researching
by enlisting the help of Kratom, which is why I say it's so good for mentally taxing tasks.

 

    Kratom can be used for menstrual pain relief, and is also beneficial if you have PMS, which results in extreme mood and emotional highs and lows. It has been particularly helpful for my own PMS horrors. 

Image source: Quickmeme.com

I haven't been nearly as on-edge, tense, extremely irritable, extremely easily agitated, ready to scream, on the verge of pulling out my hair, strand by strand until a good 12 days have passed. 

Kratom has given me a significant amount of change there, thank God because I was becoming desperate. I didn't know if I could handle another week of that many intense emotions and mood changes. It was exhausting.

I noticed those symptoms in particular, to be far milder than usual.

As for the sexual effects of Kratom, I'm not 100% I've had any major changes there. It's very possible that it increases your sex-drive, but with mine already roaring (thank you, Maca Powder.. and The Root of The Matter [l.o.l.]), it's hard to tell a major change. 

It's certainly had a lot of people report such effects, though. However, I've noticed far more reports from Maca users. That stuff... Just wow.

• Since the strain of Kratom, Mitragyna Speciosa is a relative to the coffee plant, most people find the effects of Kratom to be similar, but more intense (sometimes) than coffee. 

It is stimulating in a similar way as coffee, but more noticeable for me. 

For instance, Kratom doesn't make me extremely jittery, but super strong coffee sometimes will. It stimulates me in a way that I want to talk a lot more and do more work like coffee does, only the effect is  far stronger and without the stomach discomfort coffee often gives me. 

• Studies show it enhances sleep and is calming to the mind.

•  Helps my headaches! Lately, I've noticed very big changes in the regular migraines I'm used to having. I've noticed that Kratom has been helpful for them, especially if I take it soon upon waking up (within the first hour or two). If I notice a headache right away as I wake, I can take 1-2 Kratom capsules and often have it relieved!

 Mood Enhancing Benefits (my experience)

Image source: Flickr User Duapicks

Mood-enhancing. Gosh how I love being in a good, positive and cheerful mood, like my regular self. I have been experiencing a "bout" of melancholy for the past few months.

As I've said in other recent posts about my mood, it isn't that I'm depressed, but I keep having these terrible ups and downs throughout the day, and lately I never know what kind of mood I'll end up in. I usually start the day in a very good mood, but then the lows come in and sometimes go away and come back. I just can't beat them, and the best way I know to describe this is a sense of melancholy, I guess.

So I've experimented with a lot of different things lately. Some herbal energy supplements have been helpful for a couple hours of the day, but it seems that once the evening comes, it's very hard to beat it, and Maca powder has been a wonderful blessing for that, but I'm finding Kratom to be super helpful for the melancholy and the days that I feel a little down on myself -- like I'm less valuable than other times. Weird. 

But Kratom has been good for evening that out and giving me a perkier outlook and motivating me to accomplish things, which has been extremely helpful on this journey since not accomplishing as much as usual has been a big part of what gets me back down again.

Kratom combinations that have helped me

I shouldn't call it "combinations" because I haven't exactly combined Kratom with other things, but I have used it alternating with Maca powder, which I discussed previous in length.

On the days that I'm taking a break from Maca powder (as its recommended to do), I usually spend a couple of those taking Kratom (never more than the recommended 3 capsules a day, usually not even that much).

I find that using Maca for a few days, then stopping and taking Kratom in between seems to be increasing my down moments and allowing me to spend that time doing something, being active, which like I've said, is a big part of how I feel (down or happy and content). 

Using my mind to accomplish things and being active always makes me in a happier mood. During the colder months, I'm less active, stuck indoors more and the excitement of life tends to leave me. Besides that, I have moments where I feel somewhat useless because I've not accomplished or done as much as I normally do, and that just gets me down.

In my opinion, feeling good is the most important thing. I want to feel like doing things. Every thing I do, I should feel like doing. That is just my way of thinking and doing things, and when I feel like doing something, I always do a better job at it. I want to feel happy and content always, and usually for me, that means feeling I've spent my day accomplishing something useful, using my brain, learning something new and being active in some way or other.

Those are the little things that make for a good day to me, and a happy outlook. 

It's just been difficult for me to feel it, so in my long journey and months of experimenting with different things and different amounts of them, I've come to find what seems to be the very best for my needs: Maca powder and Kratom (but never combined in the same day.) I discuss more about combinations and what to avoid in this post, too. 

P.S.  Grapefruit juice is said to potentiate the effects of Kratom (much like it would some medications like methadone.) I personally haven't tried, so I don't know, but one should just be a little careful not to overdo it as mixing things like grapefruit juice and Kratom may cause a more intense effect of the Kratom than usual. Everybody's different though, but always research before you mix anything. Anything. I've learned my lesson on it!

Kratom Dosage

The Root of The Matter tells you how to take Kratom (what to avoid when taking it, contraindications, etc.) on the label of the Kratom bottle.  It says to take 1 capsule 3 times a day with water on an empty stomach.

For a more potent effect: take 1-3 capsules at once, on empty stomach.  

*Each Kratom capsule (from The Root of The Matter. I don't know about other Kratom) contains 500 milligrams of pure Kratom. 

Since everybody is different, different amounts of Kratom can easily vary from person to person. For instance, some of us can take less than 3 capsules (when using Kratom in capsule form), and others need less while others need more.

The best way to go about it is to start out using about 1 gram or less. I read on The Kratom Guide that "everybody is safe taking one gram." (One gram would be 2 capsules of The Root of The Matter's Kratom as they contain 500 mg each.)

Any time I try a new supplement/herb of any kind, I always start by using about half the recommended dosage, waiting a few hours (or a day+ in some cases) and then upping my dose. I'll do it like that, using only half the recommended dose everyday until I reach the recommended dose. I go slowly because I've always had a tendency to react more strongly to things than the average person. 

This feels safer to me, and it ensures I don't react to something negatively since introducing something totally new to your system can cause you to sometimes feel weird.

Once you've been able to safely reach the recommended dosage, by going so slowly, you're more likely to get the  desired effect without worrying about over-doing it.

When I first tried Kratom, I began using one half a capsule, although The Root of The Matter recommends 1 capsule 3 times a day. 

The second day, I went up to a full capsule, and so on until I reached 3 a day. Never did I experience any funky or negative results from my experiences with Kratom, and had I went ahead and done the recommended dose, I doubt I'd have had any strange or unwanted effects.

How to Use Kratom (Further "Tips" and Usage Info)

•  Kratom is most effective when taken on an empty stomach.

 Note: As I've said elsewhere in this post, it's recommended to discontinue use of Kratom no longer than after a week at a time of taking it because it may be addictive. The Root of The Matter mentions this on the label, too. It's recommended to take one week off. So basically, you can use it for a week (or less is totally fine) and then take a week off. 

Just be sure to alternate a week on, week off. This is how I've been doing it, because it's important to prevent a habit from forming.

 The same rule goes for other herbs and products like Maca powder, for example. 

As a side note, people who have become addicted to Kratom have reported that the withdrawals from it is similar to that of caffeine withdrawal, and lasting around 2 days.

Warnings: The label does say to avoid operating machinery or drive, or perform other hazardous activity while under the influence of Kratom. Yea. Sounds intense! I have never taken enough Kratom to have to worry about being messed up like that, but hey, you have to put warning on everything these days thanks to... Never mind. Just, there you go.

Very high doses and long-term use can have less positive effects, such as dry mouth increase need to urinate, constipation and appetite loss.

Too high of doses can cause nausea and stomach discomforts.

Some say Kratom is habit-forming, others say it isn't. It probably depends on the person. So far, I think I will do very well using Kratom on &  off -- as directed -- without a big issue such as addiction. I took it for almost a week straight and wondered if even that might cause me to  have cravings during the week I spent off of Kratom (you're supposed to alternate, like you would with Maca or other similar herbs/foods) and I didn't experience any issue at all.

 I didn't have strong cravings like you would with mind-altering drugs or alcohol and I didn't  experience any feelings of irritation or anything due to not having it.

Contraindications:

I wasn't kidding when I said The Root of The Matter included a lot of important info on their Kratom label. It also lists the contraindications, which are as follows:

It isn't likely for health problems to occur from occasionally using Kratom, but it's important to beware that when you combine Kratom with drugs, it's a bad idea and can have serious or fatal results.

Most specifically, don't mix Kratom with MAO Inhibitors (like Syrian Rue, Banisteriopsis caapi, Passionflower and certain anti-depressants) with monoamine drugs. 

"Even coffee, alcohol and prescription medications are not recommended to use with Kratom."

Taste:

Although the Kratom can be found from The Root of The Matter in capsule-form, it can still be tasted if you open the capsules. After hearing so many claims about how absolutely horrific Kratom supposedly tastes, I had to try it for myself. Strange, I know. 

So I opened a capsule and dumped some into my mouth. It does have a very bitter taste to it, but it's not intolerable to me. It tastes very much like tea leaves, only way more bitter.

 Ken, the owner of The Root of The Matter  shares his thoughts on something he calls "The Big Three," which was of particular help to me: He  finds Kratom to be a beneficial supplement to take along with Kava, Sceletium (Kanna) and Rhodiola. 

 

Extra disclaimer (I know, I hate them, too, but these days you kind of can't afford to note post them.):

I am not a specialist or any other kind of doctor or expert. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information/suggestions to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with the company mentioned. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's unless otherwise stated, and put in quotations (such as product descriptions or claims).  I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.  This is a sponsored post. I was provided with a product in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I receive no monetary compensation for writing this, and you can rest assured that my post (and all of them) is in compliance with the FTC's Guidelines.