cybrsage
New member
Firstly, if this is the wrong forum, please move it to the correct one. While I would think it goes in the supplements forum, the introduction to Kratom thread (with samples) is in this one...
I was one of those who ordered the free samples - who does not like free? It is a great way to introduce a product and get the word out. While waiting for the samples, I decided to research Kratom and found out it has a very storied history in the region in which it is grown. First, some street level technical info:
It is a banned substance in the nations in which it naturally grows (and some others):
In fact, Thailand tried to eradicate the plant, but since it is indigenous to that area it would be like trying to eradicate oaks in the United States..futile.
So why is it banned in the countries where it is found? Simple, humans are stupid. The people pick the leaves fresh, remove the central vein, then chew it right then. Many chew a lot, daily, for years. If you do that you will become dependent on it. It does hit the same receptors as opiates, so the same addition potential is there. But when used in the small concentrations anyone here would use it there is no fear. Also, Thailand found its use was harming its taxation of opium use...and when you start hurting a government's revenue...
More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitragyna_speciosa
And the researchers who studied it seemed to think it has great potential:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-kratom-be-legal/
OK, that out of the way, I wanted to give my views on the two types I tried. I tried the Bali and the Maeng Da. I respond to drugs very readily, needing low dosing to provide the same effect that most people need higher dosing to achieve, any dosing is most likely lower than what you will need. It also took about an hour or so for me to feel any effects at all.
Bali did what they said, gave me a nice sense of overall peace and relaxation - but not tiredness. In one of my yoga videos, the woman says it is possible to be both completely relaxed AND both awake and alert at the same time. This is what Bali did for me. When I took only one of the pills, I had just the inkling of the aforementioned effects. If I closed my eyes and concentrated, I could feel the effects inside me. I did try it again later with four pills and the effect was far more pronounced. My purpose in trying them was to reduce anxiety and improve contentment. They do just that, without causing me to want to go to sleep. Knowing how Kratom works, this is what I would expect.
Maeng Da was tried next. I have always been a speed freak, caffeine and I are on a middle name basis - and I know what caffeine's grandma's pet name for him is. We partied together all through high school. I was a computer geek back when typewriters still used ribbon cartridges and only girls learned how to type. I figured I knew what to expect since I understood it to essentially be a stimulant. I was mostly right, the Maeng Da make me very alert mentally but only slightly alert physically. This was unexpected, but rather pleasant to be truthful. I started to wonder if Mentats were actually drinking Kratom juice in mega high doses. I know it is actually sapho juice, from roots found on the planet Ekaz, but that is what it reminded me of (yes, on a very reduced scale). A half hour after feeling the effects I drank a cup of coffee (I drink many cups a day already). That seemed to light a fire under the Maeng Da, I was ALIVE! Seriously, both my mind and body were suddenly engulfed in a ragestorm of energy and precision. What did I do? I vacuumed the entire house, installed a new light fixture, and slaughtered a bunch of aliens in the free MMO Defiance. It lasted about two hours and then slowly subsided without leaving the normal burn out feeling you get from too much caffeine.
EDIT: Update - I took six capsules of the Bali about an hour and a half ago and I just started to have its full effects. I can see why this would be a replacement for alcohol for some of its effects. I have some of the same feelings I had when I used to drink (calm happiness, relaxation, general overall feeling of 'it is all good") but none of the slurred thinking or speech...and no beer goggles.
So Kratom works. It does so due to pretending to be an Opiate, for lack of a more precise explanation. For me, I am going to continue to use Bali until my body finally becomes immune to its effects (I assume this will happen, just like any other drug). I do not doubt the other types of leaves can do what they claim they do (pain removal, etc). Just look at all the medical sciences are using opiates for and you will see what you can use Kratom for. I am sure there is also a placebo effect included in this...there usually is when the test is not a double blind one. But if it is, then all it does is make me happier, something I will never complain about.
I do suggest trying it out.
EDIT: Do not try it out if you live in Indiana. It is banned in Indiana.
I was one of those who ordered the free samples - who does not like free? It is a great way to introduce a product and get the word out. While waiting for the samples, I decided to research Kratom and found out it has a very storied history in the region in which it is grown. First, some street level technical info:
Kratom: The latest legal plant-based high | Fox News
It is a banned substance in the nations in which it naturally grows (and some others):
Legal Status
In fact, Thailand tried to eradicate the plant, but since it is indigenous to that area it would be like trying to eradicate oaks in the United States..futile.
So why is it banned in the countries where it is found? Simple, humans are stupid. The people pick the leaves fresh, remove the central vein, then chew it right then. Many chew a lot, daily, for years. If you do that you will become dependent on it. It does hit the same receptors as opiates, so the same addition potential is there. But when used in the small concentrations anyone here would use it there is no fear. Also, Thailand found its use was harming its taxation of opium use...and when you start hurting a government's revenue...
More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitragyna_speciosa
And the researchers who studied it seemed to think it has great potential:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-kratom-be-legal/
OK, that out of the way, I wanted to give my views on the two types I tried. I tried the Bali and the Maeng Da. I respond to drugs very readily, needing low dosing to provide the same effect that most people need higher dosing to achieve, any dosing is most likely lower than what you will need. It also took about an hour or so for me to feel any effects at all.
Bali did what they said, gave me a nice sense of overall peace and relaxation - but not tiredness. In one of my yoga videos, the woman says it is possible to be both completely relaxed AND both awake and alert at the same time. This is what Bali did for me. When I took only one of the pills, I had just the inkling of the aforementioned effects. If I closed my eyes and concentrated, I could feel the effects inside me. I did try it again later with four pills and the effect was far more pronounced. My purpose in trying them was to reduce anxiety and improve contentment. They do just that, without causing me to want to go to sleep. Knowing how Kratom works, this is what I would expect.
Maeng Da was tried next. I have always been a speed freak, caffeine and I are on a middle name basis - and I know what caffeine's grandma's pet name for him is. We partied together all through high school. I was a computer geek back when typewriters still used ribbon cartridges and only girls learned how to type. I figured I knew what to expect since I understood it to essentially be a stimulant. I was mostly right, the Maeng Da make me very alert mentally but only slightly alert physically. This was unexpected, but rather pleasant to be truthful. I started to wonder if Mentats were actually drinking Kratom juice in mega high doses. I know it is actually sapho juice, from roots found on the planet Ekaz, but that is what it reminded me of (yes, on a very reduced scale). A half hour after feeling the effects I drank a cup of coffee (I drink many cups a day already). That seemed to light a fire under the Maeng Da, I was ALIVE! Seriously, both my mind and body were suddenly engulfed in a ragestorm of energy and precision. What did I do? I vacuumed the entire house, installed a new light fixture, and slaughtered a bunch of aliens in the free MMO Defiance. It lasted about two hours and then slowly subsided without leaving the normal burn out feeling you get from too much caffeine.
EDIT: Update - I took six capsules of the Bali about an hour and a half ago and I just started to have its full effects. I can see why this would be a replacement for alcohol for some of its effects. I have some of the same feelings I had when I used to drink (calm happiness, relaxation, general overall feeling of 'it is all good") but none of the slurred thinking or speech...and no beer goggles.
So Kratom works. It does so due to pretending to be an Opiate, for lack of a more precise explanation. For me, I am going to continue to use Bali until my body finally becomes immune to its effects (I assume this will happen, just like any other drug). I do not doubt the other types of leaves can do what they claim they do (pain removal, etc). Just look at all the medical sciences are using opiates for and you will see what you can use Kratom for. I am sure there is also a placebo effect included in this...there usually is when the test is not a double blind one. But if it is, then all it does is make me happier, something I will never complain about.
I do suggest trying it out.
EDIT: Do not try it out if you live in Indiana. It is banned in Indiana.
Last edited:
