Kratom: Super Power or Kryptonite?

A very popular new remedy for chronic pain has surfaced, and is facing a lot of controversy. Kratom. It is a plant that is native to the South East Asia region. It is related to the coffee bean plant. In high doses, it can have a sedative effect, and in low doses, it can have a stimulating effect. And this is where the controversy is coming from. Since it can be considered a stimulant, it automatically becomes a drug in the eyes of the government. And that makes people assume that it is addicting.

That last statement is false. It is only addictive if you are easily addicted to caffeinated drinks, like coffee! I was pretty cautious going into it, because my dad was severly addicted to narcotics, and I haven noticed the same tendencies in me with vicodin and codeine. I took a couple doses, and waited a few days to see if there was any withdrawl, or cravings to follow. And nothing. I've been using it fairly consistently for the past 6 weeks or so, and have not had any signs of addiction. I am able to go days without it if needed. The only addiction I can foresee myself having, is the addiction to feeling somewhat normal. An addiction to having more "Good Days" than "Bad Days".  I have done some pretty thorough research on this before trying it myself. I joined a Facebook group called "Kratom (New and Current Users)". They provided the following information

• It can relieve pain, provide energy, reduce depression and anxiety, enhance mood, and gives an overall sense of well being.
• It is all natural, and safer than opiate pain meds
• Causes few side effects. My only complaint is that it can dehydrate you, so it is important to keep your water/electrolyte intake high. If you do become dehydrated, you could get headaches.
• You can't overdose. Your body will reject it if you take too much.
• It will not show up as an opiate on a standard drug screen
• There are 3 different strains that target different things. The strains are based on the color of the leaf, before they are dried and ground up.
• Red-(bed) Best for pain relief and relaxation. Effective with many chronic and acute pain conditions. Lower doses can be stimulating. It helps to relax and sedate for anxiety and insomnia. It is good to mix with more energetic strains to avoid "addicting" effect when pain control is the primary focus (but I feel they put that disclaimer in not because the drug itself can become addictive, but because the user may feel they need it to get any relief, and that you typically won't go through withdrawl if you take it, like with addiction).
• Green-(in between) Good for pain control and energy. It is good for during the day. Used to extend the life of the white/red strains with good pain relieving effects
• White-(flight) Energetic and stimulating. Used for fatigue and exhaustion, waking up in AM, and day time drowsiness. 
• It is always suggested to start small with plain leaf; avoid extracts and enhanced versions. A good starting point is 1 teaspoon of powder, which is the equivalent of approximately 2.5-3 grams. If you don't feel anything after 30-45 minutes, try taking another 1/2 teaspoon every half hour until you get relief. And if a strain is not working, try another one. I have found that a strain that had a lot of good things said about it, did not work for me at all. But other strains work wonderfully.
• Unless you buy it in pill form, the best way to take it is to just toss the powder in your mouth, and wash it down; this is called the Toss and Wash. You could also make a tea, which I have not tried yet, but I may give it a shot soon. You can also try to mix it with juice or applesauce, but I found that it does not mix well with liquids. It likes to stay in chunks. I had a harder time with it mixed with water than I did with the Toss and Wash.
• You will get maximum/faster results if you take it on an empty stomach, or with a very light meal. I found that taking it with a big meal, it takes longer to reach your blood stream, and you don't get the desired effects.
• Here is a list of vendors/strains I have tried
• PA Botanicals- My fav
• I love their Fibro Blend, which is a red strain blend. It really hits the spot for rough days and later in the evening. I also really like their Green Maeng Da, which is a green strain. This is my go to for during the day and in the morning, gives me a mix of energy and pain relief to get me through the day. I also prefer their White Gold, which is like the name says, a white strain. This gives me a bunch of energy, for when I need to get a workout in, or get some housework done.
• Kaleidoscope botanicals
• I originally just ordered their Butterfly blend, which is for fibro. It didn't work for me. I really didn't get much relief from it (it's a red strain). But she sent me a sample of Knockout, which is another red strain, known for its pain relief and being able to sleep through the night. I tried it for the first time last night, because I forgot my sleeping meds at work. It was interesting! Definite pain relief. Going to have to give it another go. 
• Wicked Kratom
• I haven't ordered from them yet, but have heard good things about Yellow Brick Road

Now keep in mind that the FDA has not approved the consumption of Kratom. It is usually sold with a disclaimer stating that it is not meant for human consumption. It is illegal in 6 states as of now, which is a shame. There is a strong movement to keep kratom from being classified as an illegal drug. I fully support this. I can not see the purpose of making it illegal. It helps with pain management. It can help heroin addicts recover. It does not get you high. You can't overdose from it. It does not alter judgement. If anything, it may make me a little more chatty than normal, which I attribute to it being related to the coffee bean plant, aka like caffeine. I hope my assessment of Kratom can help you decide whether or not it may be a viable option for your treatment.