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Pharma & Healthcare 153,254 views


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By now you’ve heard about “Bath Salts” (psychoactive stimulants) and “Spice” (synthetic marijuana) — drugs that were until recently easily found and bought at gas stations and tobacco shops across the nation.  The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)  has cracked down on these and other variations of these drugs by labeling the main ingredients as controlled substances. Producers of the drugs keep finding ways to skirt those regulations, but overall it’s much harder to buy them now than it was just a year ago.

But, have you heard of the latest legal drug craze to hit a gas station near you?  It’s called Kratom, and unlike bath salts, Spice or any of the synthetic, formerly ”legal” drugs on the DEA hit list, this one is entirely organic, and so far not listed as a controlled substance.

Kratom is another name for the leaves of the mitragyna speciosa tree, which look like large, smooth, oval mint leaves. The trees are indigenous to Southeast Asia and their leaves have been used as a traditional medicine in Thailand and Asian countries for centuries. Kratom is not new to the United States. It’s been floating around the herbal marketplace for decades, sold as a tonic for a variety of uses, but in the last few years it has steadily gained traction as one of the leading legal drugs of choice among the Bath Salt, Sativa, Spice crowd.

The effect of the drug mimics that of opiates, ranging from sedation to pain reduction to intense euphoria. It also carries with it a host of opiate side effects, including nausea, dizziness, constipation, and in worst cases hallucinations and delusions.

Kratom is sold as raw or crushed leaves that can be smoked or steeped for tea, and also in gel caps. Potencies and strains vary, as do prices (generally $15 to $50 per five-gram packet, or $18 to $25 for about 50 capsules). Doses generally range from two to 10 grams.

The DEA lists Kratom as a “Drug and Chemical of Concern.”  In several other countries, however, it has been banned outright, including  Bhutan, AustraliaFinlandDenmark, Poland,Lithuania, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), and Thailand, where it is reportedly the third most popular drug, behind meth and marijuana.

Until recently it wasn’t even possible to identify Kratom in drug tests, but a new urine test just became available that is able to isolate key compounds in the drug.

Kratom is not without its supporters, who argue that the substance has been used for centuries as a safe means to alleviate pain, boost energy and reduce anxiety.  You can visit the Kratom Association to learn much more about the drug and why its supporters fervently defend it.

The drug’s supporters argue, for instance, that there is no credible proof that Kratom is an addictive substance. This is not entirely true.   A 2004 study on the tolerance and withdrawal effects of kratom in mice conducted jointly by the Josai International University in Japan and Chulalongkorn University in Thailand concluded that tolerance to 7-hydroxymitragynine (the chemical in Kratom thought to possess addictive properties) developed “as occurs to morphine,” and there was evidence of cross-tolerance to morphine, as well. Withdrawal symptoms also were observed. [Phoenix New Times, August 4, 2011].

And as MSNBC reported earlier this year, Kratom use is making its presence known in more and more hospital emergency rooms.

To be fair, caution is warranted before throwing Kratom into the same basket as Bath Salts and Spice. At the very least, it’s a relatively “clean” drug compared to the others, which are mixtures of synthetic chemicals, many known to be toxic.  But whether or not Kratom deserves a  DEA-exempt existence among legal substances in the marketplace remains to be seen.

If you have had experience with Kratom, or would simply like to voice your opinion about this or related drugs, please do in the comments section.

UPDATE: If you just finished this article, please read this follow-up as well. 

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  • Ed Hoy Ed Hoy 2 years ago

    Kratom is indeed a natural plant that helps with pain relief. It has been used for thousands of years without a single fatality. It helps MANY wean themselves off of very dangerous pharmaceuticals like Oxcycdodone, Vicoden, and even Heroin. I am not at all in favor of bath salts or other TOXIC substances, but to lump this in with those is irresponsible. Our drug laws ( and WARS) have done nothing except add to criminals, corrupt politicians and law enforcement profits. Prohibition did not work with alcohol. and it doesn’t work to stem societies appetite for marijuana or other illegal substances. To ban Kratom would just be another step backwards, toward a world run and profited by the petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. It is time to stop the war on people, and begin educating the world and its youngsters about what is REALLY toxic and dangerous. Cigarettes have never been illegal, yet through sane education, we begin to see youth and the public at large smoking less. As long as this corrupt war on natural plants continues, we lose all credibility with those we are trying to protect. Please stop spending my tax dollars on this nonsense. None of us can afford it.

  • Justin Pruitt Justin Pruitt 2 years ago

    Interestingly, Heroin was developed as a healthy way to wean people off of very dangerous pharmaceuticals such as morphine. Better to just say your mind on the war on drugs, which I agree with, rather than try to justify it before hand. It looks as bad as the marijuana legalization people that try to show all of the marginal uses hemp has when they’re only interested in one use. If they had ever worn a shirt made of hemp, they would quickly take that crap reason off their list.

    On a tangent, why does it seem people associate “natural” with “better” or, as the author used, “clean”? It seems naive. Perhaps they would like a nice hot cup of all natural monkshood-root tea… the same monkshood, I might add, that has also been used as a “natural medicine” for thousands of years. Spoiler alert: it would quickly kill them. Frankly, I would consider processed and isolated drugs from a lab much cleaner than any plant from the back of a truck. Please notice I mentioned a lab, suggesting procedures and conditions up to code, and not a bathtub. Bathroom labs: another reality caused by the war on drugs.

  • All drugs should be legal. Even to call something a drug is a biased action. It should be up to individuals to make decisions regarding the chemicals put into their bodies. Obviously, people make dumb ass decisions all the time, but the government still should not have the authority to deny them the right to fuck up. The only time the government should be able to limit anything in a biased manner is when it infringes on the rights of others – I wholeheartedly agree with gun regulations and public smoking bans, but drug laws are not in the same vein. The war on drugs should be fought in the classroom, not on the streets. And the weapons should be truth and information, not lies and fear mongering. As the government will never stop anyone from doing what they want, the best approach (and the one that is beneficial to more than the prison system) is to make sure they do so armed with knowledge. I firmly believe that educating our youth truthfully and without the bias that “drugs are bad” will lead to less addiction and fewer drug-related deaths. All this aside, it doesn’t matter whether or not it is bad for people to be allowed to use drugs, it matters that this is supposed to be a free country (if you live outside the US, your country is probably also a democracy – if not, throw a violent insurrection. Seriously.). We don’t need a reason to be allowed access to drugs. People widely argue that their drug of choice should be legal due to medicinal benefits or some other bullshit reason instead of the main attraction, which is mind alteration. The main point of my long-ass rant is that it’s not somehow inherently wrong to get high. It’s not wrong, it’s not immature, it’s not anything. It’s a way of seeking fun. What right does the government have to tell us that’s wrong? For those who think it’s okay for drugs to be illegal, what if you were told you couldn’t get a sports car? A new law is passed that only cars that have a low maximum speed and meet certain safety standards can be manufactured, sold, or driven. Wouldn’t that piss you off? Sure, you could get hurt or even hurt someone else by irresponsible use of a fast car, but it’s the government’s job to punish you if you hurt someone, not to assume you will hurt someone and deny you the right to buy a fun car. And the government has no right whatsoever to tell you that you have to keep yourself safe – if you want to take your car to the track and blaze around at 120 mph, it’s nobody’s business but your own. The point is that the government has no business telling you what is and is not a legitimate recreational activity. If we couldn’t do anything that we don’t “need” to do or that has no “legitimate” purpose, it’d be a very boring world indeed. Oh, you want to go see a movie? Why? For FUN? There’s no need, and besides, you could die in a car crash on the way, so you can’t go. See my point? That example is extreme, but it’s valid nonetheless. Besides, “getting high” isn’t the only purpose of drugs. Not that it’s anyone’s business what you use them for, but other than recreation and all the medicinal benefits people pretend they care about (well, most of the time), drugs can open your mind and are often used in a spiritual/soul-searchy manner. I have tried DXM. Why? Is it because I’m a stupid teenager looking for a cheap way to get potted up on dope (thank you Fox News for that particular bit of ignorance)? No. It’s not even a “fun” drug, and I knew that going in. I tried it because I’m very interested in philosophy, and wanted to open my mind somewhat. Other than that, there is the experience of using a chemical that alters your perception and exposes you to new things that you can’t experience otherwise. I’d say that’s as legitimate as most things we foolish humans do, if not more so.

    Anyone who bothered to actually read all of that, thanks for listening. Please, go out and spread information instead of misinformation. I’m not advocating the use of drugs, I’m only advocating the freedom to do so if and when you choose for whatever reason without the fear of disproportionately harsh prosecution. I, myself, am not a frequent user of any drug or chemical and have only done illegal drugs three times in my life. That’s not to say I wouldn’t if drugs were more available to me at this time, but I’m trying to show that I’m not all that biased in this. I’m advocating my true beliefs, I’m not just some stoner who wants his favorite hobby to be made legal. Not that that’s a bad thing – stoners, all the power to ya. Using drugs is no less a legitimate source of recreation than watching TV, playing sports, playing video games, or banging hookers. I added that last one because it’s the favorite pastime of the politicians who won’t let free Americans do what they want.

    Alright, I’m done this time. Seriously.

  • Ace OfSpades Ace OfSpades 1 year ago

    Really? So you’d rather take a pill that was researched for maybe 50 years at best, and which long term side effects are not known, than take an herbal supplement that was around for thousands of years? I guess you’re one of those people who would have believed in thalidomide as a good anti-nausea pill when that stuff was around :/

  • Anon E. Mous Anon E. Mous 2 years ago

    This is all anecdotal and worth exactly nothing.

    I take kratom regularly. I have scoliosis that causes me pain constantly, and I was sick of taking so much ibproufen it made my stomach bleed. After chiropractors, MRIs, CAT scans, physical therapy, yoga, etc, didn’t work I turned to hydrocodone (vicodin) and eventually heroin when I couldn’t afford the vicodin any longer ($5 a pill for street prices).

    So, obviously, getting back on vicodin was NOT an option for me, nor was over the counter analgesics.

    I live in the southern United States and can buy kratom in capsules at a shop. It is incredibly helpful, I only take 2 a day (one midday and one in the evening) instead of half a bottle of advil.

    It CAN make you feel ‘high’ if you take a few at a time (I do not know the gram dosage), but there’s a fine line between a nice buzz and feeling dizzy/nauseous and just plain shitty. I imagine the people going to ERs in the story had taken too much.

    When I run out or am too lazy to go buy more, there is a slight withdrawal-type feeling that lasts maybe a day. It is not terribly unpleasant, and there is none of the hoarding/planning/desperate seeking behaviors associated with opiate withdrawal, not to mention a 1/10000th of the physical discomfort.

    For any ‘news’ source trying to relate this to bath salts (which isn’t even a specific chemical, it can be any of a number of synthetic drugs), spice (which imitates ‘weed’ [which also does nothing for my back]), and sativa (?? I suspect the article meant salvia which is a hallucinogen) – it is very irresponsible, uninformed, and falls into the trap of painting with a broad brush.

    I suspect it is just another way to drum up an easy ‘Look what these crazy kids are using to get high’ story that gains lots of pageviews and chatter and ultimately resolves nothing.

  • Ed Hoy Ed Hoy 2 years ago

    here hear! Well Said.

  • Cartoonmick Cartoonmick 2 years ago

    Human nature, being what it is,,,, we have to be protected from ourselves at times.

    So I guess a bit of regulation here and there has to be a good thing, so long as it doesn’t get extreme and hide us from everything.

    Got to get it all in balance, and not let that balance be biased by money and greed.




  • Ed Hoy Ed Hoy 2 years ago

    Dear Mick
    Do you mindlessly post on Forbes simply to have the opportunity to put up a link to your lame comics ? How does “regulation” protect any of us from this human nature you so fear?
    Sheeple like you are more dangerous than any societal problems we face.
    cheers, enjoy your alchohol!

  • Mick, Your don’t understand the issue at all and you are just promoting your cartoons. That is quite sad.

  • The author’s study doesn’t prove that Kratom is dangerous, just that Kratom can be habit forming to mice. The truth is that Kratom is less addictive than Coffee. I can testify this, since I’ve used both Kratom and Coffee. Kratom is not an addictive substance and Kratom is not a drug anymore than coffee is a drug.

    I’ve used Kratom for 5 years without any problems, I’m in perfect health. I’ve stopped using Kratom many times for long periods of time and I’ve never had problems or addiction. Kratom is milder than coffee.

    Is Kratom a drug?

    Is Kratom addictive?
    Less than Coffee

  • Ryan Oakes Ryan Oakes 2 years ago

    Great post, I have taken Kratom daily for 2 years and I just posted a long-winded rant saying basically the same as you.

  • Dianna Hine Dianna Hine 1 year ago

    I saw your comment about Kratom on the Forbes website. I have a friend who had numerous surgeries and has to take a lot of pain meds to function….but you know how awful opiates can be. She has done very well in therapy and the rest of her life is good. How did you get off opiates with Kratom. She needs her pain meds every day but that’s not a good idea with Kratom. Was your pain not as bad or do the effects of Kratom last longer or change your brain’s experience of pain? I know your not a doctor. Just wondering how people use it for chronic pain. Thanks

  • http://s10.postimage.org/edfctqo87/Kratom_Flyer.jpg

  • Here is an article I made explaining everything you want to know about Kratom and how safe and beneficial it is for pain, anxiety, depression, chronic symptoms, fatigue, etc. I’ve known hundreds of people who have used Kratom for years, some decades, and I’ve never heard of any side effects in any of them. Reports of side effects seem to come from reports based on people who took a ton of other dangerous substances and then Kratom got blamed.

    Truth: Kratom is 100% safe and less addictive than Coffee.


  • For tons of comments/personal testimonies of how Kratom has SAVED PEOPLE’S LIVES then check out this petition in support of Kratom:


  • Kratom has helped tens of thousands of people to deal with chronic pain, depression, anxiety, addictions and so on, this herb and its users deserve a normal treatment and should not be compared to “bath salts” and other recreational drugs. DEA is clearly over-reacting. Other herbs like coffee and Valerian have similar properties, if the DEA and other lawmakers are so concerned , can we expect them to ban these as well?

  • Shawn Schuman Shawn Schuman 2 years ago

    David, thank you for writing a somewhat more balanced article than most that address kratom. But, if you’d like to write an accurate, informative article — and I have no reason to think you don’t — there are a few things that need to be corrected.

    The most common misconception is that kratom can cause hallucinations. Of all the people I know who use kratom for various reasons, both in person and across various message boards, I’ve not heard one credible mention of hallucinations in association with kratom alone. I don’t even know if there’s a mechanism by which kratom COULD cause hallucinations.

    That’s not to say that no one who has used kratom has ever experienced hallucinations. Some people have undoubtedly taken kratom alongside other things which could cause them or other effects. In the same vein, the vast majority of hospital or emergency room visits associated with kratom also involve other substances. But, because most are unfamiliar with kratom, it tends to be unfairly singled out as the culprit in these cases. Those who are not familiar with kratom, in my opinion, have little credibility in proclaiming what it can and can not do.

    In any case, kratom has proven helpful to so many people that I shutter to think how they will manage if the FDA or DEA were to do what they are predisposed to do and needlessly ban an exceptionally helpful herb. Yes, kratom can cause dependence in some cases. Yes, it can cause nausea and constipation. But compared to most substances — legal, prescription or otherwise — it’s incredibly safe. Alcohol destroys many, many thousands of lives a year, and it’s insidiously addictive. Tobacco kills countless people every year because it’s so highly addictive. Yet they’re both legal and very easily available. Even coffee can cause some level of dependence in people!

    Now, weigh that with the many benefits. It has helped many people to kick some of those very same destructive habits, be it alcohol, opiates or other drugs, and those people are now living happy, productive, drug-free lives. It has helped many others deal with their chronic pain without resorting to highly addictive opiates, and they now enjoy a quality of life they couldn’t have imagined before.

    Now, while I feel that kratom is safe and non-toxic enough that it should be easily available to anyone who can benefit from it, I know that not everyone feels the same. In that respect, I would begrudgingly be in favor of the kind of restriction of sale to minors that we’ve seen passed in Louisiana, which was passed after legislators reconsidered a blanket ban in light of the many benefits. If protecting the children is really the motive of this nonsense about banning kratom, restrict its sale to minors. Otherwise, I’m still waiting to hear a good reason to justify its banning for adults.

  • Brent Amenell Brent Amenell 2 years ago

    As someone who has suffered with chronic pain for over 20 years, Kratom has been my miracle. I was tired of taking pills, fighting with doctors for pills, and all the bad things that come with pills. Kratom helps relieve my pain without all the side effects of the opiates. I can still function, and over time, I do not need to take more and more Kratom.

    I know that different people take Kratom for different reasons. In small doses it can act just like coffee, as it is a relative of the coffee plant. In higher doses, it is an analgesic. I have never heard of anyone overdosing on Kratom (by itself). If you take too much you will get nauseous, and itchy. You will not have “hallucinations and delusions”.

    Those that are selling Kratom in the gas stations and tobacco shops are greedy in my opinion, and are taking advantage of our youth who will try anything. The majority of Kratom users are like myself, middle aged and educated. Kratom does not taste good (it is very bitter), and those looking for a quick buzz or to party will not find Kratom inviting.

    I wish more people would try using natural alternatives versus opiates and synthetic pills. God made them, not man, and they should not be demonized. When used as He intended, they are not evil.

    If you want to look at studies, alcohol causes more problems, assaults, accidents, overdoses, deaths (etc.), than Kratom ever has, and it is legal.

    “5 years without dependency on pharmaceuticals.”

  • I could not agree more with you. I have been on Tramadol for over 2 yrs for chronic pain and my Kratom wll arrive today by FedEx. On the subject of fighting doctors for pain pills, I know all to well. They look at patients who ask for them as “USERS” Or the staff at the pharmacy who calls us “FREQUENT FLYERS.’ But let one of them develop servere chronic pain and see how fast they beg their doctor for relief. Doctors are afraid of one thing and one thing only, loosing the holy grail……their medical license. Why? WASHINGTON. God did indeed create these wonderful plants for our use. They are safe and can change peoples lives forever. For 4 years my life has been put on hold because of my pain. I no longer enjoy the things I used to be able to enjoy. With Kratom I hope to change that. Kratom, Thai Kratom is available in capsule form and works best for pain I’m told. If it works, GOODBYE to pharmaceuticals forever. My body is the temple of the holy spirit and we should not harm it in any way. Thank you all for educating on me Kratom.

  • Hi, I am using this for a year now, I was before usign tramadol and oxicontin for the pain i have because i have ehlers danlos..Kratom is a very good painkiller for me.I do not experience any withdrawal if i do not take it.as when i used the chemical painkillers i got really sick when i did not take them..I do not feel sleepy or under drugs when I take kratom, the only thing I experience is that the pain is much less..and the most wonderfull thing is that when i started using kratom I had no withdrawal effects from stopping the tramadol and oxicontin.I also take less anti depressive tablets now..
    In my opinion the big pharmaceutical companys do not want us to use Kratom because than they will not make so much money anymore!

  • If Kratom should be banned, so should Coffee. Pure and simple. Kratom is not only milder than coffee (milder meaning the effects are not as strong) but Kratom is also less habit forming than Coffee. Kratom is habit forming, no one is arguing that it isn’t but let’s be real here. Addiction is a black and white attribute. Caffeine is addictive but so is cocaine. Does this make them equal? Of course not. Caffeine is a fairly safe substance and exists in Coffee, Energy drinks, Foods, etc. On the “addiction scale” Cocaine is probably an 8 out of 10 and Coffee is probably a 1 out of 10…Kratom would probably be a .5 out of 10, probably twice as less addictive than Coffee.

    That being said, If it weren’t for Kratom I don’t know where I’d be today. I suffer from chronic depression and anxiety and anti-depressants have failed me. I’ve tried numerous artificial pharmaceutical chemicals such as effexor, prozac, etc. Perhaps a half a dozen different anti-depressants and NONE worked for me and plus they gave me numerous side-effects. Pharmaceutical companies make their $$$ from producing drugs that treat an ailment, but also produce side effects for which more drugs are required which in turn make more side effects in a never ending cycle. People find themselves taking a dozen different drugs for only a few ailments that could easily be fixed with natural alternative substances (Like Kratom) and proper diet and exercise. Certainly, Kratom doesn’t help everyone but many thousands of people can attest that without Kratom they might not be around anymore.

    Kratom is one of the most beneficial substances that is known to man. It has helped thousands, maybe millions of people who have been let down by modern pharmaceuticals. Kratom has the ability to nullify the effects of heroin or morphine, making it perfect for anti-addiction properties. People addicted to powerful pain-killers can take Kratom, get the same pain-relief effects but without the “high” associated with the pain-killers and also find that taking the pain-killers doesn’t even make them “high” anymore. Kratom produces a mild calming and happy feeling, less severe than coffee but not as stimulating either.

  • Bren Bren 2 years ago

    Kratom has been in my and my husbands life for about three years now. As you probably already know, it is a natural pain reliever that can be used instead of over-the-counter pain medicine and the heavy narcotics that doctors prescribe. We keep it in the house because my husband has degenerative disc disease, so instead of being doomed to a life of oxycontin or morphine pump, he takes Kratom to ease his pain. I don’t know if you are familiar with degenerative disc disease, but it is a debilitating disease that cause extreme pain up and down my husbands back and legs. Kratom has been a real life saver for us considering that if my husband had to take heavy prescription pain medication, he would not be able to function at work and provide for his family. I want you to know that this is coming from a responsible member of society. I am a Certified Special Education Teacher and my husband is a Master Plumber who is getting ready to start his own plumbing company. We have a six year old daughter, a very large mortgage that we always pay on time, a car that we just paid in full, and excellent credit. This would not be possible if we were “taking” this “dangerous drug” called Kratom. I would compare Kratom to an herbal supplement. I take Kratom, occasionally, as an alternative to battle anxiety and stress. I would like to add that I ran two marathons last year. I don’t think someone who is taking a harsh “drug” could run two marathons. Believe me, I would never put something into my body that I thought was harmful. I don’t even eat processed food and I buy all organic . We have not not experienced any dependency or the side effects described in recent articles I’ve read. One of the side effects that is presumed is hallucinations. I have never nor has my husband experienced hallucinations or any of the other side effects that are being put in the media.

    My 62 year old mother, who had broken her ankle falling down the steps, takes Kratom to manage her pain. Instead of taking 2 percocet a day, she takes Kratom once a day. Kratom is an awesome pain reliever and it is NATURAL! She also has a torn ACL which causes her extreme pain some days. She will take a small amount of Kratom and her pain is significantly reduced.

    It is no secret that Kratom has a relaxing and uplifting effect. In addition to taking Kratom to battle anxiety, I also take it to unwind after a long week. Just as someone would drink a glass of wine, a couple beers, a cup of coffee, or smoke a cigar, I take Kratom to relax and decompress after a stressful week. Unlike other substances such as alcohol, I wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to start my day. I don’t know if you enjoy a nice glass of wine or a cigar every once and a while, but if you do, you would understand what Kratom means to some people. Not only does it serve as a functional pain management supplement, it also serves as a way to relax after a long week. If Kratom was made illegal in the U.S., life would go on, but it would be a little less enjoyable for me and my husband. We are not drinkers or smokers, but we do enjoy the subtle, yet enjoyable effects of Kratom.

    There has been a lot of negative press lately on Kratom. The truth is, teenagers are being sent to the emergency room because they are not responsible. As with any substance, Kratom can be abused. Kratom when consumed in small doses has the similar effects as caffeine with the added benefit of pain relief and anti-anxiety. Assuming that these people were sent to the emergency room from Kratom alone is unbelievable. I assume they probably had alcohol or other drugs in their system as well. Just like many other substances: alcohol, coffee, aspirin, cough medicine, cigarettes, Red Bull, and even food, Kratom can be abused. As you already know, the list of LEGAL substances that can be abused goes on and on. Please help keep kratom legal. If there is a problem with minors abusing Kratom, I would urge the government to raise the age to 21, so irresponsible kids can not buy it. It is a miracle cure for some people and it is natural. It is not a drug. It is a natural remedy!

  • David Capland David Capland 2 years ago

    Kratom has helped many, including myself and one other individual I know personally, to taper and quit opiates. It is also a much safer alternative to opiate pain relievers for those with moderate chronic pain.

    Additionally, taken in whole leaf form, kratom is very high in both insoluable fiber and antioxidants.

  • Steve Marin Steve Marin 2 years ago

    Kratom is in the same family as coffee, are we going to ban all things that help people in anyway? I don’t get why people are comparing synthetic designer drugs to a plant that god created and put on this earth for man to benefit from. But because big pharmaceutical companies can make money off of a plant thats legal for anyone to grow they want to make it illegal and capsule it in a little blue pill for depression, just to make more money. Also have been taking it regularly for about 2 years and have never noticed any craving like that of nicotine.

  • So in answer to your leading question, is Kratom the new bath salts, absolutely not. Comparing the two together is nothing but sensationalizing your article to generate fear/misdirection among your readers. For someone who writes for Forbes, I was not expecting a “National Enquirer ” headline.
    I also am one who suffers from chronic pain, I also was addicted to the prescribed pain medicine my doctors provided. I went through sever withdrawals when I tried to stop the medicine. Kratom helped me to quit, and now, also helps me manage my pain, in a safe and natural way. I went into the use of Kratom with my eyes wide open, I know there are many dangerous plants and herbs in the world. I did my research before even trying this plant. What I found was of the few dozen reports of health issues with Kratom, there are 100′s of thousands of people who use this plant with no adverse effects. Most negative reports were from people who were admittedly using many other street drugs, and or had previous medical/physiologic conditions. Now, is that to say there are not people in this world who will try to abuse this plant? Of course not. Just like any other substance, be it sugar, salt, or alcohol, there is always potential for abuse, but with Kratom, for now, the evidence shows that it is not a deadly substance, (unlike salt, sugar and alcohol) and in my opinion the legitimacy of medical uses for it, outweigh the current negative aspects.

  • Dear Mr. DiSalvo!

    First of all, thanks for your objective article.
    Second, please excuse for some mistakes in spelling or just using the language. As my mothertongue is german, i am not so fit in english…
    I use kratom for some years now. It has helped me a great deal with pain, chronical depression and fatigue. No doctor could help me, as there seem be no disease – so i spent month at a psychiatrist, in the end taking strong psychopharmaca. This tablets had a little effect, but huge side-effects. I got overweight, had kind of “zip-zap” in my eyes and was addictive to these kind of medizine. Since i discovered kratom, i stopped those tablets, and i found relief, i am finally able to live a normal life.
    Kratom is supposed to be addictive – but it is not! It is not, if taken in responsible dosages, in the amount it is needed. IF taken higher dosages, it is not nice anymore – there is no “the more, the better” with kratom, the other way round. It helpes, but it is no party-drug. I don´t live in pink cloudes when taking kratom – i am still here in the world, able to think and react, just the pain has gone.
    I wonder how mice would react, if fed with high dosages of coffee, or coffein every day. And coffee is a legal thing all around.
    You write about kratom seen in emergency rooms. The latest news about two sisters in Kanada was in fact a case, when insecticid was the killer. That would have killed anyway, if put in a kratomdrink, in a milkshake or elsewhere.

    I know many people who benefit a lot of kratom. I have never heard of anyone, who got problems with money, who stopped live the life he had before (the things which happen with most of the chemical drugs) – instead, i hear of people who are normal, healthy, able to do their jobs, to care for their family – and who are very thankful to the plant, that helps them!

    Kratom is a very gentle painkiller. It demands responsibility, but not any more than other legal things. I deeply hope, this great plant will stay legal! I can promise you: it will not become a party-drug, because the effects are much too little for any party-kids. It´s a friendly plant.

    Best regards, from Satu.

  • There’s a lot of hear-say going around about Kratom. The easiest one to disprove would be that, even in the worst cases, it causes hallucinations. Kratom works on dopamine receptors, not serotonin. This is proven. Effected serotonin causes hallucinations or distortions in physical perception, not dopamine. The only real problem i think that there is with kratom is that the active dosage is rather large, and so consuming around 4-6 grams of raw plant material can make a person nauseous. Although i’ve found that, just like any other medicine, this side affect can be alleviated by eating a meal shortly after ingesting kratom.

  • Rob Seaver Rob Seaver 2 years ago

    I have come to believe that the DEA serves no other function than to serve the pharmaceutical industry by removing any form of competition. The DEA is, in effect, the enforcement arm of the pharmaceutical industry, and has no credibility with me.

    I discovered kratom approximately one year ago, and my life has changed for the better. I take about 7 grams of powder twice per day which helps to elevate my energy levels. Increased energy levels, for me, mean being a more effective father, professional, and active husband. Kratom has also helped with some gastrointestinal issues that I’ve had for quite some time — primarily acid reflux, which has completely disappeared during the time I’ve been using kratom. Additionally, I’ve been consuming much less alcohol since taking kratom. From what I understand, decreased alcohol consumption is not unusual among the kratom community.

    There have been no adverse side effects. In fact, I’ve had several blood tests done in the past year, which have shown nothing unusual. The most recent blood test indicated lower triglycerides and lower overall cholesterol, which I can probably attribute indirectly to kratom due to the aforementioned decrease in alcohol consumption.

    I don’t use kratom to get “high” or to get a “buzz”. There are many other substances that are effective in that regard. The value of kratom is purely medicinal for me, and I hope it will continue to remain a natural alternative for others. Kratom should not be demonized, and the DEA is using propaganda to do just that.

  • Ed Hoy Ed Hoy 2 years ago

    Amen! So true. Testify!

  • Mark Kregel Mark Kregel 2 years ago

    Yes sir, you are absolutely correct.