Author: Damian Gorbunov

You may have purchased kratom with huge expectations but not felt the desired results. Or you’ve successfully used kratom for a while to one day find your kratom not working.

Depending on how fast your metabolism is and what strain you are taking, kratom effects usually kick in within 10 to 30 minutes. With some strains, you’ll experience come up within an hour.

If this time frame has passed, yet you feel nothing, you may be doing something wrong. Let’s go over some of the most common reasons for kratom not working and find out what’s causing it.

Reasons and Solutions for Kratom Not Working 

You’re Not Taking the Right Dose

One of the most common reasons for kratom not working is taking the wrong dose. Many new users start with a low dose.

That’s not wrong, just the contrary. We actually recommend starting with a lower dose. That allows you to gauge how your body responds to kratom and avoid side effects.

As a natural substance, kratom interacts differently with individual bodies. Some people may need a higher dose while others will get the same effects with a lower one. And there’s no saying what will work for you until you actually try.

So, if you’ve taken kratom, but it’s not working, take a slightly larger dose more next time. Don’t drastically increase it though, but do so gradually. Even if you don’t feel any results after a few times.

Doing it this way, you’ll have an easier time finding the right dose for you without having kratom side effects.

Keep also in mind that the effects of kratom will depend on the dose that you are taking. In lower amounts, you’ll experience uplifting and euphoric effects, yet in higher doses, you’ll get sedative effects.

Also, make sure you are using a sensitive digital scale to measure your dose for the most optimal results.

You’re Not Storing Kratom Properly

If you receive a bag from the vendor, open it, and leave it in the cupboard, that may be the reason why kratom’s not working for you. Not closing your kratom bag properly or opening it every day, exposes it to oxygen and likely also light.

These along with moisture are the main reasons for kratom losing its potency.

However, if you store kratom in airtight containers in a cool and dark place, then it’ll be more likely to retain its potency much longer.

You’re Not Responding to the Strain that You’re Using

While not very often, this may also be the reason for kratom not working. Not everyone responds to the same strains in the same way. We’ve even heard of cases when people do not respond to certain strains at all.

What you can do is try some of the most popular strains such as Red Bali or Green Maeng Da. Most users tend to not have any issues with them. Or you can order a few samples first and compare your results after using different strains.

You’re Taking Kratom on a Full Stomach

Kratom is a dried substance that takes time to digest. If you’ve just had a huge meal, your digestive system already has plenty to do.

Adding kratom to the mix means that it’ll need a lot more time to be properly digested and absorbed. As a result, you may feel weaker results or may not feel any at all.

To avoid that, some sources advise taking kratom on an empty stomach. We do not fully agree with that. While it may work for some, you have a high chance of irritating your stomach. Especially if you are not experienced with kratom.

Instead, we advise you to have some food in your stomach, much as a small meal or a snack and not take kratom right after it. Wait for 30 minutes or an hour.

This way, your stomach won’t be completely empty, but also not stuffed full. Therefore, you’ll have a lower chance of upsetting your stomach, experiencing kratom side effects, or kratom not working.

You’ve Developed Kratom Tolerance

If you are a regular user, kratom may not be working because you’ve developed tolerance to it. That can happen if your body gets used to kratom.

It can happen with any substance. For instance, one can develop tolerance to perfume or cologne if they use it every day and not sense it anymore.

As a result, the same amount of kratom won’t be enough anymore and you’ll need a higher dose to experience the same effects.

Kratom tolerance can develop for a number of reasons:

• you’ve used the same strain for a long time,
• you use kratom every day,
• you have a kratom buildup in your system.

Increasing your kratom dose may seem like the easiest thing to do, but it requires more kratom and a larger investment from you.

Kratom alkaloids take an average of 24 hours to leave the human body. So, if you take kratom at a relatively same time, there still may be some self in your system from your previous dose.

There is an easy way to troubleshoot that though. You can take a break from kratom for a few days, not use it every day, and rotate strains to prevent buildup from happening.

You’re Taking Kratom with Other Substances

There is a possibility that other substances that you are taking neutralize the effects of kratom.  This can happen if you take alcohol or prescription medicine along with kratom.

It’s best to avoid taking kratom and alcohol together. In the case of medicine, we advise you to consult your doctor and inquire about the possibility of it interfering with kratom.

You’ve Purchased Low-Quality or Fake Kratom

If you’ve tried changing things up, but nothing’s worked, chances are that’s not you, but the kratom you’re taking.

Much of the kratom on the market is low quality or not very fresh. That would mean that when you buy it, it’s already passed its prime. Some may even be fake, mixed with other substances, or even contaminated.

For instance, those who travel in India and purchase kratom there aren’t getting the real thing. Labeled as Indian Kratom, it’s a plant from the same family, but it’s not the real Mitrogyna Speciosa that you’d purchase from a trusted vendor. Its effects are either weak or nonexistent, and it may even make some sick.

If you aren’t traveling, but ordering online from your home in the US, make sure you choose a vendor who sells high-quality products.

Some buyers go for vendors with lower prices, but are getting what they pay for. The kratom that they receive isn’t as good as it could be.

As a matter of fact, our favorite vendor actually has higher prices than others on the market. However, we need to take only half of the product that we would have to if we were using the cheaper kratom.

So, on the surface, it seems like we’re paying more, but we’re actually using a much more potent product and the same amount lasts us a lot longer.

Is kratom not working for you? What do you think is causing it? 

US military members are well-known for their extraordinary abilities, strength, endurance, and capacity to go through rigorous training and extreme and life-changing experiences. As a result, many veterans suffer from handling pain, PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep, and other health issues.

Therefore, it’s not uncommon for veterans to take kratom. The herb has many health benefits and can aid veterans in a wide variety of ways.

But what about active-duty members? There are many ways in which they could benefit from the herb. But can you take kratom in the military?

Can You Take Kratom in the Military?

Unfortunately, kratom is illegal to active duty military members in the United States. The Department of Defense (DoD) prohibits a wide range of substances that could negatively impact military readiness and performance and lead to possible disciplinary action.

The DoD based its reasoning for banning kratom in the military on the statements made by the FDA. It explains the reasons for prohibiting the herb as being the lack of evidence of safe use and deadly risks resulting from its use.

The military allows certain legal substances. These include prescription drugs, alcohol, and nicotine, provided that they are taken adequately and properly. However, the list of illegal substances is long. It includes actual drugs such as cocaine, LSD, heroin, and more, as well as other substances like steroids and smart drugs.

What Are Smart Drugs?

Smart drugs are a wide range of substances that have nootropic properties and can enhance cognition. This includes mediation. An example of such a smart drug includes Adderall, a common ADHD medication. It’s legal as long as the military member has a valid doctor’s prescription. Otherwise, it is off-limits.

Another class is so-called herbal smart drugs. Examples include cat’s claw, ashwagandha, L-theanine, green tea, piperine, Panax ginseng, and also kratom.

While most of those herbal smart drugs are OK in the military, kratom is an exception. The military prohibits it because, according to its words, it alters mood and function.

What Else Does the Military Forbid?

Kratom in the military isn’t an odd exception. In addition to the herb and substances that are already illegal in the US, the military also forbids the following substances and dietary supplements:

• Acacia rigidula, also known as blackbrush acacia or chaparro prieto – a dietary supplement that aids weight loss is illegal in the military due to the lack of evidence for safe use,
• Aconite or wolfsbane – homeopathic medicine that can also be poisonous,
• Cannabidiol or CBD – used for anxiety, stress, inflammation, and pain relief, illegal due to service policies,
• Hemp or hemp oil – used for stress and pain relief, illegal due to a DoD policy,
• Phenibut – a supplement used for anxiety and stress relief, illegal because it’s a synthetic substance that does not meet the standards of a dietary supplement,
• Salvia – a supplement that produces relaxing effects in small doses and hallucinogenic effects in large doses, also illegal in the military.

Besides these supplements, the military also forbids a long list of synthetic dietary supplements. These include HCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin), HGH (Human growth hormone), IGF (Insulin-like growth factor), and others.

Does the Military Test for Kratom?

Kratom is an illegal substance in the military and on the DoD forbidden substances list. So, active duty military members can be subject to illegal substance screening. Kratom, however, is unlikely to come up in a routine DoD drug test because most standard tests such as SAHMSA-5 do not test for it.

Nonetheless, it’s not a guarantee that you won’t be tested for kratom in the military. Changes are continuously happening.

In 2017, the DoD announced that it will be expanding its testing to detect 26 illegal substances that active-duty members are tested for in military applicants as well, making substance screening more rigorous. The list included drugs such as cocaine and heroin as well as a range of synthetic cannabinoids or spice.

While kratom wasn’t mentioned in the list, certain military members have reported that their divisions have started testing for kratom, as well.

Therefore, it’s best to abstain from taking kratom in the military. Even if your unit does not currently test for kratom, this can change at any time. This can put you at unnecessary risk if you take the herb while on deployment.

Active duty members are subject to drug testing three times a year and this occurs at random. Kratom alkaloids remain in the system and can come up on a urine drug test for up to 7-9 days. With this in mind, you cannot prepare for a kratom drug test.

And even if kratom isn’t among substances a drug test screens for, there have been instances of it resulting in a false positive. This can be an unnecessary and highly damaging risk for active-duty members.

Is Kratom Safe?

The DoD bases its judgment of kratom on statements by the FDA. Thus, it should come as a surprise that the military questions its safety. It mentions the side effects of kratom, including death, and the risk of it being laced with other substances like opioids.

The DoD also claims that kratom is addictive while its 8-Factor Analysis states the opposite, saying that kratom is no more addictive than coffee, a plat from the same plant family as kratom that is legal in the military.

Contrary to the FDA claims, the safety concerns regarding kratom use are exaggerated. Kratom deaths that it cites as proof of its deadly effects are misinformation. None of the “kratom deaths” had conclusive results and other substances with deadly effects were present.

Final Words

While kratom is prohibited to active duty military members, it’s legal in most states when one is out of the military and no longer serving. Kratom has numerous benefits that can help veterans lead better lives.

Regardless of that, it is important to always get high-quality raw kratom products from a trusted vendor.

While most claims by the FDA and DoD are untrue about kratom, one thing however is possible. That’s the fact that kratom can be contaminated or adulterated by other dangerous substances. To avoid that, one should always purchase kratom that has been accurately and properly tested, processed, handled, and labeled, preferably from US states with an active Kratom Consumer Protection Act.

Are you an active-duty military member or a veteran? Have you ever tried kratom? And most importantly, thank you for your service.

The majority of kratom users are young or middle-aged. While there are many ways in which they can benefit from this beneficial herb, there are also numerous benefits of kratom for seniors. The herb can provide support for a variety of health issues as well as significantly improve their quality of life.

What Is Kratom?

Native to Southeast Asia, kratom or Mitragyna speciosa is a tree that has leaves with beneficial properties. That is due to a high concentration of alkaloids in them.

The herb has a minimum of 25 alkaloids and 40 total chemical compounds, all of which have unique beneficial properties. However, the most prominent of those are two alkaloids – mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Mitragynine is an alkaloid with stimulating, pain-relieving, anti-tussive, and other effects. It’s also the most abundant alkaloid in kratom, making up about 60% of the total alkaloid content.

Meanwhile 7-hydroxymitragynine is found in much lower quantities, yet it’s exponentially more potent than mitragynine. The most prominent effects of this alkaloid are potent pain relief and opiate withdrawal relief.

In fact, kratom interacts with the same receptors in the brain as opioids do, yet it engages those receptors in an entirely different way, resulting in very few and minor side effects if kratom isn’t taken properly.

7-hydroxymitragynine is about 13 times more potent than morphine but doesn’t cause addiction or respiratory depression as opioids do.

Due to these properties, kratom for seniors can be a natural alternative to opioids with fewer risks and side effects.

Let’s take a look at how you can use kratom for the elderly wellbeing.

Kratom Benefits for Seniors

1. Potent and Efficient Pain Relief

As seniors tend to experience pain due to various ailments, health issues and conditions, pain relief becomes important. Kratom can provide effective and potent pain relief that seniors would normally need to purchase a wide range of medications for.

The pain-relieving potency of the herb changes based on the type of kratom you select. Red vein kratom for seniors can be the most suitable if they require strong pain relief. This vein type is also relaxing and can be sedative, thus being more suitable for the evening and nighttime.

Therefore, green vein strains can be a better option during the daytime. While their pain relief is more moderate and less intense than that of red vein strains, it’s more energizing in nature.

2. Increased Energy

Another popular use of kratom is additional energy. Mitragyna speciosa is in the same plant family as coffee. As a result, it provides similar effects – increased mental and physical energy – and can serve as a substitute for coffee.

While white vein strains are the most potent in this regard, whites tend to be a bit too much for novel users. Therefore, green vein kratom for seniors could be more suitable. It provides additional energy. However, if taken in proper doses doesn’t make one anxious or jittery just like coffee does.

3. Stress and Anxiety Relief

Kratom has relaxing properties which can help seniors to relieve stress and anxiety. Moreover, kratom can do so in addition to pain relief and other benefits without requiring seniors to purchase additional medication.

As with pain relief, red vein kratom is strongest in terms of stress and anxiety relief. However, green vein strains are potent in that regard too. They are more energizing, yet they also provide relaxation at the same time. So, unlike coffee, you will feel energized, yet calm at the same time.

4. Improved Focus and Cognition

Green vein kratom for seniors can be beneficial to improve their focus and concentration. Since this variety makes you energized as well as calm, you can expect a very calm focus and fewer distracting thoughts.

5. Better Sleep

Kratom can be beneficial for seniors to improve their sleep in various ways. Since seniors tend to sleep fewer hours and sleep more lightly, Mitragyna speciosa can help them get better rest.

Red vein strains are best for the evening and nighttime. They have relaxing and sedative qualities and can last up to eight hours. Thus, kratom can help seniors to fall and stay asleep.

That doesn’t mean that you are missing out on sleep benefits if you take green vein kratom. If you take it regularly and at relatively the same time, it can help you regulate your sleep cycles, stay active and energetic throughout the day, and be tired and ready to go to bed in the evening.

6. Relief of Depression Symptoms

It’s not uncommon for seniors to experience depression, and kratom can also help with that. Its mood-boosting and energizing properties can provide the positivity and energy needed to get up from the bed and get through the day.

7. Improvement of Overall Wellbeing

People who opt for kratom generally tend to develop healthier eating and lifestyle habits. Lowered stress levels can help manage a variety of health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

The herb can also suppress the appetite which can lead to less snacking in between meals. This can make kratom helpful for seniors who struggle with their weight in addition to other health issues.

Final Words

While kratom is legal in most of the United States, the world of kratom is primarily unregulated. The FDA does not regulate kratom and only four states in the United States (Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Georgia) regulate it with the Kratom Consumer Protection Act at this time. The lack of regulations leaves plenty of room for bad players.

Therefore, when buying kratom for seniors, you must be extremely cautious and only opt for vendors that are trustworthy and properly test their products in third-party laboratories.

Are there seniors in your life for whom kratom could be beneficial. How do you think it could help them the most?

Humanity has been relying on plant medicine long before modern medicine existed. Practices such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine are still popular to this day, and alternative healing methods such as Naturopathy and Homeopathy are gaining growing popularity.

While modern medicine saves lives and provides treatment for serious health conditions, a growing number of people are realizing that there is more to medicine and healing than just pills.

Thus, many turn to plants and plant medicine. After all, numerous medications are still being synthesized from plants.

Mitragyna speciosa or kratom and Cannabis, better known as marijuana or weed, are some of the plants that provide relief from pain, stress, anxiety, inflammation, improve mental processes, and much more.

Despite their controversial nature, more and more people are realizing the beneficial effects and minimal side effects of these beneficial herbs.

While both are beneficial plants, kratom and weed have plenty of differences that set them apart. Yet, it can be beneficial to combine kratom and marijuana. The latter can even serve as a kratom alternative in certain cases.

The most popular way of using weed is by smoking. So, if you would like to experience the beneficial effects of both, you may be wondering if you can smoke kratom and weed together.

Let’ explore the differences between the two herbs and see if that’s a good idea.

What’s Kratom and How Does It Work?

A tropical tree from the coffee family of plants, Mitragyna speciosa or kratom is native to Southeast Asia, namely Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea.

The kratom tree has large leaves that are rich in a variety of alkaloids. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are the two primary alkaloids, with the latter being around 13 times more potent than morphine.

Kratom alkaloids act on the opioid receptors in the brain in a similar way to opioids. While there is much controversy around kratom due to that, kratom does not recruit opioid receptors in the exact same way as opioids do. As a result, kratom provides potent analgesic effects, yet is no more addictive than coffee.

Due to its effect on opioid receptors yet very low abuse and addiction potential, kratom can help overcome opioid addiction. For a long time, user reports were the only proof of a successful outcome. However, currently, studies on kratom alkaloids are being carried out in the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and the team working on the study has come up with promising results.

Alkaloid concentration varies in kratom leaves due to various factors. Therefore, there are three natural types of kratom and each of them provides unique effects.

Red vein kratom is soothing, relaxing, and pain-relieving whereas white vein kratom boosts energy and mood and improves focus. Green vein kratom has a bit of both and offers moderate pain relief and relaxation as well as increased energy and focus.

What’s Weed and How Does It Work?

Marijuana or weed is actually a group of three plant species: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis ruderalis, and Cannabis indica. Cannabis plants are native to Central Asia and were later introduced to Europe, Africa, and other parts of the world.

In ancient times, natives may have used cannabis for its psychoactive properties in ceremonies. However, the most popular use was medicinal. In addition to that, hemp which is another strain of Cannabis sativa with no psychoactive properties was grown as a durable form of material, used to develop clothes, shoes, ropes, and more.

Cannabis contains beneficial compounds called cannabinoids. There are over 120 different cannabinoids in cannabis plants. As it is with kratom, experts are unsure about the exact properties of each. However, most properties are attributed to the two most-well-known and common components: CBD and THC.

CBD and THC have the same chemical formula, yet their atoms are arranged in a different way, granting each cannabinoid different properties and effects on the body. Both compounds interact with the body in different ways.

THC is psychoactive and intoxicating, making you “high.” It binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, primarily CB1 and CB1. CBD is psychoactive and non-intoxicating. It doesn’t bind with CB1 or CB2, yet the exact way of how it interacts with the body is not yet known.

THC is addictive while CBD is not, yet various studies point out that THC may have more effective therapeutic properties.

Similarly to kratom, weed can reduce pain. However, it is more effective for inflammatory, nerve and similar forms of pain whereas kratom is great for chronic pain.

Can you Smoke Kratom and Weed Together?

It is not a good idea to smoke kratom and weed together. While you will get the beneficial effects from weed, kratom will simply burn not providing the results you expect.

Let’s take a look at why that’s so.

Cannabinoid acids that raw cannabis plants contain have an extra molecule – THC is actually THCA and CBD is CBDA. These extra molecules render their beneficial properties inert. To release that extra molecule, cannabis leaves need to undergo a heating process called decarboxylation.

Decarboxylation converts THCA into THC and CBDA into CBD. Without it weed is ineffective.

If you smoke weed, this heating process occurs in real time. If you choose edibles or other products that contain THC or CBD need to undergo a heating process during their manufacture to become effective.

While kratom tea is the most common way to take it, it is not necessary to get the beneficial effects of kratom. You can consume kratom as is. In fact, locals in Southeast Asia used to simply chew the leaves. Heating simply potentiates the effects of kratom.

Yet, kratom does not require as high of a temperature as weed does to be potentiated. You simply need to simmer the tea. Smoking or vaping kratom would expose it to four or more times higher temperatures which would burn kratom and its alkaloids without providing beneficial effects.

If You Can’t Smoke Kratom and Weed Together, How Can You Combine the Two

While you shouldn’t smoke kratom and marijuana, that doesn’t mean you can’t combine them. There are various ways of consuming both.

You can make kratom tea, toss and ash, mix kratom with juice, yogurt, or smoothies, or even take capsules if those work for you.

Smoking isn’t the only way to consume weed. You can also get edibles or bake goods with weed.

So, instead of going for a smoke of kratom and weed, you can:

• Smoke weed and drink kratom tea or smoothie
• Have kratom tea with a weed muffin or brownie
• Mix kratom with yogurt or milkshake and take some cannabis edibles
• Toss and wash kratom and smoke weed

As you can see, you have plenty of options. Just make sure that you don’t smoke kratom and weed together.

Have you tried combining kratom and weed? Which is your favorite method?

Most kratom users are either young or middle-aged. However, due to the numerous beneficial effects of this herb, there is interest among seniors as well as younger people who would like to introduce kratom to their elderly relatives.

Kratom Benefits for Elderly

There are multiple ways in which kratom can help the elderly population.

1. Pain Management

The elderly often suffer from different health conditions which require them to rely on a wide variety of medications. Kratom can provide effective pain relief in a natural way without requiring to purchase a wide range of medications.

Kratom can alleviate pain from conditions and diseases such as arthritis, cancer, restless leg syndrome, and more. Many users report experiencing reduced pain and better overall wellbeing.

In addition to that, kratom tends to have fewer side effects and doesn’t create addiction in the same way that opioid pain medication does.

2. Increased Energy and Better Mood

Kratom can provide a moderate boost of energy and euphoria, allowing the elderly to be more active, energetic, and optimistic. As a result, they can spend active time with their family such as grandchildren despite health issues and pain.

3. Better Sleep

Sleep quality tends to decline with age. Seniors tend to have a harder time falling and staying asleep. They also get less REM sleep, which is the stage that provides the most rest and recovery.

Pain and aches can reduce the quality of sleep even further. As a result, the elderly tend to feel less rested and more tired.

Kratom has sedating properties in addition to being an effective pain reliever. Due to that, it can help the elderly to feel more relaxed before bedtime, fall asleep easier, and remain asleep, getting better rest.

4. Improved Cognition

Moderate kratom strains can improve the ability to focus and concentrate. As cognition has the tendency to decline with age, kratom can help maintain the ability to focus and think clearly.

Tips and Precautions when Using Kratom for Elderly

While kratom for elderly can be extremely beneficial, it is important to keep in mind that their immune system is weaker and their bodies become more fragile as susceptible to infections, fractures, and other health issues.

Due to that it is essential to take a few precautions when introducing kratom for the elderly.

1. Start Taking Kratom Using Threshold Doses

Since it is possible to experience kratom side effects such as nausea and vomiting, they can be especially unpleasant for elders. Therefore, when introducing kratom for elderly, we advise starting with a threshold dose such as 1-2 grams and gradually building up to the doses that the senior requires.

This will allow to determine the exact dose that each elderly person needs, avoiding unpleasant side effects, and ensuring that their kratom tolerance does not get exceeded.

If the elderly person is taking different vein types and strains of kratom, they should determine the dose required for each strain individually, following the same process.

2. Measure Doses Properly and Maintain a Kratom Log

Kratom tolerance can affect any kratom user regardless of their age. Therefore, it is essential to prevent that from developing. To accomplish that, it is important to measure each kratom dose using a sensitive digital scale.

Additionally, it could be beneficial to keep a log of kratom intake by recording the date, dose, time, and strain taken as well as any side effects if those occur. This can help determine any issues and pinpoint when a kratom break may be needed.

3. Review Possible Kratom Drug Interactions

While kratom may replace some medication, the senior may require to take others. However, just like with any natural substance, there may be interactions with these medications such as with certain liver medications.

Therefore, it is essential to review kratom drug interactions and ensure none of them can be potentially dangerous in combination with the herb. Consulting a doctor who I open to alternative healing methods can be beneficial as well.

4. Drink Plenty of Water and Include Probiotics and Fiber in Diet

The elderly may have a hard time digesting kratom. Therefore, it is crucial to provide support for their digestive system to avoid side effects like kratom constipation.

First of all, the elderly taking kratom should drink plenty of water. In addition to that, eating foods such as yogurt, kefir, fruit, chia seeds, and taking a magnesium supplement could help the digestive system properly digest kratom and eliminate waste.

4. Buy Pure Lab-Tested Kratom

Due to a weakened immune system and various health conditions, it is important not to expose an elderly person to any additional diseases or pathogens.

Kratom can potentially contain mold, heavy metals, E.coli, and salmonella. It can also be laced with other dangerous substances.

So, when buying kratom for the elderly, selecting a quality vendor is important. Make sure to verify that the product is being properly lab-tested in a third-party independent laboratory and that the vendor follows regulations and safety practices.

Moreover, avoid cheap kratom, as it tends to fluctuate in quality and has a higher risk of being improperly tested or handled.

5. Avoid Large Kratom Capsules

If you opt for kratom capsules, smaller-sized capsules can be easier to swallow than larger ones.

The elderly population can experience swallowing difficulties due to age-related wear-and-tear, weaker muscle tone, poor tooth health, or various health conditions. More severe cases could experience dysphagia, a swallowing disorder.

Due to that, smaller capsules, kratom tea, or kratom mixed with foods like orange juice, yogurt, or smoothies could be a more suitable option.

6. Be Prepared to Answer Kratom-Related Questions

If you’d like to introduce kratom for an elderly person in your life, it is crucial to be ready to address doubts and queries related to kratom. The elderly could have questions or reservations against kratom, especially if they are against drugs and have been exposed to negative news articles on kratom.

Because of that, being able to explain that kratom is not a dangerous drug or opioid, but a widely misunderstood herb that has been known in Southeast Asia for centuries could help establish a better first impression and encourage the elderly person to try kratom.

Are you a senior taking kratom or know someone who is? What conditions is kratom helping with and what has the experience with it been? Have you experienced any issues with herb? We’d highly appreciate your input as that could help other elderly people make up their minds about kratom.

There are several types of arthritis that affect the American population. Gout is one of them. So, if you have heard of the beneficial effects of kratom, you may be wondering if you can also take kratom for gout pain.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a common type of inflammatory arthritis. It results from the buildup of uric acid in the joints that causes sudden and intense joint pain.

Gout usually affects a single joint at a time, the big toe being one of the most commonly affected areas. But it can affect other joints such as the other toe joints, knees, ankles, fingers, and wrists.

Over the past few decades, the instances of gout in the United States have increased and more than doubled since the 1960s.

According to data, men have been historically more likely to be affected by it. Nonetheless, recent data shows that that may be evening out and more women are suffering from gout than before.

Symptoms of Gout

The onset of gout symptoms is usually sudden and severe and commonly happens at night. At times symptoms become worse.  That is a period known as a flare-up. However, there will also be periods of remission when there are no symptoms at all.

The most common gout symptoms include:

• Severe joint pain for four to twelve hours, which usually becomes less intense later on but till persists
• Inflammation, redness, tenderness, and swelling in the joints
• Limited range of motion in the joints as gout progresses
• Discomfort for days or weeks after the pain has subsided

Common Causes of Gout

A condition called hyperuricemia causes gout. It occurs when there is excess uric acid in the body. Our bodies produce uric acid when breaking down purines, chemical compounds found naturally in the body as well as the foods that we consume.

Purines are commonly found in foods such as organ meat, red meat, seafood, alcohol, especially beer, sugary beverages, and foods. Normally, the body breaks down uric acid, passes it through kidneys, and excretes through urine.

However, it may happen that your body produces excess uric acid or your kidneys only excrete a small amount. This can lead to uric acid buildup in the body in joints or joint area. Uric acid then forms into urate crystals, which are sharp and needle-like and cause pain, swelling, and inflammation.

Various factors can increase the risk of developing gout. These are:

• Family history of gout. People with close relatives who suffer from gout are more likely to develop it too.
• Excess weight. Overweight bodies tend to produce more uric acid and kidneys have a harder time excreting it all.
• Consuming red meat, sugary beverages and foods, alcohol, especially beer, and other foods that are high in uric acid also increase the risk.
• Certain medical conditions. Heart and kidney diseases, diabetes, untreated high blood pressure, and other medical conditions can increase the risk of gout.
• Certain medications. Diuretics, low-dose aspirin, and anti-rejection medication for those who have had an organ transplant surgery can also increase the levels of uric acid.

Common Gout Treatment Methods

To manage gout, doctors advise a combination of medications and lifestyle changes. Common medications used are:

• NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as over-the-counter ibuprofen or naproxen sodium and prescription drugs indomethacin or celecoxib in more severe cases. These medications can have unpleasant side effects like stomach pain, ulcers, or bleeding.
• Doctors may also suggest it for gout pain management. However, this mediation has unpleasant side effects, especially if taken in large quantities. These include vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea.
• Doctors may recommend this drug to manage pain and inflammation if a gout patient cannot take NSAIDs and colchicine.
• Medications that block the production of uric acid. To prevent complications, doctors can recommend xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs) which limit how much uric acid the body produces. Nonetheless, side effects include low blood count, rash, nausea, impaired liver function, higher heart-related death risk.
• Medications that improve the removal of uric acid. Taken together with XOIs, uricosurics, such as probenecid and lesinurad improve the ability of kidneys to eliminate uric acid from the body. Their side effects include stomach pain, rash, and kidney stones.

In addition to medication, medical professionals also recommend:

• Losing weight
• Exercising
• Reducing the amount of uric acid-rich foods in the diet
• Reducing the consumption of sugary beverages and foods
• Avoiding alcohol, especially beer
• Some evidence also shows that intake of Vitamin C and cherries, as well as moderate intake of coffee, could be helpful for gout pain and inflammation

Sadly, the medication commonly recommended and prescribed for gout has unpleasant and even dangerous side effects. In some cases, gout can be treatment-resistant, requiring the person to deal with excruciating pain with little or no support. Due to that, many see alternative treatment methods.

Can You Take Kratom for Gout Pain Relief?

While there is no easy fix, combined with weight and diet management, kratom can provide natural pain relief for gout and other benefits without dangerous side effects that over-the-counter or prescription gout medication can have.

Here are a few ways in which kratom for gout can be beneficial:

1. Effective Pain Relief

Kratom is best known for its powerful pain relief with minimal side effects. It can be effective for various chronic conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and even provide support with conditions such as cancer and pain that is resistant to pain medication. Kratom is also not as addictive as pain medications are.

2. Improved Sleep

Since gout tends to affect one during the night, kratom can provide both pain relief and the ability to fall and stay asleep.

3. More Energy

Pain and discomfort due to gout can reduce one’s ability to lead an active day-to-day life. Kratom can provide pain relief as well as increase physical energy and serve as a replacement for coffee.

4. Reduced Stress and Anxiety

Certain conditions such as diabetes can become easier to manage if one effectively manages stress and anxiety. Kratom can ease stress and anxiety, improving the symptoms of diabetes and other conditions, naturally supporting the body’s ability to naturally manage uric acid.

5. Weight Management Support

Kratom users tend to take better care of their health and diet. Moreover, they also report feeling less hungry during meals. While kratom will not make you lose weight, its regular use can support your body and mind on the weightloss journey.

Kratom has a wide range of alkaloids, many of which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. While more research is needed, these lesser-known alkaloids could possibly help the body manage inflammation.

Best Types of Kratom for Gout?

While individual needs may vary, red vein and green vein can be the most effective types of kratom for gout pain management. Red vein strains are best for the nighttime while during the day, green vein kratom can provide more effective support for gout.

Can Kratom Cause Gout?

On several occasions, kratom users have pointed out that they have experienced gout symptoms after kratom use. Yet, it most commonly stems from their diet and lack of hydration. Keep in mind that kratom can dehydrate you can cause constipation. So, if you do not support your body with proper diet and nutrition, such dehydration may lead to higher uric acid levels.

With proper nutrition and water intake, however, kratom can be extremely effective for gout pain relief.

Have you tried kratom for gout pain relief? How did it make you feel? What other lifestyle changes or supplements did you try? Were they effective or not?

Lyme disease is a growing health concern of the American population, with an increasing number of people being affected each year. What makes Lyme disease even more alarming is the different ways in which it can manifest in different people. This is why it can be frequently misdiagnosed or undiagnosed.

People with this health condition suffer from considerable pain. Therefore, many wonder whether they can use kratom for Lyme disease pain.

Let’s look into the details on Lyme disease and whether kratom can help relieve pain caused by it.

What Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease, scientifically known as Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial disease. It is caused by Borrelia bacteria, which ticks can transmit to humans.

Most ticks are harmless; however, a small number of ticks can feed on infected animals and then carry and transmit the disease to other animals or humans. A tick needs to stay on the skin for an average of three to four days for the disease to get into your bloodstream. Therefore, most people with Lyme disease do not recall having had a tick bite.

According to the CDC, around 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year. Most instances occur in the Northeast and upper Midwest states, with over 96% of Lyme disease cases being reported there.

People who live or spend some time in forested areas have a greater risk of getting Lyme disease. If you have a god or other animals that spend time in these areas, you also have a much higher risk of getting Lyme disease. While there is not enough information on whether animals such as dogs can transmit Lyme disease directly, an infected tick can pass from an animal to a human, transmitting the disease in the process.

Lyme Disease Symptoms

Lyme disease develops in three stages:

• early localized,
• early disseminated, and
• late disseminated.

Not all people who have contracted Lyme disease will have the same set of symptoms. They can drastically differ and overlap in different stages. Some people may not have any symptoms in earlier stages and only manifest them when the disease has advanced. Symptoms can also take up to four weeks to show.

Below are some of the most common Lyme disease symptoms that people may experience:

• a flat rash that looks like a red oval, circle, or bull’s-eye,
• fatigue,
• muscle and joint pain,
• arthritis-like pain also known as Lyme arthritis in the more advanced instances of the disease,
• swollen joints and lymph nodes
• fever or other flu-like symptoms,
• headaches,
• disturbed sleep,
• difficulty concentrating.

Lyme Disease Treatment

The earlier one diagnoses Lyme disease, the easier it is to treat it. In the early localization, a simple 10-day or 2-week oral antibiotic course can eliminate the infection.

In more advanced stages, doctors also use antibiotics both via an IV as well as orally, though the treatment course can last up to a month.

Amoxicillin, cefuroxime, and doxycycline are some of the most common antibiotics that doctors use to treat Lyme disease.

Post-Lyme Disease and Its Symptoms

Even though antibiotics tend to eliminate the infection, every one or two in ten Lyme disease patients experience symptoms even though the disease is no longer present. This is the post-Lyme disease or post-Lyme disease syndrome. Some also call it post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. No one currently knows what causes it.

The symptoms of post-Lyme disease affect cognition and mobility. They include:

• fatigue,
• sleep issues,
• joint and muscle pain,
• joint swelling,
• short-term memory issues,
• difficulty concentrating, and
• speech problems

These symptoms resolve after several months, though, in some people, they can last for a few years. Treatment methods generally focus on easing the pain and discomfort that the affected people experience.

Can One Use Kratom for Lyme Disease Pain?

Kratom does not treat Lyme disease. An infected person needs to take an antibiotics course to eliminate the disease. However, kratom can be used to alleviate Lyme disease and post-Lyme disease symptoms and improve one’s quality of life.

Kratom can relieve joint and muscle pain, boost energy, improve mood, sleep, as well as the ability to concentrate.

What Are the Best Types of Kratom for Lyme Disease?

Depending on your individual symptoms, you may benefit from one or various strains of kratom for Lyme disease. You can rotate a few different strains to achieve a variety of effects throughout the day.

1. Red Vein Kratom for Lyme Disease

Red vein strains such as Red Bali are extremely popular for their potent pain-relieving effects. They are also euphoric and relaxing. Thus, you can ease Lyme-associated muscle and joint pain, as well as boost your mood and improve your sleep.

Except for a few varieties such as Red Sumatra, most reds are slow strains. As a result, they work best during the evening and can provide kratom pain relief.

2. Green Maeng Da Kratom for Lyme Disease

Along with Red Bali, Green Maeng Da tops the most popular kratom strains. Nonetheless, its effects are slightly different. In contrast with most reds, Green Maeng Da is a moderate strain. As a result, it can be both energizing and soothing. It can improve focus, concentration, and productivity, improve the mood, and relieve pain.

Green Maeng Da is great for the morning or daytime, for example, if you need to work or study.

Some vendors also offer Plantation Maeng Da, which is a version of Green Maeng Da that’s grown in controlled conditions in plantations, thus resulting in more potent and consistent quality kratom. Make sure to buy it from a trusted vendor as bad players tend to catch up quickly when there is a new trend and demand for it.

3. Green Malay Kratom for Lyme Disease

Green Malay is another moderate strain that can make work or studying easier. It can boost your energy and focus, as well as provide moderate pain relief. Similarly to Green Maeng Da, it is an excellent kratom for Lyme disease for the morning and daytime.

4. White Borneo Kratom for Lyme Disease

If your energy levels are particularly low, White Borneo kratom for Lyme disease can be a great choice. While its pain-relieving abilities aren’t as potent as those of reds and greens, it has strong energizing properties and can considerably enhance your ability to concentrate.

Keep in mind though that some people, especially those with limited or no kratom experience, can be sensitive to white vein strains. Because of that, keep your doses low and switch to greens if whites are too much for you.

5. White Horn Kratom for Lyme Disease

Horn kratom is a popular yet rare variety. It comes from leaves with pikes that look like horns, which mature kratom leaves develop. Many kratom lovers prefer this strain due to its potent and consistent effects.

You can try white horn kratom for Lyme disease if you’d like to improve your cognitive functions, boost energy levels, and get mild pain relief.

Kratom itself is not harmful, but keep in mind that there may be kratom drug interactions. Most adverse effects such as kratom liver damage occur due to other substances rather than kratom itself. So, be sure to inform your physician before you start taking kratom to avoid any adverse side effects.

Have you taken kratom for Lyme disease? Which symptoms did you find it to be the most helpful with? Feel free to share your experience as it can help improve the quality of life of other people who struggle with Lyme disease.

Kratom has numerous beneficial uses because of which many call it a miracle herb. It helps people deal with a wide range of issues, from chronic pain to depression. So, it’s natural for one to wonder if they can use kratom to stop drinking alcohol.

Why Is Heavy Alcohol Use Dangerous?

Alcohol abuse is a serious concern. It can be extremely damaging to one’s health as well as affect other areas of one’s life. People with heavy alcohol consumption have an increased risk of liver disease, heart disease, blood clots, and high cholesterol levels, brain and nervous system problems, gout, cancer, seizures, and infections.

Alcoholism can also cause premature death and disability. With an estimated number of 88,000, heavy alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of death, surpassed only by tobacco and poor diet and lack of activity.

According to the CDC, six people die from alcohol poisoning every day.

Moreover, 31% of driving fatalities happen due to intoxication.

In addition to being harmful to one’s health, heavy alcohol consumption can also negatively impact the lives of their family members, especially children. Alcoholism can cause financial struggles, marital issues, domestic violence, and negatively impact the psychological development of children and their future.

In 2017, there were over 14 million adults with alcohol use disorder whereas, in 2018, the number rose to over 15 million, indicating that heavy alcohol consumption is a growing concern.

Nonetheless, only 6.7% of those with alcohol use disorder had sought treatment. There are multiple reasons for why people with alcohol use disorder do not seek treatment, some of the most common being insufficient finances or lack of support.

So, they may be looking for alternative ways to

Can Kratom Help You Quit Alcohol?

While each person’s experience can be drastically different, numerous people report that kratom has helped them reduce their alcohol consumption and feel better. Kratom use helps to overcome alcohol withdrawal symptoms and stop drinking as well as provides the body with many other benefits.

How Can Kratom Use Help You to Stop Drinking Alcohol?

1. Kratom Can Help Relieve Physical Pain

Since ancient times, people have been using alcohol to relieve intense chronic pain. Studies prove that it is indeed effective. As a result, about 28% of people choose alcohol as a means to ease pain. Nonetheless, heavy and regular alcohol drinking can make pain even worse, which can lead to continuous, chronic drinking.

Moreover, taking alcohol together with prescription drugs can be dangerous to one’s health and cause additional health concerns.

Kratom can relieve different kinds of pain. The potent kratom pain relief eliminates the need for alcohol and even prescription opioids.

2. Kratom Can Help You Relax and Stay Calm

Since alcohol is a depressant, there is a number of people who start drinking alcohol heavily to cope with stress. This can be a stressful job, family situation, or other issues. Since heavy alcohol consumption can lead to depression, this can make their situation even worse.

One of kratom’s benefits is stress relief. So, if you would like to relax after a long working day or any other reason, you can use kratom to stop drinking.

3. Kratom Can Improve Your Mood and Make You Feel Euphoric

Many people take kratom to become more cheerful and optimistic. Yet, it’s not only terrible for your health, but can make you feel even worse emotionally afterward.

Certain kratom strains can boost your mood and make you feel euphoric. What’s more, kratom can also improve your sleep, the lack of which can be associated with a bad mood.

4. Kratom Can Help Reduce Alcohol-Induced Anxiety

If you suffer from anxiety, alcohol can make it even worse. That’s because it affects the levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain.

Kratom can help you relax, reduce negative and disruptive thoughts, and remain more focused. You can use kratom to stop drinking, and, if kratom is legal in your state, you can even take it before and while you are at work.

5. Kratom Can Help Counter Alcohol-Related Depression

Alcohol is a depressant; therefore, drinking it can make you feel depressed. Depression can worsen due to alcohol consumption because alcohol affects the drain. Heavy alcohol use can also affect your likelihood to make bad decisions, and dealing with them later can negatively affect depression.

While kratom can’t cure depression, it can provide significant assistance by improving your mood, making you more energetic, and less affected by intrusive thoughts.

Best Strains to Use Kratom to Stop Drinking

There are different kratom vein types and a wide variety of strains, each of which comes with a unique alkaloid profile and associated effects.

Nonetheless, due to the nature of causes and problems caused by alcohol, green vein kratom strains and a combination of greens and reds tend to be the most suitable options for those who’d like to use kratom to stop drinking alcohol.

Green strains can provide energy, improve focus, aid with depression, and relieve pain. So, they are great for the morning and early afternoon.

Reds, however, are potent pain relievers, can help you relax, fall, and stay asleep, as well as make you feel euphoric. Therefore, most reds are more suitable for the evening time.

In most instances, it is best to avoid white vein kratom strains. That’s because whites are energizing, and less experienced kratom users tend to find it too agitating. If you take alcohol to relieve stress and anxiety, white strains can have the opposite effect. Be cautious of strains like Red Sumatra and Red Maeng Da as those can be more energizing.

Consider trying various strains to discover the ones that best suit your needs.

Don’t Take Kratom and Alcohol Together

While kratom can be extremely effective in helping quit alcohol, we strongly advise not to take kratom and alcohol together as it can result in adverse side effects. In addition to that, never mix kratom, alcohol, and prescription medication. There are potential kratom drug interactions, and adding alcohol to the mix can be even more dangerous.

Has kratom helped you quit alcohol? What strains did you find to be the most helpful? Perhaps you have other tips for people who’d like to use kratom to stop drinking? We’ll extremely grateful if you shared those with our community and us.

You may have seen kava and kratom bars near you and heard of the beneficial effects of both herbs. So, you may be wondering if you can take kava and kratom together, or you should just stick to one.

Both can be extremely beneficial and aid with a variety of conditions, though they are not the same and cannot serve as a replacement for each other.

Let’s first review what they are and then find out whether you can take kava and kratom together.

Kava and Kratom: What Are They?

Kava is a shrub from the pepper family native to the western Pacific Islands, Micronesia, and Polynesia. People make kava root drink due to its anesthetic, euphoriant, and psychotropic effects.

Kava helps relieve stress and anxiety, as well as help with sleep issues and improve the mood. As per its pain-relieving effects, it primarily affects muscles, easing, and relieving muscle tension and soreness.

In the meantime, kratom is a tree from the coffee family indigenous to Southeast Asia. People choose kratom to receive potent pain relief, relaxation, stimulation, and more.

Kratom is significantly more potent in terms of pain relief. It can be effective to help people ease different kinds of intense pain, stemming from health conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and more. This is why many opt for kratom as a means of overcoming opioid and prescription medication addiction.

To learn more about the similarities as well as differences between kava and kratom, please see this post on kava vs. kratom.

Can You Mix Kava and Kratom?

There are certain benefits to taking kava and kratom together. Nonetheless, it should be done in moderation and only sometimes rather than on a daily basis. Consistently taking the two in tandem can have drawbacks and potential health risks. The kava kratom combo may also not be for everyone.

You should, however, under no circumstances mix kava and kratom with alcohol or any kind of medication or drugs. If you choose to take both herbs together, it’s best that you take them exclusively.

The Benefits

Both herbs have their own set of benefits. When taken together, they can provide:

• significant stress, anxiety, and depression relief,
• relaxation and improved sleep,
• better mood and feeling of well-being even after having experienced stressful situations,
• alertness, better focus, and clarity of mind, as well as
• strong pain relief.

The Drawbacks and Risks

Despite the benefits listed above and the fact that when taken exclusively and mindfully kratom is safe, kava has some concerning side effects which can become more potent when kava and kratom together. Some of them are:

• nausea and vomiting, especially if taking doses that are too high,
• dehydration and dry skin,
• headaches,
• mood swings,
• reduced appetite and weight loss,
• potential liver and kidney damage, especially if one already has health problems associated with them.

Similarly to kratom, there are not many studies on kava in the United States. Moreover, some studies point out the potential toxicity of kava and possible liver and kidney damage resulting from its long-term use.

How to Take Kava and Kratom Together Safely?

Though kratom has been proven to be safe through the Kratom 8-Factor Analysis, no long-term studies are covering its regular use in tandem with kava. Moreover, each of these herbs geographically originates from a different region, and there is no historical evidence of them being taken together.

There is no way to certainly state whether taking kava and kratom together is completely safe or if there are any long-term risks involved. Nonetheless, numerous people swear by the mix and report feeling good after taking kava and kratom together.

Tips for Taking Kava and Kratom 

If you choose to mix kava and kratom, below are some tips from the kratom community:

• Choose moderate kratom strains such as green vein or yellow kratom. These strains are moderately energizing yet not too potent as white vein kratom to make anxiety or depression worse.
• Accurately measure your doses. Be mindful when preparing the mix, and do not exceed your doses. This can make you feel sick, nauseous, and cause vomiting. This is also important in the long term. Do not increase your doses as that may lead to increased tolerance.
• Take pure kratom and pure kava. Avoid using products that contain any additional substances. There is no way of telling how they may interact, and contain combinations may even be dangerous.
• Buy kava and kratom form trusted and reputable vendors. Since both herbs are sold in their raw botanical form, buying from established vendors with good reputations will drastically decrease any risk of adulteration or contamination.
• Don’t take the mix on an empty stomach. Having some food in your stomach will make it less likely for you to feel sick.
• Mix kava and kratom only if you have experience with both. Generally, the kratom community recommends taking about 2-6 grams of kratom and 15-25 grams of kava. However, you should have experienced each of them individually before mixing them. This will ensure that you know the exact dosages that your body needs and how your body responds to each of the herbs.

As per the methods of mixing both herbs, kratom lovers recommend one of the below:

• Preparing and drinking each beverage separately, or
• Making a drink out of the two. Many recommend mixing the herbs with milk rather than water to mask their taste and strain any residual powder or root matter. Kratom tends to taste bitter, while kava has an earthy flavor that can resemble muddy water. Some people may find the combination unpleasant.

Final Words

Due to the lack of reliable scientific information on the topic, we strongly suggest that you always proceed with caution and ensure that you have no health conditions or issues that may be aggravated by the mix. As mentioned before, never take them together with alcohol, drugs, or medication. Avoid taking the combination of the herbs if you are expecting or nursing.

Have you taken kava and kratom together? Would you recommend it to others? Don’t hesitate to share any useful tips with our readers and us.