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Where to Buy Kratom Online: Top Kratom Vendors 2019

March 26, 2019 by Speciosa Guide 14 Comments

top kratom vendors 2019

Many seek the top kratom vendors as a way of ensuring that they consistently get a high-quality product. So, we decided to look at and honestly review the top 5 kratom vendors for 2019.

Honesty and transparency are two of our main values. Quality of information is another. And that’s the perspective that we chose to approach it from. Therefore, we won’t only highlight the good things about these vendors, but also the ones that aren’t as positive.

We chose to name this list “top kratom vendors” instead of “best kratom vendors” because the most popularity does not automatically equate to the highest quality. It may, but not always.

We also know quite a few less known vendors who offer excellent kratom. We’ll make sure to build a list of those as well, so stay tuned for that.

Best Kratom Quiz

How We Reviewed the Top Kratom Vendors

We looked up who the top kratom vendors were by general consensus. Then, we went online and gathered some more information about them.

But we didn’t just stop there.

We placed orders with each and every one of them and evaluated their services. We also took their products as well as assessed their quality.

To make sure that we treat all of these companies equally, we placed our orders with them almost simultaneously before noon on a Monday.

The strains that we purchased were Red Maeng Da and White Maeng Da. (With the exception of PurKratom. They were out of White Maeng Da, so we ordered White Borneo instead.)

Red Maeng Da and White Maeng Da is our personal favorite combination to keep productivity levels high throughout the day. It also helps us deal with the aches and stress without making us feel drowsy.

We take Red Maeng Da in the morning with our morning coffee. Then, White Maeng Da in the afternoon. It helps us get through the afternoon slump, finish off the workday, and complete our evening workout.

Why not the other way around?

Why not White Maeng Da in the morning and Red Maeng Da later in the afternoon?

That’s a personal preference. The energetic red strains on their own are not enough for us. However, if we consume coffee too late in the day, we’ll have a hard time falling asleep.

Red Maeng Da with coffee in the morning gives us the energy and focus to perform during the day as well as calms us down. White Maeng Da provides the same results in the afternoon. Yet, it does not affect our ability to fall asleep.

Feel free to try this combo if you are looking for ways to take kratom to boost your energy, focus, and productivity.

And now, lets’ get to our findings.

Top Kratom Vendors for 2019

1. Happy Hippo Herbals

top kratom vendors happy hippo herbals

Happy Hippo Herbals is our first pick for top kratom vendors. It offers a wide selection of strains. Many users describe their kratom as high-quality. Thus, you would need a lower dose than when taking other vendors’ kratom.

According to their reviews, their bags always contain the amount of kratom they say they contain or even more. They also provide free samples with their orders.

If you place an order with them before 5 PM, they ship the same day.

Happy Hippo Herbals ship internationally as well. However, you need to pay more for the option.

They offer a10% discount for eCheck payments and 20% discount for cryptocurrency payments.

You need to be 21 or older to buy from them. This may be inconvenient for those users who live in states that allow kratom from the age of 18.

On the flipside, Happy Hippo does not offer free shipping within the US. Their prices are also rather high which may deter certain people from buying from them. Users even describe Happy Hippo as overpriced. Yet, it may not be as bad considering the fact that their kratom is strong.

Their website looks very basic and even childish. For those unfamiliar with the brand, it may come across as fake or a scam.

Our Experience with Happy Hippo Herbals

We paid with eCheck and received a 10% eCheck discount. This was a rather pleasant because of their higher prices.

We paid $8 for shipping and the package arrived 3 days later. The packaging was completely discreet.

Both Red Maeng Da and White Maeng Da were smooth, tasteless, and has a pleasant smell. The onset was rather fast, 6 and 10 minutes respectively. We experienced full effects of both after 40 minutes.

Red Maeng Da increased our focus and provided relaxation without making us feel drowsy or affecting our mood or wellbeing. The effects tapered off during the second hour and wore off completely during the third.

White Maeng Da slightly increased our energy levels and focus. We also fest a slight mood improvement when full effects took place.

The effects of White Maeng Da began to taper off after 4 hours and were gone after 5.

2. PurKratom

top kratom vendors purkratom

PurKratom is another company that frequently features among top kratom vendors. It sells kratom powder and 20 different kinds of kratom capsules.

If orders are placed before 3 PM, they ship on the same day. Free First Class Mail shipping is available for all orders regardless of their cost. Yet, you can also pay for Priority or Priority Express shipping options.

PurKratom also sells its products in a few physical stores in the US and offers an affiliate program.

PurKratom places a strong emphasis on lab-testing their kratom and say that they test each batch that they receive. They also offer an unconditional 30-day return policy.

Users refer to their products as high-quality, yet expensive.

Our Experience with PurKratom

PurKratom was the only company of the five that we chose for this list that accepted debit card payment.

We chose free shipping with First Class Mail. The order was shipped on the same day and took 4 days to arrive. The package was completely discrete.

Their Red Maeng Da powder was smooth and fresh. It has a faint tea-like scent and a slightly bitter taste. Yet, it wasn’t very strong, so there was no need to mask it. The onset happened in 5 minutes and we experienced slight uplift in mood and relaxation 20 minutes in. There was no feeling of drowsiness.

We started experiencing full effects in an hour. They began wearing off after 3 hours and were gone at the 4-hour mark.

Since PurKratom was out of White Maeng Da, we purchased White Borneo instead. The powder was smooth and fresh, yet it smelled like sawdust and had a tangy bitter taste.

We felt the onset of the effects 5 minutes in. Then, there was a slight uplift in mood, energy, and focus, and full effects took place after 35 minutes. White Borneo provided mild pain relief and improvement of mood as well as a moderate boost of energy and focus. 3 and a half hours later, the effects started tapering off and were completely gone after 4 and a half hours.

3. Coastline Kratom

top kratom vendors coastline kratom

Coastline Kratom offers kratom powder and capsules for sale. They also sell live kratom plants which you can grow on your own.

They guarantee free shipping for orders over $75, and a 100% money-back guarantee. We cannot, however, provide any comments on the effectiveness of their return policy.

They offer combination packs for new users as well as an affiliate program.

Users refer to their products as high-quality, yet expensive.

Nonetheless, Coastline Kratom raises our concern when it comes to their advertising efforts. We have on multiple occasions seen their ads on Instagram. Advertising kratom on Facebook is not allowed, and since Instagram belongs to Facebook, the same rules apply.

As a result, it leads us to believe that their ads on Instagram aren’t actually legal. While this may bring in more customers, it can eventually create bad fame around kratom and contribute to its ban.

Another negative aspect that we see is the way Coastline Kratom portraits their kratom powder. The colors of kratom powder on their website look enhanced with photo editing software. This may serve as grounds for suspicion and concerns about how natural their products are and whether any colorants or other substances are being used.

Our Experience with Coastline Kratom

While we paid for our Coastline Kratom order with eCheck, they did not offer a discount as Happy Hippo did.

They charged $4.99 for First Class Mail. Their package shipped the next day and arrived 3 days after the order was placed. Its packaging was discrete.

Both Red Maeng Da and White Maeng Da were on the dry side and slightly coarse. Both smelled like sawdust and had an unpleasant taste.

With Red Maeng Da, the onset happened after 12 minutes. We also experienced slight uneasiness in the stomach which we did not have with kratom from the other brands. A slight increase in focus, euphoria, and relaxation followed. Then, we experienced full effects within an hour.

Red Maeng Da provided moderate focus, and relaxation, as well as slight euphoria and pain relief. We did not fee drowsy though. At the 3-hour mark, the effects started tapering off and were gone after 4.

With White Maeng Da, the onset happened in 5 minutes. Then, slight stimulation, euphoria, and an increase in focus followed.

We felt full effects after 40 minutes along with slight pain relief, as well as a moderate increase in mood, stimulation, and focus. The effects began tapering off after 5 hours and were gone after 6.

4. Krabot

top kratom vendors krabot

Krabot offers over 30 different strains for sale. Some of them are very rare. They sell both kratom powder and capsules, yet their products are rather expensive.

They also have welcome and variety packs. However, those are more expensive than what other vendors offer.

Krabot has a discount available for the military. Both veterans and those in active duty can take advantage of it and so can their dependents.

Krabot also offers a 100% money-back guarantee. Nevertheless, it only applies to unopened packs. So, if kratom you receive is lower quality than usual, you aren’t likely to get your money back.

Orders need to be placed before 10 AM to be shipped on the same day. Otherwise, they will ship on the following day. This may mean an extra day for your order to arrive.

There is not much valuable information on their website and it is hard to find information on their shipping and its pricing.

Our Experience with Krabot 

Krabot shipped the next day and the order arrived 3 days later. It was placed in discreet packaging, yet it had the company name on its shipping label.

Their Red Maeng Da was slightly on the dry side and smelled like sawdust. Its taste was odd, yet not necessarily awful. On the other hand, their White Maeng Da was smooth and fresh. It also had a pleasant smell and was tasteless.

The full effects kicked in an hour later and were stronger than those of the other brands. The effects began tapering off after 4 hours and were gone at the 5-hour mark.

We experienced the onset of White Maeng Da after 5 minutes. It provided a slight increase in focus, energy, and pain relief. Full effects took place within 30 minutes. We felt slight pain relief, a moderate increase in energy, and a strong increase in focus.

Like Red Maeng Da, White Maeng Da was also the strongest. Its effects began to taper off after 4 hours and were gone after 5.

5. Gaia Ethnobotanical / MitraGaia

top kratom vendors gaia

Gaia Ethnobotanical has recently rebranded and its name is MitraGaia now. We’ll refer to it as simply Gaia.

Gaia offers its own blends and welcome samples for new customers. They also have an affiliate program that allows kratom lovers to earn some money too.

Orders placed before 2PM EDT ship on the same day.

Gaia refers to themselves as the “#1 rated kratom company online”. Many users call it one of the top kratom vendors and it’s mainly due to their affordable prices. Users often recommend the company because of that.

Nonetheless, Gaia was involved in the 2018 Salmonella issue. The FDA listed them as one of the companies selling Salmonella-contaminated kratom.

Kraken Kratom was another popular company who was involved in the issue, which is the reason why we chose to exclude it from this list. We included Gaia, however, because it is still very popular among users because of their affordable process. Though, we by no means condone them selling contaminated kratom.

Another complaint that we frequently came across was instances of lower quality.  When users voiced their complaints, the company didn’t even respond to their emails.

These two points are a prime example of why popular does not necessarily mean quality. So, even if the brand is popular you should still watch out for any caveats.

Our Experience with Gaia

Gaia did not offer any discounts at the moment of us purchasing their product. However, their prices are lower than those of the other vendors.

They charged $7.95 for Priority Mail and shipped the package on the same day. It arrived 3 days later. The order was in a discreet package with the company logo on the shipping label.

Gaia’s Red Maeng Da powder had a pleasant smell and was smooth, fresh, and tasteless. The onset happened in  5 minutes and we experienced slight euphoria, relaxation, focus, and pain relief.

Full effects kicked in within an hour. We experienced mild focus, mild to moderate relaxation and pain relief at times. However, the euphoria was gone and we felt slightly drowsy. We felt tempted to increase our dose and take another gram, but didn’t do it to keep our kratom tolerance low.

The effects were rather inconsistent as they came and went. They began wearing off after 2 hours and were gone after 3.

Gaia’s White Maeng Da powder had a pleasant smell, was smooth and tasteless, yet slightly dry. The onset happened in 7 minutes and resulted in slight stimulation, focus and better mood.

We experienced full effects within 1 hour. White Maeng Da provided mild focus, stimulation, and moderate mood lift. Once more, we resisted the temptation to take another gram.

Gaia’s White Maeng Da was weaker in terms of focus and stimulation. Yet, the mood lift it provided resulted in a great workout. We were able to so a little more in the gym than usual. Its effects tapered off after 3 and a half hours and were gone after 4 and a half hours.

In Conclusion

All in all, we experienced that higher priced companies did indeed offer stronger, higher quality, and more pleasant kratom.

Gaia’s prices were the lowest, yet their kratom wasn’t as strong and consistent as that of other brands. So, you would need to take more of it to get stronger effects.

If you are interested in how to choose a kratom vendor, feel free to download our FREE guide on it.

Have you ever purchased kratom from these vendors? What has your experience with them been like?

If you’ve used different strains from these vendors and have had a different experience, we’d love to read your opinion in the comments below.

Who is the best kratom vendor in your opinion and why?

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: kratom vendors, maeng da kratom, red maeng da kratom, top kratom vendors, while borneo, white maeng da kratom

Green Maeng Da Kratom Review: Increased Energy and More

February 12, 2019 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

green maeng da

Along with Red Vein Bali, Green Maeng Da is one of the most popular strains among kratom users. As a green strain, it offers stimulating, as well as mild analgesic effects.

Therefore, it is a fast strain.

Maeng Da is currently grown in West Kalimantan as well as other regions in Southeast Asia. Yet, it originates from Thailand.

As a matter of fact, translated from Thai slang, its name means “pimp” or “pimp grade”. Thai vendors chose to name it this way to increase the sales of this strain. Pimp grade indicated that it has a much higher potency than other varieties of kratom.

Well, they weren’t wrong to do so. Green Maeng Da has high alkaloid content and a unique set of effects. Thus, it’s often referred to as the most potent green strain.

Green Maeng Da Effects

1. Better Mood

Green Maeng Da has mood-enhancing properties. It provides moderate euphoria and many users report feeling uplifted after taking it.

2. Increased Energy

Green Vein Maeng Da can increase users’ energy levels. It can help them improve their focus, concentration, and be more productive, as well.

Because of that, many people like taking it in the morning with or instead of coffee.

3. Relaxation

Even though Green Maeng Da increases energy, it can also provide moderate relaxation. This can be helpful for those who suffer from anxiety yet need an energizing drink to stay awake.

This kratom strain can be useful for those who experience jitters or higher anxiety levels after taking coffee. It can help with both – increasing energy levels and coping with anxiety.

4. Clarity of Mind

Green Maeng Da reduces mental chatter and helps one think clearer. So, if you tend to overthink and worry a lot, you may want to give this strain a go.

5. Mild Pain Relief

The pain-relieving properties of Green Maeng Da aren’t as strong as those of Red Vein Bali. Nonetheless, it can still provide mild pain relief in addition to its other effects.

Yet, if one experiences strong or chronic pain, slow strains may be a better alternative.

6. Self-Confidence Boost

Many users, especially those who are shy, report feeling a lot more confident after taking Green Vein Maeng Da. They say that it makes them more confident and helps them accomplish tasks.

7. Easier Socialization

Because of being in higher spirits and feeling more self-confident, those who take Green Maeng Da are also more talkative. They also have an easier time coping with social anxiety.

This helps them socialize and have better relationships with the people around them. Because of that, Green Maeng Da can be helpful if one needs to attend parties or social gatherings. It’s worth noting though that it’s best not to combine kratom and alcohol.

8. Depression Relief

Though white strains are the most energizing, some people feel like it makes them overly agitated. So, if they experience depression, this may make them feel anxious, too. As a result, they may feel even worse.

Slow strains, on the other hand, can provide too much relaxation. This can result in increased apathy or lethargy.

Green strains are a balanced midway. This makes them a more suitable option for those who suffer from depression. Many report feeling a lot more positive about life after taking this strain.

Best Kratom Quiz

Green Maeng Da Pros

1. Stimulation without the Side Effects

While fast strains provide the most stimulating effects, they may be too much for some people. As a matter of fact, even in very small doses white strains can irritate the stomach and cause nausea.

Green Maeng Da can provide stimulating effects, as well. Yet, since they aren’t as strong, users are a lot less likely to experience side effects.

2. Introduction to Fast Strains for New Kratom Users

Green Maeng Da can be excellent for those who are starting off with kratom looking for energizing effects. Many new users experience kratom side effects if they start with white strains right away.

Green Maeng Da can be an excellent alternative. It provides stimulating effects. Yet, they are not as strong. As a result, new users have a lesser chance of experiencing nausea and digestive issues. This can make the introduction to kratom a lot more pleasant.

3. Great in Combination with Coffee

You love kratom but don’t want to give up your daily cup of coffee. In that case, Green Maeng Da may be great for you.

It provides mild energizing effects. Yet, they are less intense than those of the white strains.

Because of that, you are a lot less likely to feel jittery, irritated, or agitated in you take coffee with your kratom dose.

4. Smooth Effects

With some kratom strains, you may experience that the effects come one relatively fast. You may experience uneasiness and side effects such as nausea or vomiting. Some people may even have a hard time controlling themselves.

However, it’s not like that with Green Vein Maeng Da. The onset of its effects is very smooth.

But, rest assured that it doesn’t affect the potency or the effectiveness of this strain.

Green Maeng Da Cons

1. Quality and Potency May Be Inconsistent

Quite a few users have complained about Green Maeng Da being one of the least consistent strains in terms of quality and potency.

Keep in mind though that kratom is a natural substance. Unlike prescription medications, its potency can vary depending on many factors.

These can be weather conditions, the season, the amount of water, and many more. Therefore, not every batch that you buy is going to be exactly the same.

But that isn’t the fault of Green Maeng Da per se.

Sadly, the fact that this strain is so effective, unique, and popular among users attracts the attention of fake vendors. Thus, they are likely to put fake, low-quality, or adulterated Green Maeng Da on the market. They do so because they know it’ll make sales.

Therefore, it is important to choose a quality vendor. One that consistently tests their kratom and ensures that only quality product reaches their customers. The potency of the product will still vary. Yet, reputable vendors will ensure that it is relatively consistent.

Feel free to download our free e-book on how to choose the best kratom vendor.

Have you tried Green Vein Maeng Da? How do you feel after you take it? What effects do you experience?

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: depression, green maeng da kratom, green vein kratom, kratom for depression, maeng da kratom

Red Bali Kratom Review: Why It’s the Most Popular Strain

February 5, 2019 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

red bali kratom

There are many kratom strains. Yet, if you go to virtually any online kratom store, you’ll encounter Red Bali Kratom. It’s one of the most popular kratom strains. Not just among red vein kratom strains, but among all strains in general.

Bali kratom leaves are large in size. Because of that, it’s the easiest strain to produce and the most widely available one. As a result, it’s also the most economical.

Bali kratom owes its name to the island of Bali in Indonesia. The island is famous for its volcanic scenery, warm weather, cultural dances, and handicrafts. Some even call Bali the Island of Gods or the Island of Peace.

Yet, not all Bali kratom comes from Bali Island. Some of it is also grown in other parts of Indonesia as well as Malaysia. Though it is believed that the island of Bali is where this strain originated after cross-fertilizing Borneo and Sumatra kratom strains.

Red Bali Kratom Effects

Red Bali Kratom a slow strain. Many opt for it because of its analgesic properties. Yet, these are not the only reasons that make it the favorite strain of many users.

Let’s have a look at the most popular Red Bali Kratom effects.

1. Pain Relief

While it is possible to take Red Bali kratom in smaller doses to achieve mild stimulating effects, pain relief is the superpower of this strain. It’s one of the most analgesic strains.

Because of that, many choose to take Red Vein Bali Kratom as a substitute or alternative to prescription medication in order to relieve physical pain.

2. Better Sleep

Sedation is another potent Red Bali Kratom effect and can help its users with sleep-related issues. Because of this, it’s best taken in the evening.

Sleep issues can result from a variety of reasons such as stress and pain. Since this kratom strain can relieve those, it can also improve the quality of sleep.

3. Relaxation

This is another effect that makes many fall in love with Red Bali. It can be extremely useful for those who need to relax and unwind after a taxing day at work.

4. Stress and Anxiety Relief

Because of its relaxing properties, Red Vein Bali Kratom can help those who suffer from stress and anxiety.

5. Improved Mood

Many users report feeling more positive or even euphoric after taking Red Vein Bali. Especially in higher doses.

Because of this, this strain could also help those suffering from depression. Nonetheless, since it’s a slow strain with relaxing and sedative effects, it may not suit everyone with depression. Since depression causes apathy, Red Bali effects may make it even worse.

For these individuals, faster strains can be more beneficial. Yet, kratom is a natural product and it is impossible to judge how it may affect you until you try it. So, if you suffer from depression and feel like it gets worse if you take Red Bali, try strains like Green Maeng Da next time.

6. Overcoming Opiate Addiction

A great number of people who suffer from strong or chronic pain rely on opioids. Opioids, however, are addictive and take thousands of lives every year.  Most people have a hard time getting off of opioids. Some cannot do it without the help of rehabs.

Since kratom alkaloids bond with opioid receptors. they provide effects similar to those of opioids. Yet, kratom does not cause addiction or respiratory depression.

As a result, it can be extremely useful to help people beat opioid addiction without suffering from pain and reducing the quality of their life.

Best Kratom Quiz

Red Bali Kratom Pros

1. Price and Availability

Because of its affordable price, Red Bali can be an excellent choice for kratom users. Especially if they out for higher doses. Its available from pretty much any online vendor. Therefore, it’s highly likely that it will always be in stock.

If you prefer taking kratom capsules, Red Bali is a great choice for that. Because of its price and availability, the chance of vendors offering Red Vein Bali capsules is much higher.

2. Pain Relief Without the Dangers of Opioid Addiction

Because kratom provides strong pain relief and relaxation, but does not have the same side effects s opioids, it can be a natural alternative to prescription medication.

Taking kratom instead of opioids can prevent the user from developing an opioid addition or risk their life by overdosing.

Recent studies on kratom have determined that it is hard or even impossible to ingest a lethal dose of kratom. It’s so high that it would be unrealistic for n average user to consume it.

Red Bali Kratom Cons

1. Average Duration

Red Bali Kratom has an average duration compared to other strains. Because of that users may want to take it multiple times a day. This, however, can result in developing kratom tolerance.

2. May Not Provide Enough Stimulation

While Red Bali is great for pain relief and can provide euphoria, it’s normally taken in higher doses. This makes it more suitable for intake during the evening.

If you take this strain during the day, it may not provide enough stimulation. You may feel sleepy or tired which may make work or other obligations difficult.

Because of the same reason Red Vein Bali may not be suitable for people with depression.

3. Possible Kratom Side Effects

Since Red Bali is mainly taken in high doses, it’s best to start with lower ones at first if you are a new user. Then, you can gradually add more until you experience the desired effects. Else, you can take a dose that’s too high and experience kratom side effects.

Moreover, the potency of kratom will depend on various factors such as the vendor and their source. So, some may offer stronger kratom that you may need a lower dose of. Keep that in mind if you are looking for a new vendor.

Conclusion

Red Bali Kratom is a potent analgesic. It can also relieve stress, anxiety and help beat opioid addiction.

Yet, because of the same qualities, it may not provide enough stimulation or even make depression symptoms worse.

Make sure to always purchase kratom from a trusted quality vendor to ensure that you are getting the highest quality Red Vein Bali kratom.

Have you ever taken Red Bali kratom? What’s your experience with it like? What are your go-to vendors?

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: bali kratom, kratom pain relief, red bali kratom, red vein kratom

A Leaf of Faith: Documentary Review

January 29, 2019 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

a leaf of faith

A Leaf of Faith is one of the most popular resources available on kratom which is why we decided to feature a review on it on our blog.

Pain, Loss, Opioids, and Kratom

A Leaf of Faith is produced and directed by Chris Bell, an American documentary filmmaker. Before starting a career in filmmaking, Chris was a professional bodybuilder, powerlifter, and wrestler.

As a result of his background in sports, he has experienced a lot of pain and dealt with opioid addiction. He eventually managed to overcome it, but he still was dealing with pain.

He also lost his brother, professional wrestler Mike Bell, to prescription drugs.

Bell has channeled his passion for sports in and stance against prescription drug and other chemical abuse into the film industry. He has produced several documentaries on the topics. His most popular works are Bigger, Stronger, Faster, Trophy Kids, and Prescription Thugs.

Bigger, Stronger, Faster explores the abuse of steroids and its follow-up Prescription Thugs follows his brother’s life and death from prescription medications while he is at rehab.

A Leaf of Faith continues the story by focusing on kratom, a herb that can help kick opium addiction, deal with both physical and emotional pain, improve the mood, and provide other benefits.

Kratom: The Good, the Bad, and the True

Kratom, or Mitragyna Speciosa, is basically a leaf from trees that are native to Southeast Asia. Locals have been using kratom for its beneficial properties in Southeast Asia for thousands of years. Many take it in the form of tea or capsules or mix it with different beverages.

Nonetheless, kratom is new to America and scientific research on it is still in a budding stage.

However, when it comes to opinions on kratom, there is no shortage of those.

A great number of individuals claim that it has given them their lives back. On the opposing side of the battlefield, the FDA, DEA and a number of politicians are advocating a kratom ban.

Whom do you trust? Where do you look for objective information? Is it a miracle herb? Or is it too good to be true?

A Leaf of Faith may have the answers to the questions that you have about kratom.

Best Kratom Quiz

A Quest for Truth

A Leaf of Faith begins by presenting staggering statistics on the number of people in the US who suffer from an opium addiction caused by prescription drugs. You may feel surprised to find out the US consumes about 75% all prescription drugs and 90% of all opioids in the world.

A shocking number if you consider the fact the US is home to only 5% of the world’s population. Opioids are also the cause of death of 30,000 Americans each year.

In A Leaf of Faith, Bell describes his own journey of discovering kratom as well as the doubts that he goes through when finding out about the arguments against it.

The documentary includes interviews with a variety of people on the opposing sides of the kratom debate. Bell interviews people such as Chris McCurdy, one of the leading kratom researchers, kratom vendors, athletes and veterans who take kratom, as well as a politician with the agenda to ban kratom and the mother who claims that her son has died from kratom.

They discuss topics like the effectiveness and dangers of using kratom, legislation issues, and more. It also mentions quite a few controversial and lesser-known facts about kratom.

Bell has done a good job presenting both sides of the argument and including relevant facts and problems within the kratom industry to give the viewer an opportunity to decide what their stance is.

Our Verdict

As movie buffs, we were actually pleasantly surprised with the quality of the documentary. It is well-written, thoroughly researched, and skillfully produced. And it definitely has the ability to hold your attention for an hour and a half and can be a great reason for a debate with a fellow kratom lover.

These may be the reasons why A Leaf of Faith has earned a 4.9-star rating on Amazon.

If you are new to kratom, A Leaf of Faith can definitely provide a well-rounded view on kratom. But even more experienced and knowledgeable users can learn a few interesting things about their herb or choice.

You can find A Leaf of Faith on Amazon and Netflix.

You can also visit the A Leaf of Faith forum to learn about and discuss different topics related to kratom and the documentary itself.

Have you watched A Leaf of Faith? What did you like most about it? Is there anything that you dislike about it? Would you recommend it?

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: a leaf of faith

Smoking Kratom: Is Smoking or Vaping Kratom a Good Idea?

January 1, 2019 by Speciosa Guide 2 Comments

smoking kratom

Kratom is gaining increasing exposure and popularity. It’s native to Southeast Asia and the people there used to chew kratom leaves while working in the fields.

Nowadays, the most popular way of taking kratom is making kratom tea. Others prefer Toss & Wash or kratom capsules. However, you can also make kratom soap, baths, and kratom salve. (Yes, that’s right, and we’ll make sure to cover those in the future, too.)

Yet, more and more people are wondering whether one can smoke kratom.

Well, the short answer is that you technically can smoke kratom. However, whether you should do it or not is a completely different matter.

Let’s look into it and find out whether smoking kratom is a good alternative for you to consider.

Advantages of Smoking Kratom

1. You May Experience Kratom Effects Sooner

When you ingest kratom, your body needs to break it down and absorb it into your bloodstream. Then, it can reach your brain and bind with the receptors in it. This is when you will start experiencing kratom effects.

When smoking, the chemicals bypass your digestive system. They are absorbed into your blood along with oxygen through the lungs. As a result, they’ll be able to reach your brain and take effect much sooner.

If by intaking kratom it takes a minimum of 10-15 minutes to start expiring kratom effects, then by smoking this time can be reduced to about 10 seconds. The peak of kratom effects may also occur faster. But that would also mean that kratom duration and half-life is shorter as well.

2. Smoking Kratom May Help You Quit Smoking Other Substances

If you are trying to quit cigarettes doing so at once may cause withdrawal symptoms. However, substituting that with kratom could keep withdrawal symptoms at bay. Thus, you may have an easier time quitting in general.

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The Disadvantages of Smoking Kratom

1. Not as Effective

While smoking kratom, you will be burning it. So, some amount of kratom will be lost in the process. There isn’t much scientific proof to provide solid data on the matter. Yet, some sources suggest that you need about 10 times the amount of kratom to experience the same effects that you would after ingesting it.

So if your regular dose of kratom is 4 grams, you would need to smoke 40 grams to experience the same effects.

2. Not Cost-Efficient

If you need a lot more kratom to feel the same effects, it means that you’ll go through your kratom reserves much faster, too. That, in turn, means much more money that you’d need to spend.

3. High Temperature Can Destroy Kratom Alkaloids

We’ve discussed before that heat can bring out the alkaloids in kratom. But too much heat can destroy them. This is why, when preparing kratom tea, you should be simmering it instead of boiling.

When smoking, the temperature of the cigarette reaches up to 900°C or 1652°F. That is nine times higher than the temperature of boiling water. Therefore, it can negatively affect the alkaloids in kratom.

Users who have tried smoking kratom have indeed reported that the effects they experience are either very weak or nonexistent. Some even admit that they may be placebo.

4. Smoking Can Cause Different Health Issues

Smoking in itself isn’t beneficial for one’s health. Quite the contrary. It can cause a variety of different health issues such as:

  • higher risk of developing blood clots,
  • higher blood pressure and heart rate which makes the heart work faster,
  • narrowing the blood vessels which results in less oxygen in the blood,
  • higher risk of stroke and heart attack,
  • higher risk of developing stomach, lung, cervical, and other types of cancer,
  • reduced fertility in both males and females,
  • weakened immune system,
  • faster aging,
  • weaker bones,
  • more frequent respiratory problems and illnesses,
  • and more.

So, if you are trying to reduce pain and improve your wellbeing by taking kratom, the side effects of smoking may actually defeat the purpose.

Can You Vape Kratom?

Vaping has become a new trend in recent years. Because it does not require combustion, vaping is considered less harmful than smoking. However, recent studies indicate that vaping may not be as safe as previously thought.

In order to vape kratom, you need an extract – kratom vape juice. Some online sellers offer it, but it is a lot less common than kratom powder or capsules.

Keep in mind that kratom extracts are the most potent form of kratom available. This makes it easy to intake a much higher dose than necessary. Measuring the right dose can also be a challenge. In addition, kratom extracts are rather expensive and harder to find.

Final Verdict

All in all, smoking kratom has more disadvantages than it has advantages. And even the existing advantages are rather inconclusive.

Smoking kratom can be significantly harmful to one’s health. According to existing data, it can also be about 10 times less effective than ingesting it and it is also a lot more expensive.

Vaping kratom could be less damaging to one’s health, but, according to users, the effects are not nearly as strong. Moreover, vaping is a novelty. Therefore, there are no studies to verify if vaping kratom or other herbals is safe or whether it can have beneficial effects on one’s health.

Because of the reasons above, we would advise you to stick to the known and proven ways of taking kratom. Even if you keep seeing kratom vape juice and kratom for smoking either online and in smoke shops.

Keep in mind that not all vendors are interested in what’s best for the users. This along with the lack of credible studies and information of kratom can make it into an easy marketing gimmick.

Have you ever tried smoking kratom? Did you experience the desired effects? How strong were they? How about vaping kratom? Would you recommend it?

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: kratom effects, smoking kratom, vaping kratom

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