kratom side effects Archives

Kratom Dizziness: What Can You Do?

January 19, 2021 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

While kratom has a wide variety of beneficial properties, users can experience side effects. While those are generally unpleasant rather than serious, as is the case with most prescription medications, they can make your kratom experience less enjoyable.

The good thing is that these side effects are relatively easy to prevent and manage.

Nausea and kratom constipation are some of the most common side effects. Kratom dizziness is another common one, especially among those with little to no experience with the herb.

So, your first few times taking the herb may not be as pleasant as kratom can make you dizzy and cause wobbles.

Don’t worry though; as a raw herbal product kratom can have different effects on different people and it may take an adjustment period until you find what works for you. You’re not alone in this. Many users go through similar experiences.

Let’s take a look at why kratom makes you dizzy and how to manage and prevent kratom dizziness.

Why Does Kratom Make You Dizzy?

Kratom is a complicated herb with at least 25 different alkaloids and other beneficial compounds. There have only been limited studies on the herb and its alkaloids thus far. While more studies are underway, there is still plenty we do not know.

Moreover, there are no regulations on kratom in the United States. The FDA does not regulate it, and only a few states do so with the Kratom Consumer Protection Act.

As a result, vendors do not have a standard to follow. Every imported batch can have different freshness and quality, and as a result, different effects.

Below are a few reasons that can lead to kratom dizziness.

1. You Are Taking a Dose That Is Too High

Kratom dizziness and eye wobbles are some of the signs that you may have taken a dose that is excessively high.

Different types of kratom require different amounts to achieve the desired effects. For instance, you would need to take more red vein kratom than white vein kratom.

In addition to that, your body may simply need a lower dose than indicated or the batch may be stronger than you expected.

2. You Are Taking Low-Quality Kratom

Low-quality batches purchased from questionable vendors or vendors who do not provide consistent quality can cause kratom dizziness and wobbles.

That’s because they have weaker properties but the alkaloid composition remains the same. You still get exposed to the alkaloids and may even up your dose, but the beneficial effects aren’t as strong.

3. You May Have Low Blood Sugar

Drops in blood sugar can result in dizziness, shakiness, and confusion. Your blood sugar drops when you get hungry, and a quick snack can help you with that.

Additionally, kratom can suppress appetite which can potentially result in you not feeling hungry when your body may actually benefit from some food. This is why kratom use can lead to some individuals losing weight.

4. You’re Taking Kratom with Coffee

A high dose of kratom can make you dizzy and so can a high dose of coffee. If your mix kratom with coffee and retain your usual dose of coffee and kratom, it can be too much for your body. Instead, you should be lowering your dose of both.

5. You’re Taking Kratom Too Frequently

Regular kratom use can lead to alkaloids accumulating in your body and develop tolerance. This, in turn, can cause kratom dizziness in some individuals. So, if you take kratom every day without any breaks or take it several times a day, this can eventually make you dizzy.

6. You May Be Dehydrated

Kratom can dehydrate you, and dehydration can result in dizziness. So, if you are not consuming enough liquids to replace what you lose daily, your brain may not get enough oxygen, thus making you dizzy. This is especially true about individuals who are older, seniors, as well as those who suffer from diabetes.

How to Avoid and Manage Kratom Dizziness

Now that you know that kratom can make you dizzy, let’s look into what you can do to manage and prevent kratom dizziness.

1. Take a Lower Dose

Not all kratom produces the same effects. They depend on the vein type and strain, and each vein type has a different concentration of the primary alkaloids. Due to that, strains of different vein types require different dosages to achieve the desired effects:

White vein kratom is energizing and uplifting and can result in effects that are similar to coffee. You typically need 2-4 grams of white vein kratom; however, new users should start with 2 grams or even less.
Green vein kratom offers mild analgesic, relaxing, and energizing effects. It offers more pain relief yet slightly less energy than white vein strains. The usual dose is 4-6 grams. Nonetheless, new users should start with 2-3 grams.
Red vein kratom is relaxing, analgesic, and sedating. You need to take it in higher doses than green or white vein kratom. Usually, users prefer 6-8 grams though new users should start with less and gradually add more.

Due to the lack of regulations on the quality of kratom, there is no standard quality and potency you can expect. It’s natural for t to vary from vendor to vendor. With less reliable or cheaper vendors, you can even expect individual batches to vary.

So, the same dose of kratom from different vendors will not necessarily result in the exact same effects. Because of that, we always recommend starting with a low or threshold dose.

If your dose is too high, you will likely experience unpleasant side effects like kratom dizziness, nausea, and wobbles. However, if our dose is not enough, you can always add on to it, until you finally reach the effects that you are looking for. Do so gradually adding an extra half a gram every 30-60 minutes.

2. Measure Your Dose with a Digital Scale

We suggest that you invest in a sensitive digital scale, one that can measure down to a 0.1-gram precision. This will ensure that you are taking exactly the same dose each time you take kratom.

Measuring kratom with, for instance, a spoon is not precise. Depending on how much you scoop, you may end up with a completely different dose each time. With faster strains like whites and greens, you can easily take an excessively high dose without even realizing it. This can result in kratom dizziness and other side effects.

3. Switch Strains

Some individuals have reported feeling kratom dizziness and wobbles when taking some strains as opposed to others. This would stop when they would switch to different strains.

While this is by no means a guarantee, try taking different strains and see if the dizziness persists. If you are unsure which strains could be a more suitable option for you, do your research on the effects and properties and try samples, smaller packages, or small bundles first.

4. Take a Break from Kratom

Some users have noticed that as their tolerance to kratom increases, they tend to get kratom dizziness. Try taking a few days off and reintroducing kratom at a slightly lower dose. If that solves the issue for you, avoid taking your dose every day. Instead, have a few days a week when you don’t take kratom or opt for kratom alternatives instead.

5. Choose Kratom from a Different Vendor

If the quality of kratom that you are taking is low or it happens to contain contaminants or adulterants.

This may not be a deliberate intention of adding adulterants, but simply mishandling the product, such as exposing it to moisture while packaging which can lead to the development of mold. Improper testing could also lead to pathogens like E.coli and salmonella not being identified.

So, if you are experiencing wobbles or dizziness, try getting kratom from a different vendor, preferably a reputable online one.

Local vendors such as head shops, gas stations, and smoke shops usually have older kratom. That’s because it spends a lot more time in transit and warehouses. This can result in low-quality bathes that may require you to up your usual dose. A number of users testify that.

Research online vendors and try a few to see if you like their quality and the kratom dizziness persists.

6. Take Kratom with Some Food

If you take kratom on an empty stomach, the effects tend to be faster and more pronounced. This happens because your stomach only has kratom to digest and the process of you taking your dose and it reaching your bloodstream through the digestive tract is much faster.

If, however, you take kratom with food, your stomach digests kratom and releases it into your bloodstream at a slower rate.

Both options have their benefits and drawbacks, and there are users who prefer taking kratom on an empty stomach. Nonetheless, new users may find it more pleasant to have kratom with some food such as a small snack or some time after a larger meal.

If you are hungry, your blood sugar levels tend to be lower. Moreover, kratom can suppress your appetite. As a result, you may be hungry but not aware of it. Try taking a small snack and see if the dizziness gets better.

7. Drink Plenty of Liquids

Dehydration can make you feel dizzy, and kratom tends to dehydrate. Therefore, make sure to consume plenty of liquids if you take the herb. Try to stick to water and avoid beverages that can further dehydrate you such as coffee, soft drinks, and store-bought juices.

Final Thoughts

While kratom dizziness can be unpleasant, it can be rather easily manageable and preventable. Take a suitable dose, choose high-quality kratom, and drink plenty of liquids. Switching strains or vendors, and taking a break from kratom can benefit you too.

Have you ever experienced kratom dizziness? What was causing it in your case and how did you deal with it?

How to Take Kratom: What You Should and Shouldn’t Do

January 12, 2021 by Speciosa Guide 2 Comments

You may have purchased your very first batch and wondering how to take kratom to reap the best results. And even if you’ve been taking kratom for some time now, knowing what you should and shouldn’t do can make the results even better.

While the popularity of kratom and the amount of information available on it is growing, sadly, there’s lots of misinformation too. And it may be hard to find exactly what you’re looking for or information that you can trust.

We’re on a mission to make useful quality information on kratom easily available. Therefore, we’ve put together this guide to help you know what exactly you should and shouldn’t do when you take kratom.

How to Take Kratom: What You Should Do

1. Choose Which Kratom is Best for You

Kratom comes in four different vein colors. Three of them, red, white, and green, are natural, while the fourth one, yellow kratom, is achieved through a different type of processing.

Red vein kratom is often called “slow”. Its effects are soothing, relaxing, and analgesic. It’s excellent for pain relief, relaxation, dealing with insomnia, stress, and anxiety.
Some call white vein kratom “fast”. That’s because it’s energizing and uplifting. It’s great to increase energy and productivity as well as improve the mood.
Green vein kratom is a moderate midway between the above two. It has both stimulating and soothing effects. So, you can expect mild pain relief, increased energy, and calm focus.
Yellow kratom is also rather moderate with effects that are close to those of green and red vein.

In addition to those, you may also come across extracts, resins, and blends like Trainwreck kratom. We generally do not recommend those to new users because their dosage can vary or be imprecise and effects may be unpredictable.

Kratom possesses its qualities depending on the concentration of the alkaloids that it contains. This can vary according to the place and conditions in which kratom grows as well as the vendor.

Because of that, there may be differences between different strains of each vein. An example is Red Bali and Red Sumatra. While both are red strains, Red Sumatra is more invigorating while Red Bali is the most popular relaxing strain.

Pay attention to the qualities of each individual strain and choose what offers the effects that you’d like to feel. Keep in mind that when you get started, moderate strains can be a better fit for beginners, especially if you are looking for energizing effects.

Some vendors offer samples that you can order if you’d like to try kratom. You can start with those to see which kratom works best for you. This will prevent you from buying large amounts of kratom that you may not like.

2. Know How Much Kratom to Take

The effects of kratom can vary depending on what dose of it you take. You can use the breakdown below as a guideline:

2-4 grams is the amount that can result in stimulating effects. We advise you to start with no more than 2 grams at the beginning. 1 gram may be even better as you can always add more if you have not reached the desired effects. 4 may be too strong and you may achieve soothing and sedating effects instead. Yet, it may be suitable for more experienced kratom users.
4-6 grams is the dose to achieve pain-relieving and soothing effects. Once again, we advise beginners and those who are less experienced with kratom to go for 4 grams only, as anything above it can be sedating.
6-8 grams would result in soothing, euphoria, pain relief, and may even put you to sleep. Note though that this may be too strong for some users. In general, we advise you not to go over 8 grams.

Whatever effects you’d like to achieve, we advise you to always start with a smaller dose and gradually build up to achieve the desired effects.

Keep in mind that your body’s ability to absorb the herb will depend on its composition and body fat percentage. So, if you’re an athlete or have a very low body fat percentage, we advise you to start with half of the suggested and gradually word out what your body responds to best.

Other factors such as whether you are taking your kratom on an empty or full stomach can also influence how your body responds to a dose. You will likely feel faster and more intense effects if you take kratom on an empty stomach. This, however, can be too much for a new user. Taking your dose with a little food can result in smoother effects.

3. Measure Kratom Accurately

While it may seem easy to simply take a spoon and eye your dose, we strongly advise you to not do that. Depending on how much you put into it and how fine the powder is, the amount can greatly vary. You can take a completely different amount of kratom every time.

By measuring and taking the wrong dose you can achieve different results and may even experience kratom side effects.

But that all can be easily avoided if you measure your kratom dose accurately.

To do that, invest in a digital scale with a 0.01-gram sensitivity scale. A regular kitchen scale won’t be as sensitive. You can easily get one at a local store or online (like the one below) for less than 20$.

0.01g Digital Pocket Scale

Knowing exactly how much kratom you take will also allow you to accurately track your kratom intake. If you start experiencing kratom side effects, this can help you pinpoint exactly what is causing it.

4. Stay Hydrated

Some kratom users may experience constipation after taking kratom regularly for an extended period of time. To avoid that, make sure you drink plenty of water.

Reduce or cut out sugary and caffeinated drinks as these may further dehydrate you. Also, include plenty of fiber-rich food into your diet such as fresh fruit, vegetables, wholemeal bread, brown rice, and similar. Magnesium supplements may help too.

Don’t rely on taking laxatives as they also can seriously dehydrate you if you don’t drink enough water. If you absolutely need a laxative effect, include foods into your diet that have a laxative effect. Some examples include prunes, oat bran, flax seeds, chia seeds, kiwi, and kefir.

Coffee also has a laxative effect. Yet, you may not want to resort to it or reduce your dose if you are taking the stimulant strains of kratom.

5. Keep Your Kratom Tolerance Low

It is possible to develop kratom tolerance, especially if you take the same strain for prolonged periods of time. However, there are ways to make sure that does not happen to you.

First of all, do not take kratom every day. Take a few days a week off. Preferably if they are in a row. That will allow your body to reset and get the alkaloids out of your system.

Rotate kratom strains instead of always taking the same one. Normally, you’d want to mix greens or whites with reds. Take a different train a few times a week, but avoid taking more than two strains on a single day.

6. Start Taking Kratom on Your Days Off

From personal experience, we know that each individual body can react differently to different strains and amounts of kratom. Therefore, if you’re completely new to kratom or you are starting with a new strain you have never tried before, it’s best to do so on a day that you’re off or don’t have any important business to tend to.

If you don’t know how your body will respond to kratom or a specific vein or strain type, don’t take kratom before you drive.

The reason for that is that you likely will go through some trial and error until you discover what works best for you. And until you do, this may help you avoid any unpleasant situations.

How to Take Kratom: What You Shouldn’t Do

1. Take Substances that May Interfere with Kratom

While kratom is safe, mixing it with other substances may not be. As a matter of fact, the deaths that the FDA or CDC attributes to kratom are actually caused by other substances. Not kratom itself.

Sadly though, because of their activities against kratom, there are limited studies on it and the use of other substances with it.

Therefore, there are a few that we advise you to stay away from while you take kratom. These include drugs and alcohol.

If you take prescription medicine, ask your physician if it is safe to take it together with kratom or mitragynine, one of the kratom’s most potent alkaloids.

2. Take the Same Strain Every Day

Some users discover a strain that they really like and take it on a daily basis as they would any other supplement. However, it’s not the best approach to how to take kratom as it’s easy to develop tolerance in the same way you would develop tolerance to coffee.

Kratom tolerance manifests in the need to take a larger dose of kratom to experience the same results you had at the beginning. That will require you to use more kratom and spend more money.

Taking the same strain every day is the fastest way to developing tolerance. Though, it can be avoided by simply making small changes in how you take kratom.

As described above, taking days off and rotating strains are some ways in which you can do so.

3. Buy a Large Bulk without Trying a Sample First

Knowing how to take kratom properly is one thing, how it interacts with your body is another. As a natural substance, taking the same dose of the same kratom strain can produce slightly different effects in different people.

For example, some take green vein to gain extra energy while others feel more relaxed after it.

The only way to know how exactly your body will respond is by actually trying it.

So, instead of buying in bulk right away, try samples and smaller packages first. Don’t be afraid to experiment with a few different strains to see which one gives you the results that you want.

4. Drive

Even if you are taking the stimulating strains, it’s best to avoid driving after taking kratom. At least until you have established your dose, know how your body reacts to kratom and how long its effects last.

If you’re taking the slow strains, we advise you to not drive altogether. Kratom may relax you so much that you may become sleepy thus risking falling asleep when driving.

And even if you take the fast strains, you may become sleepy when kratom effects begin fading.

5. Take Cheap Kratom

How to take kratom isn’t the only thing that matters. It’s also the quality of the kratom you take.

While cheaper prices are often viewed s bargains, don’t treat kratom the same way. Instead of a bargain, go for quality.

The reason for that due to the FDA’s moves against kratom. Despite being legal, kratom isn’t regulated.

That means that there are no standards that vendors need to adhere to in order to be allowed to sell kratom. Eventually, it all comes down to what each vendor values and cares about.

And some vendors care about their profits more than they do about the users’ health. That results in importing low quality, fake, or contaminated kratom.

To avoid purchasing bad or fake kratom, carefully choose whom you buy it from. Read through reviews and customer testimonials. Check their website and what content they have on it. What do they care about?

Is their kratom fresh? Is it tested for contaminants? Does it seem like they know what they are talking about? Can you trust them?

If anything feels off, it may be best to move on and look for another vendor.

If you’re looking to save some money, instead of choosing cheaper kratom look for vendors that source their kratom directly from vendors. Their kratom will be cheaper, but not because of lower quality. They will not deal with a middleman who would be charging extra thus making the kratom retail price go up.

6. Take Kratom on an Empty Stomach

From personal experience, we advise you to take kratom after having some food in your stomach. At least until your body gets used to it or you know that it does not bother you. Otherwise, kratom may upset your stomach and you may not feel your best.

Taking kratom on a full stomach may also not be the best idea. Your body will take much longer to digest the food and your dose, resulting in slower and less pronounced effects. So, wait until 30 min or an hour have passed after a meal before you take kratom.

Alternatively, you can take kratom with a small snack, yogurt, or mix it into a smoothie.

Do you have any useful tips on how to take kratom? Is there something else that should be avoided? Feel free to share them in the comment section below.

Kratom Drug Interactions: What to Avoid?

November 5, 2019 by Speciosa Guide 2 Comments

While kratom is safe if taken in its pure natural form and adequate doses, like any substance, natural or not, it can negatively interact with others.

Most governmental institutions and medical sites claim that kratom intake is dangerous. However, their reports tend to be misleading. Almost all of the so-called kratom deaths are not actually due to kratom but other substances taken alongside it. The rest usually lack valid data.

Sadly, due to the lack of regulations, studies, and trusted, unbiased information on kratom, individuals taking it need to be particularly cautious and informed. Therefore, it is essential to know what drugs and substances can potentially interact with kratom to avoid potential adverse side effects and consequences.

Common Kratom Drug Interactions

Kratom and Prescription Opioids

Kratom and prescription opioids target the same areas in the brain. As a result, the effects of both are similar.

While many label kratom as an opioid because of that, it isn’t actually the case. Despite similar effects, kratom is a plant that belongs to be coffee family. It also does not engage opioid receptors in the brain in the same way that opioids do. Therefore, kratom provides strong pain relief, yet does not cause life-threatening respiratory depression and is about as addictive as coffee.

Because of this, many use kratom to overcome opioid addiction, which is currently plaguing America.

Unfortunately, many take kratom in addition to opioid medication to enhance the pain-relieving effects or avoid opioid withdrawal symptoms. This can be potentially dangerous, especially if one has developed a high tolerance to opioids and is taking low-quality, contaminated, or adulterated kratom.

While taken independently from other substances, kratom causes low respiratory depression that is not nearly enough to be fatal. However, taken with opioids, especially in large uncontrolled dosages, it can add on to the respiratory depression caused by opioids, and that can be dangerous, even if kratom itself wouldn’t be causing it.

To prevent this from happening, we advise not taking prescription or other opioids together with kratom. If you are willing to quit opioids and use kratom to manage your pain, it’s best if you give your body some time to clean itself first and only then start using kratom. Make sure that you only take pure, lab-tested, high-quality kratom from trusted vendors.

Kratom and Stimulants

Generally, we advise not taking kratom together with stimulants such as amphetamines or cocaine as well as herbal stimulants like guarana.

In small doses, kratom can have stimulant effects. Green strains are moderately stimulating, while whites have strong stimulant effects.

Taken with other stimulants, kratom can result in negative side effects such as agitation, anxiety, sweating, and heart palpitations.

When it comes to coffee, it can act as a kratom potentiator. Yet, those new to kratom shouldn’t mix it with caffeine. It’s best to get used to kratom first before experimenting. Moreover, if you take kratom and coffee, you should lower both your dose of kratom and coffee.

More about kratom and caffeine here.

Kratom and Depressants

Common depressants are anti-anxiety drugs, alcohol, and tranquilizers, such as central nervous system depressants. It’s best to avoid such combination as depressant drugs can have a similar effect to those of opioids.

Combining depressants and kratom can result in severe sedative effects and can potentially be dangerous if these doses are excessive, and one takes low-quality kratom.

Combining kratom with alcohol can also result in nausea, vomiting, headaches, and hangover. Therefore, it is not wise mixing them even if you’re trying to quit alcohol.

Kratom and SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

SSRIs are a type of mediation used to alleviate depression symptoms. They are most commonly known as anti-depressants.

Kratom interacts with the mu-receptors in the human brain, whereas anti-depressants interact with serotonin receptors. Serotonin receptors and mu-receptors can work together in certain processes; therefore, there may be potential negative consequences when taking both.

While currently, no studies are elaborating on the effects of kratom and anti-depressants taken together and these are only speculations, it’s best to approach this with caution.

Kratom and Medication Changed by the Liver

Our liver breaks down and changes the chemical composition of some medications. Kratom can potentially interfere with the process and slow down the rate at which our liver does that. This can alter the intensity of the effects or side effects of these medications.

This category includes a variety of Cytochrome p450 substrates such as Codeine, amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), flecainide (Tambocor), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), ondansetron (Zofran), risperidone (Risperdal), tramadol (Ultram), indinavir (Crixivan), sildenafil (Viagra),and other.

Since there are many medications in this category, it’s best to consult a physician before taking any prescription medication with kratom.

Kratom and Modafinil (Provigil)

There has been a reported case of a person experiencing seizures and going into a coma after taking kratom and modafinil (Provigil), a drug used to manage sleepiness due to narcolepsy.

It is currently unclear what is causing this to occur; however, other people also have experienced seizures after combining the two, especially after high doses of kratom. Therefore, it is generally advisable to avoid taking kratom and modafinil (Provigil) together.

Final Thoughts

On many occasions, kratom gets the blame when any negative effects occur after mixing it with other substances or drugs. However, that is not to say that kratom would cause any of those by itself.

Therefore, we urge you to make sure that you buy your kratom from a trustworthy and reputable kratom vendor who tests their products in an independent third-party laboratory. This way, you have the highest chance of getting a quality product that’s free of pollutants, adulterants, and other risky substances that may cause negative consequences.

Keep in mind that buying questionable kratom and mixing it with potentially dangerous substances does not only put your health and life at risk, but negatively affects the reputation of the herb.

Are there kratom drug interactions that have we not mentioned, but you believe that the kratom community should know? Let us and our readers know! This can not only help people avoid negative consequences and side effects but also help us keep kratom legal!

How to Relieve Kratom Constipation

September 4, 2019 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

A common topic in the kratom community is poop. Or, well, the lack thereof, to be more precise. Kratom constipation is a common occurrence and one of the side effects of taking kratom.

Does Kratom Cause Constipation?

Kratom can cause constipation, especially if you’re not drinking plenty of water or having a healthy balanced diet. The good news, however, is that constipation in itself is not a disease but simply a symptom.

Keep in mind though that some medical conditions can cause chronic constipation. So, if you are unable to get kratom constipation relief or you are constipated even if you’re not taking kratom, seeing your doctor for a checkup may be a good idea.

How Does Kratom Cause Constipation?

Kratom constipation occurs because kratom powder is ground up leaf matter, and as any edible part of a plant, it consists of fiber, primarily indigestible fiber. Too much insoluble fiber can cause constipation.

Let’s take a look at why we need fiber in our diet to understand this better.

Fiber, also known as dietary fiber, is an indigestible plant nutrient and a type of carbohydrate that you can find in all plants. Sometimes, it’s also referred to as roughage or bulk.

Our bodies cannot completely digest fiber. So, it travels down our digestive tract as it absorbs water on the way. This helps our bodies absorb nutrients, create the bulk of stool, and pass it easier and faster.

Though not all fiber is the same. Instead, there are two kinds:

Soluble fiber: It absorbs water creating a thick paste. It helps slow down digestion which allows our bodies to absorb more nutrients
Insoluble fiber: It does not absorb water, but forms the bulk of stool, which helps our bodies to comfortably eliminate waste.

For optimal digestion, we need to consume both and too much (or too little) of either one of these can disrupt digestion.

Too much soluble fiber can result in gas, bloating, and diarrhea. On the other hand, too much insoluble fiber can create a solid bulk of stool that’s hard to pass, resulting in constipation.

Why Is Constipation Bad?

Constipation, kratom constipation including, is not life-threatening. However, if untreated, it can cause problems, and complications if left untreated. Most common ones include:

Hemorrhoids: if you push when you’re trying to go, this can cause the veins around your anus to swell. Basically, these are like varicose veins around your anus. They can be painful, bleeding, and itchy. In severe cases, they can result in infections and blood clots.

Anal fissures: Passing stool that’s hard, can cause the tissue around your anus tear making going to the bathroom even worse. Serious tears can affect the ring muscle that keeps your anus closed and may even require surgery.

Impaction: If stool remains in your intestines, hard parts may stick together, causing a blockage. Over time, it can become too big to move and may require an ER visit.

Rectal prolapse: If you continuously push and strain when trying to go, it can cause a part of or the whole rectum to slip out. This can be very painful and cause bleeding.

Kratom is not working: Moreover, you may experience that kratom effects are no longer there. This can occur if you have a lack of soluble fiber in your diet, and your body is unable to properly absorb nutrients including alkaloids from the stool.

Now that you know you shouldn’t be holding that in, let’s look at ways to get you pooping.

Tips to Get Kratom Constipation Relief

1. Drink More Liquids

Drinking more liquids can soften your stool and make it easier to pass. On a regular basis, this can prevent kratom constipation from occurring in the future.

Aim for eight eight-ounce glasses every day. However, add an extra glass for every cup of coffee and approximately 30 minutes of exercise. Make sure to drink water. Fresh juices are beautiful to add, but in moderation, as they tend to have high amounts of sugar. Stay away from soda.

2. Increase Your Soluble Fiber Intake

Balance the insoluble fiber in kratom with foods that are rich in soluble fiber. Some examples include:

Fruits such as apples, strawberries, oranges
Vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower
Oatmeal and oat bran
Lentils, beans, and peas
Barley
Chia seeds
Flaxseeds (make sure they are ground up, or your body won’t absorb them)
Wild rice

Make sure not to overdo soluble fiber though and not to load up on insoluble fiber instead. Too much of any fiber can lead to other issues such as diarrhea or worsen constipation.

3. Take Magnesium Supplements

Studies have linked magnesium supplements to reduced constipation. Therefore, kratom and magnesium taken together can result in easier stools. However, rely on it as a short-term solution only and look for the underlying factor behind your kratom constipation.

4. Add Probiotics

Probiotics contain live bacteria that help our bodies balance gut flora and absorb nutrients. They can help alleviate a number of digestive issues, including kratom constipation.

We currently have a limited understanding of the gut flora, though evidence points that a healthier gut can result in improvement of a variety of conditions such as depression, and anxiety and ADHD.

You can choose a probiotic supplement or add fermented foods to your diet. Some options include:

Yogurt
Kefir
Sauerkraut
Kimchi
Pickles
Miso
Tempeh
Kombucha

It’s best to opt for organic versions of these for more benefits.

5. Adjust Your Kratom Dose

The kratom dose that you’re taking may be too large. Review how much kratom you’re taking and whether you’ve recently upped your dosage. It that is the case, you may be developing kratom tolerance. Instead of increasing your dose, try rotating strains or looking into a different vendor.

6. Try Different Kratom

The kratom that you’re using may not be potent or consistent. So, you may be dealing with weak alkaloids that are not delivering the desired results. If you’re simply increasing the dose, you’re still being exposed to the same alkaloid content. Thus, the risk of developing kratom tolerance increases.

If your kratom supply is inconsistent, try looking into other vendors and trying different kratom. Higher-quality kratom will require lower doses, and your body will need to process less insoluble fiber.

7. Try (But Don’t Rely On) Laxatives

If you are looking for immediate kratom constipation relief, you can opt for over-the-counter laxatives. Make sure only to use them sparingly and drink plenty of water while you do so.

Laxatives are like a band-aid on a more severe wound. They alleviate your discomfort, but won’t actually solve the problem. They can also severely dehydrate you.

8. Try a Squatty Potty

Did you know that the western toilet does not provide the most optimal pooping position? In fact, it actually obstructs the angle of the colon and makes it harder to eliminate waste. It’s more civilized, but not how our bodies were designed.

Instead, squatting is a much better position. So, elevating our feet and propping them up on a stool creates a better angle and makes pooping easier and faster.

9. Do Yoga or Exercise

Most people in the west have sedentary lifestyles, which can be a contributing factor to kratom constipation. Increasing your activity and exercise level can boost your metabolism. Studies confirm that. So, try light exercise or yoga.

Keep in mind that one of these won’t likely not solve the issue, and you may need to have a holistic approach to kratom constipation.

Has kratom constipation bothered you? What works best for you?

Kratom Overdose: Can You Overdose on Kratom?

August 6, 2019 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

Kratom overdose is a topic that can frequently see in the news and on a variety of medical websites.

However, it’s not a secret that news articles on kratom are frequently misleading and biased. As a matter of fact, a review of approximately 2500 kratom news stories concluded that 92% of them are negatively skewed. Therefore, it’s not a surprise that you may be wondering if you can trust kratom overdose news and reports.

It’s our mission to provide unbiased and objective information about kratom. Not to skew anyone’s opinion but to provide information so that kratom users can make the best possible choices.

Let’s take a look at the kratom overdose situation so that we can find out whether you can overdose on kratom and if so, how dangerous it can be?

What Is Kratom?

Mitragyna speciosa or kratom is a tree that is native to Southeast Asia. Kratom powder comes from kratom leaf tissue, and there are different varieties of it.

Kratom leaves can have veins and stems in three different colors – red, green, or white (which actually looks more like pale green). Depending on the color of the veins and stems, kratom powder will have different alkaloid content and different properties.

The Mitragyna speciosa tree is in the Rubiaceae flowering plant family. The coffee plant is perhaps the most well-known plant in the family. Therefore, kratom and coffee share some of their qualities.

The Chemical Makeup of Kratom

The properties of kratom are due to its alkaloids. While studies on kratom are still minimal, we know that there are at least 40 active components in kratom 25 of which are alkaloids.

The two primary kratom alkaloids are mitragynine and 7-hydrohymitragynine. Mitragynine is the more abundant one while 7-hydroxymitragynine comes in tiny quantities, yet is 10-20 times more potent than morphine.

You Can Overdose on More than Just Drugs

The majority of sources that warn readers about kratom overdose refer to kratom as a drug.

“Overdose,” in general, is a negative word and it most frequently associates with drugs. In fact, the primary dictionary definition for “overdose” is “an excessive and dangerous dose of a drug,” while, in actuality, you can overdose on everyday foods, as well. Some of them are:

Carrots – eating too many carrots can lead to carotenemia. It’s a condition when there is excess beta-carotene in your body, and your skin turns orange. It’s a harmless condition which can often happen to babies after eating too much pureed food.
Bananas – bananas are high in potassium, and too much of it can lead to hyperkalemia. That is excessively high potassium content in the blood. It can cause muscle weakness, fatigue, nausea, abnormal heart rhythm, and even paralysis. However, you would need to eat about 400 bananas for them to kill you, which is virtually impossible.
Potatoes –potatoes contain natural pesticide solanine that wards off snails. Overdosing it can lead to cardiac arrest, coma, death. Though, you’d need to eat an average of a pound of green potatoes for that to happen.
Chocolate – too much of your favorite dessert food can lead to theobromine poisoning, excess amount of a bitter alkaloid also present in tea and acai berries. Consequences can be fatal, though you would need to eat over 80 chocolate bars for that to happen. Humans can quickly excrete theobromine, so, severe poisoning is unlikely to happen.
Coffee – taken in moderation, coffee can have beneficial effects. However, it has a lethal dose – 10g of caffeine. To achieve that, you’d need to drink at least 30 highly caffeinated energy drinks or about 80-90 cups of coffee.

And…

You Can Even Overdose on Water

While we are encouraged to drink more water, too much of it can be lethal. Drinking more than a liter within an hour dilutes the sodium content in the blood and can cause your cells to swell. This is a condition known as hyponatremia. Rapid swelling of the brain can cause coma or death.

While possible, all of the above are extremely rare and unlikely to happen to an average human. In most cases, your body will prevent that from happening. However, they prove that you can overdose on products and substances that are deemed not only harmless but also beneficial.

Can You Overdose on Kratom?

Technically – yes, it’s possible; however, it’s highly unlikely to happen. Scientists have determined the lethal dose of mitragynine. It is 60 g of pure mitragynine. They have not found one for 7-hydroxymitragynine.

However, kratom does not only consist of mitragynine, and you’d need a massive amount for kratom overdose to kill you. This is unlikely to happen as you wouldn’t be physically able to ingest that much kratom powder in either pure or tea form.

Kratom also has extremely low respiratory depression; therefore, it doesn’t have the same lethal; risk as opioids or opioid-based drugs. In fact, studies have concluded that your risk of overdosing on kratom is over 1000 times smaller than your risk of overdosing from opioids.

You indeed can take a dose of kratom that is too high. However, you’re going to experience kratom side effects and feel nauseous and weak until your body flushes most of the alkaloids out of your system.

If It’s not Kratom Overdose, then What Is It?

Even the warning reports by the CDC and the FDA state that most of the fatal cases had other substances present in the blood. In instances where kratom was the only substance, the authorities didn’t rule out other substances. Therefore, it is unfair to assume that kratom was the cause.

Moreover, CDC reports on kratom complaints are based on anecdotal data rather than actual scientific evidence.

This indicates that kratom overdone isn’t the real issue. Instead, it’s the lack of reliable information and regulations. Luckily some states have moved towards making the kratom market safer for consumers by passing the Kratom Consumer Protection Act. Hopefully, this leads to less misinformation on kratom in the future.

What are your thoughts on kratom overdose? Is it an issue, or is it exaggerated?