I did buy some and am not taking internally...when I heard could cause constipation...forget it...I don't need that extra pain in the B..... I pour a little in some of my topicals.

Thanks for the advice MrsD...I got so caught up in idea of pain control that I completely blocked out any thoughts of my heart. You're right, under my circumstances it's probably not a good idea.

All the best,

Cliffman

Hi Caroline,

is it helping to use it with some topicals?

Cliffman

Article in the NYT (1/3/16). It is addictive....and expensive. Article noted some users going on (or back) to heroin, because it is much cheaper. Batches are highly variable, and, of course, not tested for purity. Maybe cheaper, safer and easier to go to prescribed opiates if this level of pain relief is necessary.

Kratom seems too risky to try.

I've done some research, and that's my conclusion:

1) suppliers aren't monitored or held accountable.

2) there is no guarantee of consistency in the product you receive over time.

3) there have been no large studies done to even show safety for a bunch of 'regular' people, and most of us have immune systems which are NOT regular.

This is just my opinion, of course.

Here's the NYT on the subject:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/us...e=sectionfront

Hugs, ElaineD

And everyone is entitled to theirs of course, Elaine. If you or anyone else is afraid of kratom then don't try it. But at a minimum I'd recommend educating yourself beyond, as one poster mentioned, a single article in a newspaper.

It's true that there hasn't been enough testing, especially by comparison with other herbs, etc. That said, the reputable vendors I've been dealing with regularly send batches of product to labs for analysis and would, if asked, be happy to share those results I'm sure. If they aren't, stay away from them.

Addictive? Perhaps. But no more so and probably less than opiods and Benzos. Again this is my opinion based on about 15 months of usage and conversations online with dozens of others.

Expensive? It costs me about 50 cents a dose. You be your own judge. My guess is that whoever wrote that it was expensive wasn't buying it online but from the thoroughly discredited (by the kratom community) "head shop" type vendors.

Again, I'm happy to discuss this via PM with anyone here on the forum. The Thais have been using this substance for 2000 years. Hardly a medical endorsement I know. But still worth investigating.

Oh and as far as I know - reading some previous posts - there is no benefit to using this topically.

Thanks for reading.

I've yet to try it, but I wouldn't say it is off my table, even with that article, which I had read prior to the posting here.

I couldn't help wondering while reading- how much advertising revenue does the NYT get from big pharma? How about those that own NYT?

It is just something I consider when I see articles like that. The picture they showed made me think of a chimichurri sauce. I actually was thinking I could go for a piece of beef, something I wasn't that drawn to prior to vegan eating.

I bet that chimichurri would have sent me to the moon, Alice.

Jon

I'm amused by the fact that I trust these websites more than big pharma.

That New York Times article is poorly researched and biased. I believe one who finds themselves in positions such as ours needs to consider what brought them to the forum. I know for myself it did not take me long to realize that all doctors could do is run tests and prescribe drugs.

Kratom represents a serious threat to the pharmaceutical industry. A safe natural herb
that acts on certain opiate receptors and relieves pain....without the side effects.

Kratom is in serious danger in our current political climate. If you using Kratom and would like to help to insure your future ability to use this wonderful plant please visit the American Kratom Association 's page at www . americankratom.org.



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I'd like to try kratom for relief from my chronic back pain. Anyone know a reputable vendor online?