I heard through the vine that it is not safe to combine Kratom with MAOI's due to the stimulant compounds in the Kratom. Could possibly spell trouble for one's heart. I am not authorized to make any formal statements about anything, but I would highly suggest looking into it yourself before trying it with your body.

I was NEVER SO HAPPY IN MY LIFE to have some Kratom around the house when I broke my foot. I was in so much pain, I couldn't hold my foot in any one position, I was crying, singing, praying, swearing, and doing some weird Kundalini-lamaze breathing until my roommate woke up (three hours after I needed assisstance: way too much pain to drag my body up two flights of stairs). I took a low dose (4g) of plain leaf--ironically given as a free sample from a vendor--once that morning and I was set. Did not need any painkillers, even the next day. Zero side effects and zero withdrawl.

I was given codeine when I had my wisdom teeth pulled several years ago. It stopped my bowels for a week, I was horribly addicted and became an unpersonable grouchy bitch. It was a terrible, terrible experience.

So, in the case of needing SERIOUS REAL PAIN RELIEF, Kratom is a huge blessing. It's good to know that if, god forbid, I ever do need to take something for temporary pain relief, there is an option. It's a keeper for the medicine cabinet.

It is NOT, however, a keeper for the kitchen snack drawer.

Recreationally... I've tried it a few times (once a month? if even?) and experienced no side effects at such a low frequency. It was fun to do yoga, clean the house, and shoot the breeze with a strange old man chain smoking cigarettes outside on the sidewalk. And it may have potential for exploring lucid dreaming/hypnagogic states.

Nothing to write books about. No grand revelations about the soul.

But there are TONS of people out there who do get addicted. I've seen support groups for people eating absurd amounts like 50g+/day. Proceed with extreme caution.

Kratom can be a great helper at the appropriate times... but it is not a Master Teacher. At the end of the day, I am here to learn.

ms_manic_minxx is right on with her experiences, kratom is a wonderful little tree, with some real and effective relaxation and pain relief medicinal qualities...

just be aware of the warnings not play recreationaly with the monkey too often, though iv heard its not to difficult of a one to get off your back....

and as with many things, batches of leaf tend to very in quality, so start low, too much can be a bit uncomfortable....