A Trip to the Local Head Shop

Let me preface this blog post by saying that I don't normally purchase my kratom from a head shop. Head shops are notorious for marketing kratom as a "legal high," which casts a dark shadow over kratom and those who consume it. On the rare occasions when I run low, I will make a quick stop at the locally-owned head shop.

This may be obvious to some, but if you're new to kratom, take the dosing instructions from the head shop employees with a grain of salt. While I was standing in line the other day, an employee was instructing someone new to kratom to take three tablespoons every three to four hours. That's roughly twenty-five grams in a dose which would leave me in a very poor state for many hours. (My normal dose is about 5-7 grams or 1.5 teaspoons.) I'm glad I happened to be there that day, because I was able to tell the customer that she should start with one teaspoon. I sincerely hope she listened. She was middle-aged, so I suspect a dose as high as the employee recommended might have been quite a bit harder on her.

While we're on the topic, how much kratom should one have if they've never tried kratom before? No more than a teaspoon is what I would say. What are your thoughts?

Some Reviews for Mmm, Speciosa!

Update, 1/31/2016
I've disabled comments for this post, and deleted the previous comments. An astute reader noted that this post had been "thread-jacked" -- a technique with which I was unfamiliar. It appeared that competitors were hitting this particular post, posing as either disgruntled customers, or outright promoting their own product. While I like to give a voice to everyone, I don't have the time or patience type type of underhanded, mean-spirited behavior that was beginning to manifest. Thanks to the reader who notified me.

A couple of months ago, I received a shipment of samples from my friends at Mmm, Speciosa! I like doing business with them because they're a local business. In Austin, Texas, we're big on supporting local businesses.

In exchange for the samples, the kind folks at Mmm, Speciosa! politely asked me to write a review of some of these samples. I've obviously been busy (read "extremely lazy"), and haven't gotten around to writing a review until now. Sorry, guys! :-( Without any further ado...

Classic Bali Review

Mmm, Speciosa! sent me a number of samples, and while they were all high-quality, a few really stood out:

1. Classic Bali
2. Tawa Tua
3. Plantation Maeng Da
4. "Test 219 A" Bali

Classic Bali

The Classic Bali was spectacular. Currently, Mmm, Speciosa! seems to be out of stock on this gem. Sadness! I took one tablespoon, and found myself relaxed physically, but with a high amount of mental energy. One tablespoon was almost too much, so in subsequent doses, I found that 1-2 teaspoons was sufficient. (One tablespoon is equivalent to three teaspoons.) I found this variety of Bali great as an evening pick-me up, and was especially helpful in keeping a step ahead of my eight year-old. This variety is one I hope to see back on the shelves at Mmm, Speciosa! soon.

Tawa Tua Indo

The Tawa Tua Indo offered a good pick-me-up as well, though not nearly as strong as the Classic Bali. I did find that two teaspoons of Classic Bali to one teaspoon of Tawa Tua was a good mix. I had a good amount of energy, and felt happy -- not a bad way to spend the after work hours!

Plantation Maeng Da

The Plantation Maeng Da turned out to be another favorite. I found it to be energizing, but did not notice the physical relaxation as much as I did with the Classic Bali. The mental energy levels were about equal, though. I'd definitely recommend this one if you need to focus, but don't need the physical relaxation as you might want for pain relief or meditation.

Test 219A

I wish I knew what the "Test 219A" Bali actually was, because it resulted in a relaxed body and happy mind. I would definitely add it to my regular rotation of purchases. As I look through my notes, I see my state-of-mind after taking this variety was such that I sat down and spent some time on this blog, which is something I find difficult to do most evenings. I really liked this variety; it wasn't "too much," but was definitely enough to make it worth a review.

S.O.S Stem and Vein

The S.O.S Stem and Vein gets an honorable mention among these reviews, because its effects are noticeable and not what I would expect from a stem and vein variety. After taking a tablespoon (approx 8-9 grams), I felt positive and productive. I've just placed a small order again, just to tide me over to my next payday order next week. Turns out I accidentally under-ordered last month because, well, math.

I'd like to thank the generous folks at Mmm, Speciosa! for their kindness. Please pay them a visit if you haven't yet. Their customer service is outstanding, and their products are always high-quality.

Kratom Protein Shake

I may not conform to the stereotype that most people have of a kratom consumer. I'm a software developer with a wife and child, and as of about six months ago, I began a power lifting routine again. I've enjoyed lifting weights for a long time, but since having our child eight years ago, I put weightlifting on the back burner. Also, I gained some fat.

In the past six months, I've noticed an increase in energy, muscle, and stamina. I suspect I've lost some fat, too, because my wife reports that my snoring has decreased! Needless to say, I'm happy with my progress.

I'm not sure why I hadn't thought of this sooner, but today I decided to mix kratom with my post-workout protein shake. I was apprehensive, because I like the taste of my protein shake; it's sweet, but not too sweet, so I was concerned the kratom would upset that fine balance. To my surprise and delight, the kratom had no ill effects on my protein shake. Yay! Here's the recipe I used, if you're interested:

• 1 scoop EAS Soy Protein - Vanilla Flavored
• 8 ounces of Milk - 1%
• 1 serving of kratom (i.e. whatever your normal dose is)
• Shake vigorously or blend, and enjoy!

New Vendor - Coastal Kratom

I've reviewed Coastal Kratom before after they sent me some samples to try, and I've been ordering them regularly for about six months now. Their quality and service has been great, and they've lowered their prices across the board! I'm pleased to add them to the Trusted Kratom Vendors page, and encourage you to check them out!

Kratom and Diabetes

Here's an interesting blog post that discusses kratom's apparent ability to manage diabetes. Most of us who incorporate kratom into our healthy lifestyles are aware of kratom's healing properties, so it's always great to see these anecdotes. Hopefully, as the media and legislators open their minds, we'll start to see more studies that confirm what many of us already know about kratom: it heals.