Sampling Mood & Mind

I've been using Mood & Mind as a vendor on and off for several years now, and have been impressed by their efficiency and customer service. They recently sent me a number of samples to try and I've found three new favorites that I'll be reviewing here. If you like what you read and decide to pay them a visit, please be sure to create an account to view their kratom selection. It’s quick and painless!

TIP: When I shop at Mood & Mind, I use the coupon code TOMTEA10 to save 10% on their kratom, which has the brand name “Tom Tea”. Enter in the cart at checkout.

Recently I had the opportunity to talk with the owners of Mood & Mind, and I learned a lot about them and their processes. In the wake of the DEA scare from 2016, they were a huge contributor to PR firms and both the American Kratom Association and the Botanical Education Alliance, and continue to contribute to the ongoing legal battle. Every time you buy from them, you’re helping the fight to keep kratom available to us all. I also learned that quality is extremely important to them; their packaging is done in an FDA-regulated facility and they lab test and quality control every batch. They also ensure that their Kratom is free from contaminants or metals, which is something I’d like to see every vendor doing to protect consumers and to help keep kratom legal.

Now, onto the reviews!

Maeng Da Green/Red Blend

The results are exactly what I love about kratom. At six grams, I got a nice shot of energy along with a relaxed feeling and felt like doing things. I was content and didn't feel the need to take my anti-anxiety medication. It wasn’t quite the energy shot I’d experience from maybe a green or white vein, but it was perfect for the time of day and circumstances.

Green Malay

This one is an energy booster, for sure. I normally don't feel like doing much in the evening, but this one gave me enough energy in the evening to pursue two of my hobbies: playing the banjo and writing code. The great thing about it was that I found that I could get away with a smaller dosage than with other varieties; five grams is the magic number for me. I also tried combining with the Maeng Da Red/Green blend, which I found to be pleasant as well.

Holiday Blend

The holiday bend was a smooth, relaxing blend of red, white and green vein. I was overcome with a sense of calm, but also motivation to get some things done (like write this review). I’m almost always stressed out after work, but this put me in a very pleasant mood. I took a teaspoon and a half to start, then another teaspoon about forty-five minutes later. If you’re looking to feel some holiday cheer, put the eggnog down and reach for this blend.

As I discover more favorites, I’ll update this post to include those, so please stay tuned and check often!

Sampling The Kratom Connection

Recently, the nice people at The Kratom Connection sent me some samples of a few different strains. I dealt specifically with Andrew, a really nice guy. If he's any indication of their customer service, it's great! I sampled the following strains:

Green Malay
This strain provided me with a warm, relaxed feeling, but not the energy boost I sometimes look for in kratom. That's perfect for me in the late afternoon and evening as I try to wind down.

Red Betanguie
Provided an energy boost, but not more than I could handle. It wouldn't have quite been enough for focusing at work, but enough to knock off some honey-do items during the evening and weekend.

Green Hulu
This one made me relaxed and alert at first, but I became sleepy after an hour or so. I'd probably take this one about an hour or two before bed to relax and get ready for a good night's sleep.

Blend
My favorite experience resulted from mixing a 2:1 blend of the Red Betanguie and Green Malay strains. This blend relaxed me, but also put me in a good mood and I was alert and able to be in the moment as I watched a movie with the family. This might be a good daytime mixture to stay focused and manage stress levels at work.

I had a pleasant overall experience with The Kratom Connection, from the customer service to the actual product itself. I recommend trying the Green Hulu, Green Malay and Red Betanguie strains. They had somewhat different effects for me, but they each would have a place in my daily routine. Their prices are competitive -- not the cheapest and definitely not the most expensive. I could definitely make room for their product in my monthly budget.

If You Care About Kratom, Let the DEA Know

The American Kratom Association wants to get 10,000 comments submitted by December 1st. To date, there have been about 5,400 comments submitted. I submitted my comments a few weeks ago, and it only took about ten minutes of my time. If you haven't posted your comments, yet, you have two weeks. Get to it!

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/with-2-weeks-to-go-american-kratom-association-urges-kratom-community-to-speak-up-now-and-get-10000-comments-in-to-dea-300365196.html

Some Samples from GetKratom.com

The kind folks at Getkratom.com recently sent me some samples to try. Here are my thoughts on each of them:

Green Vein Kali

The Green Vein Kali provided some energy, but not as much as I expected for a green vein. This could have been a problem with me because at the time I was healing from a head cold. As you know, colds can kill your energy, and I've often found that kratom doesn't help my energy levels if I'm suffering from an illness. I would have to buy some more of this (which I probably will along with the Bali), to get a more accurate gauge of the type of energy boost it provides.

Bali

The Bali was great. I took it in the evenings and found that it really tempered my anxiety. It was a nice clear-headed sort of calm, so I continue to function as I normally do, but without the cloudiness/loopiness of a synthetic anxiolytic like clonazepam. Even during the day at work, the stress seemed to get to me a little less, and the kratom didn't make me feel groggy. I am considering buying this strain for evenings to unwind, and to take during acute anxiety episodes at work.

Overall, I was happy with the products and the customer service. Please give them a try yourselves!

A Temporary Victory. Also, You Are All Amazing People!

The community of kratom consumers is amazing. I know this is a temporary victory, and perhaps only postpones something inevitable, but I am overwhelmed with happiness (and a bit misty-eyed). Thank you for your passion, energy, and commitment to this cause. I don't have an overabundance of words, but here's a great article by the Washington Post: https://www.readability.com/articles/kvkjkhjm

Some Thoughts on the DEA and Kratom

I expected to be rife with things to write about after August 30th, 2016. I was full of anger, resentment, and a sense that my government was betraying me. However, much of that passion went into writing congresspeople and the Assistant Secretary of Health, signing petitions, and educating my friends and family about what a DEA ban on kratom would mean for people across the country. I've gotten some of that anger out of my system, but lest some of you mistake my lack of posts here for apathy, I can assure that's not the case.

I've been working on acclimating to a possible life without kratom, and have not taken a dose since last Friday morning, which is about four days. After a day of minor yet annoying withdrawal symptoms, I'm fine, but am reminded of the reasons I've been taking kratom for four and a half years:

• It eliminated any trace of acid reflux; no more antacids!
• It gave me the energy I was lacking to pursue a healthy lifestyle which included weight lifting!
• It helped ease my depression (though not my anxiety, which unfortunately seems to require pharmaceuticals).
• The aforementioned energy and mood boost helped me be a more engaged father and a more productive professional.
• It helped with other G.I. issues that I don't really need to disclose here.

Without kratom, I'll survive and be able to live a somewhat normal life. There are many others, though, whose lives will change drastically and who will suffer greatly. I have enduring sympathy for those people. They are people:

• with chronic debilitating pain. Some of them regular people like me, and some of them are veterans who sacrificed their well-being so that we could be free. They are now living pain-free lives.
• who have used kratom to wean themselves off of drugs like heroin or pharmaceutical-grade pain relievers (oxycontin, etc...) and are now able to lead normal, happy, drug-free lives again.
• with debilitating depression, anxiety, or PTSD that can feel happy and at ease again.

Those are the people whose lives will be decimated by the DEA's actions. Some of them might not survive. This blog is for those people. My family and I will be fine, but my heart aches for those who will truly face dire consequences at the hands of the DEA. I will continue to give what time I have to write and educate.

#IAmKratom

#WeAreKratom

I Ran Out! OMG!

I ran out of kratom last week and was unable to drink my usual concoction of kratom and chamomile for a couple of days. I'd like to say that this is going to be an interesting -- dramatic, even -- post about what happens when one has no access to kratom temporarily. The first day was mildly annoying. My stomach felt a little off, and I had some restless leg issues at bedtime. The second day, however, I felt like my normal self. In fact, I felt so much like my normal self that the thought crossed my mind that perhaps kratom is an ingredient that I can do without!

More Misleading Journalism

Please politely tell the author about your positive experiences with kratom: http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/news/local/kratom-gateway-to-opioid-abuse/article_f18ee886-7c95-513b-895f-af9bef947f0f.html

I've grown so frustrated with the misinformation/bias that it's difficult not to tune these articles out. It's unfortunate the journalists only appear interested in presenting one side of a story. It's the same tired formula:

1. Someone dies
2. Investigators find traces of kratom in the bloodstream of the deceased
3. Kratom is to blame; print "kratom is evil" article
4. Throw longtime responsible kratom consumers under the bus

Objectivity, my friends, isn't a moneymaker. Disinformation and sensationalism, however, are what bring the ad clicks. I don't blame a publication for trying to make a buck, but I am certain there's a way to go about making money without sacrificing integrity.

Is Kratom Legal in My State?

I recently received this question through my contact form and thought it might be helpful to answer it in a blog post, since the answer may be beneficial to a larger audience. The American Kratom Association has a section that covers legality, complete with an interactive map of the U.S, detailing the legal status of kratom in each state. Additionally, the Botanical Legal Defense website contains up-to-date status of kratom bills as they progress through state legislatures.

Getting to Know Hill Country Kratom

A couple of weeks ago, Dominic from Hill Country Kratom contacted me about trying some samples. I'm fairly selective about the vendors with whom I choose to do business, but Dominic really caught my attention. Hill Country Kratom is based in central Texas, so I'm always eager to pump some money back into the local economy. What really stood out, though, was the great relationship that Hill Country Kratom (HCK) has with their farmer in Indonesia. The farmer that supplies kratom for HCK is a teacher as well, and some of the proceeds from HCK's sales are donated to the school where the farmer teaches. How cool! Needless to say, I was enthusiastic to try some samples, and help promote the business a bit.

Dominic sent me two varieties to try: Red Maeng Da and Green Vein. The Green Vein was definitely outstanding. I took it before my son's basketball game on a Saturday, and was feeling social, energized, and ready to take on the world. Normally, I'm pretty sluggish on Saturdays (by choice), but this was a nice change. The Red Maeng Da wasn't super noteworthy, but that may have had more to do with my condition at the time, as I wasn't feeling particularly well. I don't fault the strain for this.

I was impressed by Hill Country Kratom and Dominic. I'm going to place my next bulk order with them, so that I can get a good sampling or their product over a period of a month. I'm also going to give the Red Maeng Da another try! Hill Country Kratom is a vendor worth checking out, and they are doing good things for the world. I'm looking forward to seeing some of my money get reinvested into education!

Updates

I’ve made a couple of minor updates to the process for posting comments on the blog. There seemed to be an influx of nefarious characters posting anonymously, so I now require registration. There are several services available from which to select when you leave a comment, so just choose the one that you prefer. You’re bound to have an account with one of the services. I’ve also added a gentle reminder to be nice when you leave a comment. I realize that’s a broad and subjective term, but I don’t think it’s too difficult to keep your comments within the boundaries of decency.

Thanks!

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.

Tolerance

Most of us have dealt with kratom tolerance. Some of you are probably a bit more careful/disciplined about maintaining a low tolerance. What about the rest of us, though? I've often read that taking a break from kratom for a few days helps. For me, that solution isn't practical, because kratom treats some very annoying symptoms for me that come back with a vengeance within a day of stopping. Some folks recommend a stem and vein mix of kratom, which contains more stem content and ultimately fewer alkaloids. I've had limited success with this technique, though to be fair, I haven't really given it much of a shot. One of the trusted vendors that I use, Mmm, Speciosa, has a stem and vein product that I've used occasionally.

What seems to work best for me is reducing my dose by half for a few days every month. This regular dose reduction has helped me maintain a 7g/3x per day dose for the past year or so. It's not nearly as extreme as a full kratom break, and it works well for the conditions I'm treating.

If you're looking for ways to reduce your kratom tolerance, check out these links for some ideas:

• How to Avoid Kratom Tolerance
• Reducing Kratom Tolerance
• Kratom Tolerance - Why It Happens and How to Overcome It

Happy Kratoming!

A PayPal Alternative for Kratom Vendors?

Given PayPal's less-than-stellar reputation and refusal to do business with kratom vendors, I'd be interested in kratom vendors giving Dwolla a serious look. I am aware that Bikhuk takes payments through Dwolla, but haven't encountered any other vendors that use it.

Dwolla is a secure alternative to using credit cards to make purchases online, and their fees are lower than PayPal's. It would be nice to see a few vendors implement Dwolla, especially for those of us who have been burned using our credit cards online.

Dwolla doesn't know I exist, and they aren't paying me to refer vendors to use their service. I'm only mentioning them because they're the main viable alternative to PayPal of which I'm aware, and I would like to see vendors look at alternatives to PayPal.

Coastal Kratom

I recently had the pleasure of interacting with Robert from Coastal Kratom. Robert reached out to me through Facebook to tell me how much he appreciated this blog, and the traffic that the Trusted Kratom Vendors page brings to him. Coastal Kratom wasn't listed specifically on that page, but was mentioned several times in the comments, which apparently brought him enough traffic to check out my little site. Robert very generously offered to send me some samples of his kratom, and I gratefully accepted that offer.

The Coastal Kratom product is outstanding. In particular, I fell in love with the Bright Eyes Bali and the Premium Plantation Bali, the latter of which is currently giving me a shot of energy, clarity, and sense of well-being as I write this review. The other samples were some of the best I've sampled as well, but the two aforementioned items really stood out.

Coastal Kratom sends their product in bottles, which is a convenient way of keeping your strains separately. My usual way of labeling various glass bottles works fine, but it's nice to see someone else take this into consideration as well. The only issue I had with the bottles was that the mouth of each bottle was just a bit too narrow for my measuring spoons (I use teaspoon/tablespoons as opposed to measuring specific amounts), and trying to fill the spoons by dispensing the kratom from the bottles proved to be a bit messy. Ultimately, I ended up transferring the kratom from the small bottles provided by Coastal Kratom, to my glass bottles. Not everyone would have the same issue I had, and it's great to see how these folks take the time to package the product so thoughtfully. It's a nice touch, and I almost feel silly for bringing up this minor issue.

Coastal Kratom hadn't previously made my list of trusted vendors because their price range exceeded my monthly kratom budget. (The criteria I used to build the list was price, service, and product quality.) I was very forthcoming about the cost to Robert, who was understanding. I will likely purchase smaller amounts from Coastal Kratom when I'm looking for some variety -- or that terrific Plantation Bali! If your budget permits, I highly recommend Coastal Kratom for their service and quality. Again, I extend my gratitude to Robert and Coastal Kratom for the generous offer.

We All Love Kratom!

Thank goodness there's a site devoted to kratom lovers! With forums, a blog, and vendor reviews written by members, it's a one-stop shop for all things kratom. Check it out, read the blog, or become a member and help contribute to the kratom community.

Visit I Love Kratom now!

N.B.: I am not affiliated with this particular site in any way. I'm simply very enthusiastic about its existence!