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.

Time

As Ross Perot sagely observed in the 1992 Presidential debates (and yes, I am that old), "Tahm is the enemy!" Translated from Texan to English, that's roughly "Time is the enemy!" (I've lived in Texas for a bit, so I've picked up some of the lingo.) Kratom helps give me the energy to pursue activities that I love, including software development, banjo, guitar, yodeling, and trying to trick my son into thinking I'm the greatest dad ever. I'm also a bit of a social media butterfly, and appear on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and About.me. When I find some free time between all that, I write. I suppose the lack of posts is, in a way, a good thing; it means I'm pursuing the things I really like to do.

I'd like to spend more time working to ensure kratom remains legal, and I do find time to write the occasional letter to a legislative body when the legality of kratom is called into question. That's where I think this blog may play a role. I'm a pretty regular guy by most standards: I have a wife, kid, one too many pets, and a full-time job. The only difference between me and my colleagues, family members, and friends is that I use a misunderstood plant to help with some conditions that have troubled me for years. I hope that by writing about kratom and its relevance to my life, I can enlighten people and show that neither kratom -- nor those who benefit from it -- should be demonized. We're real people with jobs, families, and a smelly dog (well, some of us, anyway). Thank you for your time, and all you do to help ensure kratom remains a natural alternative medicine for us!

Red Vein at Night...

There's an old weather adage that helps us make a semi-accurate forecast, based on the sunrise and sunset:

"Red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky in the morning, sailor's warning."

In other words, look for a stormy day if the sunrise has a red hue. A red sunset, however, supposedly signals that the next day will be a pleasant one.

Substitute "red sky" for "red vein", and we have sage advice for me, and likely others who take kratom. It's taken me a while to understand that Red Vein kratom does not work for me in the way that I need during the daylight hours. It seems to work well as a sedative for me, which is great in the evenings after my son goes to bed. It tends to mean that I fall asleep easier, and end up with a better night's sleep. However, a dose of a red vein kratom in the morning is simply not enough to keep me alert and focused, and is in fact, counterproductive.

Sometimes, it takes time and experimentation to learn the nuances of the ways in which certain stimuli affect one's body chemistry. Kratom is an amazing plant, but understanding one's needs, and how different varieties of kratom address those needs, is essential for maximizing kratom's benefit.

Kratom and Alcohol

I've found that if I have a bit of kratom after a night of indulging with booze, that the residual effects the next morning aren't quite as bad as they were in my pre-kratom days. At the ripe young age of thirty-eight, I don't necessarily drink to the point where major hangovers are a problem. (I generally stop drinking after I've been told I'm starting to be a pain in the ass.) I'd be interested to know how your relationship with alcohol has changed since you discovered kratom. I've definitely become less of a drinker since discovering kratom. What's your experience?

Back Pain

I have a recurring problem with my lower back that rears its head from time to time. It typically happens about once per year or two, and my last flare-up was, in fact, probably over two years ago. Today, it decided to pay me a visit. Hello! I've been throwing kratom at it today without much success, though my last dose of about a tablespoon seems to be helping me cope with it. The pain is still apparent, but I'm in somewhat better spirits (definitely a kratom effect), and feel like the pain is less severe. Sure, a nice Soma-Vicodin combo would be great, but I really try to stay away from the synthetics when I can manage the symptoms naturally.

How about you? Is kratom your "go-to" remedy for pain, or do you find kratom largely ineffective for managing pain?