Mike Kelley's Rules for Kratom Taking for... Mike Kelley

[Kelleytoons]

So after nearly a year of finding this wonderful leaf and going through SO many different learning experiences (and with much help from members here, especially LoveandPeace - luv ya, bro) I have formulated my rules for Kratom taking. These are rules FOR ME - they aren't intended as anything other than perhaps a roadmap for others to travel as they like, or deviate as they must.

1. First and foremost, less really is more. I had been taking, routinely, 5-7 grams each dose. I had started with very sub-standard mass market stuff, but even when I switched to smaller, quality vendors I was taking that much. LoveandPeace in particular got me to thinking to try a lot less, so I did. And lo and behold - it worked a LOT better. Now my typical dose is 2.5-3 grams. Absolutely no more, no matter what. And it works MUCH better - I have zero idea what the mechanism is unless it is (as someone suggested) that more blocks the receptors and keeps it from working at all, but I know I'm convinced that at least with quality leaf, 3 grams is PLENTY (note: I'm a huge guy with a LOT of opioid tolerance - I can take two or three 500mg of that and feel almost nothing. So if a low dose of Kratom works for me, it might also be the key for a lot of folks).

2. Quality leaf. I started my Kratom journey with the large box vendors - most of which now I would end up throwing away except I spent a TON of time making capsules and such. I literally have five or six kilos that I will never use. But this forum pointed me in the right direction and I've sampled just about all of them I can (well, not TFH except for the samples L&P sent me). My favorite vendors at the moment are Dennette, Sakti and Lucky, in that order, but I've tried at least five or six others I like, too.

3. Take on an empty stomach - no more than three or four hours (more is better) after eating. This one has REALLY hit for me. It's sometimes difficult to arrange, but it makes a huge difference.

4. Rotate strains - don't take the same one more than once a week. Actually, because I have around 110 in rotation, I don't take the same one more than once every two months. I'm not sure how much this helps but I do know if I take the same one two or three times in a row it wears off quickly (I've tried this with some great samples and learned my lesson).

5. Don't take more frequently than two or three times a day. This is actually pretty easy to enforce given rule #3. So I take a strain first thing in the morning, and four hours later I need to eat lunch, and four or five hours later I'm running into dinner, and I finally take my last (second) dose right before I go to bed. *Sometimes* I squeeze in an extra (like today - I got finished with tennis but I think I'll take a green before my wife gets home for lunch at noon. My first dose was four hours ago which is JUST now wearing off).

6. Take at least two or three days off each week. I don't really need Kratom except on the days I play tennis or the nights beforehand. So each week I have three or four days when I can just not take it. But I do take it on a day or two I'm not playing. As long as I'm not taking it every day of the week I find even a day or two break is enough to "reset" me.

7. Take supplements to help. I take black seed oil, Tumeric and Magnesium. I have zero idea if they help, but since I've been taking them even long before Kratom it seems like it's good I'm doing it.

8. Hydrate and be regular. This is good advice even if you "aren't" taking Kratom. I drink tons of water (in humid Florida you have to) along with green tea. I also am very regular - eating lots of fiber and getting exercise helps.

By following all the above my Kratom experience is nearly ALWAYS wonderful. It's been months since I've had a strain "miss" - some are better than others, but all the ones I've gotten in the last two or three months have been winners and are in my rotation (unlike the 20 or 30 from the larger vendors that were squeezed out by the quality ones - I actually only have ONE Kat's Botanicals left in my rotation - for some reason it works and perhaps it was a fluke or just one of those "even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then").

I should also note that I take capsules (which I make myself). So some of the above might not apply to those of you taking your leaf in other means (in particular perhaps the empty stomach one isn't as relevant. Maybe if you take the powder you don't need to worry too much about your stomach being empty to dissolve the pills. I don't know and will never know, as all my attempts to try the powder ended in failure).

I hope some of this helps somebody at least give things a try in perhaps a different manner.

[onespeedstop]

I've never found a super consistent system for it myself, but I've tried/followed a few of the ones you listed and they are solid general advice. Everyone is just a hair different though (metabolism/gut flora etc.) so it's gonna vary a bit, but again, some solid tips here for sure.

If you've -only- ever taken capsules, you might try some tea, it seems to just *hit* different even though it's the exact same kratom.

[Kelleytoons]

I've tried tea - believe me, I've tried just about every single way you can. The taste of Kratom - no matter how with the possible exception of in vodka, which isn't all that healthy - makes me gag. Actually, even the smell does, even after the dozens of kilos I've worked with. Everyone is different and in this case MY difference is I have to take capsules (I also make tinctures that work but I didn't want to get into that here. Right now my main use of tinctures is at night).

[IndelibleDotInk]

this should be a sticky.

Hi Mike, I'm Mike. Like your post.

[Detuned]

Nice Post to avoid becoming a daily User/addict.

Once you ARE a daily user/physically dependent the whole Story looks different imo.

[Kelleytoons]

this should be a sticky.

Hi Mike, I'm Mike. Like your post.

Thanks.

There are a lot of Mikes still around <g>. When I play tennis I sometimes am on the court with two others (never three others, though, because we don't have a Formica court).

All kidding aside, I used to work FOR a Mike, in a small office with another co-worker named Mike. When someone called they said "Is Mike there?" and I'd say, "No" and then they'd ask "What about Mike?" and I'd say "No" and they'd say "How about Mike?" and I'd say "Speaking".

(Thank you very much, I'll be here all week).

[whoisseananyway]

Well...I'm not Mike...but...I'm Sean so I hope I'm allowed to participate on this thread

These are good rules in general to live by, and I subscribe to most of them myself. Except #6, my chronic pain doesn't allow me to take many days off. However, I'm able to keep my tolerance low by staying around 2 grams per serving, 2 to 3 times per day. I'll do a "soft reset" every once in a while where I reduce my servings to around 1 gram each for a couple of days and that does the trick. I feel fortunate to have a body chemistry that allows for this!

Thanks for the informative post!

[Kelleytoons]

One of my favorite actors was named Sean so - you're welcome here! <g>

Pain is SO different for everyone. As a very old man I'm always in pain, but I can manage it most days when I don't have to do too much. But I'm retired and can always just lie down and take a nap or watch TV. I can't imagine what it would be like if I was still working - I know for sure I'd be dosing every single weekday.

I do find, however, that just KNOWING I can dose helps with the pain. IOW, I'm just now starting a two day break (because I don't play tennis until Thursday) and while I'm in a lot of pain (due to walking 4+ miles at Disney yesterday) I can live with it because... well, I could just take some Kratom. It's not like I HAVE to take this break, but knowing that relief could be just around the corner I could live with it. I don't know if that makes sense or not, but it does help me with my breaks.

But - again - I have things I can do to help otherwise. I don't have to do too much around the house and today I'm just going out for a haircut. If that wears me out (and it might) I'll come home and lay in bed and watch some TV or read. Or jump in our pool (laying in the pool ALWAYS helps with the pain - before Kratom it was the only thing that helped, as by then the opioids had pretty much given up on me).

I'm just glad I found this amazing plant - sure changed my life and all to the positive.

[Loveandpeace]

Well...I'm not Mike...but...I'm Sean so I hope I'm allowed to participate on this thread

These are good rules in general to live by, and I subscribe to most of them myself. Except #6, my chronic pain doesn't allow me to take many days off. However, I'm able to keep my tolerance low by staying around 2 grams per serving, 2 to 3 times per day. I'll do a "soft reset" every once in a while where I reduce my servings to around 1 gram each for a couple of days and that does the trick. I feel fortunate to have a body chemistry that allows for this!

Thanks for the informative post!

I agree with your reply. That is my schedule as well. After 3 years steady (daily), this is where I have found my sweet spot. I take .90 and then another .90 about 45 minutes later. Repeat every 6 hours. Lately, I throw in some Hirsuta and S/V as a replacement for for 2 of the .90 doses. Usually, it just ends taking the place of one though.

I like your soft reset and do like you do sometimes. I find a fire batch (lookin at you LSMS) and take 1.2g instead of my two .90 and I only take one dose. The best way for this to work involves your morning receptors and sourcing a fire, virgin batch from here and hoping that what everyone said is true.

It always is!