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I was going to write this article last week, but I wanted first to see Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s “Weed” special on CNN, which my wife and I watched last night. I mentioned in an article I wrote not long ago, that I was a firsthand witness to the relief marijuana brought to my dying mother, as opposed to the drug “Marinol” which is an isolated version of pot’s active ingredient TCH, in pill form. Marinol was so ineffective, I later discovered due to the fact that for the medical part of marijuana to work (at its most full capacity), it has to be the full-spectrum of alkaloids, even the ones that seem marginal, to work. That means it has to be in its original form, not as THC isolated and marketed by the pharmaceutical industry. The pills are very expensive (about $400 for a month’s supply), and though they do almost nothing to help a chemo patient, Big Pharma continues to market it. When I scored pot for my mom, I had no idea if it was going to work, and there was a bit of bittersweet irony that I would be finding the same herb (for which I was grounded just 25 or so years earlier) when my parents found some in my drawer. But that was okay because the relief it offered was so dramatic, I didn’t care that it was illegal at that time, and I also knew that it was helping her to survive. I only knew it offered tremendous relief. Fast-forward about 15 years. I have semi-retired and living in the mountains of Arkansas, happily married but not happy with my physical health. Due to numerous injuries and for years not taking care of myself, I am paying the price. After two major heart attacks and some unexplained pain in my gums, which I now suspect is neuralgia (due to what I’ve read and the fact that doctors and dentists cannot find anything specific). I’ve not yet seen a neurologist, due to the fact that there is a tendency to prescribe some seriously dangerous painkilling drugs, many of which I’ve taken over the years after dental surgeries etc., and I know they stop working within a week’s time. On the other hand, I feel blessed that I’ve discovered the herb kratom, which not only relieves the overwhelming pain almost 100%, without clouding my head, and finding out that it is actually a healthy herb. It promotes heart health, lowers blood pressure and boosts the immune system. I had to ask myself, “Why in the world would I take the risks of heavy narcotics on a daily basis, when kratom offers, not only relief, but substantial relief, and the tolerance level has a high ceiling (in other words, I’ve used it for about 5-6 months now, and take the same amount (or less) than I did upon discovery of it. Several times I ran out of it, which was scary, because I’d had about 3 months of constant relief. For the 2-3 days of not having it, the “withdrawal”, contrary to scare-tactic big pharma “journalism”, I experienced some mild irritability (very similar to quitting kratom’s cousin coffee, but a little less intense). The only part of it that was a nightmare is that the pain returned, particularly in my mouth and also left arm which still flares up after it developed tendonitis last year. Why did I bring up Dr. Sanja Gupta and the show “Weed”? Kratom has become controversial due to the fact that some people abuse it. For instance, it is also sold in a different form, “kratom extract” which offers some euphoria which regular kratom does not, or if it does, it has to be taken in such high doses at one time (most strains 6-20 grams) and most people, when using it for pain rarely if ever take over 2-4 grams at a time. I don’t use the extract because I’m not using it recreationally. Those who do so, I imagine that is their business; same as pot. With kratom extract the molecular structure of the herb becomes so altered with chemicals, gasses, etc., that it is no longer kratom any more than wine is still grapes before the grapes were fermented. In two states, Indiana and Tennessee, kratom has become criminalized, and though I disagree with that decision, I don’t live in those states. That’s their business. Louisiana took a bit more intelligent approach, and like alcohol, it is only banned for kids. In much way I understand that, unless the child or teen is experiencing great pain (there should be some kind of doctor’s supervision of it). Dr. Gupta said that the brain does not develop fully until a person turns around 25 or so. With that being the case, I can understand any herb being monitored to be sure it causes no harm, or to be sure it is being taken correctly (to perform its role as natural healing agent). I am not sure that government should have any further intervention into what is commonly called herbal home remedies. Because kratom can be abused is not a reason to criminalize it. Lysol can also be abused. We live in a country (allegedly) with a Constitution that says we are innocent until/unless proven guilty. I still live by that creed. It’s sad to think there are adult lawmakers, who don’t understand the spirit of those writings, or have the arrogance to think that their philosophy and/or beliefs should override the U.S. Constitution. Rick London is an author, designer and cartoonist. He is an outspoken advocate for kratom and other naturopathy herbs. He says the best kratom is at Kratom-K.com. He is best known for his Google #1 ranked offbeat cartoons and funny gifts, Londons Times Cartoons (LTCartoons.com).
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