2020

Why the AHRQ Review On Chronic Pain Matters

December 2020 The Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality (AHRQ) is currently conducting a systematic review on plant-based treatment for chronic pain. Their goal: “identify alternative treatments (to opioids) with equal or better benefits for pain while avoiding potential unintended consequences.” Specifically, they will be reviewing the benefits and potential harms of cannabinoids and kratom. …

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Kratom Stories: Maxime Ruel from Quebec and Post-Electrocution Chronic Pain

Maxime Ruel was a carpenter until he was electrocuted on the job, which left him in severe chronic pain and unable to work. After trying various medications with horrible side effects, and contemplating suicide, Max turned to kratom which he says saved his life. You can listen to the audio version of this interview, Kratom …

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Kratom and Alcoholism

Scientists have found evidence that kratom can help alleviate opioid withdrawal and cut down on cravings for recovering opiate addicts. Emerging research and experiential testimony indicates that kratom also cuts down on alcohol cravings and in some cases eliminates the desire to drink altogether. In a 2011 case study in European Psychiatry, researchers found “The …

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What is speciofoline? The understudied kratom alkaloid

The most studied alkaloids of the 40 identified in kratom are mitragynine (MG) and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). Recently, a team of researchers studied speciofoline (C22H28N2O5), a kratom alkaloid present in less than 1% of alkaloids. They found that speciofoline does not bind to mu-opioid receptors (MOR) like MG and 7-OH. They also found unexpectedly that levels …

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Election Day 2020: Cannabis referendum results from 5 states

12:32 am Update Arizona: 60% in favor of recreational cannabis Mississippi: 74% are in favor of medical cannabis Montana: 59% in favor of recreational cannabis New Jersey: 67% support recreational cannabis South Dakota: 52.8% want recreational cannabis Voters in Arizona, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota will decide on various legal rights for adults …

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Is Kratom a Drug?

Is kratom a drug, a medicinal herb, a dietary supplement, a “safe food”, a tea? These terms have a whole lot to do with social perception, a little to do with legal issues, and nothing to do with science. Kratom is a shrub that grows natively in Southeast Asia. Botanically, kratom comes from the Rubiaceae …

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