I just wanted to post an update. I will be having vascular surgery on my right leg tomorrow. I've cut back on my kratom over the past week and am ready to go. I won't be taking my morning serving of kratom powder, but I am taking small amounts today. From everything I've gathered, as long as I abstain from any kratom for about 12-18 hours before surgery, I will be fine. I will let you know how this theory plays out.:) For people dealing with chronic pain, going days without any relief is just not going to happen, plain and simple. I will keep everyone posted! This is the first of a few surgeries I'll be having this year. My left leg in February. I want us all to learn and understand kratom and anesthesia better. If anyone is interested in the details, I uploaded my diagnosis and notes into ChatGPT for more explanation. https://chatgpt.com/share/6942fe51-3950-8010-add1-25ed120bb22b

At some point, we have to step back and ask a very basic question: how did we end up criminalizing medicinal plants? Plants predate governments, laws, and pharmaceutical companies by hundreds of millions of years. Long before modern medicine existed, human beings relied on the natural world for healing. Leaves, roots, bark, flowers, and resins were our first pharmacy. That fact has not changed just because we invented pills. Medicinal plants have been a vital part of human health and wellness for centuries. In my view, medicinal plants in their natural form should never be scheduled or illegal. Cannabis. Coca. Kratom. Poppy. These are not inventions. They are part of the natural world, and they have been used responsibly by cultures across the globe for thousands of years. When governments outlaw whole plants, they are not protecting public health. They keep repeating the same mistake. Plants Are Not the Problem The Importance of Medicinal Plants in Modern Health History makes this painfully clear. Whenever a plant has been banned, the ban has not eliminated use. It has only pushed people toward more dangerous alternatives. Alcohol prohibition did not stop drinking. It created organized crime and poisoned products. The war on drugs did not end addiction. It escalated overdoses, incarceration, and black-market innovation. Addiction is a human condition, not a botanical one. You cannot legislate it away. Plants, in their natural state, tend to be self-limiting. They contain complex profiles of compounds that work together, often creating natural ceilings on effect. Whole-plant use is typically slower, less concentrated, and more ritualized.

I'm sharing my recent bloodwork metabolic panel results. I get numerous questions about how natural kratom can affect bloodwork and health in general. I've been a daily kratom consumer since 2016. I use roughly 5 grams 4 times per day. I use my tested kratom and do not purchase anywhere else. Making sure that you are consuming clean kratom is very important. There are heavy metals and specific areas that should not be harvested from. I am also including a link to my heavy metals hair test from earlier this year. https://christophersorganicbotanicals.com/clean-living-htma-test-heavy-metals-in-kratom/

In our next episode airing next week, Madalyn from Kratom Stories Podcast talks about the creation of Kratom Gals. Check out GPPM on your favorite podcast platform! If you leave a review, we'll read it in a future episode.

Daun Harapan Kratom Documentary We are excited to share the launch of the latest kratom documentary, “Daun Harapan“ (“A Leaf of Hope“), a deep dive into the world of kratom farming in Indonesia. This film highlights the dedicated 135,000 kratom farmers of Kapaus Hulu, located in the heart of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. It showcases their stories, struggles, and the crucial role kratom plays in their communities. Our farmers are the heart of what we do, and the source of the high-quality kratom we proudly offer. Their dedication, expertise, and hard work ensure that every leaf is cultivated with care and precision, maintaining the standards our customers trust. We take immense pride in showcasing these incredible individuals who devote their lives to growing and harvesting kratom in its purest form. By highlighting their efforts, we honor not only their commitment to excellence but also the deep connection between our products and the communities where they originate. These farmers are the backbone of our mission, and we are grateful for the vital role they play in delivering nature’s finest kratom to you. Kapuas Hulu Regency, in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, is known for its strategic location at the upper reaches of the Kapuas River, the country's longest river. This regency plays a vital role in the river’s drainage system, encompassing vast areas of tropical rainforests and wetlands that are crucial to the region’s biodiversity and ecosystem. Heart of Borneo Kapuas Hulu is also a gateway to the Heart of Borneo, making it an important area for environmental conservation efforts and sustainable development initiatives in Indonesia. Kratom is not only a part of the cultural fabric of Indonesia but also a vital economic resource for many, particularly in West Kalimantan. For the kratom farmers of Kapaus Hulu, kratom is more than just a crop; it’s a lifeline that sustains families and empowers communities. This documentary offers an intimate look into the lives of these farmers, their traditional cultivation methods, and the close-knit relationships we have formed with them over the years.