I never go to the doctor anymore unless i need an anti-biotic or I have an injury or something I need physically treated.
Everything is else is a pharmaceutical pigeon-hole in the USA. One of the few things about US healthcare is good surgeons and you can get into office visits rather quickly
But way too damn much pharma. The industry has a hold on all the politicians here
@Bozza kava is zero-proof also. No alcohol content whatsoever
Khat is not one i've heard of
Kava gives you the chill alcohol gives but nothing else. Drinking way too much makes you tired but not drunk
The word literally translates to the English word: bitter. It tastes like spicy dirt water and literally numbs your mouth a little for a moment. It comes from the roots of a pacific pepper plant. You can buy the noble kava (the one that is gentle on your liver) on amazon for like $1.36 a serving
I like it a lot. it is definitely a craving killer. You can't mix it with alcohol anyway (don't even try it, horrible experience) and it makes you not give a fuck about alcohol after one serving
@Bozza Its a mild stimulant, like a few cups of coffee. You have to chew a whole pile of sticks to actually get anywhere, so its not really compatible with western life. You look like a browsing animal stuffing twigs in your mouth.
Very popular with bus drivers in East Africa. Helps them concentrate on cutting up everyone else all day long.
@Vermillion-Rx Don't think I've come across Kava before.
There's a bunch of obscure drugs from asia that you don't really get in the west.
Khat is another one.
For some reason a few years back the government banned Khat in some moral panic, yet i've never even come across it.
US healthcare is so fucked man.
Came to the realization in my 20s about 80% of doctors just follow a script and it's only gotten worse now that they have AI telling them what to do. I could go and on but:
- Watched my ex scream at then physically stop a nurse from giving her liquid antibiotic in her IV. That the doctor ordered...that she was deadly allergic to.
- Fought with them about the fact they were doing an MRI on the wrong hip. Then they tried to bill me for it...
- Tore my labrum and the ER Doc hits me with so what do you think you're going to get out of this visit? in a condescending tone. Implying I was pill seeking. Ironically enough he gave me some pain killers after I through fuss:
Oh, I don't know. I thought you would at least look at my FUCKING MEDICAL HISTORY. Maybe give me a referral to the specialist I've been seeing on and off again for this hip for the past TWO FUCKING YEARS!
Thankfully I have found a quality doctor but guess what, she can't take insurance because she doesn't stick to the standard script they're meant to follow.
It absolutely blows my mind people hold doctors (college degree in general) in such high regards like they are some how exempt from the fact the majority of people in almost all industries, really aren't that good at their jobs.
Read MoreYou're not going to get addicted after a few times.
Look I'm not going to moralize, and as one of the guys on the forum who's probably done more substances than anyone else, it's certainly not my place to judge (not that I am).
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with doing Kratom (I've used Kratom). Or that you shouldn't do it.
But what I am saying is, just be careful. I'm not sure of the exact science (it's been well over 10+ years since I've encountered Kratom or even discussed it), but for the purposes of this comment, Kratom is effectively an opioid - one of the most addictive substances known to man, with serious withdrawal symptoms and consequences.
If you wanna do Kratom, go at it. Personally, I'm very supportive of people trying substances and expanding their consciousness/experiences.
BUT - just be careful.
I don't know if you smoke (or have ever smoked tobacco). It's a very similar thing.
I started smoking a long time ago and for a long time it was exactly that "I don't think I'll get addicted. I don't feel addicted".
But it feels good. You smoke a little here, you smoke a little there. You justify it to yourself "oh it's fine". Maybe you stop for a few weeks, no problem.
You continue. Then one day. You stop and suddenly you have withdrawal symptoms. You never intended to get to that point. You never thought you'd get to that point. But here you are.
Have fun, but dont use it more than a few times per month.
Read MoreI don't think I'll get addicted. I don't feel addicted
This is a lot easier than alcohol
But I guess I'll just stop recommending it till I know more about it
I also have kava to switch between if I ever do notice it's hard and need to switch off.
At any rate I don't feel any addiction. If somehow I am addicted I don't notice, alcohol had a way stronger pull on me

