The Jordan Harbinger Show 1257: Kratom | Skeptical Sunday
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Dec 14, 2025 
In this insightful discussion, guest Nick Pell, a skilled writer and researcher, delves into the world of kratom, a controversial plant with stimulant and opioid-like effects. He explains how dosage influences its impact, shares concerns about the lack of regulation, and highlights the minimal scientific research available. Pell addresses safety issues, including toxicity and withdrawal symptoms, and compares kratom's utility against traditional medications for addiction. He stresses the urgent need for rigorous studies to better understand this complex substance.
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Dose Determines Kratom's Effects
- Kratom produces stimulant effects at low doses and opioid-like effects at high doses due to different receptor activity.
- This dose-dependent duality explains why users report wildly different experiences with the same plant.
Gym Anecdote Of Opioid Replacement
- Nick met a gym member who switched from prescription opioids to kratom for chronic back pain.
- The man appeared functional and consistent at the gym, suggesting kratom helped him stay alive and active.
Why Kratom Feels Like Coffee And Opioids
- Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are Kratom's main alkaloids and act on opioid and adrenergic receptors.
- Partial opioid activation gives pain relief and drowsiness with less respiratory depression than full opioids.