Hello friends!
It's been a little while. We here at Herbal Headventures have been debating for several months how to go about this review, because it's the first time we felt compelled as a team to report a negative experience. The question becomes, how do you do this communication with tact and professionalism? We're hoping this will do the trick.
Several months ago, we were contacted via Twitter by Island Lion Herbals, an online company that markets kratom and a lesser known herbal "supplement." The online store presents a limited inventory with enticingly low prices (~$10/oz. of kratom) and an affiliate marketing program that offers 10% commission on purchases through an affiliate link.
Now, we here at Herbal Headventures are open to trying new companies and products, and when offered samples for the testing, we were down for it. Generally speaking, we keep comprehensive research into the companies for when we are writing the review, so we admittedly had not spent a lot of time reviewing the credentials of this company prior to accepting a shipment. Therefore, we simply discussed the arrival of product to our doorstep via private messages.
After a couple days, we were asked if we had received the product. We had not. Usually, we get these shipments rather quickly, so for the sake of safety, we asked for the shipping tracking number. This was where the first questionable event occurred.
Due to either an inappropriate shipping procedure, or perhaps an oversight on the part of the company, the product we were sent was not sent in secure packaging, nor was it labeled for tracking purposes. We found this kind of odd, as a professional company shipping "not for human consumption" edibles would surely have, at very least, padded envelopes and a shipping label printer for the USPS. Instead, ILH opted to send unsecured packets of kratom in a standard business envelope with a couple stamps on it.
Since it was shipped in this manner, it was the first time ever that any of us have received a letter that was mangled by the USPS mail sorting machines. We received the product about a week and a half after the anticipated arrival, in a plastic bag from the USPS, and the envelop was ripped to pieces. Theoretically, this occurred due to the fact that the envelop was uneven and fatter on one side, due to placing the packets in there. A padded envelope would surely have prevented this occurrence.
Upton inspection, the packets seemed to be well-secured and reasonably sealed, and the product appeared to be devoid of tampering.
The packets themselves were rather difficult to open, both because of the material they were made of, but also because they were rather dusty and the product was easily caught up in parts of the packet itself. Master Flash had some reservations about the quality of the product based on the experience thus far, but being the guinea pig, she prepared and parachuted the kratom with our new favorite method, wrapping portions of the dose in fruit roll-ups.
All was well at first. Master Flash opted to try the Red Vein Borneo 5g that was sent to us. It began to kick in and the experience was kratom-expected, with relaxation and a decent chill factor. That is, until she got sick.
Now, for the record, we have tried numerous strains and suppliers of kratom. During the course of our trials, we have experienced mild vertigo and nausea that was easily remedied by drinking extra water; potent strains have a tendency of requiring more water, after all. However, this was different. The Red Vein Borneo kratom caused an intense level of nausea, vomiting, and reactionary muscle spasms, that led to the triggering of a major fibromyalgia pain episode that lasted for weeks.
In short, Island Lion Herbals wins the first place award for being the first company to ever successfully make our reviewer thoroughly, physically ill.
After receiving the product, ILH has not attempted any further interaction or follow up on the product review, nor have they seemed particularly interested in interfacing with our team, even after we announced that a recent sample caused some serious physical illness.
So, at this point we will say this... For this company, we would say it is buy at your own risk. The pricing is almost suspiciously low, especially considering the product and the offering of an affiliate program. In fact, we suspect that it's far more about an affiliate marketing platform than it is pure products and assistance. The pricing, low normally, is actually *discounted* right now, across the board. We see this a lot from companies that are more focused on profits than quality products and transparency.
Regarding the packaging, it's hard to know what the actual customer experience would be, because of the choices made for shipping.
The company does not offer capsule machines, nor do they have capsule options. It's powder or nothing, and we always have a bit of an issue with that.
There is also nowhere on their site where you can learn about their source growers, their importing practices (if they have any), who quality checks their product, or any of the people that work for the company. The best you can get is that they are located in New York, NY, which suggests that they are not the original growers of the plants they sell... So the question becomes, who are you getting this from, and how did you choose that person over someone else?
Lastly, when attempting to find more information about this company, utilizing WhoIs Lookup for their website domain, we find that they opted to pay for protected registration. For a registered, trademarked company, we find this suspect. If we are not able to call, email or contact anyone directly, we will not do business with a company.
All this being said, we have another packet of supposed kratom that was sent to us, that we will NOT be using.
We do not recommend that any reader or potential kratom user do business with Island Lion Herbals at this time. Do so at your own risk.
We regretfully share this information, simply because we prefer to discuss successes over failures... But whatever the reason may be, the product from this company instigated illness rather than relief, and we felt it best to share our experiences.
P.S. Funny enough, the company has "custom" strain combinations, but didn't send ANY of those custom offerings for review. We always ask for companies to send their signature strain or blend, and IHL opted to send us run of the mill strains (by name) that ultimately under-performed compared to every kratom experience we've had to date.
Monday, June 22, 2015
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Herbals: BonaFide Kratom and Their Red Vein Thai Kratom Caps
Hello Friends!
We're back, and we're ready to share our new experiences. Over the last couple of weeks, we here at HH have made some new friends and have come to the point of reviewing the products provided. One of the awesome things we've been witnessing is the increase of availability regarding options for kratom and other ethno-products, vapes and more... So our goal is to try to and keep up, so to provide current and new customers with good information and quality reviews.
First up is a product from BonaFide Kratom.
The year they established is unknown to HH, but they are new to our circles of retailers. That being said, we're happy to say that the company has a rather engaged social media team, providing content and responses in a timely manner, and not balking at inquisitions.
It should be noted that while the company reports to import the product throughout their website, they do not specify the region of origin any closer than "Southeast Asia." As many of us know, kratom originated in this part of the world, but is both imported and locally grown. For the kratom aficionado, it may be frustrating to have this lack of specificity. Personally, we don't find this an automatic reason to avoid products, so much as a reason to either inquire about the region of origin (meaning even moreso than simply "Thailand"... What part of Thailand?) or to anticipate possible variation until experience says otherwise.
When looking through the website, comparing the pricing to other retailers and distributors currently on the market, BonaFide Kratom carries comparable-sized products at about the standard market price, if not under. They are a smidge cheaper for some strains, but not enough to indicate that they are lower quality... Our guess is that they operate with lower overhead, or are still working on their customer base. If these prices stay, and all strains hold up, they just might win us over!
Another big plus in our book is that you checkout through Amazon Payments, rather than a 3rd party unknown credit card company or PayPal. We like working with Amazon Payments for a variety of reasons, and seeing companies utilizing the pay services offered by Amazon as opposed to other options is great. BFK also appears to support payment via BitCoin for those individuals that have taken the time to go that route.
One of the downsides with BFK is that they do not clearly offer capsule options, and do not have capsule machines available for purchase. This means that if you want to try their kratom, you have to be prepared for powder. If you like making teas and smoothies with kratom, this is no issue, but for those of us that prefer to just eat the kratom, it can be very hard to eat a full and accurate dose of kratom when getting powder. Granted, buying capsule form is typically a little more expensive *but* the convenience is nice. It should be noted that we did receive a packet that had capsules, so the company may actually have this option, but it is not clearly designated for order on the site and may not be a regular offering.
We originally contacted them to ask which of their strain offerings they would consider the "flagship" of their company (that is, the strain or product that they felt sets them above the other options currently on the market). They suggested Red Vein Thai, so we thought, what better way to start things?
Along with our delivery of Red Vein Thai, we got a powder sampler pack. This sampler pack provides an ample sample of each strain they offer so that new customers can try before they buy a large order. This sample pack is an exceptional value price-wise, and provides a generous amount of kratom on the whole, particularly in comparison to other companies providing samplers.
Anyway, Red Vein Thai is the company's best seller, as well as their "flagship" strain. Our sample size was 3.5g, or a total of 7 .55g capsules. Now, for those that follow us, you may recognize that this is less than our typical dosing with Master Flash at the helm, but we are only able to utilize what we have on hand, right?
Inspection of the product before use was encouraging. The caps appear to be manufactured with care and using quality components. There is very little dust, and they were safely packed and shipped in a cushioned envelop as well. This level of care does come with a vote of confidence for the pride the company takes in providing quality options.
Even though the dosing with these caps was lower than the typical Master Flash dosage, she went on to toss the caps back and wait.
After about fifteen minutes, it became apparent that the caps had started to break down. A slight belch brought the unmistakable sense of kratom, and almost caused the product to kick up. Despite the suggestion to take on an empty stomach, the Flash opted to have a small snack and a lot of water to help move the kratom down into the belly.
In about 30-40 minutes, a certain sense of relaxation started to creep in. Not a significant, sedated relaxation, but more of a soothed muscle type of relaxation. There was a flowing sensation of mild pain relief and tranquility, and honestly, with the dosing, we thought that's where it would stay. We were wrong.
It took a little while longer than expected, but with patience, a more profound sense of pain relief and calm began to permeate the body. Back pain eased, and a sense of energy was to be had despite the chill out factor. Opting to engage in mild physical activity, it was noted that there was a distinct lack of muscle ache and fatigue, supporting the idea that this strain could provide reasonable relief of nerve pain issues that would otherwise discourage an individual from being active. A big bonus. ***Please note that kratom requires an increase of hydration, and adding physical activity may not be recommended for individuals prone to dehydration. Always drink ample water while partaking of kratom therapy***
After approximately 3 hours since the onset of effect, the benefits were still active and engaged in the system. Body pain and tension was significantly reduced, and a general improved sense of well-being successfully and significantly present. The sensation of warmth was not profound, but was present, as is common with many stronger strains, thus increasing the desire for water. No body temperature was taken however, as the increase seemed rather minimal.
When Master Flash eventually made it to bed, relaxation into the bed was quick, and sleep was easy.
When the effects had worn off approximately 6-7 hours after onset, a fairly noticeable headache settled in. This is not uncommon for kratom use, especially higher/complex alkaloid combinations, so it was not alarming or disappointing per se. We suspect that this strain may induce more dehydration than others we have tried, as water seemed to alleviate at least some of this headache. Even after acute effects dissipated, a lingering headache persisted, but so did a dulling of body pain and nerve damage discomfort, which is a rather pleasant surprise.
Overall, we conclude that this was a relative success regarding potency, experience and quality. A huge plus when starting off with a new company, for sure! We can absolutely understand why this kratom is a top seller for the peeps at BonaFide Kratom. Due to the potency of the 3.5g dose, we recommend that this strain be taken by individuals who are already familiar with kratom and how it may affect them in general, and who have taken some of the milder strains. We will be reviewing some of BFK's milder options in later postings.
Pros:
Potent at standard dose
Clean, neat packaging
Effective pain relief and nerve calming
May be effective to treat anxiety/induce relaxation
Did not cause drowsiness, but seems to improve sleep
Cons:
Region of origin relatively unclear
Dehydration seems more significant
Rebound headache
We're going to give this strain a rather solid 8 out of 10 nods. At this time, we would encourage readers to check out the availability from BonaFide Kratom to see if the options are right for you, as well as check them out on Twitter @bonafidekratom
You can follow Herbal Headventures on Facebook or on Twitter @QuasitaLynn
Have a product you'd like us to review before you buy? Let us know in the comments, or by sending us a message, and we'll do our best to make it happen!
We're back, and we're ready to share our new experiences. Over the last couple of weeks, we here at HH have made some new friends and have come to the point of reviewing the products provided. One of the awesome things we've been witnessing is the increase of availability regarding options for kratom and other ethno-products, vapes and more... So our goal is to try to and keep up, so to provide current and new customers with good information and quality reviews.
First up is a product from BonaFide Kratom.
The year they established is unknown to HH, but they are new to our circles of retailers. That being said, we're happy to say that the company has a rather engaged social media team, providing content and responses in a timely manner, and not balking at inquisitions.
It should be noted that while the company reports to import the product throughout their website, they do not specify the region of origin any closer than "Southeast Asia." As many of us know, kratom originated in this part of the world, but is both imported and locally grown. For the kratom aficionado, it may be frustrating to have this lack of specificity. Personally, we don't find this an automatic reason to avoid products, so much as a reason to either inquire about the region of origin (meaning even moreso than simply "Thailand"... What part of Thailand?) or to anticipate possible variation until experience says otherwise.
When looking through the website, comparing the pricing to other retailers and distributors currently on the market, BonaFide Kratom carries comparable-sized products at about the standard market price, if not under. They are a smidge cheaper for some strains, but not enough to indicate that they are lower quality... Our guess is that they operate with lower overhead, or are still working on their customer base. If these prices stay, and all strains hold up, they just might win us over!
Another big plus in our book is that you checkout through Amazon Payments, rather than a 3rd party unknown credit card company or PayPal. We like working with Amazon Payments for a variety of reasons, and seeing companies utilizing the pay services offered by Amazon as opposed to other options is great. BFK also appears to support payment via BitCoin for those individuals that have taken the time to go that route.
One of the downsides with BFK is that they do not clearly offer capsule options, and do not have capsule machines available for purchase. This means that if you want to try their kratom, you have to be prepared for powder. If you like making teas and smoothies with kratom, this is no issue, but for those of us that prefer to just eat the kratom, it can be very hard to eat a full and accurate dose of kratom when getting powder. Granted, buying capsule form is typically a little more expensive *but* the convenience is nice. It should be noted that we did receive a packet that had capsules, so the company may actually have this option, but it is not clearly designated for order on the site and may not be a regular offering.
We originally contacted them to ask which of their strain offerings they would consider the "flagship" of their company (that is, the strain or product that they felt sets them above the other options currently on the market). They suggested Red Vein Thai, so we thought, what better way to start things?
Along with our delivery of Red Vein Thai, we got a powder sampler pack. This sampler pack provides an ample sample of each strain they offer so that new customers can try before they buy a large order. This sample pack is an exceptional value price-wise, and provides a generous amount of kratom on the whole, particularly in comparison to other companies providing samplers.
Inspection of the product before use was encouraging. The caps appear to be manufactured with care and using quality components. There is very little dust, and they were safely packed and shipped in a cushioned envelop as well. This level of care does come with a vote of confidence for the pride the company takes in providing quality options.
Even though the dosing with these caps was lower than the typical Master Flash dosage, she went on to toss the caps back and wait.
After about fifteen minutes, it became apparent that the caps had started to break down. A slight belch brought the unmistakable sense of kratom, and almost caused the product to kick up. Despite the suggestion to take on an empty stomach, the Flash opted to have a small snack and a lot of water to help move the kratom down into the belly.
In about 30-40 minutes, a certain sense of relaxation started to creep in. Not a significant, sedated relaxation, but more of a soothed muscle type of relaxation. There was a flowing sensation of mild pain relief and tranquility, and honestly, with the dosing, we thought that's where it would stay. We were wrong.
It took a little while longer than expected, but with patience, a more profound sense of pain relief and calm began to permeate the body. Back pain eased, and a sense of energy was to be had despite the chill out factor. Opting to engage in mild physical activity, it was noted that there was a distinct lack of muscle ache and fatigue, supporting the idea that this strain could provide reasonable relief of nerve pain issues that would otherwise discourage an individual from being active. A big bonus. ***Please note that kratom requires an increase of hydration, and adding physical activity may not be recommended for individuals prone to dehydration. Always drink ample water while partaking of kratom therapy***
After approximately 3 hours since the onset of effect, the benefits were still active and engaged in the system. Body pain and tension was significantly reduced, and a general improved sense of well-being successfully and significantly present. The sensation of warmth was not profound, but was present, as is common with many stronger strains, thus increasing the desire for water. No body temperature was taken however, as the increase seemed rather minimal.
When Master Flash eventually made it to bed, relaxation into the bed was quick, and sleep was easy.
When the effects had worn off approximately 6-7 hours after onset, a fairly noticeable headache settled in. This is not uncommon for kratom use, especially higher/complex alkaloid combinations, so it was not alarming or disappointing per se. We suspect that this strain may induce more dehydration than others we have tried, as water seemed to alleviate at least some of this headache. Even after acute effects dissipated, a lingering headache persisted, but so did a dulling of body pain and nerve damage discomfort, which is a rather pleasant surprise.
Overall, we conclude that this was a relative success regarding potency, experience and quality. A huge plus when starting off with a new company, for sure! We can absolutely understand why this kratom is a top seller for the peeps at BonaFide Kratom. Due to the potency of the 3.5g dose, we recommend that this strain be taken by individuals who are already familiar with kratom and how it may affect them in general, and who have taken some of the milder strains. We will be reviewing some of BFK's milder options in later postings.
Pros:
Potent at standard dose
Clean, neat packaging
Effective pain relief and nerve calming
May be effective to treat anxiety/induce relaxation
Did not cause drowsiness, but seems to improve sleep
Cons:
Region of origin relatively unclear
Dehydration seems more significant
Rebound headache
We're going to give this strain a rather solid 8 out of 10 nods. At this time, we would encourage readers to check out the availability from BonaFide Kratom to see if the options are right for you, as well as check them out on Twitter @bonafidekratom
You can follow Herbal Headventures on Facebook or on Twitter @QuasitaLynn
Have a product you'd like us to review before you buy? Let us know in the comments, or by sending us a message, and we'll do our best to make it happen!
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