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Helpful With Depression
Kratom & Calea zacatechichi
Citation:   howlswithtoads. "Helpful With Depression: An Experience with Kratom & Calea zacatechichi (exp102529)". Erowid.org. Aug 13, 2015. erowid.org/exp/102529

 
DOSE:
T+ 0:00
1.5 tsp oral Kratom (ground / crushed)
  T+ 0:00 1 drop oral Calea zacatechichi (extract)
  T+ 6:00 2.5 tsp oral Kratom (ground / crushed)
  T+ 6:00   oral Calea zacatechichi (tea)
BODY WEIGHT: 145 lb
Just a bit of backstory, I used to smoke cannabis daily take some opiates and experiment with whatever I could get a hold of, however I have been drug-free for almost 2 years due to my occupation. I have always struggled with depression and have been searching for a way out of the hole it has buried me in. I have been trying therapy but I am not too fond to talking about my problems to random people, or people in general.

I started looking for either over the counter meds or any legal herb that claimed it could help with depression and overall brighten my mood. After searching for a bit I came upon kratom. I researched the plant and decided to order some from a reputable vendor and try it out. I also ordered some Calea zacatechichi from a different site not for depression but to see if it would possibly help me become lucid in my dreams. I often have nightmares and trouble sleeping so I figured what better than being in control of your dreams?

The day the kratom powders and calea leaves and tincture arrived I was mildly upset, depressed and generally bothered.

I ingested 1 ½ tsp of bali mixed in applesauce. Not a great mixture, taste pretty terrible but definitely bearable. I looks like baby food, but tastes worse.

After about 30 minutes I notice how relaxed I am. I’m listening to music and playing a game on my computer and am completely content on a level I always get stuck on and typically get angry, I am very prone to rage quitting.

An hour in I feel absolutely amazing. I notice warmth growing inside me, definitely a pleasant feeling.

I quit looking at the time but I continued with the same feeling of utter peace and tranquility. I am used to being depressed and for once I felt like….like I was happy.
I also noticed my knee pain I usually experience has also subsided.
The emotional effects are very similar to tramadol while the physical felt a lot like hydrocodone. Except it feels cleaner, I don’t know how else to describe it. Clean, like my body could tell it was a plant and not a manufactured chemical and my head felt clear like I could contemplate anything, or simply set aside my thoughts completely and feel alone in my mind, in a good way.

At this point I made a cup of chamomile spice tea and also added a dropper full of the calea zacatechichi tincture just to see how it would taste. I sipped on this while still enjoying the effects of the kratom. This was around 0200 in to the experience. I didn’t really notice any special separate effects from the calea, but I had intentionally added the small amount just for the taste test.

Later on, around 6 hours into the experience, I could still feel faint effects of the kratom, just a general feeling of well being and a sort of looseness. I decided to try some more since I had a variety pack and I picked a red strain and ate 2 ½ tsp of it again with applesauce. I mixed it with less applesauce this time as to save some for later mixes, making it extremely gritty and of course still intensely unappetizing in all aspects, but again not impossible to choke down. I ate it much quicker this time

30 minutes in I can already feel the effects becoming stronger like before. Just sitting I enjoyed closing my eyes and focusing on the feeling rushing through me in a wonderful way. I want to call my mom and dad and tell them how much I love them but can’t because of the time difference and that makes me a little sad for a moment. Then I realize how content I am just to be sitting on my bed very comfortable and I know that they know I love them already.

After another 30 minutes I realize this is almost similar to a cannabis high, but without any of the paranoid antics and you can still think clearly. Music, television, clothing, absolutely everything seems interesting and amazing and I appreciate things more than I ever have. The physical effects of course still feel very similar to an opiate high.

I start to get pretty tired and I decide to make some tea with some calea leaves partly because I’m extremely curious how it will taste and I hope to experience some interesting dreams throughout the night.

I made a brew with about 2 cups of water and a handful of crushed leaves and bring it to boil. After about 10 minutes I squirt in some lime juice and also add a decent amount of sugar into the pot as well. I let it simmer for another 7-10 minutes (I wasn’t actually timing) and then strained it and put the liquid into my cup to drink. I probably should have extracted twice, but I was in a hurry because I was incredibly exhausted.

After letting the tea cool for a few minutes I took a hesitant sip. I don’t know if its because I am used to strange teas or something about the lime juice. But I found it absolutely delicious! The sugar combatted the bitterness I could tell was lurking within and the lime juice could hardly be tasted, but it helped to fight against the veryyyy strange smell that the tea produced. The smell being the only negative part of the tea!

Within 20 minutes I began to see slight visual changes. The walls waving and a slight radiating of light and color, its very pleasant and I go to get ready for bed. Before I settle in bed I start to feel slightly faint, and a little nauseas but it soon subsides and I fall asleep. I didn’t notice any crazy dreams, however I was able to recall the dreams without difficulty. They all had to do with the video games I had been playing throughout the day.

When I got up I decided to test out some more kratom, I tried the applesauce method again with some malay and it was absolutely horrid. I had to fight my gag reflex when I got the concoction close to my mouth. I choked it all down but it made me extremely sick throughout the rest of the day. It RUINED the experience. I vowed never to use applesauce again!

After a day of breaking I decided to give the gel capsule method with some more kratom. I had already bought some gel capsules and a machine to fill them so I made 24 capsules with maeng da that weighed it at .6-.7g each. I took 3 of them and other than a slight increase it the onset time I felt the same as my first experience and it was extremely pleasant. And lasted for around 6 hours. Making capsules is definitely my go to method from now on.

Overall I think that Kratom can be very enjoyable, and I can see its high potential for addiction; it is wonderful. I plan to use it on and off for a while to attempt to self treat my depression, and also because I just generally enjoy it. In my opinion out of the strains I’ve tried so far I definitely liked the maeng da the most; it seems more potent and the effects are lovely.

As far as the Calea Zacatechichi goes I did not have a miraculous experience but I did notice a difference. I plan to try it again soon by smoking some along with the tea and I am very optimistic.

Exp Year: 2014ExpID: 102529
Gender: Female 
Age at time of experience: Not Given
Published: Aug 13, 2015Views: 5,516
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Kratom (203), Calea zacatechichi (97) : Alone (16), Therapeutic Intent or Outcome (49), First Times (2)

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