SAN
608
OPINION
7A
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2008
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
COMMENTARY
Natural herb flavors students' day
For students seeking non-alcoholic alternative, Kratom tea provides all that is needed to have fun, stay warm
Every time I walk outside into freezing temperatures of winter, the cold seems to grab hold of me and slam me right back inside of my apartment where I can thaw my frozen body.
It's pathetic to see how much time I spend at home on the weekends because of the weather, but I've found a solution for my reclusive state, and it's called Kratom tea.
It seems a little silly, but what I absolutely love to do is stay inside with a couple of friends and drink tea instead of going to a house party where everyone is uncomfortably packed inside trying to stay warm.
But these tea parties that I have don't consist of crumpets and old British women surrounding a table with gossip stories.
In fact, these parties are nothing like that because after about two strong cups of Kratom tea, one will become very chatty and energetic.
As the consumer's body loosens up, so does one's attitude, and then a vibe of euphoria is spread thick over the whole tea party. It's a positive experience for anyone that drinks it, and I'd drink it over alcohol any day, especially when it's cold outside.
Depending on the dose, a small amount of Kratom is considered a stimulant, and when high dosages are consumed it is supposed to be sedating.
I've read that drinking Kratom actually alleviates opium and pain killer addictions and is also used to cure fevers and headaches. Also, it motivates people to be active and increases energy.
This herb originated in Thailand, and many workers and farmers would use Kratom to strengthen their desire to work. Some workers used it constantly and developed an addiction, but it is highly uncommon for occasional users to become addicted.
Therefore, the possibility of forming a habit of drinking Kratom
is very slim
But just like every good thing, there is a catch to Kratom. It was actually banned in Thailand in 1943.
After it was declared illegal, possessing Kratom and planting Kratom trees was forbidden.
Kratom is also illegal in Malaysia, Burma, and most recently in Australia, but is legal anywhere in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Although it is illegal in some areas of the world, I believe it is a great tea to drink during social occasions.
It's sold at Persephone's Journey on Massachusetts Street, which is having a sale for $18 per ounce. Originally, an ounce is $28.
Prices are increasing because of the growing popularity of the tea, but it is definitely worth a try.
After buying the tea, boil water,
then pour it over the leaves in a cup.
After it steeps, the taste is a bit like
an earl greed tea, but better.
This natural herb is a fantastic way to spend a night rather than going out into the cold and waking up the next morning with a horrible hangover. Although it's a bit more expensive than alcohol, the experience is worth any amount of money.
Thus, have fun with it and drink responsibly.
Osterhaus is a Seneca sophomore in journalism.
Gavin Snider
>> COMMENTARY
Holiday season brings more than gifts
Despite constant reminders, advertising by Watkins, some students still make excuses instead of getting their shots
I'm just coming off my holiday extravaganza high, looking forward to the New Year when it hits me, "it" being the flu or some other equally annoying illness.
This always happens. Always.
As I lay huddled in bed, shivering under enough clothes to survive in the Arctic, with nothing to do
except add to the mini mountain of used tissues beside my bed. I had plenty of time to think, coming up with such philosophical thoughts as "Where does all the snot come from?" Like the snot mystery, I also tried to figure out why I never manage to get a flu shot.
It's not as if I wasn't aware flu shots were available. At the University, I was constantly reminded. Last semester you couldn't walk five feet on campus without noticing information for a flu clinic chalked on the sidewalk beneath your feet, not to mention inevitably passing the actual flu clinics held throughout the semester in practically every building on campus. It was more like
For two reasons: first, I never actually intended to get the shot. Sure, the part of my mind that takes the form of my mother told me I needed to get it because every year I get sick. Yet the rest of me, the procrastinating part, knew I'd never actually do it. Getting a shot is just one of those things in life that is
I had to avoid the flu clinics rather than try to find one. As if that wasn't reminder enough, I passed Watkins Memorial Health Center every time I walked between class and my car. To my procrastinating mind, that building was a constant reminder that I still hadn't gotten the flu shot.
So with all this availability, why didn't I just get the shot?
necessary, but no one enjoys. It's one of the things that even the most organized people put at the bottom of their priority list. Whenever the thought of getting the flu shot popped into my mind, I pushed the unpleasant image away, reassuring myself I would just get it later, while knowing perfectly well I never would.
which usually means it happens at the most inconvenient moment. This is how my refusal to get a shot turned my post-holiday veg time into two miserable weeks of daytime television and doctor visits.
The second reason I never got the shot was because when you're perfectly healthy, only hypochondriacs think about the possibility of getting sick in the future.
However much I try to explain my refusal to get a shot, my reasons always seem ridiculous when I'm sick and seriously regretting my refusal. So now that I'm feeling better, with this learning experience behind me, will I get a flu shot next year?
When considering getting the flu shot, the first thought that always pops into my head is "I won't get sick." Nobody pre-plans getting sick.
No need. I won't get sick
Hudson is a Wichita sophomore in journalism and business.
I've invented a new word:"Fugg boots."
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish.
The guys you're complaining about are frat guys. They don't have brains
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You should "DEFINATELY" learn how to spell DEFINITELY.
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Fugg boots? First off,
that's two words, and
second, that's very old
and not new at all.
》 FREE FOR ALL
So single and ready to mingle!
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To those enrolled in HIST 348: The computer in our classroom is not for you to check your email on before class.
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Isn't there some law against making students walk to class when it's well below freezing?
It's 12 degrees. So explain to me — guy wearing shorts, guy wearing sandals and guy wearing T-shirt — what the hell you are thinking.
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Can we please get more Kansans delivered to Green Hall? They are always gone by the time I get to class.
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Should I drop my Thermo II class for Geog 100? I really cannot make up my mind.
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Yeah, I know: Stupid women. We can't even dunk. We waste time on giving birth and crap like that.
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Can I get a "wooh,
wooh" for a four-day
week?
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Basketball posters start Wednesday.
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