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Today, I advocate for safe access to plant-based therapies-especially kratom-because I’ve
lived what the data often overlooks.
I live with multiple rare and painful conditions, including Chiari Malformation, Tethered
Spinal Cord, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Hereditary Alpha Tryptasemia, and Thoracic Outlet
Syndrome. After exhausting pharmaceutical options and experiencing serious adverse
effects, I found kratom to be the only effective and tolerable solution for pain control.
Kratom reduces my pain enough to stretch and exercise, which prevents further injuries
and debility. It improves my focus, balance, and sleep. I’ve taken it safely for over six years
without side effects. Thanks to natural leaf kratom, I can enjoy time with my grandchildren
and maintain a better quality of life.
I’ve also witnessed natural leaf kratom’s benefits for Veterans with PTSD, individuals with
rare neuromuscular conditions, and those recovering from substance use disorders.
I support the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) because it ensures that adults who
benefit from kratom have access to safe, tested, and accurately labeled products.
For me, it’s kratom or nothing. And for many others, it’s hope.
Selected Publications
• Home Care and the Patient Taking Kratom. Home Healthcare Now, 2025. PubMed
PMID: 40019266
Dr. Heidi Sykora, DNP, GNP-BC (Retired)
Retired Nurse Practitioner, Healthcare Executive, and Advocate for Safe
Access to Plant-Based Therapies
I’m a retired Nurse Practitioner and healthcare executive with
more than three decades of experience leading clinical
innovation and patient-centered care. I’ve directed multihospital
oncology programs, opened the region’s only post-acute brain
injury unit, and was honored with the Milwaukee Biz Times
Healthcare Hero Award for visionary leadership. I’ve taught at
the graduate level and held advanced certifications in geriatrics,
oncology, brain injury, and clinical nursing.
• Kratom: A Nurse Practitioner’s Perspective on Patient-Centered Regulation.
KevinMD, 2024. Read article
Contact
Heidi Sykora, DNP, GNP-BC (Retired)
25921 W. Elmwood Ave, Wauconda, IL 60084
Heidi.sykora1@gmail.com | 262-573-7848