Heidi Sykora is a retired nurse practitioner, former health care executive, and the volunteer chief scientific officer of the International Plant and Herbal Alliance. Her writing and advocacy focus on evidence-based interventions that improve patient outcomes and experiences.
Her career has encompassed clinical education, public health policy, and regulatory reform, with special emphasis on misinformation, caregiver support, and safe access to plant-based and alternative therapies. She has also written policy advocacy articles through the American Kratom Association.
Her published work spans clinical research, continuing education, book chapters, and public health commentary, with recent contributions appearing in Home Healthcare Now, the Chicago Daily Herald, and Nursing CE Central. A representative sample includes "The case for regulating, not banning, kratom," "A custodian helped this nurse manage a patient with hospital delirium," and "Rural Family Caregiving: When Resources Are Scarce," her chapter in 10 Nursing Interventions for Family Caregivers: Guide to Best Practices in Adult-Gerontology Patient Care.
Professional updates and advocacy work are available on LinkedIn.
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) has become a topic of significant debate among clinicians, policymakers, and the public due to differing views on its safety, pharmacology, and regulatory requirements. A recent article raises important concerns about kratom’s pharmacological actions, potential for addiction, psychiatric risks, and regulatory challenges. Although the goal of protecting public health is admirable, it is crucial that discussions around kratom are rooted in current scientific evidence and avoid …
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The case for regulating, not banning, kratom
