What Is Kratom?

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Do you want to learn more about Kratom? Are you considering getting Kratom capsules? Then, this post is just for you as it is the ultimate guide to Kratom. In recent times, red Malay kratom has become extremely popular. The red-veined Malay Kratom Capsules are milled to a fine powder and each capsule offers 0.5 grams of powder. For those of you that do not know, Kratom is a tree that can be found in South Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Thailand. The leaves of the Kratom tree have been used as medicine traditionally. These days Kratom leaves are used for creating recreational drugs.

Kratom is an herb that offers relief from anxiety, depression, and pain. Scientists believe that it could help treat chronic pain and might offer an effective way to combat opium addiction. Kratom contains substances that attach themselves to nerve cells to create a similar effect as opioid painkillers in the brain. However, more research is needed to come to be certain. Moreover, doctors are concerned with its addictive nature and serious side effects. It is due to this reason that Kratom-based products have been banned in several states and is considered a controlled substance in some European countries, Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

So What Is Kratom?

Kratom is a tree located in South East Asia that is known for its many benefits. Its leaves are used for pain relief. They are commonly crushed and ground for consumption. Moreover, Kratom leaves are also brewed as tea, eaten raw, or turned into liquids, tablets, and capsules. Kratom can act as a stimulant in low doses. However, if taken in large quantities, it would act as a sedative. The DEA has been cautious about the availability of Kratom-based products due to the likelihood of psychological addiction and psychotic symptoms. Thus, Kratom is on the list of chemicals and drugs of the DEA for quite some time now. But, its use is only increasing.

How Does Kratom Work?

To better understand the benefits of Kratom and its side effects, one has to first understand how Kratom works. Studies on mice have revealed that Kratom targets the part of their brain which also responds to other drugs such as fentanyl, codeine, and morphine (also referred to as opioids). However, according to a study, it was found that Kratom consists of a synthetic compound, unlike morphine which does not cause any harmful side effects such as breathing or constipation. More studies are needed to gain a better insight into the merits of Kratom as it is potentially less addictive than opioids that cause respiratory depression. Evidence from research on Kratom has been promising so far. Kratom is still poorly understood. It might be the answer to opioid addiction. There have been incidences where Kratom helped opioid addicts to recover from opioid withdrawals. Hence, there is a lot of potential for Kratom. It might be able to treat a wide range of addictions and mental issues.

How Should Kratom Be Used?

Kratom leaves were used in cooking, brewed into tea, or chewed in the past. However, these days it is common for people to use Kratom-based pills. It is also smoked like marijuana or tobacco. When it comes to understanding how Kratom should be used, one has to understand that different doses have different effects.

For instance, when consumed in low doses, Kratom works as a stimulant. It makes you feel energetic. On the other hand, when consumed in high doses, it will make users experience a dreamlike state or drowsiness. Hence, people must use Kratom in low doses. Besides just providing them with more energy, Kratom also makes them feel more sociable and alert. If anyone takes higher doses of Kratom, they will experience a dulling of sensations and emotions, while producing euphoric effects. Alkaloids such as 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine are the main active ingredients found in Kratom. Evidence shows that these alkaloids allow one to benefit from pain relief, muscle relaxant effects, and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, Kratom might be the answer to the treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms.

The dark green leaves of the plant are dried, crushed, and powdered. Fortified Kratom powders have become increasingly popular. They have a light brown or green color. Moreover, these powders also consist of other plant extracts. Kratom is available in tablets, capsules, and paste forms. It is mostly brewed in the United States and used for the self-management of opioid withdrawal and pain.

Stimulant Effects of Kratom

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction had conducted an extensive study on the effects of Kratom and found that a small dose produces stimulant effects. Usually, the effects happen within just ten minutes upon ingestion. The effects are known to last for about 1.5 hours. Some of the effects include reduced motor coordination, giddiness, sociability, and alertness.

Side Effects of Kratom

Some of the most common side effects of Kratom use include constipation and nausea. Other side effects are mentioned below.

  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures
  • Dry Mouth
  • Dizziness
  • Sweating
  • Itching
  • Liver Damage
  • Muscle Tremors

Is Kratom Addictive?

One of the main questions that people tend to have in mind is if Kratom is addictive. Some people that regularly use Kratom have reported issues with fevers, diarrhea, insomnia, and pain after stopping to use it. Many of them reported feeling sad, angry, tense, or nervous when they stopping taking Kratom anymore.

Is Kratom Safe?

According to the FDA, there are no approved uses of Kratom. Thus, it has been a serious concern for quite some time. However, more research is required to determine if it is safe or not. The agency has been very strict when it comes to cracking down on companies selling Kratom-based products.

Conclusion

Kratom-based products offer a ton of benefits. They are used by many people from around the world. Kratom is legal in the US. It is even marketed as alternative medicine in America. Many stores offer Kratom supplements.