Kratom is a tropical perennial tree descendant from the coffee family which is native to Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and other South Asian countries. Excerpts from the leaves have been used as a sedative or stimulant and often used for the treatment of chronic pain, digestive problems and for assisting individuals with opium withdrawal symptoms.

There is not enough research done through clinical trials to support the health effects of using kratom. Therefore, it hasn’t been scientifically approved for medical use.

It is not illegal to use kratom in the United States, but it’s illegal in Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, and several other European countries. In the States, kratom is generally promoted as alternative medicine and can be bought from retailers who sell alternative remedies and supplements.

Small doses of kratom have been reported to work effectively as a stimulant. Patients who have taken low doses reported feeling more alert, sociable, and having more energy. High doses of kratom can lead to dulling sensations and emotions, generating euphoric effects, and being sedative. The two main active ingredients in kratom are 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine. Evidence suggests that these alkaloids can have anti-inflammatory properties, muscle relaxant effects, and pain-relieving possessions.

And for this reason, kratom is often taken to ease symptoms of fibromyalgia. When you buy kratom , it is generally available in fortified powder form light brown or green color, tablet form, capsules or in a paste. Kratom is mostly brewed to make tea for opioid withdrawal or pain management in the United States.

According to the EMCDDA, small doses of a few grams of kratom can produce stimulant effects which can kick in after ten minutes of ingesting it and can last for up to one and a half hours. These effects include:

• Giddiness

• Alertness

• Sociability

• Lessened motor coordination

Larger doses of between ten and twenty-five grams of the dried leaves can have soothing properties and feelings of euphoria and calmness. This could last up to six hours.

The effects of kratom have not been studied comprehensively. Therefore, it is not officially recommended for medical application. New drug development is generally studied through clinical trials to help identify persistent harmful interactions or effects with other drugs. This can help determine the dosages which are effective or dangerous. Kratom can have a potentially strong effect on the human body, and it contains some of the alkaloids found in opium and hallucinogenic mushrooms. Alkaloids have resilient physical effects on humans. While some are positive, others can be a cause for concern. This is why it is so essential to have more studies conducted on this drug since safe usage has not been established. Mitragynine, the psychoactive alkaloid found in kratom can cause side effects such as nausea, insomnia, tremors, sweating, and hallucinations. The FDA has not regulated production of kratom since they don’t typically monitor purity or safety of herbs.