Kratom – Health Benefits and Uses
The bottom line
Kratom is a tropical tree from Southeast Asia. Its main compounds bind to the same brain receptors as opioid drugs. FDA has not approved kratom for any medical use and warns consumers not to use it because of the risk of liver toxicity, seizures and substance use disorder. It has not been shown to be safe and effective for opioid withdrawal or any other medical use.
This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.
Key takeaways
- Kratom itself may be addictive. Regular users may get withdrawal symptoms if they stop, and newborns exposed to kratom before birth have shown withdrawal signs.
- Using kratom with other drugs has been linked to deaths and severe side effects such as liver problems. More research is needed on kratom drug interactions.
- FDA has warned the public when some kratom products were contaminated with Salmonella or concerning levels of heavy metals.
- Kratom is not approved for opioid withdrawal. Safe and effective medicines are approved for opioid withdrawal and cravings, so talk with your health care provider about treatment.
- Kratom is not lawfully sold in the U.S. as a drug, a dietary supplement or an ingredient added to food.
Mitragyna speciosa, better known as Kratom, is a traditional herb native to Southeast Asia and thanks to its tremendous benefits, it’s taking the west by storm. Farmworkers in Southeast Asian countries know Kratom benefits and would commonly brew it into tea or chew fresh leaves to give them more focus and energy when working. Kratom leaves contain over 40 compounds and more than 25 alkaloids, but most scientific research focuses on Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine, both of which bind to the same receptors in the brain as opioid drugs such as codeine. Its medicinal properties have a long-established history in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, and for your peace of mind, we will discuss the most common Kratom benefits.
Benefits of Kratom
Kratom is rich in analgesic properties and can impact the hormonal system to relieve pain throughout your body. When the leaves are chewed, the amount of dopamine and serotonin in the body increases to further alleviate the pain. Pain relief is one of the most celebrated Kratom health benefits, but apart from that, this plant has some euphoric effects. When consumed, it triggers the secretion of feel-good hormones within the body and supplies the muscles with a sudden burst of energy that impacts your workouts and increases sexual vitality.
Health benefits of Kratom
The following are 5 health benefits people claim for Kratom. However, kratom has not been shown to be safe and effective for any medical use.
- Pain relief
Pain is classified based on its origin and the part of the body it affects. For instance, it can be classified into neuropathic and nociceptive pain. Nociceptive pain results from physical injury to tendon, muscles or tissue, while neuropathic pain is induced by chronic conditions like cancer, arthritis, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Pain affects the body from the psychological and physical aspects, and researchers have not proven kratom to be safe or effective for treating pain or for any other medical purpose. The alkaloids present in Kratom act on the opiate receptors in the brain to enhance the release of endorphins and enkephalins to numb pain receptors in your body.
- Immune booster
A weak immune system can hardly resist even simple infections such as cold, and therefore, we all require a strong immune system for a healthy living. Some people regard Kratom as an immune booster, but researchers have not proven kratom to be safe or effective for any medical purpose. For instance, alkaloids Isorhynchopylline and Isoptreropodine stimulate the immune system, Iso Mitraphylline works as an anti-leukemic agent, and Mitragynine is believed to be a diuretic and antihypertensive.
- Reduce stress, anxiety and depression
If you suffer from depression or anxiety or you’re prone to stress, you will love the ability of Kratom to soothe the nerves and elevate your mood. According to research, Kratom is a psychoactive substance and triggers the release of serotonin and endorphins, which eventually enhance your mood. When you’re anxious, its calming effect can ease tension to make you feel comfortable in any situation. However, kratom products have not been demonstrated to be safe and effective for any medical condition. Discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider.
- Anti-inflammatory agent
With more than 25 alkaloids present in Kratom, some have been tested and proven to have anti-inflammatory capabilities. Alkaloids with anti-inflammatory benefits are Rhynchophylline and Epicatechin, but researchers have not proven kratom to be safe or effective for any medical purpose.
- Heart health
Kratom has not been shown to protect the heart. People who use kratom have reported a rapid heart rate, and rare but serious side effects reported with kratom include high blood pressure. Researchers continue to study possible damage to the cardiovascular system.
Kratom uses and benefits
In Southeast Asian countries, Kratom has been used for hundreds of years as a pain reliever, mild stimulant and as a way of weaning off of opioids. Manual laborers and farmers brew tea from Kratom leaves to help fight the pain and fatigue associated with physical labor. Some people use kratom to try to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms, but kratom has not been shown to be safe and effective for this or any other medical use, and kratom itself may have the potential to be addictive. Safe and effective medications are approved to help control withdrawal symptoms and cravings associated with opioid use disorder. It is also used by people with a busy lifestyle and students to improve motivation and increase focus. Kratom can also combat diarrhea, aid weight loss, and cognition enhancement.
Kratom powder benefits
Traditionally, Kratom leaves were picked fresh and chewed or brewed into a tea for the effects the plant produces. Today, Kratom is distributed throughout the world through online stores and for the leaves to last longer, they are picked fresh upon maturity, left in the sun to dry naturally and then ground into a fine powder. Kratom powder is more concentrated than leaves hence more potent and has a diverse method of consumption.
The powder can be used to make tea or mixed into any other drink of the user’s choice. However, FDA has determined that kratom, when added to food, is an unsafe food additive. Kratom itself may have the potential to be addictive, and regular kratom users may experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop using it. Kratom powder is convenient to store, carry and use, and it can be encapsulated. However, kratom products vary, so effects are difficult to predict.
Maeng Da Kratom benefits
Maeng Da was created using a unique technique known as grafting, where tissues from several plants were joined together to breed different features of each plant into one Kratom strain. White Maeng Da, is, therefore, one of the strongest and finest strains of Kratom with high potency and amazing benefits to the human body. It is distinguished by its high amount of alkaloid and dark leaves that turn green when powdered or crushed. Kratom Krush has the purest form of White Maeng Da which you can buy to avail its maximum benefits.
Maeng Da is available in three vein colors – green, red and white, meaning that you can have a different experience depending on the strain color you take. Like all kratom, Maeng Da has not been shown to be safe and effective for any medical use.
When consumed, the alkaloids in Maeng Da interact with the opioid receptors in the brain to produce different effects such as sedative and pain-relieving effects, among others. It is more stimulating than other strains with powerful energy and mood-enhancing effects. Maeng Da could be a viable choice for individuals looking forward to increasing energy in the morning and improving the clarity and focus to face challenges throughout the day. Maeng Da is also celebrated for its ability to increase productivity and decrease fatigue.
Kratom tea benefits
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you wake up? Is it preparing and sipping something hot? If yes, you can take Kratom tea as it provides a fast onset as well as more energetic effects. People who use kratom have reported both stimulant-like effects (increased energy, alertness, rapid heart rate) and effects like those of opioids and sedatives (relaxation, pain relief, confusion). You can learn more about Kratom tea benefits.
Some people ask, why Kratom tea, whereas I can take Kratom in other ways? Well, first things first, Kratom tea tastes better as you can adjust the flavor using honey, sugar or lime, and most importantly, it is less likely to cause digestive stress. When you add lime or lemon to your tea, the citric acid becomes a potentiator for Kratom which helps certain alkaloids in Kratom to dissolve fast, thus improving bioavailability. What’s more, sipping Kratom tea reduces negative side effects such as digestive upset.
Bottom line
FDA has warned consumers not to use kratom because of the risk of serious adverse events, including liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder. For recreation purposes, it can be used to enhance physical endurance and elevate mood. Kratom has not been shown to be safe and effective for any medical use, including to lessen symptoms of opiate withdrawal or to improve sexual performance. Kratom is not lawfully marketed in the U.S. as a drug product, a dietary supplement, or a food additive in conventional food, and harmful contaminants such as heavy metals and disease-causing bacteria have been found in some kratom products.
