Kratom extract is made from the leaves of a tropical tree endemic to Southeast Asia called Mitragyna speciosa. The coffee tree family includes the kratom tree (Mitragyna speciosa). Biak, Ketum, Kakuam, Ithang, and Thom are some of the other names for Kratom. For millennia, Kratom has been utilized as a herbal treatment. Kratom has been utilized to cure a variety of ailments in the past. It’s been used to treat melancholy, anxiety, and opiate withdrawal symptoms, as well as reduce pain, exhaustion, and enhance energy and focus.
Kratom comes in various forms, including chopped or whole leaves, powder extracts like the White Maeng Da kratom capsules, liquid extracts, pills, or capsules. Kratom leaves can be chewed. Additional routes of administration include smoking or brewing dried kratom leaves.
How does Kratom function?
Kratom has two active ingredients: mitragynine and 7–hydroxymitragynine. Both of these substances have psychoactive effects on the brain. Depending on the dosage, kratom can elicit either opioid-like or stimulant-like effects. When used in significant doses, the opioid components of kratom can elicit sensations of drowsiness, pleasure, and pain relief. In tiny doses, mitragynine in kratom causes stimulant-like effects such as increased energy, sociability, and heightened focus and alertness.
Kratom has been used to self-treat opiate withdrawal symptoms and as an opioid replacement. While kratom is not FDA-approved in the United States, purchasing and consuming it is not prohibited. It is important to highlight that there is no scientific proof that kratom is safe or beneficial in treating opiate withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, the FDA issued a caution discouraging the public from using kratom due to a lack of study regarding its safety profile.
What exactly are MOUDs?
Opioid use disorder (MOUD) medications are an important tool for those who are addicted to opioids. This pharmacological component’s effectiveness in therapy has been demonstrated in several studies. To far, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized three drugs to treat opioid use disorder (OUD): methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. All brand-name MOUD prescriptions contain one or more of these three drugs. Bunavail, Belbuca, Subutex, Suboxone, Naltrexone (Vivitrol), Sublocade, and ZubSolv are some common brand names.
Other non-FDA-approved drugs are used by individuals to self-treat OUD. These drugs are not supported by evidence, and therefore are not recommended by doctors. Herbal medicines are frequently used as alternative self-treatment drugs. The natural supplement kratom and its use in the context of OUD are discussed in this article.
Final Thoughts
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Kratom is the term given to a tree that grows in Southeast Asia’s tropics and whose leaves contain mind-altering qualities.
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Although there are no recognized medical applications for kratom in the United States, it is now legal and freely accessible online for anyone looking to buy kratom pills, as well as in certain stores as a supplement, gum, or herbal extract.
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There are differing opinions on the usage and safety of kratom. Some advocate kratom as a natural and safe method to enhance energy, reduce pain, or improve mood, while others regard it as a dangerous drug that causes unpleasant side effects and addiction.
