Frederick Jace
Natural alternatives to opiates and medicines are growing more popular outside Southeast Asia. Kratom has a lengthy history of use in Southeast Asia, the plant’s raw land of origin.
As a mild stimulant and a therapeutic agent, it has been used by many civilizations throughout the years. As with any substance, Kratom is best handled with care.
Like many other remedies, be it natural or not, a bit of knowledge is necessary before usage. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place. Here we’ve prepared a kratom guide for you to learn more about it and explore.
What Is Kratom?
Before diving into anything else, let’s answer the fundamental question of understanding Kratom. What is Kratom, and what is it used for? First, we’ll tackle what Kratom is. Briefly described, Mitragyna speciosa or Kratom is a tropical plant under the coffee family.
There are several African Mitragyna species as well as the native Southeast Asian Mitragyna species.
For the most part, the kratom plant has oval-shaped leaves that are between 100 and 180 millimeters broad.
Kratom products, on the other hand, tend to be in the form of crushed or powder dry leaves with a greenish hue. In addition to powder and capsules, Kratom may also be found in a paste-like form. Some of them also include other extracts, and their hue may vary significantly.
Among Kratom’s most potent ingredients are the alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine, both of which function as stimulants. The existing studies may find analgesic (pain reducing), anti-inflammatory, and relaxing muscle characteristics in these alkaloids.
Higher dosages can induce a sedative effect on the person. Effects last until 6 hours. However, severe adverse effects can come from mixing Kratom with carisoprodol, modafinil, propylhexedrine, or Datura stramonium, so be careful not to mix these.
Southeast Asia has long relied on Kratom as a natural remedy for various health issues. Despite this fact, there is still a lack of study on Kratom for therapeutic uses. Consequently, it has not yet been approved for medicinal use.
What Are Its Uses?
Now that we’ve covered the basics of Kratom let’s move on to the usage. It’s essential to know how Kratom is used in addition to defining what it is.
Traditional uses of the plant were for treating various conditions, such as fever, diarrhea, coughing, and hypertension. Usage of the plant came in multiple forms, such as drinking it as tea, smoking the dried leaves, and chewing the leaves.
Fresh or dried Kratom leaves are eaten or used to produce tea in these situations. Lemon juice and sugar or honey were often used to sweeten the tea. It is recommended that one to three fresh leaves be chewed each serving if possible.
Kratom is also consumed as a stimulant to increase productivity, lessen fatigue and boost moods. Often it is taken to make complex tasks feel more accessible.
Contradictory to that, it can also be used to relax. It’s used to treat pain and, more specifically, as an opioid substitute or a means of easing opiate withdrawal.
What Are Its Effects?
The effects of Kratom on a person will vary depending on the amount of Kratom consumed. For this reason, there are multiple reasons for the customers’ use. Within 5 to 10 minutes, effects start to take effect and can last for 2 to 5 hours after intake.
At Low Doses
Low doses of Kratom are typically around 10 grams per intake. Generally, information of this amount does not interfere with ordinary activities, and effects usually last 1 hour and 30 minutes. Users report an increase in alertness, talkativeness, and social behavior.
It has traditionally been taken orally as a stimulant to increase energy and productivity. This makes it popular for those with strenuous jobs requiring lots of activity or strength and jobs with extended hours.
At High Doses
In larger doses, which are about 20 to 50 grams, it is said to offer calming, anxiolytic effects and is alleged to have analgesic effects. Results last up to six hours.
Take note that serious adverse effects can result from consuming Kratom and other medicines. Kratom tea used with carisoprodol, modafinil, propylhexedrine, or Datura stramonium has been linked to negative medication interactions.
Kratom in Any Dosage
Kratom users have also reported experiencing “The Kratom Hangover.” Anxiety, nausea, and diarrhoea are some of the symptoms of a hangover.
To put it another way, driving or operating heavy machinery while under the influence of this medication is very risky. As a consequence, pregnant women should avoid Kratom. Those who consume heavy doses of kratom while sleeping may experience vomiting and choking.
Is Kratom Safe?
Kratom products have not been regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding product components, alkaloid concentrations, and packaging and labeling requirements.
Therefore Kratom is currently not recognized as a dietary supplement in the United States. There hasn’t been enough clinical research to understand how Kratom affects the body. It is yet to be officially authorized for medicinal usage.
Numerous unfavorable, sensationalized, or otherwise context-free media reports on Kratom. Misleading media headlines imply that Kratom has been proven to cause death despite the lack of data supporting its role in harm.
To regulate Kratom, however, the American Kratom Association (AKA) will create voluntary industry rules via a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Standards Program that will test for purity and impurities.
Quick Rundown
To sum everything up in this guide, Kratom is a plant found in Southeast Asia with growing popularity outside its borders. It contains alkaloids that may have analgesic (pain-relieving), anti-inflammatory, or muscle-relaxing properties.
It can be drunk as tea, smoked, and chewed. Products appear in the form of green or brownish-colored powders, pastes, and capsules. Some are mixed with other leaf extracts.
Kratom in different doses can be used for diverse reasons. Low dosages can boost productivity, alertness, mood, and sociability. Effects take 5 to 10 minutes after ingestion and last about one and a half hours.
There is a program called the American Kratom Association (AKA) Good Manufacturing Standards Program (GMSP) in place to ensure that kratom products are safe for kratom users.
For more information on kratom products, visit Oasis Kratom.
