It’s true that Kratom is making waves in health-oriented circles, especially throughout Southeast Asia. But more recently, kratom has made its way westward to social circles in the United States, where folks interested in pain relief, energy, focus, and mood enhancement, have turned to using kratom.

What is Kratom?

First and foremost, let’s delve into the “what” behind kratom. What is kratom?

Kratom, known in scientific circles as Mitragyna speciosa, is an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea. The tree leaves have medicinal purposes, believed to be a natural remedy due to the active compounds within, like alkaloids that activate when the leaves are chewed.

In low amounts, kratom is used as a stimulant to increase energy, alertness, and social responsiveness. The natural leaves are believed to help with chronic pain and tension at high doses.

But how effective is kratom, and is it safe to use? In the West, various studies have cropped up detailing kratom’s effects and usage cases, so let’s dive into a few!

Case Study #1: Treating Alcohol Use Disorder

Recently, Purdue University performed a Study on the alkaloids of kratom and their effectiveness when treating alcohol use disorder. In the study, as reported by the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a staggering 14.5 million people ages 12 and up suffer from an alcohol use disorder.

While testing kratom as a solution, the researchers at Purdue found that “synthesizing a derivative of kratom alkaloid speciogynine”, especially at high potencies, could effectively curb alcohol intake and desire.

Case Study #2: Improving Male Sexual Health

In another study by Taylor & Francis Online, researchers investigate how kratom could help male sexual health. More specifically, the team wanted to discover how kratom could directly impact erectile and ejaculatory function.

According to the results, males surveyed between the ages of 18 to 40 years old, using kratom at least once per week, found an overall positive boost to their sexual health. Approximately 37.7% of the case study group had a positive experience, leading to fewer premature ejaculation instances.

Case Study #3: Boosting Respiratory Effects

In a study performed by various researchers in an investigation of the respiratory effects of mitragynine in rodent models, the results were once again favorable. The team discovered that, across the globe, individuals were consuming kratom leaves orally but were concerned about respiratory depressant overdose risks.

In their findings, the team found that mitragynine did not lead to life-threatening effects. Instead, at the highest dose in their rodent case study, they learned of sedative-like effects that eased any discomfort.

Case Study #4: Eight-Factor Analysis of Kratom

In 2022, the School of Pharmacy, Concordia University Wisconsin, as part of a semester-long project, explored kratom and performed an eight-factor analysis similar to that by which legislation would regulate or control a substance of this nature.

In their initial resting, the researchers found that kratom may be a potentially positive treatment option for those suffering from opioid withdrawal. Secondly, they found that kratom alkaloids have a lower dependency liability than morphine, making it an ideal treatment alternative for discomfort and pain in certain cases.

Case Study #5: Risk of Death in Kratom vs. Opioids

A team of doctors publishing a study for Science Direct delved into the dangers of kratom. Specifically, the PhD-laden team wanted to better understand the risk of death when comparing kratom to general opioids within the United States. Their findings were remarkable, to say the least.

The study discovered that the risk of overdose death was 1,000 times greater in opioids than in kratom. Furthermore, the risk was many thousands of times higher in heroin than in kratom. However, the team calls for more studies to better understand the risks associated with regular kratom usage.

Case Study #6: Therapeutic Effects and Low Abuse Potential

In a survey of adult kratom users, Johns Hopkins found that an estimated 10-16 million people in the United States use kratom regularly by eating the ground leaves or brewing a tea or coffee-like drink from them.

This begged the question about therapeutic effects and the potential for abuse, and so the team went to work. Their findings indicate minimal risks despite the growing number of Western kratom users. In fact, Albert Garcia-Romeu, Ph.D., an instructor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins, said, “Kratom doesn’t belong in the category of a Schedule I drug because there seems to be a relatively low rate of abuse potential, and there may be medical applications to explore.”

When it comes to tracking down and buying kratom for sale, trust reputable sources for the highest-quality products! If you’re unsure about kratom’s benefits or effects, speak with your doctor before use.

Image Sources (no need to include this in the post, just here for reference)

1  https://unsplash.com/photos/_zdARSmCZh4

2  https://unsplash.com/photos/m-gqDRzbJLQ

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