What are Kratom and How do They Affect the Body?
Table of Contents
Kratom is a psychoactive plant that has been used as traditional herbal medicine and medicinal herb in several parts of Southeast Asia for thousands of years.
A literature review reveals that centuries ago kratom has become part of the plant consumed by people, especially those who live in southern Thailand and northern Malaysia. Green malay kratom is a “strain” of Kratom that is one of the most popular for its all day energy and sense of feel-good it brings!
Since a long time ago, people used to consume kratom leaves as a stimulant herb which is believed to have the power to boost work productivity and get rid of fatigue. They usually consume kratom leaves by chewing them like betel leaves or brewing them like tea.
This plant grows in tropical countries in several Southeast Asian countries. Kratom is exploding in the US as a natural alternative to medicines that can help with energy, focus and help with aches and pains. Kratom has recently become widely known in several European countries because it is considered efficacious as a recreational medical alternative.
Kratom is sold and marketed like a supplement in the form of capsules and fine powder. Apart from being labeled as effective as a recreational herbal pain reliever, kratom is also for users who want to get rid of drug addiction.
Health Benefits of Kratom Leaves
Kratom has been used by many people, especially in Southeast Asia, to treat various medical conditions traditionally.
The following is a list of the properties of kratom leaves which are commonly used as herbal medicine, namely:
1. Stimulant Drugs
The benefits of kratom leaves are a stimulant drug when consumed in low doses. Stimulants are drugs to stimulate energy and alertness. According to the European Center for Drug and Drug Addiction Monitoring (EMCDDA), people who use kratom feel the effects of being more alert, energized, and feeling comfortable socializing outside. The effects of kratom can be felt after 10 minutes of consuming Mitragyna speciosa and can last for about 1 ½ hours.
2. Overcoming Various Medical Conditions
Kratom leaves are also used as an antipyretic or fever-reducing drug, antitussive or cough reliever, and antihypertensive or agent to lower blood pressure. Other benefits of kratom leaves are traditional herbal remedies for treating diarrhea, but all the properties of these leaves are just anecdotal notes and there have been no medical clinical trials.
3. Pain Relief
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has conducted a study that kratom contains opioid or pain-relieving properties. Kratom also contains more than 20 alkaloids which are useful as pain relievers. This content has a role and effects like opioids, but its use in the medical world is still being studied.
4. Analgesic Agent
Kratom has active ingredients, namely alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine. Both of these active ingredients have an effect as analgesic drugs or pain relievers. Kratom also acts as an anti-inflammatory and relaxing for muscles.
5. Stop Addiction to Other Opioid Drugs
The benefits of kratom leaves are not only as an alternative to opioid drugs, but also function to stop addiction symptoms from heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs that you previously consumed. Kratom is a herbal medicine that is considered to be more effective and safer to stop addiction. Kratom can prevent addiction to opioid drugs that you previously consumed, but consumption of kratom in high doses can actually give you an addictive effect on these leaves. There have been no clinical trials on the efficacy of kratom leaves as a medical drug. Recent reports state that the kratom drug has many side effects until the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of kratom drugs in several countries.
