Thanks to the internet and the exchange of cultures, Western medicine is starting to learn more from traditional practices that has harness the benefits of certain plants. One such plant is Mitragyna speciosa, or Kratom, an evergreen tree in the coffee family. Native to Southeast Asia, communities in Indonesia and Thailand have been using Kratom as medicine for centuries, usually chewing on the leaves or grinding it down into a fine powder to brew into tea.
Now that Kratom is known in the US and is already being sold by kratom vendors online, different groups are now conducting kratom studies to learn more about how it works, its benefits, and possible side effects. So what do the current kratom studies have to say about this new botanical supplement?
What Does The Science Tell Us?
There is no short supply of anecdotal evidence of kratom’s usefulness, even outside of Southeast Asia where its use began. Many have claimed that either chewing the leaves or brewing it into tea has helped them relieve pain, fatigue, and anxiety as well as improving the user’s mood. The good news is that current kratom studies are confirming these benefits. But what’s most important is its potential in treating opioid addiction and relief from withdrawal symptoms. With an ongoing opioid epidemic in the US, claiming thousands of lives each year, a viable alternative to opioids and a treatment to opioid addiction is extremely valuable.
A study published in 2018, led by The University of Rochester Medical Center and the University of British Columbia, reviewed 57 years of international scientific evidence and pointed to the potential benefits of kratom as a safer substitute to opioids and even suggested the plant’s potential to reduce negative mood and relive anxiety. At the time, this represented the largest systematic review of literature on kratom use and mental health.
In a controlled animal study conducted by the University of Florida, researchers found that kratom delivered significant pain-relieving effects, reduced opioid withdrawal symptoms, and caused minimal respiratory depression. The study evaluated lyophilized kratom tea (LKT), which contains more than 20 organic compounds and administered this in animal models. The study found that its pain relieving effects originate from interactions with mu-opioid receptors that regulate physiological response to pain medicines. Morphine-dependent animals were also given LKT in varying doses and found that, even in low-doses, LKT significantly reduced withdrawal symptoms. It was also found that LKT did not induce respiratory depression, a common side effect with opioid medications where a person’s breathing rate slows, even to the point of death. “What we learned was that across a wide dosing range – all the way up to the average human equivalence dose that people use – kratom was very safe and did not affect respiration or coordination” said Dr. Chris McCurdy, PH. D., a professor of medicinal chemistry in the UF.
A Safer Industry Through Science And Regulation
With the body of knowledge growing and current kratom studies coming out, kratom fans can be hopeful for a larger market of kratom products that are well made and very safe. In its current state, the kratom market is still new in the US and Europe, which has allowed for many different retailers of kratom products. The lack of regulation has also allowed for bad players to peddle adulterated products that could have exaggerated levels of the active compounds or even include other harmful substances. Because of this, some countries in the EU have scheduled kratom and have banned its sale and possession out of fear of harmful products. The good news is, these kratom studies counteract that fear and slowly educate people. There are also groups pushing for the regulation of kratom. Such is the case in Oregon where House Bill 2646 seeks to create regulations that will allow for a kratom industry that provides safe and reliable products for consumers.
Do Your Research And Learn More With Dakind Botanicals
As it gets easier to find kratom vendors online, it’s still important that you do your own research so you can understand the supplements you’re taking and how they impact our bodies. Resources on kratom are easy to find thanks to the internet and many sites offer pools of valuable information on kratom. You can look up studies similar to the ones mentioned earlier or get straight to the point by reading kratom FAQs. You can learn more and easily purchase kratom once you’re ready all in one site with Dakind Botanicals.
