What is kratom?
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical evergreen tree in
the coffee family. It’s native to Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, and other South
Asian countries.
The leaves, or ingredients from the leaves, have been
used as a stimulant and a sedative. It’s also been reported for treating chronic
pain, digestive system ailments, and as an aid for withdrawal from opium
dependence.
However , there haven’t been enough clinical trials to help
understand the health effects of Starlight Kratom. It also hasn’t been approved for
medical use.
Read on to learn what is known about kratom.
Is it
legal?
Kratom is legal in the United States. However , it’s not legal in
Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, and several European Union countries.
In
the United States, kratom is usually marketed as an alternative medicine. You
can find it in stores that sell supplements and alternative
medicines.
Why and how do people use it?
At low doses, kratom has
been reported to work like a stimulant. People who have used low doses generally
report having more energy, being more alert, and feeling more sociable. At
higher doses, kratom has been reported as being sedative, producing euphoric
effects, and dulling emotions and sensations.
The main active ingredients
of kratom are the alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. There is
evidence that these alkaloids can have analgesic (pain relieving),
anti-inflammatory, or muscle relaxant effects. For this reason, kratom is often
used to ease symptoms of fibromyalgia.
The plant’s dark green leaves are
usually dried and either crushed or powdered. You can find fortified kratom
powders, usually green or light brown in color. These powders also contain
concentrated amounts from other plants.
Kratom is also available in
paste, capsule, and tablet form. In the United States, kratom is mostly brewed
as a tea for the self-management of pain and opioid withdrawal.
Stimulant
effects
According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs as well as Drug
Addiction (EMCDDA), a small dose that produces stimulant effects is just a few
grams. The effects usually happen within 10 minutes after ingesting it and can
last up to 1 .5 hours. These effects can
include:
alertness
sociability
giddiness
reduced motor
coordination
Sedative effects
A larger dose of between 10 and 25 grams of
dried leaves can have a sedative effect, with feelings of calmness and also
euphoria. This could last for up to six hours.
