What is Kratom?

Kratom is the leaf of the Mitragyna speciosa, a large tree grown in southeast Asia. Other names for Kratom include: ithang, kokum, biak biak, ketum, and thom.

Traditional and historical uses:
Traditionally, Kratom has been used both as an herbal drug and for medicinal purposes; the chief reason being that Kratom has been found to contain many alkaloids. To date, over twenty-five alkaloids have been isolated from the leaf. These alkaloids have pharmacological effects and medicinal properties.

Historically, Kratom has been used in several different capacities:

  • Analgesic (pain-killer)
  • Anti-diarrheal remedy
  • Treatment for addiction to opiates
  • Sedative (at high doses)
  • Stimulant (at low doses)

Kratom was traditionally used by farmers and laborers, especially in Thailand, as a stimulant in order to be able to work the long, hard hours in the fields. It’s even been said that parents would rather have their daughter marry a man who used Kratom instead of marijuana because if the man used Kratom, it meant he was a hard worker, whereas the man who used marijuana was lazy.

It was reported by H. Ridley in 1897 that Kratom could cure opium addiction. Later on, it was used in New Zealand for methadone addiction detox patients. At that time, whenever a patient experienced withdrawal symptoms, he would smoke Kratom. This was done over a six week period. In 1999, the director of the National Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine in Bangkok, Pennapa Sapcharoen, said that Kratom could be used for opiate addiction and depression, although further research was warranted.

Methods of usage:
Most Kratom users chew on the fresh leaves after removing the central vein of the leaf, which is stringy. Dried leaves can also be chewed, but these tend to be tough, so most people prefer to crush these or powder them before use. Once they are powdered or crushed, they can be mixed with apple sauce or fruit juice. This will also disguise the bitter taste and will allow it be swallowed quickly. The dried leaves can also be used to make tea. Kratom can also be smoked, although this done rarely because the amount that makes up a typical dose is too much to be easily smoked.

Benefits of Kratom:

  • Calming, sedative effect
  • Reduces stress and anxiety
  • Reduces fatigue, both mental and physical
  • Decreases sensitivity to both physical and emotional pain
  • Increases feelings of euphoria
  • Increases energy
  • Increases mental alertness
  • Improves ability to do harder physical labor for longer periods of time
  • Increases ability to be more social, friendly and talkative

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