As time goes by, more and more people are complaining because of chronic pain. The number of people suffering from anxiety, PTSD and depression has gone up in the last decade.
There are a lot of different pills that health providers prescribe, but they usually have a lot of different side effects. Because of these facts, many people try natural remedies.
One of the latest trends is Kratom. This product can be used in a lot of different ways to treat several conditions and to make people feel happy and euphoric.
In this article, we are going to help you understand what Kratom is, how it is used and what are the most common myths related to it.
What is Kratom?
Kratom is made from the dried leaves of Mitragyna speciose, a tropical tree native to countries in Southeast Asia. These counties include Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.
The tree is in the coffee family of trees and the leaves have been used as a stimulant and a sedative. In the countries of origin, this tree has been used in traditional medicine since at least the 19th century.
This product is legal in the United states and people often use it to treat chronic pain, digestive problems, anxiety and it is also used to help with the withdrawal from painkillers and opioid drugs.
People have also reported using it to treat PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). This product has been used to treat most of the mental health conditions and some pain conditions. Even though it is advertised as “legal-high”, people most often use Kratom for health-related conditions.
How is it used?
There are a lot of ways you can take and use this product.
Most people take Kratom as an extract, a pill or a capsule. Some people brew the powdered or dried leaves as a tea. The leaves can also be smoked or eaten in food.
In short, these leaves can be taken in almost the same way as marijuana, so you can smoke it, drink it, eat it or take it as a pill.
Depending on the way you use this product, the effects will take more or less time.
The appropriate dose depends on a lot of factors, such as age, health and several other conditions. Natural products may not always be necessarily safe and the right dosage is really important. Make sure to follow the relevant directions on the product labels when consuming Kratom.
Consult your physician, pharmacist or another healthcare professional before using it. If you want, you can consult a Kratom expert as well to make sure you dose it right and that if you experience any side effects, you will know how to react.
Effects
Kratom, like every other substance, affects people in different ways. However, these are the most common effects it has on people.
Positive
- Feelings of empathy
- Feelings of euphoria
- Vivid dreams
- Useful with physical labor
- Analgesic (pain relief)
- Aphrodisiac for some people
Neutral
- Relatively short duration
Negative
- Bitter taste
- Increase in body temperature
- Can induce a hangover similar to alcohol
- When taken in high doses, it may induce nausea, vomiting and/or dizziness
ShopKetum suggests that Kratom can also be used to help people regulate their sleep cycle or even start your day and be energized depending on the dosage.
Facts and Fiction
Fiction: Kratom is an opioid
Fact: Since this is a relatively new product, many don’t know about it and they think it’s related to opioids. However, this plant and the products are different than illegal drugs that cause addiction and death.
Kratom effects are milder than the ones of heroin and prescription opiates. It does not depress the central nervous system, so the risks of a fatal overdose are extremely low.
Heroin, Oxycodone and Fentanyl are highly addictive and these drugs bind fully to the opioid receptors in the brain.
Fiction: Kratom is addictive
Fact: If you consume this product, you can become dependent on it as much as you are dependent on your morning cup of coffee. This is not the same as being addicted to cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine.
Withdrawals after long use of kratom are pretty much the same as the ones of quitting caffeine. When you take higher doses of kratom it won’t lead to more euphoric effects. Because of this, the addictive potentiality is almost non-existent. However, taking more doses will make you higher.
Fiction: Kratom is responsible for dozens of deaths
Fact: When people don’t have enough information about something, they tend to fear the words. The same thing is happening with this plant and the products. When it comes to the statistic to kratom, you should know that there have been no documented fatalities that can be blamed on kratom only.
The data shows that most of the fatalities had other substances in their system at the time of death. These included amphetamines, Xanax and barbiturates. Others had medical conditions that contributed to the unfortunate events. Millions use kratom every year, safely. Whereas, there are more than 100 deaths per day in the US only that are caused by opiates.
Fiction: The Kratom industry has no production standards or safety protocols
Fact: This product is actually regulated by the FDA. This means that it is safe for usage. The Kratom Association makes it a priority to provide consumers with safe and effective products. Members of Kratom Associations are required to adhere to testing protocols that exceed the good manufacturing practice guidelines. Every seller supports the age restrictions and label guidelines for responsible use.
Because of this, you need to buy this product from secure and trusted places that give you the necessary information about it and that will tell you how to safely and responsibly use it.
If you are not sure how to dose or use the products, it is best to call the customer support on the website or store where you bought it and ask any questions you might have.
This product is still a taboo in a lot of countries. It is even illegal in some European countries. However, experts say that it is safe to use and with time and more researches, hopefully, it will be widely accepted on the market.
