What Is Kratom?

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Great Lakes Kratom is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare professional prior to use if you have or suspect a medical condition. If you are under medical supervision, are using anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, diabetes medications, narcotics, blood pressure medication, sedatives, tranquilizers or asthma medication, seek the advice of your healthcare professional prior to use. Do not use if you are pregnant, lactating or under the age of 18 years. Do not take when operating machinery or driving. Keep out of reach of children.

Most Americans have not heard of kratom, but that’s changing based on anecdotal reports that it helps with opioid withdrawal, a major issue nowadays. Made from the leaves of a tree in the coffee family, kratom has been widely used in Southeast Asia for centuries.

Mitragyna Speciosa

Kratom is made from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a tree that is native to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea. It has been used in traditional medicine in these areas going back to at least the 19th century.

The Claims

Kratom is used to relieve musculoskeletal pain; increase energy, appetite, and sexual desire; heal wounds; and as a topical anesthetic.

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence about the efficacy of kratom, but at present there are no in depth studies to verify these claims or show them to be unsubstantiated. If you choose to use kratom, you should be aware of this.

Negative Effects

Low levels of kratom may produce anxiety, agitation, itching, nausea, loss of appetite, and other symptoms in users. A moderate levels, it functions as a stimulant and side effects may include dizziness, hypotension, dry mouth, and sweating. High levels of kratom use can cause tremors, anorexia, seizures, and psychosis.

Heavy users may experience withdrawal symptoms if they attempt to give up using kratom.

Kratom in the Western World

Europe

The Mitragyna speciosa plant is prohibited in some nations, but not in others. It is currently controlled in Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Sweden, and it is banned in the UK under the Psychoactive Substances Act.

Australia and New Zealand

Kratom is a controlled substance in Australia and regulated in New Zealand.

Canada

Kratom is not illegal in Canada, but it is illegal to market its use by ingestion.

United States

In August 2014, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) attempted to classify kratom as a Schedule I drug, the same category used for marijuana, heroin, LSD, ecstasy, and several other drugs with high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. This drew strong public protest, with 51 Representatives, 9 Senators, and around 140,000 citizens addressing their objections to the DEA. In October 2014, the DEA withdrew its petition, which is where matters stand today.

The DEA has asked the FDA to provide a scientific and medical evaluation of kratom.

At present kratom is illegal in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin. The US Army prohibits its members from using kratom as well.

Conclusion

In the end, you have to draw your own conclusion. The links below provide a good starting point for further reading on the subject of kratom.

Further Reading

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