The kratom tree is native to South Asia. People living in those regions have used leaves of the kratom trees as medicine for many years. The recent popularity of kratom products in the western world is generally considered a good thing. However, some people express negative feelings toward the plant. But before making your own decision, you should know a few things about the kratom plant.
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What Kratom Users Like about the Plant
Kratom supporters say the plant works great for pain relief. A study conducted by a psychiatric professor at the University of Rochester Medical Centers provides scientific support to this claim.
Kratom is known for mild stimulative effects that leave users with more energy and mental focus. Some experts working in the drug treatment sector feel the plant is a promising remedy for drug addiction and withdrawal relief.
How to Use Kratom
Individuals interested in kratom enjoy several choices when it comes to ingesting the plant substance. Kratom users can chew or smoke the leaves from the tree. They can also use the leaves to brew a tea or grind them up to use as seasoning with their food.
The most important considerations for kratom users is the strain they choose and dosage amounts. White kratom strains are often the choice for users in need of an energy boost. Kratom users who want a calming effect will do better with red strains of the plant. Experience kratom users also associate low doses of the plant with stimulating effects. High doses of kratom often act as a sedative.
How Does Kratom Work in the Body?
There is still a bit of mystery among researchers tasked with learning how kratom works in the body. But researchers know that kratom molecules attach themselves to opioid receptors. Many people also believe that the active ingredient in kratom is mitragynine. But this fact has yet to be conclusively proven by research.
Are Their Risks Associated with Kratom?
Kratom is known to cause side effects that are similar to those sometimes experienced with opiate withdrawal. The symptoms include mild feelings of sedation, vomiting, upset stomach, and others. The good news is that the symptoms reported by kratom users are weak compared to the suffering common to opiate users.
There have been media reports about illness and deaths associated with kratom. However, Professor Swogger points out that people who have become seriously ill while taking a substance containing kratom were also taking other substances. Swogger believes that kratom’s tendency to induce vomiting in users who consume a little too much of the plant extract makes an overdose unlikely.
Can Kratom Users Become Addictive?
The Drug Enforcement Agency lists kratom as an addictive substance. But kratom users who report dependence or who have experienced withdrawal symptoms related to kratom supplements say the effects are much less than when taking opiates and other substances.
In one study, one in 10 individuals who would classify themselves as “heavy” kratom users say they experienced some level of withdrawal after a day without the plant. The frequency and severity of withdrawal is no real cause for concern for most people. However, the study results demonstrate the importance of kratom users understanding there is some risk of addiction.
Final Thoughts
People planning to use kratom for the first time will increase the chances of a positive experience by arming themselves with a bit of information regarding the plant. New users can also ensure their safety while enjoying the positive benefits derived from the kratom plant by obtaining their supplements from a reputable source.
