Kratom is made from the dried leaves of a tropical tree (Mitragyna speciosa) native to countries in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia. (1)
Kratom is an evergreen tree in the coffee family. Its leaves have been used as both a stimulant and a sedative. (2)
Kratom is legal in the United States, though it has been outlawed in several other countries, including Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, and some European countries. (3)
It has not been approved for any medical uses, though some people report using it to treat chronic pain, anxiety, and digestive ailments and as an aid for withdrawal from opioid painkillers. (4)
Is Kratom a Drug? How Is It Used?
Kratom has been used for centuries as a psychostimulant. Psychostimulants are drugs that can temporarily increase mental alertness, concentration, and physical energy. Examples of psychostimulants include caffeine, nicotine, methamphetamine, and cocaine. (3)
Laborers and farmers in Southeast Asia have traditionally chewed kratom leaves or brewed tea from the leaves to help combat fatigue and increase productivity during long working hours. (2)
What Effect Does Kratom Have on People Who Chew, Smoke, or Swallow It?
According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, kratom’s stimulating effects can be felt within 10 minutes of taking a few grams of dried leaf and may last for about one to one-and-a-half hours. (2)
More on the Uses and Effects of Kratom
Kratom has also been used for many years as an analgesic for the treatment of chronic pain. Its uses for the treatment of muscle pain, diarrhea, and cough may date back to the 1800s. In Thailand, for instance, kratom has been used as an aid to help treat morphine dependence. (5)
Kratom has gained popularity in the United States in recent years. In the United States, kratom is often sold as a dietary supplement or alternative medicine that can be purchased on the internet and at some supplement stores. (6)
Kratom Pills, Powders, Extracts, and More Ways the Supplement Is Sold
In addition to pill form, kratom may be purchased as dried or powdered leaves, green powder, leaf extract, or gum. Some people eat or smoke the leaves or brew dried or powdered leaves as a tea.
Kratom also goes by these names: (1)
- Biak
- Ketum
- Kakuam
- Ithang
- Thom
Kratom’s Effects on the Brain, Body, and Mood
Kratom’s effects on the brain depend on the …….
