Kratom

This shows how strong the product is. A graph showing the mix of all the other main alkaloids in a proportional ratio to Mitragynine. A test showing that any residual solvents left in the extract comply with USP standards for food grade products. Spot the fake news in the News 13 abc story about Kratom!! Kratom, Mitragyna speciosa has been studied intensively all

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Kratom products are legal in most states and are widely available. But the federal Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration worry that kratom carries the risk of physical and psychological dependency and, in some people, addiction. Americans know the dangers of drugs such as morphine and heroin.

But what about a supplement that acts in the brain a bit like an opiate and is available in many places to kids — even from vending machines. Kratom, an herb that's abundant, legal in most states and potentially dangerous, is the subject of an ongoing debate over its risks and benefits. Usually, the leaf, which comes from a tropical Southeast Asian tree, is chewed, brewed or crushed into a bitter green powder.

The chemicals in the herb interact with different types of receptors in the brain — some that respond to opioids, and others to stimulants. Often sold in the U. Some people who have struggled with an opioid addiction and switched to kratom swear the substance salvaged their health, livelihood and relationships. These days, the DEA lists it as a drug of concern.

Linda Kline owns Bumble Bee Botanicals, which sells kratom in five upscale shops throughout the West, including this one in San Francisco. All her products are lab tested to ensure purity, Kline says.

Linda Kline, 33, based in Reno, Nev. She says her several stores throughout the West have given her a new purpose in life. And while she herself doesn't have an opioid dependency, she credits kratom with turning around her mental health.

She used to be paralyzed by anxiety and panic attacks. When her insurance carrier threatened to cut her Prozac prescription, she felt desperate.

A friend suggested kratom, so she picked some up at a smoke shop. There's no melting of the walls. But Kline says she couldn't always find a high-quality supply. The FDA has recalled dozens of salmonella-tainted products sold online or in convenience stores.

The agency has also found toxic heavy metals in kratom supplements. That's one reason Kline started her own chic boutiques, Bumble Bee Botanicals , devoted exclusively to kratom products that, she says, are all lab tested to ensure purity. She just opened her fifth location in less than two years.

The shops offer 15 kratom strains at outlets in California, Idaho and Nevada. Mateo's younger brother, Marco, struggled with an opioid addiction in high school. Mateo describes Marco as a charismatic, creative teen, passionate about video games, cartoons and anime. Marco got hooked on painkillers, Mateo says, after his dentist pulled his wisdom teeth.

Eventually Marco wanted to kick his opioid addiction and saw testimonials on YouTube and Reddit that promised that kratom could be a way out. Soon Marco was popping kratom capsules multiple times a day. During his freshman year at the University of California, Davis, the year-old started hyperventilating regularly.

The incidents worsened, becoming seizure-like episodes and ending in trips to the emergency room. During each hospitalization, the doctors were stumped. No one thought to test for kratom. The toxicology report listed "acute mitragynine intoxication" — a chemical constituent of kratom — as the cause of death.

In a recent month period, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 90 kratom overdoses, although most involved a combination of other substances too. White says that animal studies suggest kratom could be an effective pain reliever, but the collection of human data has only just begun. He says scientists need to conduct a lot more research before the appropriate level of regulation is clear. White recently argued in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy that the safest place for kratom is behind pharmacy counters, for adults only, but with no prescription required.

McClain Haddow, spokesperson for the American Kratom Association , agrees that the product should be sold only to people over age Scott Steiger , deputy medical director of the opiate treatment outpatient program at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, says he doesn't know how to advise patients who want to use kratom. The DEA describes kratom as an addictive substance that causes hallucinations, delusion and confusion. His patients report withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweats, aches and pains, loose stool, tearing and dysphoria.

There is growing concern about kratom's effects on the heart and liver. Steiger emphasizes that doctors have evidence-based treatments like buprenorphine and methadone to help people with an opioid addiction. He doesn't recommend self-medicating with kratom until more research is available. Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player.

NPR Shop. But federal agencies and the brother of a man who died from his kratom use warn of its risks. Facebook Twitter Flipboard Email. January 13, AM ET. Heard on Morning Edition. Lesley McClurg. Enlarge this image.

Kratom is a tropical tree (Mitragyna speciosa) native to Southeast Asia, with leaves that contain compounds that can have psychotropic. Kratom is often used by workers in laborious or monotonous professions to stave off exhaustion as well as a mood enhancer and painkiller. In Thailand, kratom.

Get the latest information from CDC coronavirus. Kratom is a tropical tree Mitragyna speciosa native to Southeast Asia, with leaves that contain compounds that can have psychotropic mind-altering effects. Kratom is not currently an illegal substance and has been easy to order on the internet. It is sometimes sold as a green powder in packets labeled "not for human consumption.

The U.

Kratom Mitragyna speciosa is a tree-like plant from Southeast Asia that belongs to the same family of plants as coffee and gardenias. Kratom has been used as an herbal remedy in Thailand and neighboring countries for hundreds of years for a number of ailments. It has dose-dependent stimulant and opiate-like effects.

The Effects of Kratom Use

Users swear by kratom for mood enhancement and fatigue reduction, but safety issues and questions about its effectiveness abound. If you read health news or visit vitamin stores, you may have heard about kratom, a supplement that is sold as an energy booster, mood enhancer, pain reliever and antidote for opioid withdrawal. However, the truth about kratom is more complicated, and the safety problems related to its use are concerning. Kratom is an herbal extract that comes from the leaves of an evergreen tree Mitragyna speciosa grown in Southeast Asia. Kratom leaves can be chewed, and dry kratom can be swallowed or brewed. Kratom extract can be used to make a liquid product.

The Kratom Debate: Helpful Herb Or Dangerous Drug?

Kratom products are legal in most states and are widely available. But the federal Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration worry that kratom carries the risk of physical and psychological dependency and, in some people, addiction. Americans know the dangers of drugs such as morphine and heroin. But what about a supplement that acts in the brain a bit like an opiate and is available in many places to kids — even from vending machines. Kratom, an herb that's abundant, legal in most states and potentially dangerous, is the subject of an ongoing debate over its risks and benefits. Usually, the leaf, which comes from a tropical Southeast Asian tree, is chewed, brewed or crushed into a bitter green powder. The chemicals in the herb interact with different types of receptors in the brain — some that respond to opioids, and others to stimulants. Often sold in the U. Some people who have struggled with an opioid addiction and switched to kratom swear the substance salvaged their health, livelihood and relationships. These days, the DEA lists it as a drug of concern.

However, one recent decision by the DEA to ban a substance was anything but routine, resulting in a widespread public backlash that was sufficient to convince the DEA to reconsider its action.

Mitragyna speciosa Korth. In Thailand, the tree and leaf-preparations from it are called kratom. Traditionally, fresh or dried kratom leaves are chewed or made into tea; they are seldom smoked.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) drug profile

Mitragyna speciosa commonly known as kratom [2] is a tropical evergreen tree in the coffee family native to Southeast Asia. It is indigenous to Thailand , Indonesia , Malaysia , Myanmar , and Papua New Guinea , [3] where it has been used in traditional medicines since at least the nineteenth century. As of [update] , the efficacy and safety of kratom are unclear and unapproved as a therapeutic agent due to the poor quality of the research. Common minor side effects include appetite loss, erectile dysfunction , hair loss and constipation. Kratom is a controlled substance in 16 countries [5] and, in , the FDA banned importing and manufacturing of kratom as a dietary supplement. Its trunk may grow to a 0. As of [update] , kratom has been studied in cells and in animals, but no clinical trials have been conducted in the United States. Kratom leaves are commonly used by smoking or chewing, as a tea, powdered in capsules or pills , or extracted for use in liquids. In cultures where the plant grows, kratom has been used in traditional medicine. The leaves are chewed to relieve musculoskeletal pain and increase energy, appetite, and sexual desire in ways similar to khat and coca. Extracts and leaves have been used to treat coughs, diarrhea, and intestinal infections.

The DEA Changes Its Mind on Kratom

Kratom, the original name used in Thailand, is a member of the Rubiaceae family. Other members of the Rubiaceae family include coffee and gardenia. The leaves of kratom are consumed either by chewing, or by drying and smoking, putting into capsules, tablets or extract, or by boiling into a tea. The effects are unique in that stimulation occurs at low doses and opioid-like depressant and euphoric effects occur at higher doses. Common uses include treatment of pain, to help prevent withdrawal from opiates such as prescription narcotics or heroin , and for mild stimulation. Traditionally, kratom leaves have been used by Thai and Malaysian natives and workers for centuries. The stimulant effect was used by workers in Southeast Asia to increase energy, stamina, and limit fatigue. However, some Southeast Asian countries now outlaw its use.