Kratom vs. CBD: Key Differences Between the Herbal Drugs Taking Over U.S.

Kratom, a drug that has been used in Southeast Asia for centuries, has been gaining ground in the U.S., slowly catching up to the commercial popularity of cannabidiol products.

While cannabidiol, or CBD, is extracted from marijuana, kratom is an herbal drug from the Mitragyna speciosa tree that can be chewed, taken as a capsule or consumed as a tea. CBD mostly acts as a pain reliever and relaxant, while kratom can act as a stimulant at low doses and as an opiate in higher doses.

Using national data, Joseph Palamar, an associate professor at New York University Langone Medical Center, estimated that 0.7 percent of the U.S. population has used kratom in the past year.

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