Kratom: Everything You Need To Know
Kratom is a plant that grows in Southeast Asia. Its leaves have psychotropic and opioid-like pain-relieving effects.
People living in areas where kratom grows sometimes use it to treat diarrhea, pain, cough, and fatigue.
People living in the United States have shown increasing interest in using this substance as an alternative to opioid pain relievers. Other people use kratom to experience the psychotropic effects or the “high.”
While some people use kratom as an alternative to prescription pain medications, such as opioids, very little research has investigated how it affects the body.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved its use for any medical purpose.
What Are The Effects?
Kratom has several effects on the body, depending on the dose.
People use kratom in many ways, including chewing the leaves whole, brewing them as a tea, and crushing the leaves and swallowing or smoking them.
Stimulant effects
In very small doses, of 1–5 grams (g), kratom can act as a stimulant, giving users more energy. They may feel more awake and alert, social, and talkative.
Sedative effects
In higher doses, of 5–15 g, kratom can have a sedative effect. This is similar to the effects of opioids, which cause users to feel tired, calm, and euphoric.
Read the full article at Medical News Today
