Kratom: What Is It, Safety, Risks, & Research

Kratom is a drug that is best known for being controversial. Some people swear by its effectiveness in treating various ailments and conditions including pain, cough, diarrhea, and fatigue. It is also claimed to help with withdrawal from deadly drugs such as heroin. That said, the FDA has banned the use of Kratom, calling it a drug of concern.

But how safe is Kratom anyway? Below, we’ll take an objective look at the drug.

What is Kratom?

Kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa, is an indigenous plant originating from Southeast Asia. Its leaves were originally consumed by farmers looking for additional energy in the fields. Unfortunately, Thailand and Malaysia have since banned the plant on the basis that it contains harmful substances. Despite the ban, Kratom made its way to western countries by means of smuggling.

Currently, Kratom products are sold in holistic health shops and drug paraphernalia stores across the United States and Europe. It is packaged as beverages, capsules, lotion, creams, and powders and sold to people looking for a way out of opioid withdrawal and those in search of its psychotic effects. Kratom goes by many names such as, “Biak”, “Ketum”, “Thom”, “Kkuam, and “Thang”.

How is it consumed?

Traditionally, dried or fresh Kratom leaves are chewed raw or brewed into a beverage (mostly tea). When making the tea, fresh lemon juice is added to aid in the extraction of alkaloids from the plant. Honey or sugar may also be added to disguise the taste of the brew. Some people also smoke Kratom leaves. Often, you need one to three fresh Kratom leaves at a time to experience euphoria and vigor.

Kratom can also be extracted from the plant and made into a liquid product. This liquid is often marketed as an organic treatment for muscle pain, diarrhea, and strong cramps or as an appetite suppressant. In Southern Thailand, Kratom ice-cold cocktails, known as 4X100 are served to Muslim adults looking to get high. These cocktails are made by adding Kratom leaves, a soft drink containing caffeine or cough syrup that has diphenhydramine.

How safe is it?

Between 2011 and 2017, Poison Control Centers in the United States put the number of Kratom-associated reports at 1800 including a few deaths. Nearly half of them led to fatal complications such as high blood pressure and seizures. Some of the victims were young children and these suffered extreme symptoms for obvious reasons.

At low doses (1-5 grams), Kratom is said to act as a stimulant, pumping energy into your body. At higher doses (5-10 grams), it can lead to decreased pain and may bring a euphoric feeling. At very high doses (10-15 grams), it is used as a sedative that can make you quiet and sleepy.

It takes effect after 5-10 minutes of taking it. Its effects can last anywhere between 2 and 5 hours depending on the amount of taking it. The effects get stronger as you take in high doses. Kratom is more potent than morphine in animals. The exact amount that becomes toxic for humans is not yet known. After taking Kratom in any form, you may experience any of the following symptoms:

• Sweating
• Nausea
• Itching
• Dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation

After frequent and prolonged use, your symptoms may become more severe.

• Insomnia
• Anorexia
• Weight loss
• Skin darkening
• Seizures
• Psychosis
• hallucinations

What are the risks of taking kratom?

In addition to the above effects, Kratom carries the risk of causing life-threatening illnesses and complications. This forms part of the reason why authorities denigrate it. Consuming copious amounts of Kratom frequently and with other harmful substances may lead to the following:

1. Liver damage

 A study carried out in Binghamton University – State University of New York’s School of Pharmacy showed that Kratom can cause liver damage. Eight patients who participated in the study suffered liver damage two to six weeks after consuming Kratom. Symptoms included jaundice, fatigue, nausea, itchiness, and dark-colored urine. Thankfully, each of the patients recovered well without the need for a liver transplant.

2. Addiction

One study proved that the mitragynine – a major alkaloid in Kratom – is very addictive. The addiction is somewhat similar to that of harmful drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Overdependence can lead to complications such as tremors, sweating, insomnia, nausea, and hallucinations. More studies are required to establish the effects of Kratom on humans.

3. Overdose and death

Death can occur from taking Kratom with other drugs (such as benzodiazepines, opioids), alcohol, or gabapentin. Unfortunately, the actual amount of Kratom that can lead to this isn’t yet known. However, users who indulge frequently and those that combine it with alcohol and other drugs are at a greater risk of an overdose. Symptoms of an overdose include insomnia, drowsiness, nausea, liver toxicity, loss of appetite, dry mouth, constipation, vomiting, sweating, seizures, and confusion. If you have to consume Kratom (despite the glaring danger signs), keep your doses at minimum levels and make it an occasional habit. Most importantly, don’t ever try to mix it with any other drug – including medicinal ones.

What does the research say?

Despite the myriad studies done on Kratom, it is not accepted for medical and social use. For one, clinical studies show that Kratom can be harmful to the body and even cause death. This is because it contains nearly the same amount of alkaloids as hallucinogenic mushrooms and opium. Scientifically, alkaloids have a negative effect on the human body. Sure, some of these effects are positive but a good number of them are adverse.

The production of Kratom is yet to be regulated in the United States. This means there are no strict rules and regulations surrounding the planting, harvesting, processing, and selling of Kratom.

Conclusion

It’s still unclear whether Kratom is reliable enough to benefit users’ health. Proponents argue that Kratom can treat pain, diarrhea, and anxiety. However, it still carries deadly risks that can harm your body as well. In the end, you’ve got to ask yourself if the benefits outweigh the risks.