What Is Kratom and How Does It Affect You?
What’s a natural home remedy you swear by?
Some people use a mixture of honey and cinnamon to help ease common cold symptoms. For eczema, some folks recommend a cream made with coconut oil, shea butter, and oats. There are also anxiety sufferers who drink turmeric lemonade.
Now, speaking of home remedies and anxiety, you’ve probably heard or read about kratom. Here, we’ll talk about what it is, its effects, and what you need to know before taking it.
What Is Kratom?
Mitragyna speciosa or kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves contain compounds that have pain-relieving effects, similar to opioids.
Kratom is also a psychotropic substance, meaning it can affect behavior, mood, and thoughts. To produce such effects, kratom compounds bind with opioid receptors in the brain.
The easiest way to buy kratom is to order online. Usually, it’s sold as a green powder, but there are also kratom tablets, extracts, and gums. If you’re able to get your hands on some kratom leaves, you can take it the traditional way by chewing it or brewing it into tea.
Kratom Effects: What to Expect
The interesting thing about kratom is it can act as a stimulant or a sedative depending on the dose. When you take small doses (up to 5 grams), you may feel more alert, social, and energetic.
Meanwhile, taking a higher kratom dosage can make you feel calmer and more euphoric (kratom high). Those are some positive effects, but other users report being very exhausted and sleepy, to the point of losing consciousness.
There are also side effects such as nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, and dry mouth. More serious adverse reactions include hallucinations, delusions, seizures, and psychosis. Keep in mind that kratom can interact with other drugs, which can make the negative reactions even worse.
Is Kratom Safe?
In the US, kratom is a “Drug of Concern” because of certain safety issues. Since it has similarities to opioids, there’s potential for overdose and addiction. There are also rare cases of liver damage and an alarming number of reported deaths.
The FDA also regards kratom as a supplement. That means kratom products aren’t monitored for dosage and purity. If you’re not careful about taking it low and slow, you’re at a higher risk of overdosing on kratom.
Another thing to think about is how taking kratom could affect your chances of landing a job. Don’t forget that companies may test applicants and employees. Take note: kratom can show up on a drug test.
To learn more about kratom and drug tests, try to do further research online. It also helps to consult your doctor first before taking any health supplement.
Learn More About Kratom
Now that you know more about kratom, are you thinking about trying it soon? Before you buy online, consider what you’ve learned here about the effects and safety of kratom.
You can also check out our other articles to know more kratom facts, so you can decide if it’s worth trying.
