Safe haven Recovery

While there have been moves in the U.S. to ban kratom, there are also many proponents of its use that find that it has value for many different reasons. At the same time, there has been a great deal of opposition to kratom use in the U.S. as well, and it’s still a hotly debated topic.

 

What is Kratom?

Kratom is an herb native to southeast Asia that’s in the same family as coffee. The leaves of the kratom tree are used, and they can be eaten raw or crushed and brewed as a tea. Kratom, like most herbs, can also be made into capsules or tablets as well as liquids. People in favor of the use of kratom claim that it provides relief from not only mild to moderate pain, but also depression and anxiety. When kratom is taken in low doses, it’s a stimulant.

 

When taken in large amounts, it typically acts as a sedative. There are two compounds found in the leaves of kratom which interact with the brain’s opioid receptors, which is how the herb produces effects including sedation and pleasure, as well as pain relief. These effects are particularly noticeable when someone takes large amounts of kratom. When someone takes a smaller amount of this herb, it interacts with other brain receptors as a stimulant.

 

This means the person who uses it will often feel more energy, more alert and more social, rather than feeling the sedative effects of larger doses. While kratom acts on the brain like an opioid, this drug doesn’t lead to some of the most dangerous and deadly side effects of drugs like morphine, including slowed respiratory function and constipation, but research on the herbal substance is limited, and researchers are unsure of just how dangerous potential side effects of its use could be.

 

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