Have you heard of kratom? Have you been curious about how it might benefit you?
Although this plant has been used in Eastern medicine for thousands of years, it’s just now becoming popular in the West.
If you’ve been interested in kratom but want to do some research before trying it for yourself, you’ve come to the right place.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of kratom and the different ways you can start using it today.
What is Kratom?
First things first, let’s clarify what kratom is.
The kratom tree is a tropical evergreen tree that grows in countries like Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It’s known scientifically as mitragyna speciosa.
Kratom leaves have been found to have a morphine-like effect on those who consume them.
The kratom tree’s leaves contain different beneficial nutrients and compounds, including an alkaloid known as mitragynine. Mitragynine is what is thought to be responsible for the opioid effects of the plant.
Benefits of Kratom
Like other psychoactive plants, kratom has the potential to provide users with several health benefits, including the following:
Pain Relief
Kratom is perhaps best known for its analgesic (pain relieving) properties. It impacts the release of serotonin and dopamine in the body to quickly relieve pain. The alkaloids in the leaves also dull pain receptors in a similar way to drugs like morphine or opium.
Improved Immune System Function
The alkaloids in kratom leaves also appear to have significant effects on the immune system.
Research shows that they help make the immune system stronger and more resilient because they are a natural source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential for neutralizing free radicals and minimizing the damage they cause throughout the body.
Kratom leaves also have natural antimicrobial properties.
Increased Energy
Kratom helps boost energy because it can optimize metabolic processes in the body. It does this by promoting circulation and improving the flow of oxygenated blood. Because of its ability to increase energy, kratom is quickly becoming popular among people who struggle with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Increased Libido and Fertility
Kratom has also been used for many years as a natural aphrodisiac and fertility booster. Researchers believe that these properties stem from kratom’s ability to boost blood flow. This effect, in turn, can increase libido, improve fertility, and improve people’s duration and conception rates.
Reduced Anxiety
Many researchers are also looking into kratom’s anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties.
For people who struggle with stress, anxiety, mood swings, or depression and don’t want to turn to potentially dangerous pharmaceuticals, kratom could be a great, natural alternative.
Enhanced Ability to Overcome Addiction
Kratom has also been used to help people overcome an addiction to opioid drugs. It provides similar benefits to opioid drugs, without as many adverse side effects or dramatic crashes. Because of this, people can use kratom to help minimize withdrawal symptoms as they wean themselves off of stronger drugs.
Better Blood Sugar Management
Finally, kratom also appears to have a significant impact on blood sugar. The alkaloids in the leaves have been shown to help regulate insulin and blood sugar levels to prevent the dangerous spikes and drops that many people with diabetes struggle with.
Not only does kratom have the potential to help manage conditions like diabetes, but it may also be able to help prevent the condition from ever occurring.
How Does Kratom Compare to Other Psychoactive Drugs?
Many people who are curious about using kratom also want to know how it compares to other psychoactive drugs like kava kava and cannabis.
Kratom offers many of the same benefits as these drugs, but there are some important differences to take note of as well.
Kratom Vs. Kava Kava
Kava kava and kratom both have pain-relieving properties, for example, and are both used to treat withdrawal symptoms. They also both have mood-boosting and anxiolytic properties.
At the same time, kava kava appears to have less habit-forming potential than kratom, so it may be a better fit for people who have struggled with addiction.
Kratom Vs. Cannabis
Kratom and cannabis both contain various alkaloids that are responsible for their psychoactive effects.
Like kratom and kava kava, kratom and cannabis have many other similarities, including the ability to decrease anxiety and reduce pain.
Kratom appears to be more stimulating the many strains of cannabis, and it also has less of an effect on one’s cognitive function.
Ways to Use Kratom
There are many different ways that you can use kratom to reap its benefits. Some of the most common administration methods include:
- Chewing fresh or dried leaves
- Crushing dried leaves into powder for easier swallowing
- Mixing powdered kratom with water, other liquids, or soft foods
- Steeping dried leaves in hot water for tea
- Smoking dried leaves
- Swallowing pellets made from dried resin from kratom tea
As you can see, there are many different ways to experience kratom’s benefits. But, first, you have to know how to get access to this plant.
Where to Buy Kratom?
In November 2017, the FDA issued a statement warning about the potential risks associated with kratom — risks like addiction, dependence, and potential abuse.
Despite this warning, kratom is not illegal to purchase in the U.S., and it is not currently regulated.
Kratom has been banned or is controlled in many countries, including places like Malaysia and Thailand where it naturally grows.
You can buy kratom online from many different manufacturers. But, it’s important to do your research and make sure you’re buying from a reputable seller.
Listed below are some ways you can vet vendors to find a good one:
- Make sure their prices are not too low (this is indicative of an inferior quality product)
- Avoid claims that seem too good to be true
- Make sure they provide a consumer guide to help you make the right decision
- Make sure they provide laboratory information to prove their product is tested
- Ask for a certificate of analysis to make sure there are no contaminants in your product
- Make sure they use Good Manufacturing Practices as outlined by the FDA
if you keep these guidelines in mind, you can be sure that you’re buying a quality product that will help you reap all the benefits that kratom has to offer.
Want to Learn More?
You’re now much more informed on the benefits of kratom. But, are you interested in learning about other, similar drugs?
If so, check out our collection of posts on other legal ways to get high today. All the information you need is in one place to help you figure out which options are the best for you.