Kratom - Mitragyna
speciosa
Kratom
(Mitragyna speciosa) is a medicinal
leaf harvested from a large tree
native to Southeast Asia. It is in the
same family as the coffee tree.
Although using Kratom has been
common throughout its native range
of Southeast Asia, this amazing
plant has remained virtually
unknown outside of that area until
the last few years.
The leaves of Kratom have
been used as an herbal drug from
time immemorial by peoples of
Southeast Asia. Mitragyna speciosa
is used in folk medicine as a
stimulant at low doses, sedative at
high doses, pain killer, anti-diarrheal
medicine and in the treatment of
opiate addiction.
Although structurally related to
yohimbine and other tryptamines,
its pharmacology Kratom is quite
different. It contains many alkaloids
including mitragynine which is
thought to be responsible for its
characteristics of being
paradoxically a stimulant and
depressant enabling it to be used to
aid work while also aiding rest and
sleep. Kratom is said to produce a
sense of well-being, with users
reporting anti-depressant, anti-
anxiety, analgesic, and even
euphoric effects.
Kratom also contains alkaloids
found in Uña de gato, which
are thought to play a beneficial role
on the immune system and lower
blood pressure, as well as
epicatechin, a powerful antioxidant
also found in dark chocolate and
closely related to the EGCG that
gives green tea its beneficial effects.
Beware of misleading labels and
marketing hype. Some vendors
offer several different grades of
Kratom leaves (with names such as
"premium,"
"super" and "super
premium"), but it's often found
that there is little if any difference in
these "different" grades.
It is important to find a trustworthy
source. There have been problems
with some vendors misrepresenting
other herbs as Kratom.
