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.