Kratom is derived from the Asian evergreen tree and has recently generated significant buzz over its purported ability to provide, among other things, CBD-like levels of pain relief and pain management. We get a lot of inquiries at our headshop in Denver about Kratom and so we thought it was time to try and set the record straight on this all-natural but somewhat controversial compound.
First Things First: How Widespread is Kratom Use?
Health experts estimate that as many as 10 million Americans are now taking Kratom on a regular basis, with several million more partaking of it from time to time in order to boost their mood or energy levels or to deal with the pain associated with illness or injury.
With that many people involved it’s important for there to be fact-based information out there for those who are currently using Kratom and for those contemplating using it for the first time. That’s why those of us at the 710Pipes online smoke shop decided to write this piece.
The Potential Benefits of Kratom Use
The following are the most commonly cited benefits of kratom use by people with experience.
Pain relief
Without a doubt, the number one reason people cite for using kratom is to enjoy relief from acute or chronic pain. Kratom contains small amounts of 7-hydroxymitragynine, which is thought to be many times more powerful than morphine. This potent compound attaches itself to opioid receptors and is primarily responsible for kratom’s purported pain relief capabilities.
The action of 7-hydroxymitragynine, while allegedly providing morphine or codeine-like pain relief, is atypical of most opioids. Some researchers believe this may be responsible for kratom producing more tolerable side effects than those other opioids. It must be said though that there have not been large-scale cohort studies to verify or debunk that notion.
Mood enhancement
Many people swear by kratom as a mood enhancer. They claim it is more effective than standard antidepressants and can also be used to aid in weight loss because it makes them feel better about themselves and less likely to binge eat to bury feelings.
Who are we to say these people are wrong? If kratom helps them transcend a prolonged funk or feel more positive about themselves and their lives that’s a good thing. That said, it may be the opioid-like effects produced by 7-hydroxymitragynine that people are reacting to since opioids are famous for producing a euphoric feeling. As for whether kratom has been used as a weight loss supplement of sorts, the jury is still very much out.
Stimulant
In large quantities, kratom produces the above-mentioned opioid-like effects. However, in small doses, it has been known to act as a stimulant. Exactly where the line between stimulants and the more laid-back euphoric feelings lie is not yet fully understood. But plenty of people report having more energy when taking kratom in small doses.
To aid with opiate withdrawal
Opiate withdrawal can be extremely nasty with symptoms including:
- Sweating
- Vomiting
- Shaking
- Hallucinations
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Seizures
- and more
A significant number of people have reported that kratom helped lessen the effects of opioid withdrawal for them. The problem with this, according to some public health experts, is that using one opioid-like substance to withdraw from another one is akin to changing deck chairs on the Titanic.
But again, we cannot simply dismiss what people are saying. They may very well be right. It would be useful, then, if there were some large-scale studies conducted to either confirm or debunk these claims.
The Potential Dangers of Kratom Use
Just as there are precious few studies to confirm or deny the potential benefits of kratom, there are virtually no studies of note that have looked at either the short or long-term side effects and potential dangers. As such most of the information regarding side effects is based on anecdotal evidence and must be taken with a grain of salt.
Reported side effects include:
- Unintentional weight loss
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Nausea and vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Most problems created by pain medications occur when a person ingests more of a given drug than they were prescribed. With kratom, because there has been so little clinical investigation into its properties and potential, no one really knows where the line of safety is. As a result, many of the reported negative side effects may simply be the result of people inadvertently taking more kratom than they needed.
The Bottom Line
At 710Pipes we sell some of the most mind-bending heady glass bongs, pipes and accessories you’ll find anywhere, along with a host of cannabis-related paraphernalia. We also sell kratom products, but we do not do so lightly. We suggest you talk to your healthcare provider before deciding to take kratom. And if you do decide to, make sure you buy it from a reputable source like our online smoke shop or our brick-and-mortar locations in Denver.