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Is Kratom right for you?

by | Digitorials, Print Articles, Summer 2021

Anyone with even a remote interest in natural remedies and plant-based medicine has probably heard of Kratom by now, but a lot of the information out there is confusing and unclear.

Kratom (pronounced ‘Kraw-tum’, from the Thai slang word loosely meaning ‘vital’) is derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, a tropical evergreen tree related to the coffee plant and native to West Africa and  South East Asian territories. It has been found in various other places throughout the world, but most of its history and common use can be traced to Thailand, where it has been used for centuries to treat various ailments including low energy, pain and mood disorders, or simply as a tonic to help with stress and physical labour. One of its most common uses in the world is to help with withdrawal symptoms from opiates and other opioid painkillers.

The two most active compounds found in Kratom are mitragynine, which works as an agonist triggering the kappa opioid receptor, one of the nine known opioid receptors in the human body. This action provides some similar properties to opioid medications but with fewer negative side-effects and lower risk of dependence. The second powerful compound is called 7‑hydroxymitragynine, which seems to work by affecting our serotonin receptor network and can elevate mood, increase energy and improve general stamina.

Several scientific studies of these compounds have shown that Kratom clearly has a lot of potential for helping people with pain management, mood related symptoms like depression, anxiety and even attention problems that affect focus, energy and drive. Kratom is still relatively new and misunderstood, but evidence seems to show that it is a very complex natural medicine with a unique pharmacology that seems to be well tolerated in humans and offers many benefits with low risk of adverse reactions.

More legitimate clinical studies and trials are needed, which will hopefully provide some concrete evidence and we are learning new information about this fascinating substance every day. Several new controlled human studies into the safety and therapeutic efficacy of Kratom as a therapeutic treatment began in 2021 and more are planned for the next couple of years.

For anyone struggling with pain management issues or mood related problems, Kratom could potentially be a good choice for those looking for natural alternatives to harmful pharmaceutical medications and the risks of unwanted side effects associated with them. As with any other natural medicine, finding a good supplier and using the best quality product available is incredibly important, we thus suggest checking out the reviews and testimonials of the distributor you intend buying from. https://buykratomsouthafrica.co.za/