Kratom

Whether kratom represents another drug of abuse or a natural treatment for pain, opioid addiction and anxiety remains an issue of dispute. Kratom extracts from a tree native to southeast Asia have been employed to combat anxiety and fatigue, treat cough and diarrhea and reduce both body weight and blood sugar. Champions of kratom claim it also wards off insomnia and pain, relieves headaches and elevates mood without resulting in a hangover.

Officials at the DEA and FDA note no standard medical studies exist to confirm any of these claims. However multiple instances of toxicity and even a significant number of deaths are associated with kratom. The active ingredient in kratom, mitragynine, interacts with the same receptor as the opioids. Licensing authorities are leary of allowing unfettered access to kratom while our nation appears locked in the midst of an opioid epidemic.

Kratom may not be transported between states. In some states kratom is an illegal substance while in others no laws banning it exist. The U.S. Army forbids its use by soldiers. Recently kratom was associated with a widespread outbreak of E. coli diarrhea. Adulterants, impurities and lack of oversight prevent consumers from knowing exactly what they purchase. At present there are too many unknowns to recommend this product.