Too good to be true: Is kratom a breakthrough treatment or a dangerous drug?

( Natural News ) The tropical kratom tree is currently at the center of great controversy as some people hail it as a breakthrough treatment while others insist it’s a dangerous drug. The leaf of the kratom plant has psychotropic effects and has long been used in Southeast Asia for pain relief, but its sudden spike in popularity around the world is causing a lot of concern. The kratom plant may be part of the coffee family, but the opioid compounds it contains are threatening to exacerbate the opioid epidemic that is taking so many lives in America and other countries. One problem is that kratom causes effects that are similar to opioids as well as stimulants. When compounds in kratom leaves interact with the brain’s opioid receptors , it can cause pain reduction , pleasure and sedation. It also leads to bursts of energy, which is why some people use it in a similar way to caffeine. Although it’s natural, the opioids in kratom pose the same risks of death and addiction as other opiates, making it far from the safer alternative some believe it to be. It has already been linked to dozens of deaths in the U.S., which is currently the drug’s top importer. It is estimated that around 5 million Americans take kratom, with many of them getting it through online platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Some of the health effects that have been reported from taking kratom include nausea, sweating, dry mouth, itching, constipation, seizures, hallucinations, a loss of appetite, increased urination, and psychosis. Friend or foe? In the places where it grows natively, its reception is mixed. Those who grow it and profit from it insist it is safe and effective, while regulators take a different view. Indonesia has banned domestic consumption of […]

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