Kratom is a famous plant in the Southeast Asia regions for its many functional and medicinal uses. It has been in use for spiritual, social, and medicinal purposes for centuries. It is mostly used for managing opiate withdrawal symptoms, gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety, stress, and depression.
However, little is known about this plant in the western world. Kratom comes in various varieties, and each strain has the same properties as the other but at different concentrations. For most varieties, low doses relieve pain and are stimulating, but high doses have psychoactive and sedative effects.
Accessing kratom products is easier than ever. Many people use this natural herb for its medicinal value. Kratom has different impacts on the body, depending on the strain and the dosage.
Functional and Medicinal Uses of Kratom
1. Alleviates Pain
Kratom is best known for its analgesic properties. The main active ingredients in kratom are 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine. Mitragynine is a precursor to 7-hydroxymitragynine and is known to impact μ- and δ-type opioid receptors on smooth muscle systems. The effects of both ingredients have been found to be much stronger than morphine. Before ingesting kratom , find your body’s ideal kratom capsules requirement for better absorption.
By blocking the supraspinal opioid receptors, kratom ensures that pain is not transmitted to the brain.
Some varieties, such as red veined strains, also possess a strong sedative effect, which adds to the analgesic impact. As an analgesic, this product has been used in tropical and sub-tropical Asian countries for many centuries to treat muscle pain, cramps, and fatigue.
2. Erotic Stimulant
Many traditional practitioners and alternative medicine experts use kratom to boost fertility and enhance sexual performance. According to animal studies, the product increases blood flow, which results in higher energy levels. The extra energy leads to invigorated libido, increased sexual longevity, and heightened fertility.
Studies have also shown that the active chemical properties mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine have a stimulating effect on the male internal genitalia. So if you are struggling with fertility or conception, you could try kratom.
3. Antidote for Opioid Withdrawal
Kratom is used for the management of opium withdrawal in many Southeast Asian countries. Recently, its use has increased in western countries for withdrawal from prescription pain relievers, heroin, and opioid drugs.
In ancient Southeast Asia, kratom was used to cure opioid addiction and is still being used to date. A struggling addict can chew kratom leaves and get the same psychoactive effects as opium but without the associated adverse side effects.
Recovering opiate addicts can rely on these properties of kratom to manage withdrawal symptoms. However, prolonged use has also been associated with addiction and users need to moderate and shorten their exposure to kratom use.
4. Improves Cardiovascular Health
Scientific studies on the impact of kratom on the heart muscles have established that it acts on the muscles by activating beta-adrenergic receptors, resulting in an increased contractile activity. This increases the contraction of heart muscles and ultimately, pulse pressure. This will lead to an increase in the heartbeat as the sinus rhythm increases. The combination of these activities could overwhelm the heart and cause tachycardia for people with compromised cardiovascular system.
Kratom is therefore not recommended for people with underlying heart conditions. However, if you have a healthy heart, you could benefit from the extra energy resulting from increased cardiovascular activity brought on by kratom use. Besides, kratom leaves have been found to contain alkaloids that have anti-inflammatory properties.
The leaves contain epicatechin and rhynchophylline, which decrease inflammation stress in the bloodstream. The use of kratom can also reduce stress on the cardiovascular system and offer protection from heart diseases such as cardiac arrest, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
5. Treats Anxiety and Stress
Kratom leaves contain endorphins, dynorphins, and enkephalins. These hormones are naturally occurring in the body and are responsible for balancing moods. When consumed, kratom increases the amount of these neurotransmitters in the brain.
Kratom also triggers the release of dopamine, which is the best-known mood-enhancing hormone. These are the alkaloids that give the plant its psychoactive properties. This is why kratom use is associated with euphoria and increased confidence levels. These properties are tapped for their health benefits and used in the treatment of depression, stress, and anxiety.
When taken in small doses, most kratom strains have a stimulating effect, and within 10 minutes, the individual will experience increased alertness, sociability, and light-headedness. Higher doses lead to relaxation of muscles, reduced stress, and calmness.
Conclusion
Kratom has both medical and functional properties. However, it should not just be consumed blindly. You need to understand the desired outcome so that a suitable strain can be selected. Caution should also be observed when using kratom because prolonged use presents risks such as addiction, delusion, hallucination, and mental confusion. It is recommended that you take the product in low doses and within a short period to avoid these side effects.
“Kimberly Dawson is a content specialist who frequently writes about kratom and other alternative pain relievers.”
