KRATOM: Friend or Foe? What They Don’t Want You to Know

Introduction
Why is there so much controversy about Kratom? Not a day goes by, without seeing an article, note or advertisement about the potential dangers of Kratom. A tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, has been both celebrated and vilified across the world. Its leaves have been traditionally used for hundreds of years for their medicinal properties, but in modern times, it has sparked both interest and controversy. This article delves into the dual nature of kratom and uncovers what many don’t want you to know.

What is Kratom?
Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) is a tree found in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Its leaves contain alkaloids and compounds known for their psychotropic (mind-altering) effects. Historically, it has been used for various cultural, medicinal, and recreational purposes.

Uses and Benefits
Traditional Uses
In its native regions, kratom leaves have been used:

– To relieve pain
– As a stimulant in low doses
– To aid in opiate withdrawal

Modern Uses
In contemporary settings, kratom is utilized for:

– Pain relief
– Easing anxiety and depression
– Boosting energy
– Managing opioid withdrawal symptoms

Potential Benefits
Several studies suggest that kratom may help with:

– Pain management due to its analgesic properties

– Improving mood and alleviating anxiety
– Enhancing energy and focus

But, where is the truth? You might ask yourself.
The truth is that while it is not studied extensively, many groups can continue to benefit from the status quo. Big pharma would not be happy if a study confirmed what millions of users claim they have been experiencing for years. That a natural tree could be an alternative to potentially relieve pain without the use of opioids, or that it could replace opioids altogether and help fight the addiction to them. What if it could also replace medications for depression, anxiety, ADHD, mood disorders, and other conditions, while helping focus, boosting energy and strength?

Aside from some shady traffickers who apparently were the source of the salmonella contaminated kratom that killed many people some years ago, or the adulterated kratom mixed with meth, fentanyl, and others, or cocktails, as the one called krypton, who caused nine deaths, most news reports bought and paid for advertising pieces, posing as reports and news, usually fail to disclose the whole story, revealing all the other components involved in intoxications, overdose or deaths , and only mention “kratom” as the only culprit

Some of the half truths we hear about Kratom are:

It’s addictive!
YES, as much as coffee, sugar, alcohol, gambling, and many other things as lunch or dinner. People may have addictive personalities, but very few natural substances can be addictive without some kind of synthetic or combined processing.

It is an opioid!
NO, it is not. Opioids are not made in nature. They need to be synthesized in a lab. As a matter of fact, the poppy seeds from which heroin is made, can be bought and eaten freely in its natural form, without any effects, as we can find in bagels or other foods.

It can kill you!

Kratom products have been linked to a small number of deaths, that’s very small compared with deaths from other drugs. Usually reports fail to disclose the presence of other culprits.

There are many legitimate manufacturers, with the best intentions, who are afraid that a ban or excessive and unfair regulations could limit the potential benefits, as it occurred in many states with cannabis, e-cigs, alcohol and other products, which might pose some risks, but also offer many more benefits and are mostly safe with the proper information.

The American Kratom Association (AKA), which stands for GMP (good manufacturing practices) and the fair treatment of kratom, are fighting against non sense regulations and useless bans, such as the ones on alcohol during the prohibition, cannabis and mushrooms until recently, among others, which have prevented the study and understanding of this plant’s potential benefits. It has instead championed the research and study from independent scientists to help determine the appropriate and safe use of these promising gifts from nature, through which we could reap all the benefits with no harm.

One of the latest new products to come to market in the last year has specifically focused its energy in the health and athletics markets. Dialed Moods energy drinks, has taken by storm the performance and competitions world, combining a proprietary formula that includes lions mane and cordyceps, with the powers in kratom to sooth pain, focus and perform with confidence and maximum strength. It might not be too difficult to badmouth a kratom company, until you find one that truly cares about those who support it and recognize their efforts taking the best from nature and making it conveniently safe for their customers.

There are other manufactures, equally legitimate, who concentrate on helping overcome the withdrawal symptoms from opioid addictions. After losing so many celebrities and even doctors as a result of the recent opioid epidemic, the power of kratom in high doses, has proven to be a powerful and effective tool to help hundreds of thousands overcome their dependencies and break the leash of many of those who oppose its legalization.

It is not difficult to find the stories of some wonderful people who passionately defend and fight for their right to choose what they see fit for themselves, assuming all responsibility for their choices. A sweet college professor and researcher I met recently had to retire because of the pain from her conditions, and inability to work. After years of suffering, she finally found that kratom helped her get off the opioids she was prescribed, causing as much harm as good. Now she is able to live a normal life without any of the side effects from opioids. It brought tears to both of us when she described the joy of taking her grandkids on a walk to the park, and enjoying what for years the pain and medications had stolen from her.

Why should anyone infringe on others freedom to live their life as they see fit, without affecting anyone else. Kratom might save lives, if we only allow it to be studied, and unveil its true potential. Even if some greedy corporate interest or regulators oppose it, or don’t want us to find out the truth behind kratom.

Common opiates include opium, heroin, morphine and codeine. An opioid is a substance that can be derived from the poppy plant, be synthetic or be semi-synthetic, meaning the active ingredients are created chemically in a lab.