A New Study of Kratom with Positive Results

The researchers say that kratom can relieve pain and help with opioid dependence and withdrawal.

The research team was investigating the effects of lyophilized Kratom Tea or LKT (Freeze-dried Kratom Tea) on lab mice. Using Rotarod, a Comprehensive Lab Animal Monitoring System, researchers were looking for Potential locomotor impairment, respiratory depression and locomotor hyperlocomotion.  

In their tests, they found that after administering the LTK the mice became less sensitive to pain. However, mice who lacked kratom-acting opioid receptors in their brains experienced less of a change in pain sensitivity or no change at all. 

The study claims that LTK reduced the mice’s breathing for a brief amount of time. This is good news for kratom but also unusual, most opioid like drugs can dramatically affect your breathing. This is a serious issue and one that contributes to overdoses with opiates. The study goes on to say that the mice that were repeatedly treated with the LTK did not develop a physical dependence. 

This same study also shows that kratom tea was successful at aiding to morphine dependence. Researchers used an opioid overdose medication called naloxone to treat morphine dependent rats. Naloxone works by blocking the effects of morphine. Eventually, the test subjects began to experience withdrawal symptoms. The researchers then treated the mice with kratom tea resulting in the withdrawal symptoms subsiding.