Kratom is a powerful plant. Here is a list of kratom benefits.
Kratom comes from a tree that is native to Southeast Asia. Also, known by its scientific name Mitrgyna Speciosa, Kratom is an herb that has been used for centuries for human ailments. Over the last decade, it has grown in popularity in the United States, Canada, and Europe for recreational use, but also for medicinal value. Kratom is most commonly used for pain relief and assists with opiate and amphetamine withdrawals though it shows many other benefits. The leaf contains numerous alkaloids and compounds. The two most active compounds are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragnine. Mitragynine interacts with your body the same way opioid drugs do, while 7-hydroxymitragynine affects the ability of certain neurons in the body to perceive pain.
People use it for many different things. Depending on the vein color and amount ingested orally it’s possible to find a strain that will help with energy, focus, relaxation or sedation. Most strains come with mild euphoric and mood-enhancing effects.
Here is a list of kratom benefits
Pain Relief
Most people discover the miracle of Kratom while searching for a better way to relieve discomfort as an alternative to pharmaceutical medications.
Two of the most common types of physical pain are Nociceptive and Neuropathic. Nociceptive comes from physical injury to muscles, tendons, or tissue. Neuropathic pain can come from chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. Regardless of the cause, Kratom offers relief to most people that deal with daily pain and fatigue.
The compounds and alkaloids contained in the leaf bind to pain receptors that are located in the central nervous system. It’s most commonly agreed that Red strains offer the best relief. Many consumers prefer Red Bali strains for analgesic effects.
Relief for Anxiety and Mood Enhancment
Anxiety relief is another important health benefit. For most, the anxiety melts away when their mood is elevated. Multiple research studies have found that it is useful for raising your state of mind which leads to a more optimistic attitude. Read a paper on it here. Most strains offer beneficial effects for mood enhancement. This can be good if you are have anxiety or stress at work, you can find a strain that lifts your mood but will give you a boost of energy as well. However, most people find relief from anxiety with Red Strains as they offer more relaxing effects
Energy
The leaves are known for their immense metabolic effects, which considerably increase the user’s energy levels. According to studies, these leaves induce certain metabolic processes while enhancing others, thereby escalating the body’s ability to generate energy.
With an improved circulation of blood, more oxygen is transported to your vital body cells, which consequently impacts how fast those cells metabolize food substances to produce energy. This may explain why Mitragyna Speciosa is one of the most recommended natural remedies for people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Even if you do not suffer from chronic fatigue, I think most of us would agree that it’s nice to have a boost of energy from time to time. It’s one of the best ways to get energy from a natural source. The two most notable strains for energy are Green Malay from Malaysia and Green Thai from Thailand.
Improves Focus
When Kratom is consumed it aids in the release of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in alleviating pain, enhancing focus, and regulating the endocrine system. Research studies have shown that it increases memory and focus by increasing the ability of the cortical circuits to respond to sensory stimuli. Many people like the improved focus for work and students like the enhanced focus for studying it is also helpful in remembering and retaining the things you learn. By ingesting the leaf, it induces the release of serotonin and dopamine, all of which are associated with increased focus and attention span.
Cognition Enhancement
As you may already know, our brains can only function optimally if they receive adequate nutrients and energy released from the body’s metabolic processes.
The liver contains both Phase I and Phase II microsomal enzymes that metabolize Kratom into various alkaloids. Once metabolized, the alkaloids act on the Mu as well as the delta, and kappa opiate receptors that are located in the CNS and peripheral nerves.
Mitragynine mostly acts on delta receptors while 7-hydroxymitragynine interacts with Mu receptors. Collectively, these opioid receptors ensure impressive cognitive performance.
Addiction Recovery
Kratom can be helpful with addiction recovery. This is one of the biggest reasons people search for this natural alternative. It is only a partial opioid agonist and has mild opioid-like effects due to its energetic properties. The reason they work so well with addiction recovery is that they have a similar effect as a very mild opioid by interacting with the opiate receptors, although it is not an opioid. There are some research studies that show Kratom does not induce long-term dependency even after periods of extended use.
The leaves can help with other side effects of opioid withdrawal. Many people find it helpful in preventing nausea, vomiting, sleep deprivation, anxiety, and mood swings.
Anti Inflammatory
Kratom contains two compounds that contribute to its anti-inflammatory properties. Previously we had discussed the Mitragyna and the 7-hydroxymitragynine. Two lesser-known compounds, which are responsible for helping with inflammation are Rhynchophylline and Epicatechin.
Epicatechin is an antioxidant, antiviral and antimutagenic compound, and has been observed to reduce the risks of cancerous growths.
Rhynchophylline is much more present in the leaves and is an all-natural anthelmintic, antihypertensive, and antiaggregant.
All strains contain the two compounds mentioned above. The other factor to consider when choosing a strain is energy. If you need help with energy during the day you may want to try a Green Maeng Da. That being said, most people would probably take a Red strain for relief, as it is the strongest and most mature version of the leaf. A good analogy is the difference between a strong cup of coffee and an espresso shot.
Here is a research paper about anti-inflammatory with kratom
Sedation | Relaxation | Sleep
People most commonly use it for Insomnia or Sleep and Relaxation. Most people would agree that the Red Strains are the most ideal. Depending on the issue you are having with sleep you may want to take it before you go to sleep or up to 2-3 hours before you go to sleep. If you find that you have trouble staying asleep and waking up every few hours due to discomfort or pain you may want to take it 15-20 minutes before you go to bed. If you have trouble falling asleep you may want to take it 1-3 hours before you go to sleep. There are some known sedative effects when taking Kratom as it will reduce anxiety and help you fall into a more relaxed state. Higher amounts are generally sedative, while moderate amounts are more energetic.
The known sedative effects found red vein leaves include:
- Mitragynine
- 7-hydroxymitragynine
- Mitraphylline
- Speciogynine
- 9-hydroxycorynantheidine
Other than relaxation these alkaloids also enhance your mood to alleviate anxiety symptoms that could be keeping you up at night while acting as an analgesic to reduce pain. The combined effects help get you a night of sleep.
Management of Diabetes
This is arguably one of the least known benefits of the leaves. However, research suggests that it could have positive effects on your blood sugar levels.
The alkaloids that the leaves contain might help to modulate the levels of blood insulin and glucose. By keeping the amount of these two substances in check, the leaves prevent dangerous peaks and drops that are associated with diabetes, which helps keep diabetes at bay, while also helping those who are already affected to manage the condition.
Tips for Getting the most out of your experience
Switch up strains to reduce tolerance.
Combine the ground leaves with chamomile tea
Use a potentiator, to increase effects and keep doses lower
Stick with red strains to improve sleep.
Take white or green vein strains during the day to deal with residual sleepiness.
Only buy from a reliable online supplier that tests its products.
Thank you for a wonderful blog on the benefits of Kratom. It has to be a gift from the gods. I am knocking on wood as I write this: I never get sick with Kratom, my seasonal allergies vanish, difficult to get into a bad mood, anxiety is diminished dramatically etc.etc.etc.