Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) has gained prominence across the globe despite being designated a Schedule 1 drug in several countries.
The herb, native to Southeast Asia, is widely touted for its diverse therapeutic properties. One of its widely marketed benefits is the potential to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Kratom also stands out for its high safety profile compared to most novelty herbs. Although the plant can induce noticeable mind-altering effects, it’s a mild and gentle psychoactive.
Besides, reports of addiction or severe adverse reactions are considerably few.
Here’s a guide to kratom’s therapeutic benefits and why the plant enjoys near-cult popularity in Canada.
Unpacking Kratom’s Health Benefits
Kratom thrives naturally in the lush forests of Southeast Asia. In countries like Thailand and Indonesia, locals have been consuming kratom extracts for centuries to ease various medical conditions.
Earlier findings suggest that most Southeast Asians administered kratom primarily for pain relief. The plant’s analgesic effects are due to its abundance of potent alkaloids, such as mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine.
One study found that kratom increases pain tolerance by binding to several opioid receptors.
Kratom may also alleviate inflammation. Like most anti-inflammatory herbs, kratom attenuates inflammation by inhibiting the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine.
Kratom’s analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties explain why many Canadians have integrated the herb into their fitness routines. Administering high-potency kratom formulations sourced from credible canada kratom store can help to accelerate post-workout recovery by relieving exercise-induced conditions, such as delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS).
People living with stress and anxiety disorders also swear by kratom’s healing properties. Certain kratom strains, particularly red vein strains, are remarkably stimulating. That’s due to their concentration of mitragynine, an alkaloid known to stimulate serotonin signaling.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
Below are other noteworthy medical issues that kratom may relieve;
1. Hyperphagia (Excessive Appetite)
Kratom can revive or depress your appetite, depending on the strain and dosages consumed.
But unlike fellow psychedelics that are mostly associated with the munchies, such as marijuana, kratom inclines more towards appetite suppression. That makes it a welcome inclusion into any weight loss regimen.
2. Fatigue
Exhaustion is a natural feeling. However, prolonged fatigue can severely diminish your productivity.
Fortunately, kratom is a potent stimulant with a proven ability to reinvigorate physical and mental energy. Whether you’re prepping for a physically strenuous workout or a mentally taxing board meeting, administering kratom might provide much-needed motivation.
Note that kratom’s energizing properties are also dose- and strain-dependent. Studies have found that lower doses of white vein kratom strains are uplifting, while higher doses may lead to sedation.
3. Mood Swings
While most mood swings are normal, erratic shifts in your emotional state can adversely impact your quality of life.
Most mood oscillations result from underlying medical conditions. However, you can manage the symptoms using kratom-based supplements.
Kratom alkaloids treat mood swings by activating the body’s response to chemical neurotransmitters associated with positive vibes, such as serotonin and dopamine.
4. Insomnia
Canadians who grapple with sleep deprivation may also benefit immensely from kratom’s therapeutic properties.
As a sedative, kratom might boost sleep quality by shortening your sleep onset latency. The herb may also promote restful sleep by combating sleep-disruptive conditions, such as pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Can Kratom Treat Opioid Withdrawal?
The opioid crisis has plagued Canada for several years. Between January 2016 and June 2024, nearly 50,000 Canadians died of opioid toxicity.
Opioid addiction among Canadians has strained the healthcare sector, caused billions in lost economic productivity, and reduced the lifespan of the addicts.
Kratom’s role in the raging opioid epidemic isn’t fully understood. But while opponents assert that kratom might compound the opioid crisis due to its potential psychoactive properties, it’s emerging that the herb may play an alleviatory role.
Kratom impacts similar opioids as standard opioid drugs. The direct implication is that the herb may equally trigger the adverse effects associated with regular opioids, including addiction and dependency.
However, the reality is quite different. Studies indicate that kratom’s predominant alkaloid, mitragynine, has unique opioid receptor affinities that can augment its efficacy against opioid withdrawal.
Additional findings suggest that kratom is a partial opioid agonist. The plant partially exerts its biological effects on opioid receptors, minimizing the potential for unpleasant reactions.
More exciting is that kratom can relieve several opioid withdrawal symptoms, including headaches, nervousness, drowsiness, and inappetence.
So, while Canadian drug regulators are reserved about mainstreaming kratom, mounting evidence indicates that the plant may ease the country’s opioid crisis.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
Integrating Kratom Into Your Routine
Health Canada is yet to recognize kratom’s healing benefits. However, the regulator doesn’t criminalize kratom either.
In fact, there’s no explicit mention of kratom’s legality on Health Canada’s website.
The apparent absence of robust kratom laws makes the plant legal for consumption within Canadian borders. But like most herbs, due diligence is critical when integrating kratom into your wellness.
Start by defining your ideal strains based on the desired effects. Then, look out for lab-tested products.
Most importantly, go easy on kratom to avoid suffering any unpleasant effects.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
Wrap Up
While millions of alternative medicine enthusiasts favor kratom for its potent therapeutic abilities, skepticism persists regarding the plant’s risks for addiction and dependency. Moderating consumption is the surest way to minimize the unpleasant reactions associated with kratom extracts.
Also, note that kratom operates in a nuanced regulatory landscape. While you can legally consume all kratom-derived products in Canada, the plant remains illegal in several countries. So, research properly before ordering kratom from overseas.
