Have you heard of kratom? The herb from southeast Asia, known to stimulate energy. In recent times, its market value has increased. In a report in Forbes, a Denver-based natural products pharmacologist, David Kroll, says, “While I continue to cover the molecular pharmacology aspects of the pain-relieving alkaloids present in kratom, I’ve also been moved by emails and social media messages from kratom users. Over 95% of the correspondence I’ve received has been positive toward kratom, with most expressing fear and anxiety about the effect on their lives when kratom is no longer available.”
Through his statements, it is evident that now more people realize the benefits of kratom. However, most of these benefits are anecdotal experiences. Therefore, various myths are circulating on social media and through mouth-to-mouth channels.
Today if you ask someone where to buy kratom, they will suggest that you purchase it from an online medium. However, they might also recommend you not buy it at all because of the myths. These myths stop people from experiencing the possible advantages of kratom. Thus, here are some of the popular kratom myths and the truth behind them.
Kratom and Myths
- Kratom is Dangerous
One of the most common myths you will hear around kratom is that it is dangerous. To prove the statement, people bring out the salmonella outbreak where a group of people hospitalized for treatment accepted to consume kratom.
This fact usually comes with half evidence. There is no scientific proof that the reason behind this was kratom. Undoubtedly, there are cases when kratom produced a negative impact but only when taken with other drugs or in concentrated amounts.
To understand this, take the statement of Dravid, “among the 200 or so messages I’ve received singing the praises of kratom, I have also received four messages of caution from people who became addicted to kratom itself. Three of these four involved the use of concentrated kratom extracts, often available in small (8-milliliter) “shots” in head shops or gas station convenience stores. Other accounts I’ve read elsewhere involve the use of 25-30 grams of kratom powder daily, about 10 times the dose that most people seem to use to treat pain and other medical issues.”
These statements clarify that kratom is not inherently dangerous. It shows undesirable effects when it interacts with other drugs, is degraded, or is consumed in massive amounts. So you can purchase it without worrying. If you wonder where to buy it, the answer is offline or online stores.
- People are Overdosing on Kratom
Yes! Most federal agencies put this reason behind their actions of banning kratom. However, it is not valid. While there are exceptions, general people are not overdosing on kratom. A key reason behind this is kratom is a self-limiting herb. It means it would not allow you to consume it after a particular dose. If you take too much, you will feel frustrated and might throw the kratom before administering more.
For better understanding, here is a mathematical calculation about lethal doses of kratom.
Now dried kratom contains about 1.5% of alkaloids. The lethal mitragynine dose ( the dominant alkaloid in kratom) is 547.7 Mg/kg. If you calculate the equivalent lethal dose of mitragynine, it goes to 55g or 55,323 Mg per Kg of body weight.
If you consider the average human weight around 80, you have to consume around 4000 g of kratom to cross the lethal limit. So, good luck on intake as high as 4000 grams! Twelve grams of kratom is considered a high dose while consuming 20 g will make you feel unwilling to take more and nauseous.
- Kratom is a New Street Drug
First of all, make this clear. You might have heard about kratom recently but, it was there for thousands of years in Southeast Asia, its natural habitat. Also, you would not generally find street dealers pushing kratom. If you search for a place to buy kratom, there is less possibility of getting it from a local dealer. It is not a drug that you can use the way you consume illicit drugs. Besides, rather than drugs, it is more accurate to call it a herb.
There is no point in vaping or smoking it. There is a common belief that people only consume kratom to get high. While there are people who take it for recreational purposes, most people consume it for medical benefits.
- It Does not Have any Side Effects
Although kratom is not a dangerous drug, it has some side effects. Most of these side effects are not short-term and do not put your health at risk. However, you should know about them before consuming kratom.
Common side effects are brain fog, dizziness, constipation, nausea, insomnia, dehydration, and anxiety. Also, if you keep heavy doses for a long time, you might suffer from memory issues, hormonal disbalance, dependence, and addiction.
So, it is better to first research the required dosage for you and then consume accordingly. If you have minor pain, there is no need to take a large dose. Also, kratom is more potent than most other compounds. Thus, it is better to start with a low dosage and gradually increase the amount.
- Kratom Strains Come from Different Trees
If you are already aware of the kratom world, you know that it has various strains. Some of them are red maeng da kratom, white maeng da kratom, etc. Many people think that these strains come from different trees, but it is not valid.
All the kratom strains come from the same species, Mitragyna Speciosa. The different strains signify the areas they are found. For example, two strains with differences in their effects or potency might grow in different areas in Indonesia.
- Kratom Leads to Death
It is a vague myth about kratom. It came from an incident where the FDA connected 44 deaths to kratom. These deaths happened for various reasons, such as consuming contaminated kratom products, intake of many drugs, and an underlying health condition. However, later it became evident that kratom was not responsible for it.
So, these are some of the common myths around kratom. While some of them are true, others are loose rumors.
Conclusion
The National Institutes on Drug Abuse recently updated that intake of pure kratom does not cause deaths. However, a lesson to learn here is to be careful before consuming kratom. Ensure it does not react with other drugs. It is always better to consult a professional before taking it.
