When suffering from common ailments like headaches and inappetence, the first instinct was to hit the nearest dispensing pharmacy and procure the relevant prescription medications. Well, not anymore.
The growing interest in alternative medicine has shifted focus from conventional medications to herbal blends. This article looks at one of the most powerful herbs making waves in the wellness industry – kratom.
What Is Kratom?
Mitragyna speciosa, more commonly known as kratom, is a tree in the coffee family that’s touted for its many therapeutic benefits.
The herb is native to Southeast Asia, with plantations more widespread in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Myanmar.
What Are Kratom’s Benefits for Wellness?
Emerging research suggests that kratom extracts may treat numerous conditions. Below are the top health and wellness benefits of kratom;
1. Pain Relief
Pain relief is one of kratom’s most common pharmacological applications. The herb treats pain by inhibiting the pain-signaling abilities of various opioid receptors in the brain.
One study investigating kratom’s opioid effects found that those who administered kratom demonstrated a significant increase in pain tolerance. The herb has proven remarkably effective at treating different types of pain, including nociceptive and neuropathic pain.
Just be sure to source your kratom products from Canada Kratom Express or other reputable vendors. That’s the only way to get your hands on high-quality products.
2. Alleviating Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural immune response to pain, injury, or foreign substances in the body. It may also be a side effect of certain chronic medical conditions.
Kratom might not magic inflammation away. But the herb can make the condition more manageable while it lasts.
Kratom’s anti-inflammatory properties come from several alkaloids in the plant. The most notable ones are rhynchophylline and epicatechin.
3. Managing Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms
Opioids are conventional medications used primarily for pain relief. The term may also denote unapproved drugs that produce morphine-like effects, such as heroin.
Opioid withdrawal refers to a group of symptoms that result from either the sudden cessation of opioid usage or a drastic reduction in opioid dosages. Common symptoms include pain, restlessness, depression, drowsiness, and nausea.
Kratom has been widely studied for its ability to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. That’s because it affects the same receptors impacted by opioid drugs but with lower risks of addiction and dependency.
Kratom’s lower propensity for addiction is due to the fact that it binds partially to opioid receptors. Comparatively, conventional opioids bind fully to these receptors.
4. Combating Fatigue
We began by mentioning that kratom belongs in the same taxonomic unit as coffee. The implication is that extracts from both trees produce similar effects.
Like coffee, kratom is a powerful stimulant. You can integrate the herb into your breakfast routine to charge up for the day ahead.
Kratom supplements can combat both physical burnout and mental exhaustion. But if you’re taking the herb exclusively for its energizing properties, then it’s best to insist on white-vein strains.
5. Treating Stress, Anxiety, and Insomnia
Kratom also possesses anxiolytic properties, which makes it an excellent remedy for stress and anxiety. According to one finding, those who self-medicated with kratom reported significant improvements in anxiety symptoms, such as restlessness.
Kratom’s soothing properties explain why experts further recommend it for managing sleep disorders. Adding kratom supplements to your bedtime routine can boost sleep quality by shortening sleep latency.
Now, it may sound ironic that a mentally stimulating herb also possesses calming effects. However, it all has to do with kratom’s different strains.
While white-vein kratom will likely keep you awake, red-vein varieties are famously sedating. The latter is more preferable for treating stress, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
How to Use Kratom for Wellness?
1. Insist in lab-tested products
Lab-tested products are kratom supplements that have been duly tested and certified as safe for consumption.
To establish that a product has undergone due screening, look out for any accompanying certificate of analysis (CoA) report.
The report will typically highlight the potency of kratom in the supplement and any other chemical additives.
2. Consume it moderately
Kratom tends to be more effective when consumed sparingly. Administering kratom moderately allows you to monitor the herb for negative reactions.
Although kratom can offer incredible wellness benefits, it could also produce a number of unintended reactions if overdosed. These include nausea, constipation, dry mouth, and drowsiness.
There are plenty of kratom dosage guidelines online that you can check out to determine your serving portions. Alternatively, simply start off with the lowest doses and then build momentum slowly.
Is Kratom Legal?
Kratom’s legality varies from one jurisdiction to another. It’s prudent to check your local kratom laws before using the herb.
In Canada, kratom is legal in all provinces and territories. The only requirement is that vendors should not sell the herb as an edible.
Kratom isn’t federally legal in the United States either. While there has been a push by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the past to illegalize the herb, those efforts haven’t made significant headway. However, kratom’s legality differs from one state to another.
Summary
Kratom possesses immense health and wellness benefits. But as we’ve seen, the herb may also trigger certain adverse effects if overdosed.
Remember to talk to your physician before integrating kratom into your wellness routine. Most importantly, stick to the recommended dosages to make the most of this herb.
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