Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tree in the coffee family, found in Thailand and other tropical countries. Traditionally, in Southeast Asia, people have chewed its leaves or made them into a tea that’s used to fight fatigue and improve work productivity. Kratom has also traditionally been used during religious ceremonies and to treat medical conditions such as pain and diarrhea, sometimes as a substitute for opium.
Two compounds in kratom leaves, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, interact with opioid receptors in the brain, producing sedation, pleasure, and decreased pain when taken in high doses. Lower doses cause alertness instead of sedation.
Kratom is known to have a variety of reported uses and desired effects, from sexual enhancement to pain relief to a “safe” and legal “high.” In North Carolina, New York, Colorado, and possibly more states, kratom may be sold as a drink called ketum in bars, The New York Times states.
What Is The Best Kratom Strain For Pain
According to users the Red Vein Bali Kratom is the most “opioid-like” of all the kratom strains. It may help relieve pain-related conditions, such as depression or chronic pain. The Red vein Bali kratom originates in Indonesia. It’s reddish in color and believed to provide effective pain relief. Red kratom may also be used to bring about a feeling of euphoria in the user.
Red kratom leaves are processed using lots of sunlight or a UV lamp during the drying process. Red kratom may also be fermented during its processing to create bentuangie kratom, a slightly different variation on the standard red kratom.
Red kratom is the most mellow of the major kratom strains, and is not generally classified as a stimulant. This makes it more approachable than its white or green counterparts. Red kratom is thought to have a mild sedative effect, helping the user to remain calm. Some people claim red strain is the best kratom for pain relief, although it has not been approved for this use or as a substitute for any medication.
How long does red kratom take to work for pain?
The Nursing Show publishes that kratom likely takes effect within 5-15 minutes and remains effective for 2-5 hours after taking it. In low doses, red bali kratom is considered to be a stimulant drug that increases sociability and alertness. In higher doses, red bali kratom may have effects similar to those of opioid drugs. These effects include:
- Reduced anxiety
- Sedation
- Lowered pain sensations
- Relaxation
- Pinpoint pupils
Additionally, red bali kratom may produce a “high,” or rush of euphoria that is akin to the effects of opioid abuse. The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (NY OASIS) compares the interaction of kratom with opiate receptors in the brain to how morphine interacts with the brain. Opioid drugs bind to opioid receptors, which then creates a flood of some of the brain’s neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, that help to regulate mood and influence the decision-making process. When the level of these neurotransmitters is increased in the brain, it makes a person feel good, thereby elevating mood. Opioid abuse causes a high that leaves a person feeling euphoric, mellow, and less sensitive to pain.
Kratom abuse may have similar effects. In some cases, kratom exposure has resulted in psychosis. Symptoms of kratom-induced psychosis may include hallucinations, confusion, and delusion, the DEA reports.
Although it is still legal in the United States, the US Drug Enforcement Administration has placed kratom on its “Drugs and Chemicals of Concern” list. Physicians should be aware of the availability, user habits, and health effects of kratom. Further research on the therapeutic uses, toxic effects, and abuse potential of kratom and its constituent compounds are needed.
Negative Kratom-Drug Interaction
A popular drink with young Muslims in southern Thailand, 4×100 is a mixture of the plant-based kratom and either a codeine-based cough syrup or caffeinated beverage that produces an effect similar to being drunk from alcohol, the DEA reports. Mixing kratom with other psychoactive substances can be highly dangerous, as they may have negative interactions with each other. Seizures have been reported with kratom abuse when taken along with other drugs, the Nursing Show publishes.
Worsening depression and possible fatal drug interactions between kratom and other opioids, like prescription-based hydrocodone or morphine, have been reported by The New York Times. When taking more than one mind-altering substance at a time, each may exacerbate the potential hazards, side effects, and risk factors associated with each substance, and this mixing heightens the probability for drug dependence, addiction, or a life-threatening drug overdose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that almost 50,000 people died in the United States from a drug overdose in 2014, making overdose the leading cause of injury death in the nation. SEE: Does Kratom Cause Constipation?
