It’s been a while now that people have started showing interest in more natural and herbal treatments rather than opting for man-made pharmaceuticals that do more damage than good. Nature has definitely bestowed upon us some miracle herbs and plants that can do wonders for our physical and mental health.
One of those lesser known plants that have gained more recognition in recent years is – kratom. Mitragyna Speciosa or Kratom is a plant that is best known as a mild stimulant. It specifically aids in pain management. Since the 19th century, people of Southeast Asia have been using it for alleviating a wide range of ailments and often for recreational purpose.
Although it’s impossible to cover all aspects of this plant and what it has to offer, we’ve made an attempt at explaining how Kratom leaves can help you lead a healthy lifestyle with its potential to cure many chronic ailments and promote mental health.
Here we go –
1. Gives A Quick Energy Boost
This evergreen tree is native to the regions of Southeast Asia namely Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. People of these countries have been long using this plant as a source of energy. Especially those who have to perform labor-intensive jobs and need to keep going through the day would chew few kratom leaves or make some sort of concoction by brewing them to make an energy drink that would last them a day. Today, this plant from the coffee family has made its way into the Western culture and it’s now available in the form of green vein kratom powder, kratom capsules, and even teas. So you can brew your own nice cup using kratom leaves or consume it in some other form of recipes to get a nice energy boost. You can compare it to the boost you get from coffee but a whole lot nicer. Kratom is an excellent way to improve focus, feel more energized, and get more out of your day.
2. Relieves Anxiety
When taken in low doses, kratom exhibits stimulant-like effects. Users of kratom report feeling more in control of their emotions. The reason for such effects is due to the active alkaloid called mitragynine. It has analgesic properties. When taken in higher doses, kratom can have sedative, euphoric effects wherein you experience a dulling of sensations and emotions. This is the reason the native people of Asia where this plant hails from would often consume its leaves before attending social gatherings to dull feelings of anxiety. This allowed them to be more sociable. In today’s times where anxiety levels are through the roof thanks to ever-increasing burdens and work commitments, kratom leaves can help keep anxiety and stress at bay.
3. Helps to relieve pain
We already talked about the analgesic properties of kratom owing to the presence of alkaloids (mitragynine) which bind with pain receptors in the brain and dull sensations of pain. It’s because of these properties that traditional medicine often used Kratom as a local anesthetic. However, in today’s times – it can be consumed to experience relief from chronic pains and aches such as those associated with osteoporosis, inflammation, tense muscles, and fibromyalgia. Therefore, if you have been long struggling with some sort of chronic pain, you can try this miracle plant to improve your quality of life. You can buy kratom capsules and kratom powder online which is pretty easily available today in the US.
4. Helpful in Opiate Withdrawal And Overcoming Addiction
If you’re someone who’s trying to get over opioid addiction or manage the withdrawal symptoms without breaking a sweat, kratom will definitely lend you a great helping hand. In the US, kratom is legal and easy to buy without any medical prescription. It’s also cheaper than other treatment options such as methadone and buprenorphine. Kratom interacts with opioid receptors like DOR and MOR to help with opiate withdrawal symptoms.
In fact, one of the primary uses of this plant comes from being used as an opium substitute. When consumed at higher doses, it shows morphine-like effects making you feel sedated. However, before using kratom for this particular purpose, it’s advised to consult a physician first because high doses without proper guidance might cause unwanted effects.
5. Betters The Immunity System
Strong immunity is vital for a healthy and happy lifestyle in the absence of which you are prone to all kinds of illnesses. Kratom betters your life by strengthening your immunity system and bestowing the power to fight against myriad infections. It does the job with the help of alkaloid profile present in the leaves. Kratom carries alkaloids like Isorhynchopylline and Isoptreropodine that are studied to strengthen the immune system. Iso Mitraphylline, another alkaloid present in this plant has anti-leukemic properties. Mitragynine, another common alkaloid is supposedly a diuretic and an antihypertensive. All these alkaloids come together to enhance immunity. Some kratom strains like Green Vein, Red Dragon, and Super Indo Yellow Kratom are believed to be most helpful for immunity-building.
6. Helpful in Management of Diabetes
Although it’s one of the uncommon uses of kratom, it sure does help with the management of type 2 diabetes. Pain and stress are two factors that negatively affect blood glucose levels. Since kratom is a known analgesic and a pain reliever, it helps maintain the right levels of blood sugar.
7. Anti-Diarrheal Properties for a Healthy Gut
Kratom consumption results in slow peristalsis. It’s basically the muscular action going on in the gut area which works to put intestinal contents out. By slowing down this mechanism, kratom can cure diarrhea and several other digestive problems such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcerative colitis. Let it be known that in high doses kratom consumption can result in constipation. Therefore, it’s important to monitor the doses and go slow.
Final Thoughts
Those were some of the impressive and lesser-known benefits of this miracle plant. You can consume it in many ways. You can chew its leaves, or use the powder for brewing tea. It’s important to educate yourself about ways of consumption to find your favorite preparation.