The information below was obtained from various sources and is for educational purposes only. The information below does not express the views of kratomherbs.com and/or MPC Holdings LLC.
What is Kratom
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is an amazing herb
harvested from a large tree native to Southeast Asia in the Rubiaceae family,
first documented by Dutch colonial botanist Korthals. It is botanically related
to the Corynanthe, Cinchona, and Uncaria genera and shares some similar
biochemistry. It is in the same family as coffee and the psychoactive plant Psychotria
viridis. Other species in the Mitragyna genus are used medicinally in Africa,
and also used for their wood.
Kratom
is used for its psychoactive effects as well as medicinal purposes in its
native region, and its use is growing elsewhere in the world. In Southeast Asia
the fresh leaves are usually chewed, by workers or manual laborers seeking a
numbing, stimulating effect. Less commonly, the leaves are decocted or
extracted into water and then evaporated into a Resin. Kratom is currently being researched for its potential use
in the treatment of addiction to, and withdrawal from, opiates. While Kratom
itself is not a member of the Opiate family, early research seems to indicate
that the alkaloids in Kratom affect the same areas and receptors of the brain
as many Opiate based compounds, and are effective in replacing opiates during
withdrawal. Research continues into these potentially useful alkaloids.
Kratom contains many alkaloids including mitragynine
(once thought to be the primary active), mitraphylline, and 7-hydroxymitragynine
(which is currently the most likely candidate for the primary active chemical
in the plant). Although structurally related to yohimbine and other tryptamines,
its pharmacology is quite different, acting primarily as a mu-opioid receptor
agonist. It also shares some adrenergic receptor activity similar to that of
yohimbine. Kratom also contains alkaloids found in uña de gato, which are
thought to play a beneficial role on the immune system and lower blood
pressure, as well as epicatechin, a powerful antioxidant also found in dark chocolate
and closely related to the EGCG that gives green tea its beneficial effects.
Other active chemicals in kratom include raubasine (best known from Rauwolfia
serpentina) and some yohimbe alkaloids such as corynantheidine.
For more information on Kratom see the
following links…
Kratom Users Handbook An excellent source for better understanding the difference between all of the different types of Kratom on the market today, how strong they are in comparison to each other.
Opiophile.org The Opiophile.org forums are provided for those who use opiates, for those researching opiates, or for those who have questions regarding the use of opiates.
Erowid Kratom Vault A collection of information, experiences and everything else concerning Kratom.
Drugs-Plaza.com The place you will find everything you want to know about soft-drugs, like Marijuana, Magic Mushrooms and Herbal drugs.
