People have been using kratom for years. What is Kratom? Kratom is a tree naturally grown in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Kratom is also known as biak, kakum, ketun, thang, and thom. Traditionally, kratom was used only as medicine. But at present, it is used as a recreational drug as well.
Kratom contains a chemical named mitragynine (mitragynine works the same as opioid drugs). Mitragynine attaches themselves same part of the nerves cells and creates a similar effect like painkillers into the brain.
According to some researchers, kratom does more harm than good. So, it is necessary to understand the dosage and precautions one needs to take while consuming kratom.
In this article, we will provide you a quick guide regarding Kratom dosage. Let’s begin with the understanding of Kratom usages.
Kratom Usages:
Kratom has been in use for thousands of years. In the beginning, kratom was used as a medicine to combat fatigue and increase productivity among the population of South-East Asia. People consumed kratom by mixing it in tea or food, and sometimes they even chewed the kratom leaves.
At present, people use kratom for the withdrawal of opioid drugs like heroin and morphine. It is also useful to cure depression, chronic pain, anxiety, cough, diarrhea, fever, etc. Although, there are not many shreds of evidence to support if kratom cures all these diseases or not.
The effects of kratom on the body usually take 5-10 minutes to appear. One must note that consuming an appropriate amount of kratom will make you more energetic and productive. While, taking a high dose will make you inactive, lethargic, and may have some severe consequences. Let us now look at the benefits and side effects of excessive use of kratom, one by one.
Benefits of Kratom:
Kratom benefits the body mentally, emotionally, and physically. An adequate dose of kratom reduces anxiety, increases your focus, enhances your mood, and euphoria.
On the other hand, Kratom intake will make you feel energetic instantly. It also relieves pain and relaxes the muscles.
Other research shows that kratom has anti-inflammatory, immunity-enhancing, and appetite-suppressing properties, according to 2017 (review Trusted) Source.
However, more research is needed to confirm these benefits.
Side-effects of Kratom
Consumption of Kratom is unsafe. It will make your mouth dry. And, it will have other consequences like nausea, tongue numbness, vomitings, hallucinations, aggression, thyroid problems, constipation, and delusions.
When consumed in a large quantity, it may have severe consequences like brain swelling, liver damage, seizer, and breathing problem. And it can even cause death.
People who have been using kratom regularly say that when they stopped using kratom in between, they faced issues like watery eyes, muscle pain, anxiety, sleeping problems, appetite loss, etc. In a nutshell, kratom is extremely addictive
Therefore, proper precaution and care must be taken. The next section will allow you to take the necessary precautions.
Precautions To Be Taken
As discussed above, kratom can have severe consequences. So, below are the situations when the usage of kratom can prove deadly.
Pregnancy
Kratom intake during pregnancy is very unsafe. It can have severe consequences. According to studies, babies delivered to mothers who used kratom during pregnancy showed withdrawal symptoms.
Breast-Feeding
There’s no enough data to support whether kratom is safe to use while breastfeeding. To be on the safe side, avoid using it.
Heart-Disease
Kratom intake increases heartbeats. If a person with heart disease consumes kratom, there are high chances of cardiac arrest.
Mental Disorder
Kratom dosage exacerbates the mental conditions of a person. According to some theories, those who use kratom while suffering from a mental illness are more likely to commit suicide.
Alcoholism
Using Kratom with Alchohol can have severe consequences. Kratom is known to interact with other chemicals in the body, such as alcohol. The interaction between Alcohol and Kratom may lead to severe life-threatening complications. Also, a study shows that people who consume alcohol with kratom are more likely to commit suicide.
Dosage:
At present, there are no appropriate studies to show the recommended range of Kratom dosage. The recommended range of Kratom dosage depends on various factors such as age, sex, health status, etc.
If you are thinking to initiate your treatment with kratom, it is advisable to start from a low dosage. The dosage can then be gradually increased to a greater dosage until you achieve the desired outcomes.
“Most respondents claimed that a dose of up to 5 grams of powder taken up to three times per day was sufficient to feel effects in a 2018 study based on a survey (of 8,049 persons who use kratom).”
Although there are no appropriate guidelines for Kratom dosage, there are some general guidelines to be followed:
- Low to Moderate: The dosage is between 1-5grams is considered a low-moderate dose. At this level, you will feel more productive and active.
- High: The dosage is between 5-15 grams is considered a high dose. At this level, pain is relieved, works like opioids, but there are high chances of side effects.
- Risky: The dosage of kratom which is more than 15 grams is considered risky. At this stage, there are high chances of sedation and severe side effects.
You must note the frequency at which you consume kratom. It will help you take Kratom dosage at regular intervals.
Taking kratom at irregular intervals will make you dependent on it. You will take the dosage whenever you feel the need to do so. It makes you addict and open to the severe consequences of kratom.
If you are on treatment, it’s your responsibility to take the dosages appropriately and make the best out of them.
Conclusion
Kratom is beneficial to some extend. But when high doses are consumed, it can have severe consequences, as discussed above. Therefore, kratom is illegal in many parts of the world including Thailand and Australia. In 2016, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considered outlawing kratom at the federal level but decided against it to give scientists more time to research it.
If you ever plan for consuming kratom to cure your anxiety and depression. You should consult a doctor. And then begin the treatment.
Anyone who is experiencing the side effects of kratom should immediately consult a doctor to avoid any severe consequences.
There is no data or research to back up the claims that kratom has health advantages. However, there of plenty of studies that support the side-effects of the same. Therefore, one should intake kratom carefully.