Kratom is a plant that has been used in many medicinal forms. When Kratom was first discovered, in Thailand and Indonesia, it was considered a “sacred” plant. Around 1943, Thailand’s government decided to ban the plant and all of its uses due to no money being made off the sales as the plant was not being taxed. They made it a point to misleadingly inform people that the plant was, in fact, bad for people to use, and also point out that it didn’t have as many medicinal factors that some proclaimed it to have. However, since then, there have been many people who continue to do research on the plant, and have found out that depending on its use, kratom can help with a variety of diseases. In the following document, you will learn some of these key research details, and if in fact, it can or cannot save lives through the medical industry.
Can Kratom Be Poisonous?
Kratom was first discovered through a tree in Southeast Asia. The leaves were first used to make teas, smoke, or chew. It was later discovered that kratom could assist in eliminating pain. According to Medical Express, “An estimated 3 million to 5 million people use kratom, and it has been linked to at least four deaths in the Philadelphia region, but with many authorities failing to track kratom poisonings, there’s no way to know if there are more deaths related to the substance.” The source also states that there has been a climb in calls to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, in regards to people using the plant for medicinal reasons, and there were at least ten deaths that have been cleared to show that kratom was associated to their deaths, in 2016. When the climb started, scientists decided to do additional research on the plant and found that using kratom, if not used in a proper amount, can become harmful to the users, and they can overdose.
Another faction that stated that kratom was a huge factor of poison, was in Pennsylvania. A company called OverdoseFreePA stated they had reports of twenty-seven deaths from the plant in 2017, but their reports were stated the death was from the plant, but they also stated it was because of mitragynine, which was a chemical compound in kratom. It was never fully proven that it was, in fact, the plant itself. Only the chemical was proven fatal. However, there have been many reports that also clearly state that the plant is a safe stimulant when using the proper dosages, therefore making it not poison. According to the American Kratom Association, if more research can be concluded on the proper dosages, then the use of the plant could be highly beneficial to many people with pain. More research on the proper dosages and instructions for use are necessary to maximize the benefits kratom can give people.
Is Using Kratom Lifesaving or Medically Harmful?
Because of the numerous people that have shared their stories on using kratom, they have shown the medical industry that it is effective. When used in small amounts, it can not only help an individual with pain, but also reduce anxiety, and give users the ability to pull themselves away from other illegal and more harmful drugs. The FDA shared that they wanted the plant to have a ban because it is a harmful drug, however, there are many reports from the community of users that claim that it is more beneficial than harmful. As stated in Discover, “Many Thai users switched from opiates to kratom, which was not taxed, so the government responded with a blanket ban.”
Since then, kratom has not only become popular in the Thailand and Indonesian markets but has also reached the United States with fast progression. It has grown exponentially, similar to the cannabis industry, showing that it is a natural medicinal plant that is better for medicinal use, compared to prescription drugs. A few reports that shared their interest against kratom, showed that the death toll on the plant was also included with the reports of other opioids that were used in the same time-frame, therefore there were no actual documents that shared, their deaths were caused solely by kratom. A fantastic article that went into more depth about the research and details behind the plant was found here on NCBI.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, when it comes to the medicinal means of kratom, it can be viewed as dangerous as well as holding positive benefits. There are many different debates on whether the plant is actually a poison because it was also used with other opioids that could have been the cause of deaths.
Therefore, the more research that is performed on the plant, the better means to answers society can gain. The community of users, state that if the plant is taken with the right precautions and the right dosages, it can be a natural way to help through medicinal means. If there is concern about the plant and its uses, a fantastic amount of research was performed by, Dr. Fudin on Pain Dr. But in regards to the actual poll of the number of deaths fully being because of kratom, is not actually official in its current state of affairs. Therefore, it is wise to do as much research as possible prior to taking the plant for medicinal reasons, to understand its benefits and the right amount of dosages.