Kratom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kratom | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||
| Mitragyna speciosa Korth. |
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a medicinal leaf 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 in its native region, with growing use elsewhere in the world. It is grown widely in Indonesia for the dried herb trade. In Southeast Asia the fresh leaves are usually chewed, often continuously, 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 tar that can be swallowed. Kratom is not often smoked, although this method does provide some effect.
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.
Contents |
[edit] Research Into Use of Kratom In Treatment of Opiate Addictions and Withdrawal
Kratom is currently being researched for its potential use in the treatment of addiction to, and withdrawal from, opiates. While this has been a well known "street" remedy for a long time, its efficaciousness has recently been taken more seriously as a possible future treatment for issues surrounding opiate abuse. However, the concurrent risks are also not well known. . 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[1][2][3]
[edit] Effects
Kratom's pharmacology shares some elements of the activity of other substances including yohimbine. Kratom also has a yohimbe-like stimulant activity, and uncaria-like immunostimulant activity. Kratom is said to produce a sense of well-being, with users reporting anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, analgesic, and even euphorigenic effects. It is paradoxically a stimulant and depressant, used to aid work and also able to contribute to rest and sleep. Kratom's psychoactive effects are reported to be relatively short-lived, typically fading after a few hours. Some people experience nausea after ingesting kratom. Its extremely bitter taste probably contributes to the nausea. Another possible effect is constipation. Kratom is mildly addictive and withdrawal is possible after frequent heavy use. While rarely severe or disabling, withdrawal symptoms can include depression, fatigue, restlessness, teary eyes, and insomnia. It is comparable to morphine withdrawal in character and caffeine withdrawal in severity.
The most potent leaves generally come from older trees, most of which grow on mildly acidic jungle type soils. The large leaves are most revered. Different strains, with names such as 'Rifat' and 'Bumblebee' are now being selected and vegetatively cloned for their allegedly higher innate alkaloid content. However, genetics are only a small variable with mitragyna speciosa. Alkaloid content is a function of age, genetics, soil, location, and season. Alkaloid production is highest in late summer and early fall. There are some reports that kratom grown in sub-tropical or mild tropical conditions may not be active, or will be less potent than kratom growing in the deep tropics. Again, reports vary sharply in this regard. Some make this claim, while others claim to have grown perfectly potent plants under such conditions.
[edit] Plant Description
Kratom is a potentially large tree, though it usually grows to a height of 12-15 ft tall and 15 ft (4.6 m) wide. Depending on the species, soil and climate, it can grow up to 40-100 feet tall.
The leaves of the Kratom tree are a dark green colour and can grow over 7 inches (180 mm) long and 4 inches (100 mm) wide. The flowers are yellow and grow in clusters.
The kratom tree likes it best to be in wet, humid, fertile soil, to have medium to full sun exposure, and an area protected from strong winds. Light winds are beneficial to the production of active alkaloids.
Kratom can be grown for personal use, and there are several sites selling plant clones. They do not like cold conditions and frost will result in loss of all leaves. If you live in climate zone 10, kratom can be grown outside year round. If you're outside of this zone, plants need to be kept indoors during cold spells. Kratom plants prefer a humid environment and should be fertilized every few weeks (during growth periods).
[edit] Legal status
Kratom is a controlled substance in Thailand, Bhutan, Australia, Finland, Lithuania, Malaysia and Myanmar (Burma). A handful of people in Malaysia and possibly other countries are lobbying their governments to allow medical research into kratom as a potential prescription substance.
The DEA has added Kratom to their list of drugs and chemicals of concern.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
 |
This article's citation style may be unclear. The references used may be clearer with a different or consistent style of citation, footnoting, or external linking. |
- ^ www.drugbuyers.com/kratom
- ^ http://www.kratom.net/
- ^ http://www.pcworld.com/article/158170/lab_tests_of_drugs_purchased_online_reveal_risks.html
[j] K. M. Babu, Ch. R. McCurdy, E.W. Boyer: Opioid receptors and legal highs: Salvia divi-norum and Kratom, Clinical Toxicology (2008) 46, 146-152 [k] E.W. Boyer, K. M. Babu, G. E. Macalino, W. Compton, Self-Treatment of Opioid With-drawal with a Dietary Supplement, Kratom, The American Journal on Addictions, 16: 352-356, 2007 [l] E.W. Boyer, K. M. Babu, J. E. Adkins, Ch. R. McCurdy, J. H. Halpern, Self-treatment of opioid withdrawal using kratom (Mitragynia speciosa korth), Addiction, 103 (6). 1048-1050, 2008 [m] K. S. Grewal, Observations on the pharmacology of mitragynine, J Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1932, 46:251-71 und K. S. Grewal, The Effect of Mitragynine on Man, British Journal of Medical Psychology 1932, 12: 41-58 [n] S. Chittrakarn, K. Sawangjaroen, S. Prasettho, B. Janchawee, N. Keawpradub, Inhibitory effects of kratom leaf extract (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) on the rat gastrointestinal tract, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 116 (2008) 173-178 [o] http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/programs/forensicsci/microgram/mg0306/mg0306.pdf [p] S. Suwanlert, A study of kratom eaters in Thailand, UNODC – Bulletin on Narcotics Vol. 27(3): 21-27, 1975 [q] Jansen, Prast Psychoactive properties of mitragynine (kratom), Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 1988, 20(4)455-457 {14} Hiromitsu Takayama: Chemistry and Pharmacology of Analgetic Indole Alkaloids from the Rubiaceous Plant, Mitrgyna speciosa; Review; Chem. Pharm. Bull. 52(8) 916-928 (2004) {15} Suchitra Thongpradichote, et. al.: Identification of opioid receptor subtypes in antino-ciceptive actions of supraspinally-administered mitragynine in mice; Life Sciences, Vol. 62, No. 16, Seite 1371-1378, 1998 {17b} http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_concern/index.html {18} http://www.erowid.org/plants/kratom/kratom_info2.shtml {18b} http://www.kratom-world.com {19} UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME, Vienna, BULLETIN ON NARCOTICS, Volume LVII, Nos. 1 and 2, 2005, S. 249-256, UNITED NATIONS New York, 2007 {20} Aekajit Chaiyawong: “Drugs Situation and the Drugs Information System in Thailand”, Global Workshop on Drug Information Systems: Activities, Methods and Future Oppor-tunities, Wien, 3.-5. Dezember 2001, unterstützt durch das “United Nations International Drug Control Programme under the Global Assessment Programme on Drug Abuse” (GAP). United Nations, New York, 2002, Weitere Informationen sind auf der GAP Inter-netseite www.undcp.org zu finden. {22} http://www.erowid.org/plants/kratom/kratom_article1.shtml {22a} http://www.kratomeffects.com
