What is Kratom?
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a medicinal plant species native to Southeast Asia with powerful stimulating, pain-relieving, and euphoric effects.
As a member of the coffee family, it’s no surprise kratom is used to combat fatigue and work longer, more productive hours. But there are some other attributes to kratom that contradict this effect.
Kratom is stimulating in lower doses and sedative in higher doses. It acts on the opioid pain system and interacts with neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline.
This unique combination of relaxing, pain-killing, and stimulating effects gives kratom interesting applications. The most common use of the plant is to work longer hours, relieve joint and muscle pain, and help people with chronic pain transition away from highly addictive pain medications.
In this ultimate guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about kratom.
Topics We'll Cover in This Monograph
1. What is kratom used for?
2. Kratom Technical Details
3. History of Kratom
4. Guide to Using Kratom Safely (Dosage Information
5. Kratom Strains (Red, White, Green)
6. Different Types of Kratom Products
7. Medical Research of Kratom
8. Kratom Active Constituents
9. Kratom Side Effects & Safety
10. Legality of Kratom Around the World
Let’s jump straight in. Feel free to jump around to the sections that interest you the most.
What is Kratom Used For?
There’s a few differences between how kratom is used today compared to its traditional uses.
Let’s cover each in more detail.
Traditional Uses of Kratom
Traditionally, the leaves of the plant were chewed raw or made into a strong tea. This delivered much lower doses of the plant than modern methods allow.
In low doses, the effects of kratom are highly stimulating — very similar to coffee or yerba maté. Because of this, most traditional uses of this plant revolve around its stimulating effects.
Kratom was used by laborers as a way to combat fatigue during the long, hard working hours. Some reports even suggest kratom was used to increase the body’s tolerance to the effects of the hot sun. The pain-killing effects of the herb may have contributed to this by dulling body aches and pains while working.
Kratom was really a herb of productivity. If you took kratom while working, you could work harder, faster, and longer than normal — ultimately, getting more done in a day.
Other uses of the herb included treatment for intestinal infections, diarrhea, and muscle pain [5].
Modern Uses of Kratom
Modern applications of the herb are much more extensive because it’s easier now to choose between a low dose for stimulating effects or high doses for more sedative effects.
Kratom powders are readily available and don’t rely on chewing the leaves to release the active compounds. We also have access to high-potency tinctures, capsules, and resin extracts thanks to modern extraction technologies.
1. Kratom For Energy
We can split the uses of kratom according to the dose.
Lower doses of the plant (2.5 – 7 mg) are generally much more stimulating and have better mood-enhancing effects. This is the most common dosage taken traditionally by workers looking to leverage the energizing effects of the plant.
Many of the active ingredients in kratom stimulate the adrenergic receptors in the brain — causing increased electrical activity, faster heart rate, higher blood pressure, and more energy overall.
These effects can last anywhere from 4 to 8 hours on a single dose.
2. Kratom for Anxiety & Sleep
Larger doses (over 8 grams) are more sedative — making these doses better for supporting sleep and anxiety. However, this effect is less reliable than the other uses of kratom because of the stimulating activity at lower doses. Some people simply can’t take higher doses of the plant without experiencing side effects — which won’t help you with your sleep.
Some strains are better than others for sleep and anxiety, so make sure you find a strain recommended for these uses specifically.
3. Kratom & Opiate Withdrawal
One of the most important uses of the plant comes from its opioid effects. Kratom is able to curb opioid withdrawal symptoms, making it less likely for people to relapse during this uncomfortable stage of the recovery process.
4. Kratom for Pain Management
Kratom is a popular alternative for pain management for its opioid pain killing properties and lower likelihood of addiction. People use this plant to numb pain without having to take highly addictive opiate pain medications like morphine, vicodin, oxycontin, or others.
5. Kratom For Mood
The opioid effects of kratom impacts mood regulation. The cascade caused by opioid receptor activation releases dopamine in the reward center of the brain, producing a mild euphoria and sense of wellbeing.
Other alkaloids in the kratom plant target serotonin release — another neurotransmitter associated with mood.
Because of these effects, many people report benefits to using kratom as a way to stabilize low moods during waves of depression or during stressful times.
6. Kratom as an Immunomodulator
One of the more interesting applications of kratom currently under investigation is its ability to support the immune system. Many of the alkaloids and saponins found in kratom are also found in a plant called cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) — which is well-known for its ability to boost the immune system and protect the body from cancer, viral infection, or autoimmune disease. These alkaloids stimulate parts of the immune system such as the Th1 immune response and various prostaglandins and leukotrienes.
Research is still needed to fully understand if kratom exerts these same effects.
Comparing the Applications of Kratom According to Dose
| Low Dose Applications of Kratom | High Dose Applications of Kratom |
|---|---|
|
|
Herb Details: Kratom
Herbal Actions:
- Sedative (High-Dose)
- Stimulant (Low-Dose)
- Analgesic
- Anxiolytic
- Nootropic (mild)
- Antimicrobial
- Antioxidant
Dose
- (Dried Powdered Herb)
2.5 to 15 grams
Part Used
Leaves
Family Name
Methysticum speciosa
Distribution
Southeast Asia
Constituents of Interest
- 7-Hydroxymitragynine
- Akuammiline
- Mitragynine
- Epicatechin
- Quinovic Acids
Common Names
- Kratom
- Kakuam
- Ketum
- Biak-biak
- Ithang
- Thom
CYP450
- Unknown
Pregnancy
- Avoid use during pregnancy.
Duration of Use
- Long-term use should be avoided to prevent addictive tendencies
A Brief History of Kratom
Kratom comes from various regions of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Bali, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea.
Here, kratom goes by the following names:
Kakuam
Ketum
Biak-biak
Ithang
Thom
In these regions, the leaves of the kratom tree are chewed or smoked throughout the day, or brewed into a strong tea and mixed with honey or citrus fruits. It was popular among laborers as a way to combat fatigue as they worked long hours throughout the day.
For centuries, kratom helped people work harder, hunt for longer hours in the day, and manage pain caused by injuries or infection.
It wasn’t until the 1800s that the Western world caught wind of kratom. A botanist travelling through Malaysia noted the herb as a substitute for opium — which, at the time, was already heavily restricted.
Interest in kratom began to spread throughout Europe and eventually, North America. Still, it wasn’t nearly as popular as a stimulant as coffee and couldn’t compete as a pain medication with pharmaceuticals. Only in the last ten years has kratom really become popular in the Western world as an alternative to pain medications as the epidemic of drug addiction is at an all-time high.
Kratom remains a popular alternative option in Europe and the United States for pain management alongside cannabidiol (CBD) — which are often taken together.
Beginner’s Guide to Using Kratom
Getting started with kratom is simple — once you have your kratom, the next step is to figure out how much you should take, and how to prepare it.
Kratom Dose: How Much Kratom Should I Take?
The general dosage range for kratom leaf powder is 2.5 to 15 grams.
Note that concentrates can vary significantly, so always follow the directions on the label when using these products.
Everybody responds to the effects of kratom a little differently — so, play it safe if this is your first time using kratom. Start with a very low dose (2 grams), and increase gradually over time as you start to get a feel for how kratom affects your body individually.
A good process for beginners is to start with about 2 grams, wait 30 minutes, and follow up with another 1 gram every 30 minutes until you reach the desired level of effects.
If you start to experience side effects, like kratom wobble (more on this later), it means you’ve reached your dosage limit for that strain of kratom.
Once you find a dosage that works well for your body with that particular strain, you can be more confident in taking that dose from the beginning the next time you take kratom.
If you have a food scale, weigh your kratom for accuracy.
If you don’t have a scale, you can also use measuring spoons to get approximate doses. Use the table below to find the approximate equivalent dose from grams to teaspoons and tablespoons.
Imperial to Metric Conversions
| Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|
| 2.5 Grams | 1 Teaspoon |
| 7 Grams | 1 Tablespoon |
How Do I Take Kratom?
There are two main methods of preparing kratom powder. Let’s go through the basic process for each method.
Method 1: Kratom Tea
This is the most common method of preparing kratom. All you need to do is mix your dose of kratom (2.5 – 15 grams) with about 500 mL or 1 L of boiling water.
Stir until the powder dissolves— you don’t want to end up with any clumps of undissolved kratom powder in the mix.
Once you’ve stirred the mixture for a minute or two, leave it for another couple of minutes to let the powder settle to the bottom of the cup.
Once there's a layer of sediment at the bottom, you can pour the kratom tea into drinking cups, making sure to avoid the sludge of undissolved kratom powder at the bottom.
The final step is to add honey or sugar to sweeten, and drink up!
Method 2: Toss & Wash
This is the simplest method. It’s not the most enjoyable, but it’s quick and requires little preparation.
All you have to do is measure out the dose of kratom you want to use (somewhere between 2.5 and 15 grams depending on personal preference).
The next step is to simply swallow the powder with a spoon and quickly rinse it down with some water, juice, milk, or other beverage.
The powder can be hard to swallow, so it’s better to try and take a few spoonfuls than to fit the entire dose in one spoon.
What Are the Different Kratom Strains?
Kratom contains an array of alkaloids, each with its own set of effects on the human body. Some are stimulating like caffeine from coffee, others activate the opioid pain receptors (relaxing and pain-killing effects), others work through completely different receptors in the central nervous system.
This means the effects of kratom depend highly on which alkaloids are most abundant in the leaves.
As with most plants, there are many forms of kratom — each producing their own ratio of active alkaloids — resulting in subtle changes in growth patterns such as, leaf and or vein color, and effect profiles.
We call these different forms of kratom strains.
Each strain of kratom adds its own twist on the general effect profile of the plant. All kratom has stimulating effects in low doses and sedative qualities in higher doses — however, some strains place more emphasis on one effect than the other. For example, some strains are better for pain (like Red Vein Borneo), while others have stronger immune supportive activity (like White Maeng Da).
Let’s cover the most common strains of kratom, what makes them unique, and what their effect profiles are.
There are a few different ways to catalog kratom strains, but I’ve found the best way is to look at the vein color of the plant. This gives us a clue as to which alkaloids are most prevalent in the sample, and therefore, what the effect profile is most likely to produce.
Let’s get into the details.
1. Red Vein Kratom
Red vein kratom is usually the best for fast-acting sedative action. These kratom strains tend to be rich in 7-Hydroxymitragynine compared to other colors (more on this alkaloid later).
Kratom with red leaf veins can be found all over Southeast Asia, as you’ll find from the list below — but most users report red vein kratom to have very similar effects regardless of its place of origin.
Most Popular Red Vein Kratom Strains
Maeng Da Thai — Red Vein
Red Vein Kali Powder
Red Vein Borneo
2. Green Vein Kratom
Kratom strains with green veins are widely considered to be the middle ground for kratom effects. This means they’re both stimulating and sedative, and offer good general effects towards pain, mood, and focus.
Covering both ends of the kratom spectrum, green vein can have many different effects, so the strain really does matter with these plants. Unlike white or red vein where the effects tend to be very similar no matter where the strain originates from.
Most Popular Green Vein Kratom Strains
Super Green Vein Malaysian
3. White Vein Kratom
White vein kratom has a low concentration of 7-Hydroxymitragynine.
Kratom with white veins tend to have more of a mind effect — increasing alertness and focus, as well as producing feelings of euphoria and improvements in mood.
Many users use white vein kratom in a similar manner to coffee or tea while working or studying. The effects of white vein kratom are more subtle than both red and green vein strains, and therefore, is a better option for daily use.
Most Popular White Vein Kratom Strains
Maeng Da Thai — White Vein
Sumatra White Vein
White Vein Borneo
What Forms of Kratom are Available?
There are a few different ways you can use kratom. The most popular method is to mix the dried, ground leaf powder with water to drink. This produces the strongest and most reliable level of effects but isn’t exactly an enjoyable beverage to drink.
Other ways people use kratom include capsules, kratom resin extracts, pre-mixed drinks, and alcohol or glycerine-based tinctures.
Let’s discuss the differences between each form of kratom and what the pros and cons of each are.
1. Kratom Powder
Kratom powder is the most versatile and cost-effective way of using kratom. You can mix it with water, juice or milk, or put it in capsules or tea bags yourself.
Traditionally, kratom leaves were chewed to get the effects of the plant. The chewing action breaks the leaves up, while enzymes in the saliva break down the cellular structure of the kratom cells — effectively releasing the active alkaloids into the body.
Modern techniques of drying and powdering the kratom replaces the job of chewing the leaves. All you need to do is find a way to get this leaf powder into the body for the effects to take hold.
Unfortunately, kratom has a strong bitter flavor, so it may be difficult to take the powder raw. For this reason, most people mix kratom with chocolate milk, fruit juice, or other drinks with a strong flavor to mask the bitterness of the kratom.
Pros
- Allows you to consume the entire leaf — which is the most efficient way of using kratom
- Powder is the most cost-effective way of using kratom
- Powders are the closest method to traditional kratom consumption
- Most kratom strains are available as a powder form
Cons
- Kratom powders don’t taste very good
- You need a fairly large dose of powder to feel the effects
- Kratom powders require a little bit of effort to prepare
2. Kratom Capsules
Another popular method of using kratom is to take them as a capsule. You can make capsules yourself by using a capsule-making machine and filling it with raw kratom leaf powder.
Commercially available kratom capsules are also available and are an excellent option for novice users.
Capsules allow you to take consistent doses of kratom and are one of the most convenient and discrete ways of using the herb. Nobody thinks twice when you take a capsule, as it looks a lot like a regular health supplement — while mixing the green, bitter powder into a drink may draw the attention of your coworkers.
Pros
- Discrete and convenient way of using kratom
- Provides consistent doses every time
Cons
- Not the cheapest way of using kratom
- You may need to take several capsules to feel the effects
- Not all strains are available in capsule form, unless you make them yourself from raw powder
3. Kratom Tinctures & Glycetracts
All herbs can be made into a tincture. The process involves rinsing the raw herb with alcohol, vegetable glycerine, or another solvent to extract the active ingredients through diffusion. Once most of the active compounds are removed from the leaves, the remaining fiber and cell structures of the plant are filtered out — leaving behind a liquid rich in active kratom compounds.
Tinctures allow you to take consistent doses of kratom without having to weigh the leaf powder. This method is more discrete and can be added to any beverage or taken directly in the mouth.
For even faster onset of effects, you can hold the tincture under the tongue where the kratom alkaloids will absorb through the microcapillaries located directly under the tongue — delivering the active compounds directly into the bloodstream.
You can make tinctures yourself from the leaf powder or buy commercially made products.
Pros
- One of the most convenient ways of using kratom
- Alcohol or vegetable glycerine preserve the kratom — dramatically increasing the shelf life
Cons
- Not the most cost-effective way of using kratom
- Some of the active compounds will be lost during the extraction process
- You may need to take fairly large amounts of the tincture to feel the effects
4. Kratom Resin Extracts
The active alkaloids of the kratom plant are most abundant in the plant's resin — which is a highly viscous fluid produced by the plant. This is where many active alkaloids are stored. Numerous plants have resins that can be removed and concentrated.
Kratom resin extracts are very popular and make using kratom super simple. Since this preparation has all the unnecessary plant parts removed (the fibers, cell walls, proteins, carbohydrates, etc.), you don’t need as much of this stuff to start feeling the effects.
For this reason, be very careful when using concentrated extracts. It doesn’t take much to go overboard with this stuff.
Pros
- Allows you to take much less kratom to experience the effects
Cons
- Kratom extracts are expensive
- The effect profile isn’t as robust as the raw plant material
How Does Kratom Work?
Kratom works primarily through the alkaloid content of the leaves. We’ll get into the details of what alkaloids are, and what the most important alkaloids in the kratom plant do in more detail later.
The most important thing to note here is that alkaloids tend to have powerful pharmacological effects on the human body because they have the ability to activate or inhibit various cell receptors around the body.
The human body uses receptors as a way to control cellular functions around the body. By activating or inhibiting these receptors, we can tell our cells to behave a certain way.
Caffeine for example, binds to the adenosine receptors which are responsible for making us sleepy. By binding to these receptors, it prevents this from happening — causing us to feel awake and alert.
In the kratom plant, there are over 24 different alkaloids — each with their own affinity for different receptors in the body.
The majority of effects from kratom rely on an activation of the opioid receptors (resulting in pain inhibition, sedation, and euphoria), and adrenergic receptors (causing the stimulating effects).
Some of these alkaloids have more novel effects such as, stimulating immune cells, modulating dopamine levels, or inhibiting noradrenaline.
Kratom is also rich in flavonoids, including epicatechin — which is one of the primary antioxidants found in green tea, chocolate, and grapes. These antioxidants provide protection from harmful free radicals and oxidative compounds we’re exposed to from the environment.
Pharmacology & Medical Research
Over the years, there’s been a lot of interest in kratom as a therapeutic agent. In the early 1980s, there was a particularly strong interest in the potential to use kratom as an alternative to addictive pain medications or for helping drug users wean themselves off the medication.
There’s also a wealth of research for using kratom for increasing energy levels, addressing anxiety symptoms, and alleviating opiate withdrawal symptoms.
Most of this research was done in the 1970s and 1980s before there was a sweeping ban of kratom in the United States and Europe. Although most of these bans have since been lifted, kratom research is not as abundant as it once was.
Another reason why research isn’t as common for kratom as other pant medicines is due to the incredible complexity of the plants constituents. There are at least 24 known alkaloids in kratom, each with their own potent effect profile. This makes it very hard to study the plant because there are so many variables. It’s much easier to study plants with one active ingredient than a plant with 24 or more active ingredients.
Nevertheless, I’ll break down some of the best research we have available for the most common applications of kratom.
+ Kratom For Energy
The earliest uses of kratom involve its stimulating properties. Several alkaloids in kratom activate the adrenergic receptors [5,6].
Hormones such as noradrenaline and adrenaline (catecholamines) activate the adrenergic receptors which causes several important changes in the body — namely, increased heart rate, blood pressure, and electrical activity in the brain. The result of these changes is what we commonly experience as the fight or flight response.
However, these effects are highly dose-dependent. Higher doses of kratom have much more sedative effects on the body as a result of the opioid activity of the plant [7].
+ Kratom for Opiate Addiction
The first suggestion that kratom could alleviate opiate withdrawal symptoms came from research published in the 1930s [3]. Since then, this application has gained a lot of attention.
So how does this work? What does the research suggest?
First, let’s discuss how opiate addiction works in the first place.
After frequent exposure to opioid drugs, the body begins to change its homeostatic balance as an attempt to resist the effects of the drug — resulting in what we call tolerance. Drug tolerance forces us to take larger doses of the drug to experience the same level of effects.
As soon as the drug-use stops, it’s metabolized and removed from the body. Unfortunately, the homeostatic changes the body made in response to the drug lead to a phenomenon known as withdrawal.
Withdrawal symptoms can last several days or weeks as the body struggles to readjust homeostatic mechanisms to reverse the adaptations made while taking the drug.
Opiate withdrawal can be severe — causing symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, chills, fever, body aches, seizures, headaches, and hallucinations. These symptoms are often strong enough to force the user to seek out more of the drug to alleviate these symptoms — resulting in a relapse.
Therefore, one of the major goals of addiction treatment is to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal while the user goes through the detox process.
The most common medications used for this stage are methadone and buprenorphine — however, both these medications can also lead to a second stage of opiate and opiate-like drug dependance.
Kratom is a strong candidate for opiate withdrawal symptoms because it has the potential to alleviate opiate withdrawal symptoms without possessing nearly the same chances of secondary addiction.
So how does this work? Is there any data to back this up?
Kratom alkaloids alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms in zebrafish (a common model of addiction) [4].
Unfortunately, there aren’t many high-quality studies on this application of kratom. The best data we have at the moment involves anecdotal evidence of people who successfully weaned themselves off opiate drug addiction, and animal research including the study cited above.
It’s likely kratom’s effects on the opioid system are much more complicated than simply activating these receptors in place of the opioid medications. This could explain why kratom has a lower incidence of addiction compared to specific opioid agonist medications such as morphine, fentanyl, methadone, and oxycontin.
More research is needed to fully understand the role kratom might play in helping people wean off addictive opiate drugs like heroin, vicodin, morphine, fentanyl, and oxycontin.
+ Kratom For Pain
Since kratom is able to exert its effects through the opioid system, it’s not surprising the herb possesses pain-relieving benefits. The opioid system is integral to the transmission of pain from the body to the brain. Mu- and gamma-opioid receptors located in the spinal cord and brain regulate the transmission of pain signals.
By activating the opioid receptors, kratom inhibits pain signals and reduces both chronic and acute pain.
A study published in 2009, highlighted the pain-killing and anti-inflammatory effects of kratom [8]. The study gave rats a standardized extract of kratom known as MSM at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. A significant reduction in both inflammation and pain were noted in the rats following the treatment with kratom.
Researchers in the study suggested the anti-inflammatory effects were a result of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibition.
The pain-relief is likely a combined result of the anti-inflammatory effects and opioid receptor activation.
+ Kratom For Focus
Kratom alkaloids possess adrenergic [5] and serotonergic [9] activity. Additionally, through the opioid system, kratom alkaloids like mitragynine are theorized to possess secondary dopaminergic and GABAergic effects in the brain [10, 11].
All of these effects are associated with cognitive performance and focus. Many of the most popular cognitive enhancing supplements and medications rely on activating one or more of these pathways in the brain.
Although there’s no research currently available that explores this interaction more closely, there's plenty of anecdotal reports that suggest kratom can boost focus and attention — especially with white veined kratom strains.
This is another area where more research is welcomed to fully elucidate the applications of kratom.
Kratom Constituents: What Are Kratom Alkaloids?
Kratom is a rich source of indole and oxindole alkaloids similar to caffeine. It’s also rich in antioxidant flavonoids, and pharmacologically-active saponins and glycoside derivatives.
The main constituents of kratom are mitragynine, paynantheine, speciogynine, and 7-Hydroxymitragynine — which collectively make up around 90% of the alkaloid content of the plant.
The alkaloid content of kratom plants can vary significantly. Even within the same strain, the alkaloid content can change depending on how much rain there was during the growing season, the altitude in which the plants are grown, and how soon the leaves were harvested during the season.
It’s thought the kratom plant produces these alkaloids as a way to defend itself from insects and animals and as a way to store excess nitrogen.
A) Kratom Alkaloids
Alkaloids are notorious for having powerful pharmacological effects on the human body.
Some of the most well-known alkaloids include caffeine (stimulant), cocaine (stimulant), morphine (pain-killer), nicotine (stimulant), ephedrine (stimulant), and ibogaine (psychedelic).
Alkaloids can be beneficial to the body, but they can also be quite toxic — as with the case of strychnine, aconitine, or coniine.
Kratom is exceptionally rich in alkaloids — most of which have been confirmed to be pharmacologically active in humans.
By far the most abundant alkaloid in kratom is mitragynine, so most of the current research explores his compound. However, over 23 other alkaloids have also been discovered, many of which have been investigated more closely for their effects.
Some of these alkaloids are even found in other useful plant species such as yohimbe or cat’s claw — both of which have a great deal of research highlighting their effect profiles.
Let’s briefly explore each alkaloid in kratom and their interaction with the human body.
1. 7-Hydroxymitragynine
This alkaloid is analgesic, antitussive (inhibits coughing), and antidiarrheal [12]. It’s also considered one of the key mu-opioid receptor agonists and one of the main alkaloids in red vein kratom strains.
2. 9-Hydroxycorynantheidine
This alkaloid is a partial opioid agonist — which means it’s not as strong as other alkaloids in the plant at activating the opioid pain receptors. However, many experts believe this alkaloid works through a different mechanism and can amplify the pain-killing effects of other alkaloids like mitragynine or 7-hydroxymitragynine.
3. Ajmalicine
Ajmalicine is also found in another popular stimulating herb known as yohimbe and Rauwolfia serpentina. Extracts of this same alkaloid from the yohimbe plant is referred to as δ-yohimbine.
There’s actually a lot of information available on this alkaloid, and there are synthetic versions available used in the treatment of high blood pressure.
Ajmalicine is an α-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist, which goes against many of the other alkaloids in the plant. It’s believed this alkaloid works as a smooth muscle relaxant, mild sedative, and helps reduce some of the side effects of other prevalent kratom alkaloids.
4. Akuammiline
Akuammiline is in the indole class of alkaloids and is also found in abundance in the akuamma seed (Picralima nitida) — which is where the name comes from.
This compound is structurally very similar to yohimbine and mitragynine — and likely offers a similar set of effects.
5. Ciliaphylline
There isn’t much research available on ciliaphylline, but it’s believed to be analgesic and antitussive (cough-suppressant) from preliminary research.
6. Corynantheidine
This alkaloid is a mu-opioid antagonist — which works against many of the other alkaloids in the plant. This compound is also found in yohimbe and acts as an α1-adrenergic and α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist (inhibitor).
7. Corynanthine
There isn’t much research on this alkaloid currently available, but some studies observed it to provide mild calcium channel blocking activity.
8. Corynoxine A & B
These two alkaloids have dopaminergic, neuroprotective, and mild sedative effects. Corynoxine A is also found in the medicinal herb cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa).
9. Iso Mitraphylline
This compound is a potent immunostimulant — suggested to provide the marhodity of the immune supportive effects of kratom despite making up less than 1% of the total alkaloid profile of the plant.
10. Isopteropodine
Isopteropodine is another immunostimulant and a 5-HTP modulator and mood supportive. This compound is involved in the concentration and mood-enhancing effects of some kratom strains.
11. Isorhynchophylline
Isorhynchophylline is found in Chinese cat’s claw (Uncaria rhynchophylla) and has immunostimulating and calcium channel blocking effects [13]. There isn’t much research currently available on this particular alkaloid.
12. Mitragynine
Mitragynine is considered the primary alkaloid in the kratom plant, responsible for the majority of the plants effects. It was the first discovered, and makes up roughly 66% of the total alkaloid profile of the kratom plant.
This alkaloid is an opioid receptor agonist, miod adrenergic receptor agonist, and 5HT2A (serotonin) receptor agonist. Its primary effects are antitussive (cough suppressant), anti-diarrheal, analgesic (pain-relieving), and central nervous stimulant and sedative.
13. Mitraphylline
Mitraphylline is an oxindole alkaloid with vasodilating, blood pressure lowering, muscle relaxing, and diuretic activity.
14. Mitraversine
This alkaloid is sometimes found in kratom but is more commonly found in a closely related species — Mitragyna parvifolia.
15. Paynantheine
This alkaloid is the second most abundant alkaloid in most kratom strains (though not all). It’s a smooth muscle relaxant and has minor activity on the opioid and adrenergic receptors. There’s a synthetic version of this compound available at the moment undergoing preliminary research.
16. Rhynchophylline
Rhynchophylline is found in both kratom and Chinese cat’s claw (Uncaria rhynchophylla). It’s been studied for its hypotensive effects — which were noted to leave blood flow in the kidneys unaffected [13]. Decreased blood flow in the kidneys is a serious side effect of modern pharmaceutical blood pressure medications — so there’s a lot of interest in this compound as a potential new blood pressure medication.
This alkaloid is also suggested to be an anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, NMDA receptor agonist, dopaminergic, serotonergic, and antiarrhythmic through calcium channel blocking activity. All of these suggested effects need to be studied in further detail to confirm.
17. Speciociliatine
This compound is a diastereomer of mitragynine — which means it’s very similar in structure to mitragynine.
This alkaloid is a weak opioid agonist and may inhibit acetylcholine release from presynaptic nerve terminals.
18. Speciogynine
This alkaloid is very similar in structure to the primary kratom alkaloid mitragynine and the third most abundant alkaloid in the plant. It’s thought to have muscle relaxant properties, and is attributed for a lot of kratoms stress-reduction effects.
19. Speciophylline
Speciophylline is another alkaloid kratom that has in common with cat’s claw. There isn’t much research on this compound, but early research suggests it may have anticancer activity — specifically towards leukemia cell lines.
B) Other Compounds in Kratom
1. Epicatechin
Epicatechin is a flavonoid with potent antioxidant effect. It’s abundant in the plant kingdom, best known for its role in providing many of the health benefits of green tea (Camellia sinensis), chocolate (Theobroma cacao), and grapes (Vitis vinifera).
2. Daucosterol
Daucosterol is classified as a saponin — which is another class of compound that often possess pharmacologically active effects in animals. This particular saponin is thought to contribute to the anti-inflammatory activity of kratom. It’s been shown to induce Th1 immune responses in animals [15] — which is a key component of a healthy immune system.
Daucosterol has also been shown to promote the regeneration of neural stem cells in vitro [16].
3. Quinovic Acids
Kratom shares a lot in common with cat’s claw — one of the world's premier immune-supportive herbs. Quinovic acids are another group of compounds the two herbs have in common.
Quibovic acids are classified as triterpene saponins. They’ve been shown to have potent antiviral activity in vitro [17], though more research is needed to see if this effect applies in living animals as well.
Safety & Side-Effects of Kratom
Caution is advised whenever using kratom. The effects can be very unpredictable, and the oposing effects some strains have from each other make it unreliable as a form of treatment for many conditions. If using kratom for its stimulating effects but sedation is delivered the condition can worsen. Only use kratom with the advice or observation of an experienced individual and only for minor conditions. Speak with your doctor before trying kratom is taking any medications or if you have any medical conditions.
Kratom Side Effects
Kratom doesn’t come without side effects — however, with responsible use the side effects of kratom acan be managed and mitigated.
The primary activity of kratom works through the opioid receptors and adrenergic receptors — so naturally, the most common side effects of the plant stem from the interaction with these receptors.
Adrenergic side effects cause a similar set of side effects of stress. This is because the adrenergic system is closely associated with the stress response.
Adrenergic side effects of kratom:
Nausea
Dizziness
Anxiety
Stimulation
Insomnia
Dry mouth
Headaches
Irritability
Sweating
Diarrhea
Increased urination
Rapid heartbeat
The opioid effects of kratom may produce a completely different set of side effects which are similar to other opioid medications.
Opioid side effects of kratom:
Sedation
Lethargy
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness
Itchy nose
Euphoria
Constipation
Increased urination
Despite the fact that most of these side effects are very rare and only tend to show up if kratom is used in high doses, it’s important to consider the potential dangers of using kratom. As with any compound, you can always take too much. Be responsible when taking kratom and listen to your body.
With that said, there’s a trio set of side effects that many users experience if they take too much. These side effects are one of the main reasons kratom doesn't tend to cause addiction. To take enough kratom to “nod out” — which is the goal for a lot of recreational users, you're more than likely to experience something called the kratom wobble before you get enough of the herb to start nodding out.
What Is the “Kratom Wobble?”
So-called kratom wobble is the most common side effect from high doses of kratom. It causes dizziness and loss of coordination. It can make users feel quite unwell.
Kratom wobble has 3 main symptoms:
Blurry vision
Dizziness
Nausea/Vomiting
These effects are more common in some strains of kratom than others. The likelihood a specific kratom is to cause these side effects is called the wobble threshold.
Strains with a low wobble threshold are more likely to cause wobble side effects if you take too much. Strains with a high wobble threshold will have a much lower chance of causing these effects if you go slightly over the optimal dose for your body.
The lower the wobble threshold, the more likely that strain is of causing kratom wobble — especially in higher doses.
What Happens if I Experience Kratom Wobble?
The first thing you need to do when you experience wobble effects is to relax. Panicking is only going to amplify the effects. Instead, find somewhere comfortable to sit or lay down and gather yourself. The effects will usually pass within a few minutes but may last up to 3 hours.
Many people find it helps to drink ginger tea or warm water.
If you experienced wobble while taking kratom, make sure to reduce the dose the next time you take kratom, or find a strain that’s less likely to cause these effects.
The most common cause for kratom wobble is taking too much. This is a sign you’ve hit your dose limit for that particular strain of kratom.
Is Kratom Dangerous?
Just about everything is dangerous if you take enough of it — kratom is no different. There have been some reports of people dying from kratom — however, this is over-sensationalized in media reports. In most of these cases, kratom was abused or mixed with other drugs.
Never do this.
Kratom is a powerful medicinal plant and should be treated with respect.
Stick within the recommended dosage limits, don’t mix kratom with other drugs or medications, and listen to what your body is telling you.
There are plenty of safety studies on kratom — the majority of which report little to no toxicity even in very high doses. An older study (1972) investigating the safety profile of the main alkaloid in kratom — mitragynine — found that even after significantly high doses (920 mg/kg), there were no deaths [2].
This is an insanely high dose. In the average 150 lbs. person, this is the equivalent of over 62,000 mg of kratom (62 grams).
That’s five times the high-end of the recommended dose and nine times the average 7 g dose.
Is Kratom Addictive?
The most concerning potential long-term side effect of kratom use is addiction.
Kratom is an opioid agonist, much the same way oxycontin or heroin is — however, unlike these pharmaceuticals, kratom contains dozens of active ingredients, each acting on different pathways in the body. This gives kratom a more rounded effect profile and has a much lower chance of leading to addiction.
In fact, kratom is often limited in its addictive qualities because the dose can only go so high before it causes the user to feel kratom wobble or other unwanted side effects. You can’t get high from kratom the same way you can with pharmaceutical opioid drugs.
Short term, low dose, or sporadic use of the plant is highly unlikely to result in addiction and is even used to help wean people off addictive drugs.
With that said, be careful when using opioid agonist plants or medications. Speak with your doctor before using the plant if you have a history of addiction — especially to opiate-based drugs or medications.
Kratom Legality
Kratom has a shaky legal history. It’s been banned, unbanned, and banned again all around the world. The laws on whether or not you can order kratom can be difficult to navigate.
Here’s a brief overview on the current legal climate around kratom.
Is Kratom Legal in the United States?
In the United States, kratom was banned, then unbanned, then banned again. It’s a rollercoaster ride trying to keep up with the changing laws. The argument goes back and forth whether kratom is useful for avoiding or treating addiction or if it causes addiction.
At the moment, kratom is legal on a federal level and banned in specific states or municipalities.
+ States Where Kratom is Banned
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Indiana
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
In some states, the laws aren't black and white. For example, kratom is legal in the state of California, but banned in the city of San Diego. There are similar examples of this in Florida, where kratom is only banned in the Sarasota county.
+ States Where Kratom is Legal
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California (Except San Diego)
- Colorado (Except Denver)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida (Except Sarasota county)
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois (Except Jerseyville)
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi (Except Union County)
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Is Kratom Legal In Europe?
Kratom is very hit/miss in Europe. Some countries have decided to ban the plant because of fears of addiction, while others allow its use as a way for people to avoid addiction to prescription medications.
+ Legal
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Holland
- Hungary
- Moldova
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
+ Illegal
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Romania
- Russia
- Sweden
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- Denmark
- Finland
Is Kratom Legal in Asia and Australasia?
Starting with Thailand in 1943, and neighboring countries in the years following, kratom use and cultivation were banned. There’s a lot of conspiracy around this which we’ll get into later in the “Is Kratom Legal Where I Live” section.
To summarize, many people believe it was the pharmaceutical companies that lobbied against kratom because it was widely used by people as a substitute for opioid medications or to wean opiate addicts off these drugs. The main argument is that kratom is significantly less addictive than these medications, and despite the potential for uncomfortable side effects, the herb is much safer than prescription pain medications.
Nevertheless, kratom was banned in Thailand, and massive fines were given to anybody caught using, or growing the herb. Later in 2018, these laws were finally redacted and kratom is now a major economic export for the country.
Other Southeast Asian countries have had similar bans on kratom — many of which have been overturned.
+ Legal
- Thailand (medicinal only)
- Bali
- China (legal grey-area)
+ Illegal
- Malaysia
- South Korea
- Australia
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Myanmar
- Singapore
- Vietnam
Final Thoughts: Kratoms Usefulness & Safety index
Kratom is an incredibly useful plant. It has stimulating effects similar to coffee or tea in lower doses and sedative effects similar to kava in higher doses. It has powerful pain-killing activity and can even be used to boost mood and our immune systems.
The contradictory set of effects kratom provides have boggled researchers for decades as they try to decipher the interaction between dozens of active alkaloids and other phytochemicals found in the plant.
After a few decades of banishment in the United States and much of Europe, the research on these chemicals fell out of interest. Only within the last 10 years or so has interest in the plant peaked again and research resumed.
Many people are finding usefulness for the plant as an alternative to coffee in the morning, for managing chronic or tough to treat pain without having to take pharmaceutical pain medications, boost focus and concentration, or stabilize mood.
As with any powerful medicine, it’s important you treat kratom with respect if you want to avoid side effects and stay safe.
Author:
Justin Cooke, BHSc
The Sunlight Experiment
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References
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