Kratom is a supplement that comes from an evergreen plant that has been used in South Asia for a long time to help alleviate the pain and that can help with symptoms related to stress and anxiety. It has only recently found its way to other parts of the world, so we can say that it is fairly unknown. Due to this, many false claims have appeared which is in a way understandable.
Lately, many myths regarding kratom have emerged and these are stopping people from enjoying its benefits. If you were to google this supplement, you would be presented with a long list of articles about it that state its numerous side effects. However, you have to realize that these are usually not based on scientific research and papers. Because of this, in this text, we are going to discuss some most common myths about it and explore how accurate they are.
1. It is a synthetic drug
By far, this is the most common misbelief regarding this supplement. But, how it happened? Well, the main reason is that kratom began to rise to popularity simultaneously with other designer drugs such as “incense” and “zombie bath salt”. It is known that these are created in a lab, so when all that fuss happened, kratom was put in the same basket.
As already mentioned, this supplement comes from a tree that grows in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. All the leaves are handpicked, dried, and ground into a powder. So, as you can see, there is nothing artificial about it.
2. It can lead to addiction
Similar to the previous misconception that it is a synthetic drug, many people believe that can cause addiction which is not true simply because it is not an opioid. Yes, it does affect the opioid receptors which is why it is used to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal, but in the only ‘cause addiction’ in a sense that people can get into a habit of taking it. Surveys in the US and studies in SouthEast Asia show that most people do not report addiction or withdrawal but some heavier users do. The good news is that for most of these people it is generally more readily self-managed and far less of a problem than addiction to opioids, alcohol, and cocaine. it is more like caffeine which can cause addiction and withdrawal but for the most part provide people with benefits that contribute to their health and well-being. This can only occur if the prescribed dosage is not carefully followed.
You can observe think of it as an addiction to caffeine and sugar. We all get used to these and can experience some symptoms when we stop consuming. This is the reason why many professionals say that moderation is the key.
Another question that many people have is – Can you overdose on kratom? Technically yes, but it cannot kill you as many people believe. It can cause nausea and other symptoms, but that it is. This is another reason why you should be careful about the dose you take.
3. It can be lethal
As you can assume just by reading preceding myths, this is absolutely not true. Yes, there were some fatalities that were linked to kratom, but soon it was proven that those individuals suffered from other conditions, or took it alongside other pharmaceutical drugs to increase their effectiveness. There was detailed research about the effects of kratom, and it was scientifically proven that it cannot cause death on its own. Even though no kratom associated death in the US or South East Asia has been confirmed to be a true kratom overdose death, there have been deaths in which kratom is a suspected contributor and can’t be ruled out. In fact, it is possible to overdose on caffeine, water and many other substances that are generally considered safe. At conceptualized more than 500 years ago, for all substances “the dose makes the poison”. Let’s be realistic, if it cannot cause death in a rodent in a laboratory setting, how can it be lethal for a grown human?
Due to this, before taking this supplement you should do extensive research and obviously, consult your physician. Yes, there can also be numerous side effects, which is why you should never take it without consulting a professional.
4. It has no benefits
It is known that it can alleviate the pain, and many people argue that its beneficial effects stop there since it is considered to be a painkiller. However, if you have already investigated kratom, surely you have come up with articles that state that it can be used to treat anxiety, depression, PTSD, and so on. It contains more antioxidants than green tea and it is also anti-viral and anti-bacterial.
What’s more, some studies have suggested that it can also be beneficial in cancer treatment and that it can alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy. These are only some explorations, and many scientists believe that there are many more benefits of kratom that will be discovered in the future.
5. It hasn’t been researched
We are sure that right at the beginning, you can see that this is obviously a myth. After all, we have already mentioned, several times, that numerous studies were conducted. But let’s go back in time a little bit.
This supplement was firstly discovered in the 1800s. During the 20th century, many pharmaceutical companies from all over the world did multiple studies on explaining both the positive and negative sides of kratom.
The interest in this substance has drastically increased in the last 10 years or so which means that hundreds of papers have been published. If you are interested in learning about it, you can find many of these online, and as already stated, many more will be conducted and published in the future.
Why is it good for you?
Now that we have debunked five common misconceptions about kratom, let us tell you about some of its benefits and different strains.
When it comes to choosing the right strain for you, you should investigate the positive sides of each color. Since we are only going to mention some basic facts, you should investigate them further, and you can start by visiting the kratom rack website.
For starters, there is Red Vein Kratom that is the most popular strain on the market. It can not only help you with the pain you suffer from, but it can also greatly improve the quality of your sleep. Besides, the strongest strain can help with the symptom of withdrawal which is why many people use it.
If you are looking for something that can improve not only your mood but also focus, motivation, and energy, you should try the White Vein strain. Many people put it in their coffee and drink it in the morning while getting ready to start their day.
Finally, you can opt for the Green Vein kind which is also quite popular since it is the mix of the two previously described strains. It can greatly help with social anxiety, and therefore, improve your mood and focus, allowing you to tackle any problem that comes your way.
