By Kratom is a psychotropic plant found in South Asia which is popular for its medicinal benefits. Though it isn’t FDA-approved yet, it is used as a dietary supplement by many to treat various health conditions. Anxiety and depression are getting more and more common and people are turning to natural ways to treat it.
Kratom for anxiety and depression:
Users of Kratom found it to be effective in treating mental health conditions. The main strains include maenga da, indo, red vein kratom, white vein kratom and green vein kratom. Each of them is used to treat different conditions whilst green kratom being the favorite of many owing to its subtle and balanced nature. Fans of green kratom recommend it for anxiety/ depression.
How does it work?
Kratom isn’t an opioid but has similar effects as other opioids. Its active ingredient mitragynine binds to our brain’s opioid receptors which could be the reason for its anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects. It is also said to have mild sedative effects which would help the user to feel more relaxed.
Kratom goes by the names biak, ketum, kakum, thang and thom and are also used to treat conditions such as pain, muscles aches, fatigue, high blood pressure, diarrhea, opioid addiction and PTSD. Kratom is available in various forms including capsules, tablets, gum, powder and tincture extracts
Dosage guidelines:
There are no standard dosage guidelines since one dosage doesn’t work for all. A number of factors like age, weight, gender and health status influence the determination of ideal dosage for a person. Generally, users take about 5mg thrice a day. You can expect euphoria, reduced anxiety and increased talkativeness.
The dosage range is:
- Low to moderate dosage: Taking 1 to 5 gm boosts energy and focus
- High dosage: 5 to 15 gm is ideal for pain relief but could result in opioid-like high feeling and there is a risk of side effects.
- Overdose: Consuming more than 15 gm is discouraged and there is more chance of adverse side effects.
Possible side effects with high dosages:
- Dry mouth
- Itching
- Frequent urination
- Headache
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Changes in mood
In rare cases those who have overdosed on kratom could experience heart palpitations, high blood pressure, insomnia, loss of appetite and libido, memory/liver/kidney problems or psychosis. Exercise caution when administering kratom and make sure you don’t consume high dosage.
There are more researches underway regarding Kratom benefits. After the results turn up, there is a chance of kratom becoming more mainstream.
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