Kratom – Health Benefits and Uses

Cindy Wilson Thumbby Cindy Wilson
BS, Dietetics and Nutrition

Mitragyna speciosa, better known as Kratom, is a traditional herb native to Southeast Asia and thanks to its tremendous benefits, it’s taking the west by storm. Farmworkers in Southeast Asian countries know Kratom benefits and would commonly brew it into tea or chew fresh leaves to give them more focus and energy when working. Kratom leaves contain over 40 compounds and more than 25 alkaloids, but 7-Hydroxymitragynine and Mitragynine are the main alkaloids responsible for the benefits of this miraculous plant. Its medicinal properties have a long-established history in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, and for your peace of mind, we will discuss the most common Kratom benefits.

Benefits of Kratom

Kratom is rich in analgesic properties and can impact the hormonal system to relieve pain throughout your body. When the leaves are chewed, the amount of dopamine and serotonin in the body increases to further alleviate the pain. Pain relief is one of the most celebrated Kratom health benefits, but apart from that, this plant has some euphoric effects. When consumed, it triggers the secretion of feel-good hormones within the body and supplies the muscles with a sudden burst of energy that impacts your workouts and increases sexual vitality.

Health benefits of Kratom

The following are the top 5 health benefits of Kratom you should know.

  1. Pain relief

Pain is classified based on its origin and the part of the body it affects. For instance, it can be classified into neuropathic and nociceptive pain. Nociceptive pain results from physical injury to tendon, muscles or tissue, while neuropathic pain is induced by chronic conditions like cancer, arthritis, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Pain affects the body from the psychological and physical aspects, and the good news is that Kratom can treat all kinds of pain regardless of the origin. The alkaloids present in Kratom act on the opiate receptors in the brain to enhance the release of endorphins and enkephalins to numb pain receptors in your body.

  1. Immune booster

A weak immune system can hardly resist even simple infections such as cold, and therefore, we all require a strong immune system for a healthy living. Kratom is regarded as an immune booster, thanks to a wealth of alkaloids designed for this purpose. For instance, alkaloids Isorhynchopylline and Isoptreropodine stimulate the immune system, Iso Mitraphylline works as an anti-leukemic agent, and Mitragynine is believed to be a diuretic and antihypertensive.

  1. Reduce stress, anxiety and depression

If you suffer from depression or anxiety or you’re prone to stress, you will love the ability of Kratom to soothe the nerves and elevate your mood. According to research, Kratom is a psychoactive substance and triggers the release of serotonin and endorphins, which eventually enhance your mood. When you’re anxious, its calming effect can ease tension to make you feel comfortable in any situation. What’s more, it alleviates other symptoms of anxiety such as heart palpitations, insomnia, muscle cramps, sweating and hyperventilation. Therefore, if you work in highly demanding jobs or you suffer from PTSD, mood swings, panic attacks, or chronic stress, Kratom is what you need.

  1. Anti-inflammatory agent

With more than 25 alkaloids present in Kratom, some have been tested and proven to have anti-inflammatory capabilities. Alkaloids with anti-inflammatory benefits are Rhynchophylline and Epicatechin, and therefore, Kratom can benefit individuals who have arthritis, Alzheimer’s, cancer and Crohn’ disease.

  1. Promotes heart health

The chemical components present in Kratom are good for your body’s arteries, blood vessels, and hormones and can help to lower blood pressure. Kratom eases stress and tension and thus prevents various heart diseases and protects your heart against health issues such as atherosclerosis, strokes and heart attacks.

Kratom uses and benefits

In Southeast Asian countries, Kratom has been used for hundreds of years as a pain reliever, mild stimulant and as a way of weaning off of opioids. Manual laborers and farmers brew tea from Kratom leaves to help fight the pain and fatigue associated with physical labor. What’s more, for individuals who want to stop using opium, Kratom can be used to handle the opium withdrawal symptoms amazingly. It is also used by people with a busy lifestyle and students to improve motivation and increase focus. Kratom can also combat diarrhea, aid weight loss, and cognition enhancement.

Kratom powder benefits

Traditionally, Kratom leaves were picked fresh and chewed or brewed into a tea for the effects the plant produces. Today, Kratom is distributed throughout the world through online stores and for the leaves to last longer, they are picked fresh upon maturity, left in the sun to dry naturally and then ground into a fine powder. Kratom powder is more concentrated than leaves hence more potent and has a diverse method of consumption.

The powder can be used to make tea or mixed into any other drink of the user’s choice. It can also be added over morning cereals, in milkshakes, and on sandwiches – the options are endless. The powder doesn’t have any addictive quality, and when taken in the right dosage, it provides tremendous health benefits to your body. Kratom powder is convenient to store, carry and use, measuring the right dosage is a walk in the park, and most importantly, it can be encapsulated.

Maeng Da Kratom benefits

Maeng Da was created using a unique technique known as grafting, where tissues from several plants were joined together to breed different features of each plant into one Kratom strain. White Maeng Da, is, therefore, one of the strongest and finest strains of Kratom with high potency and amazing benefits to the human body. It is distinguished by its high amount of alkaloid and dark leaves that turn green when powdered or crushed. Kratom Krush has the purest form of White Maeng Da which you can buy to avail its maximum benefits.

Maeng Da is available in three vein colors – green, red and white, meaning that you can have a different experience depending on the strain color you take. Basically, Maeng Da can be used for both therapeutic and recreational purposes thanks to its ability to produce a wide range of outstanding benefits.

When consumed, the alkaloids in Maeng Da interact with the opioid receptors in the brain to produce different effects such as sedative and pain-relieving effects, among others. It is more stimulating than other strains with powerful energy and mood-enhancing effects. Maeng Da could be a viable choice for individuals looking forward to increasing energy in the morning and improving the clarity and focus to face challenges throughout the day. Maeng Da is also celebrated for its ability to increase productivity and decrease fatigue.

Kratom tea benefits

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you wake up? Is it preparing and sipping something hot? If yes, you can take Kratom tea as it provides a fast onset as well as more energetic effects. What’s more, the tea you take prepares you for the day ahead as it boosts your energy without increased heart rate, improves your concentration, provides mental stimulation, boosts the immune system, provides pain relief throughout the day, and improves mental clarity. You can learn more about Kratom tea benefits by trying it out yourself.

Some people ask, why Kratom tea, whereas I can take Kratom in other ways? Well, first things first, Kratom tea tastes better as you can adjust the flavor using honey, sugar or lime, and most importantly, it is less likely to cause digestive stress. When you add lime or lemon to your tea, the citric acid becomes a potentiator for Kratom which helps certain alkaloids in Kratom to dissolve fast, thus improving bioavailability. What’s more, sipping Kratom tea reduces negative side effects such as digestive upset.

Bottom line

Kratom can be described as a magical plant with tremendous benefits to the user. For recreation purposes, it can be used to enhance physical endurance and elevate mood. For medicinal purposes, it can be used for cough, diarrhea, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, diabetes, to lessen symptoms of opiate withdrawal and to improve sexual performance. As a rule of thumb, always make it your priority to buy high-quality Kratom from reputable vendors.

About Author

Cindy Wilson Thumb
BS, Nutrition & Food Science | Connect with on LinkedIn
Cindy Wilson

Hello, I am Cindy, and this a website where I inspect everything related to nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. I have a BS in Dietetics and Nutrition (Kansas State University) and have completed a dozen specialty courses related to nutrition, biochemistry, and food science. I am open to learning more, but foremost I would like to share all my knowledge with you.

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