Whether you are living with chronic pain, or experience muscle and joint pain from time to time, effective pain relief is important. More and more people are turning to naturally derived products for pain as they try to align their lifestyle to a more wellness-focused and holistic way of living. Kratom is becoming a go-to option for pain and for good reason. Kratom has traditionally been used for pain in Southeast Asia and is now becoming more popular in the USA.
How Kratom Effects Pain
Kratom is derived from the Mitragyna speciosa, also known as the Kratom tree. Two of its main constituents, mitragynine and hydroxymitragynine are responsible for its effect on pain perception. These compounds have several actions on the body. The first is its influence on opiate receptors. Kratom had traditionally been used for both pain management as well as for managing opiate withdrawal due to these effects. Some animal studies suggest that kratom may stimulate opiate receptors in the gut. However, there have not been extensive studies on how kratom affects the body. It is unclear whether Mitragynine is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and affect the brain directly. Research is still in its infancy, so it is not certain how strong mitragynine and hydroxymitragynine’s effects are on opiate receptors or the exact mechanisms behind it. Some studies suggest that hydroxymitragynine is 13 to 46 times stronger than morphine!
Traditionally, people chewed on kratom leaves to extract the plant’s active constituents. Chewing on kratom leaves is not as common in the USA. Kratom is most commonly put through an extraction process to concentrate its active components. The active components are then put into products like capsules, powders, tablets, and liquid tinctures that are easy to use. Plus, unlike chewing on kratom leaves which can release a variable amount of kratom, these modern forms of kratom consumption can be more regulated. This way, you can control your dose of kratom more effectively.
Types of Kratom
While all kratom is derived from the same plant, there are different strains of kratom which determine its overall effect and general use. There are four categories that strains fall into:
- White vein
- Green vein
- Red vein
- Specialty blends
The type of strain is determined by the way the kratom plant is grown and dried, as well as the fermentation process and how different types are then blended together. Each strain is going to be ideal for different times of the day or general uses. For example, a white vein is generally used in the morning, a green vein …….