Mitragyna speciosa
Plant species, recreational drug (kratom) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mitragyna speciosa | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Rubiaceae |
Genus: | Mitragyna |
Species: | M. speciosa |
Binomial name | |
Mitragyna speciosa | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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Mitragyna speciosa (commonly known as kratom, a herbal leaf from a tree of the Rubiaceae family[3][4]) is a tropical evergreen tree in the coffee family native to Southeast Asia. It is indigenous to Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea,[5] where it has been used in herbal medicine since at least the 19th century.[6] It has also historically been consumed via chewing, smoking, and as a tea.[7] Kratom has opioid-like properties and some stimulant-like effects.[8][9]
As of 2018[update], the efficacy and safety of kratom are unclear. Although it was a federally legal dietary supplement, it was not approved as a therapeutic agent in the United States due to the poor quality of the research.[10][11] In 2019, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that there is no evidence that kratom is safe or effective for treating any condition.[12] Some people take it for managing chronic pain, for treating opioid withdrawal symptoms, or for recreational purposes.[5][10] The onset of effects typically begins within five to ten minutes and lasts for two to five hours.[5]
Anecdotal reports describe increased alertness, physical energy, talkativeness, sociability, sedation, changes in mood, and pain relief following kratom use at various doses.[10] Common side effects include appetite loss, erectile dysfunction, nausea and constipation.[13] More severe side effects may include respiratory depression (decreased breathing), seizure, addiction, and psychosis.[5][8][14][15] Other side effects may include elevated heart rate and blood pressure, trouble sleeping, and, rarely, liver toxicity.[5][16][17][18] When use is stopped, withdrawal symptoms may occur.[10][9] A number of deaths have been attributed to the use of kratom, both by itself and mixed with other substances.[8] Serious toxicity is relatively rare and generally appears at high doses or when kratom is used with other substances.[5][10]
In 2014, the FDA banned the import of kratom into the U.S. due to lack of evidence for its safety.[19] As of 2021[update] kratom is illegal in six states: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, and it may be outlawed by local ordinance in other states.[20]
As of 2018, kratom is a controlled substance in 16 countries.[8] As of 2018[update], there is growing international concern about a possible threat to public health from kratom use, while others have argued that it could be a tool to help the opioid crisis.[21][8][10][22] In 2021, the World Health Organization's Executive Committee on Drug Dependency investigated the risks of kratom and declined to recommend a ban following a scientific review.[23][24] The committee, however, recommended kratom be kept "under surveillance."[25] In some jurisdictions, its sale and importation have been restricted, and several public health authorities have raised alerts.[10][22]