Is Kratom Replacing Opiates for Pain Relief?

The opioid crisis first struck the US in the 90s when prescriptions for these drugs increased considerably. Ever since then, it has gotten far worse, leading to thousands of deaths every year. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), over 50,000 people lost their lives in the battle against opioids in 2019. As such, this crisis is not to be taken lightly.

Moreover, it’s not just prescription drugs anymore; recreational use of opiates has increased considerably as well, leading to a lot of people developing a life-long dependency. The question remains; how do we stop the mass spread of addiction from taking more lives every single day?

As of late, a lot of people have considered turning to Kratom, a medicinal herb, for helping them break the habit of opiates. The fact is that the popularity of Kratom products has skyrocketed, leading to staggering sales numbers over the past four years. This could be associated with the positive effects this herb tends to have on people in general, aside from curbing withdrawal effects of prolonged opiate use.

The Basics of Kratom

You might have overheard a conversation or two about a magical herb that could be the end of opiates as we know it. Kratom, or Mitragyna Speciosa, is the name given to the leaves of an evergreen tree grown in the Southeast Asian terrain. It’s known to have powerful medicinal properties to help individuals excel in all realms of everyday living. There is a Kratom type for nearly every problem, be it mental or physical. Whether you need to relieve pain, feel more energetic, increase productivity at work; there is a strain of Kratom that will help you get there.

But how does it work? Basically, two active compounds are present in the leaves of Kratom – Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine. These compounds can be put in the same category as opioids but without the nasty comedowns. These two chemicals bind to the very same opioid receptors in the brain as regular opiates, but the effects they give can differ from one strain to the next.

Possible Side Effects

As with any other interesting herb sourced from nature, Kratom does not have a clean record. There are possible side-effects to its consumption such as nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and seizures. Most of these cases are either a result of dangerously high doses or contamination with other harmful, toxic ingredients. The FDA has found high levels of heavy metal contamination in more than one case, as well as an incident with the Salmonella bacteria found in several batches.

The Good

Although there is a lack of research to back up Kratom’s pivotal role in curing pain, there are a lot of people who have come forth with their stories. War veterans have found a special place in their lives for Kratom as it has helped many of them manage both physical and mental discomfort. Painkillers such as opiates tend to make life much harder, often swaying in the opposite direction of their intended purpose of use. When people think of heroin or oxycodone, their mind immediately shifts toward addiction, respiratory decline, and a lot of other complications.

With Kratom, it’s not all black and white; you have to do your part to ensure safety. You need to consider special cases, keep the recommended doses in mind, double-check the labels, and note which brands to do business with.

There are enough cases to support Kratom’s positive effects in not only treating chronic and acute pain, but also helping manage disorders like PTSD, anxiety, or depression.

Primary Choices

How do you know that you have the right Kratom to help manage pain the best way possible? Here is our list of top-shelf strains that are certain to satisfy your needs.

1. Red Bali

Red Bali is a superb Kratom strain when it comes to relieving pain and curbing addiction. It’s a sensational anti-inflammatory agent that can help alleviate swelling, pain, and redness throughout your body. The high alkaloid composition – active ingredients that cover different types of body pain – makes Red Bali an amazing Kratom for pain relief. It also helps take the stress away while stimulating your body’s natural energy.

2. Red Borneo

Another powerful all-natural analgesic is Red Borneo – among nature’s finest remedies for instant relief from any sort of physical discomfort. If you’re dealing with chronic pain but don’t need the high sedative effects, Red Borneo should be your top choice.

Red strains, in general, are known for their sedative effects to help the pain-relieving process go smoothly, but Red Borneo achieves the same results by keeping your energy going – perfect for daytime pain relief. Moreover, much like Red Bali, it can help kick your alcohol or drug habit, but it is much more potent. It helps reduce addictive levels in the body and alleviates symptoms of dependency. So, if you’re just switching from opiates, this is a great first option.

3. Red Maeng Da

Maeng Da is a very powerful strain with a wide range of properties to help make your daily life much easier. Its Red vein, in specific, is a remarkable analgesic that can keep you going for hours on end. If you’re an active person who doesn’t like to sit around during the day, Red Maeng Da is your best bet. It is known to increase stamina, induce euphoria, and provide motivation, all while keeping the pain at bay.

These are only a few names; the Kratom market is very vast. You might stumble upon other varieties to suit your nature of pain. Not to mention, all the top brands offer these in powders, extracts, and capsules. So, you won’t have any trouble finding exactly what you need.