What are the benefits of kratom powder found that most take it for pain relief, mood disorders or withdrawal symptoms from prescription opioids and illicit drugs. A small subset uses it to get high. It’s typically consumed as a powder mixed into a drink or pill form, although it can also be taken in capsules and as a tea.
But, if used in large doses, it can induce anxiety, muscle spasms and nausea. It can also lead to long-term side effects, including liver damage, seizures and a coma. It’s also unregulated and under researched, making it hard to know what dosage is safe. And it can interact with other drugs, including benzodiazepines, stimulants and opioids, potentially increasing their sedative effects.
Kratom Powder Benefits: Exploring the Many Uses of this Herbal Supplement
Despite these concerns, many primary care doctors still recommend kratom. “It can be an effective opioid replacement, especially for people with chronic pain and other medical conditions that don’t respond to traditional medications,” Dr. Peter Grinspoon, a primary care doctor and instructor at Harvard Medical School, tells NBC HEALTH.
But, he adds that it’s important to discuss a patient’s kratom use with their doctor. They can help ensure there are no health conditions that could be exacerbated by kratom use and determine how much to take for maximum benefits and minimum side effects. They can also offer suggestions for other ways patients can address their pain, anxiety or depression without using a drug with potentially dangerous interactions. For example, yoga, acupuncture, exercise and CBD products are all good pain management alternatives, as is getting talk therapy and taking FDA-approved opioid addiction treatment medications such as buprenorphine or methadone.
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