What is kratom? The science behind Mitragyna's strange leaves
Long used as a painkiller overseas, the plant has gained in popularity among American opioid addicts trying to get clean. Meanwhile, researchers are making headway as U.S. regulators consider cracking down. Step into the forest around a rural Malaysian village, pluck the red , green or white-veined leaves off a kratom tree, and start chewing. At a small dose, the leaves will act as a stimulant helpful for getting through long hours of hard labor. At a much higher dose, they may cause nausea, vomiting and indigestion, followed by euphoria. At a dose somewhere in between, kratom becomes a highly effective painkiller that can take the edge off after a day’s work. It also can stave off the symptoms of heroin withdrawal. The leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, kratom’s Latin name, have been used for centuries throughout Southeast Asia for all of the aforementioned properties. The plants grow wild in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, with related species of the ...