Nourishing Mindful Living: A Holistic Fusion of Nutritional Ingredients for Optimal Health
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia whose consumption is associated with both stimulating and sedating effects depending on the doses taken. Besides its mind-altering properties, kratom is also widely used to remedy numerous ailments.
But for new users, the biggest challenge is understanding how to make the most of kratom’s perceived therapeutic benefits. That entails acquainting yourself with the herb’s preferred delivery methods, dosage recommendations, potential adverse effects, and everything in between.
We’ve prepared a beginner’s guide to mindful living with kratom. Here’s everything you need to know before integrating this novelty therapeutic drug into your wellness routine.
Introducing Kratom
Kratom is a tropical tree from Southeast Asia whose extracts have been used since at least the 19th century to remedy several diseases. The herb is indigenous to various Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea.
Although originally from Asia, kratom has become a staple in wellness gardens worldwide due to its numerous pharmacological benefits. The tree’s relative hardiness enables it to thrive even in some of the most unforgiving climates.
However, due to its psychedelic abilities, kratom is outright illegal or heavily regulated in several jurisdictions. It’s imperative to understand kratom laws in your country or state before using, selling, or distributing the herb.
The good news is that Canada Kratom Store is legal, provided that it’s not marketed as a consumable product. Canadian kratom vendors can only sell the herb in alternative formulations like topicals and aromatherapy products. A clever way around this restriction is to offer kratom as a giveaway.
Health Benefits of Kratom
1. Pain Relief
Pain relief is arguably kratom’s most significant pharmacological benefit. The herb relieves pain by desensitizing specific opioid receptors, particularly those spread around the brain and central nervous system (CNS).
2. Alleviating Inflammation
Inflammation and pain typically occur side by side. So, it’s unsurprising that many analgesic medications also tend to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Kratom is high in the compounds rhynchophylline and epicatechins, which alleviate inflammation by decelerating the release of cytokines, the body’s principal inflammatory messengers.
3. Anxiety Treatment
One of kratom’s mind-altering properties is its ability to quell racing thoughts.
Studies have found that self-medicating with kratom might mitigate the most bothersome symptoms of anxiety and depression, such as irritability and flashbacks.
That’s due to the herb’s positive interactions with ‘feel-good’ chemicals like serotonin and dopamine.
4. Improving Sleep Quality
Inadequate sleep typically results from two causes – an overly long sleep latency and frequent sleep disruptions.
Kratom’s sedating properties make it a potential treatment for sleep deprivation. Consuming the herb at bedtime improves sleep quality by shortening sleep latency, while its anxiolytic properties are useful in prolonging sleep duration.
5. Boosting Energy Levels
Mitragyna speciosa and coffee belong in the same botanical unit. That explains why extracts from both plants contain powerful stimulating properties.
Kratom supercharges your energy levels through its impact on certain opioid receptors.
6. Managing Opioid Withdrawal
Opioid withdrawal is a collection of symptoms triggered when an opioid user suddenly reduces their regular opioid dosages or ceases taking these drugs altogether.
It’s the nasty price recovering drug addicts have to pay on their road to sobriety.
But while opioid withdrawal symptoms can often be unbearable, it turns out that using kratom can make a difference. Kratom has proven effective at managing various opioid withdrawal symptoms, including pain, drowsiness, nausea, and sleep deprivation.
Best Way to Take Kratom for Wellness
1. Understand Its Legality
We’ve already hinted that kratom is illegal in multiple jurisdictions. So, the first thing to do before using kratom products is to understand if the herb is legal in your state or country.
2. Identify a Suitable Delivery Method
There are multiple ways to consume Mitragyna speciosa.
You could smoke kratom cigarettes, vape kratom e-juice, inhale kratom aromatherapy products, or apply the herb topically. There’s also the option of consuming kratom-infused edibles, such as herbal teas, capsules, gummies, chocolates, and baked goods.
Whichever delivery method you choose depends primarily on the intended effects.
For instance, kratom products consumed by inhalation produce fast-acting but short-lasting benefits. You can often feel the effects within 5 minutes of the first inhale, but those effects typically wear off within an hour or so.
Comparatively, kratom edibles have a longer onset time, sometimes up to three hours. However, the benefits can last for several days.
3. Go Slow On the Dosages
Many studies indicate that 5 grams of kratom consumed thrice a day is the herb’s ideal dosage.
But as you shall find, kratom has no such thing as a baseline dose. Serving portions differ from one user to another, depending on factors like age, body size, metabolic rate, kratom potency in a product, and the severity of the disease the herb is administered for.
The standard practice is to go slow on kratom, especially if you’re new to it. Begin with the lowest doses, say, 10 milligrams per day. Watch out for any adverse reactions before deciding whether to up your doses.
Stop using kratom or cut back on your dosages at the first sign of trouble. Common adverse effects include nausea, constipation, dry mouth, and unexplained weight loss.
Summary
There’s an abundance of scientific research supporting kratom’s medicinal claims. But like most herbs, kratom can present certain risks of overdose. That underscores the significance of moderate consumption.
It’s also recommended to consult a licensed healthcare professional before adding kratom to your wellness regimen.