Kratom, an evergreen tropical plant that is native to South Asian countries, is increasingly becoming popular, especially in the United States. While it has a lot of therapeutic benefits and researchers are indicating it has a high potential to act as an alternative to opioid pain relievers, it has also attracted a lot of controversies, with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) suggesting it should be banned.
To help you understand more about kratom, we will look at the four most important things about it that you probably did not know. We will also tell you the secret to getting high-quality kratom to avoid getting into conflict with Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Kratom is Legal at the Federal Level
In the United States, kratom is generally legal, but only at the federal level. When it comes to the states, each of them has its own stance, which implies that you might find kratom legal in one state but not in the other. Here are some states where kratom-related laws are clear:
- In California, kratom is legal, except in San Diego.
- Like California, kratom is legal in Florida, with the exception of Sarasota County.
- In Illinois, the only county where kratom is illegal in Jerseyville. However, it is prohibited for sale to persons below 18 years.
- In Alabama, Tennessee, and Arkansas, kratom is listed as a Schedule 1 substance.
Kratom Dosages
The amount of kratom a person should use depends on many factors, including a person’s tolerance to the substance and his/her physiology. However, the recommended dose of kratom is one-two grams per day. It is advisable to start with lower doses, especially if you are sensitive to its effects, and latter increase it progressively.
If you are new to using kratom, there are three main methods that you can use to take it:
- Swallowing it in the form of capsules.
- Drinking as a form of tea.
- Swallowing with another drink.
After taking your dose of kratom, it has to be broken down in the liver to release the active agents, which can take approximately 30 minutes. This implies that for you to get the anticipated effect from kratom, you need to wait about 30-45 minutes.
Kratom can Help with the Following Conditions
Studies have shown that kratom can be a good solution to replace the high opioid dependence in two ways; serving as an alternative for pain relief and helping people struggling with opioid addiction. In one of the researches published in the International Journal of Drug Policy in 2010, scientists concluded that kratom was an affordable, readily available, and with no serious side effects. You can also use kratom for help with the following conditions:
- Pain relief.
- Regular Kratom Testing can Help to Guarantee its Safety
To ensure that everyone using kratom is safe, the secret is getting it tested by a third-party laboratory. If a manufacturer gets samples of his/her company supplies tested, it is possible to identify what is contaminated and reject it. For example, a third-party laboratory will check for the presence of bio-contaminants, heavy metals, and pesticides so that only high-quality kratom gets into the market.
As kratom becomes more popular because of its potential health benefits, lack of a good legal framework and limited studies have stood on its way of wide adoption. However, this should not be a reason to stock or sell low-quality kratom because you can have it tested by an accredited laboratory to ensure it is free from harmful content.
