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@brambo

An herb in the coffee plant family. Legal most places but it’s under attack. Steep learning curve. May help some but don’t take pain meds. It is a powder I can put in s drink or capsule it. FB has the knowledge groups. Do not believe what u read because big pharma can’t make money on it. Read Dr Christopher McCurdy in FL? Leading researcher

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Replies to "An herb in the coffee plant family. Legal most places but it’s under attack. Steep learning..."

@brambo, As other members have pointed out, Mayo Clinic Connect is a welcoming support community where members treat each other with respect. It is okay that people have differ opinions, but at all times members are respectful. Please see point number 2 of the Community Guidelines (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/), which state:
2. Remain respectful at all times.
- Exercise tolerance and respect toward other participants whose views may differ from your own. Disagreements are fine, but mutual respect is a must.
- Personal attacks against members or health care providers are not acceptable. Such posts will be removed.

Regarding Kratom
Indeed kratom is derived from a plant as are many supplements and drugs, including chemotherapy drugs that can be highly toxic. Being derived from a plant or natural does not mean without side effects. Kratom is an unregulated substance, so we consulted a Mayo Clinic pharmacist on the posts. She offered the following information.

Kratom is a natural product but it does have significant risks and side effects. Because of these risks the FDA banned import of Kratom in August 2016 and issued a notice of intent to classify 2 chemicals in Kratom as Schedule 1 drugs (the same category as heroin). There are no FDA-approved uses for kratom, and the agency has received concerning reports about the safety of kratom. FDA is actively evaluating all available scientific information on this issue. (2019) https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-and-kratom

Kratom can cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms including aggression, anxiety and other negative psychiatric effects, muscle aches, spasms, tremors, insomnia, fever and upset stomach. It can also cause dangerous slowed breathing and seizures. It can worsen psychiatric disease and may increase the risk of suicide. Kratom can impair liver function. Kratom interacts with other herbal medications including Jimson Weed. It interacts with sedating medications. It has the potential for many other drug interactions because of the way it is metabolized.

For more information see:
– National Institute of Health: Drug Facts, Kratom https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/kratom
– Center for Disease Control https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20190411/cdc-americans-are-dying-from-kratom-overdoses#1

Here are additional articles from Mayo Clinic on Kratom:
– Kratom: Unsafe and ineffective https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/kratom/art-20402171
– Kratom for opioid withdrawal: Does it work? https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/in-depth/kratom-opioid-withdrawal/art-20402170