Kratom Medical Research

Kratom, derived from the plant Mitragyna speciosa, is receiving increased attention as an alternative to traditional opiates and as a substitution therapy for opiate addiction. Mitragynine (MG) and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-HMG) are the main psychoactive constituents of kratom. Although MG and 7-HMG share behavioral and analgesic properties with morphine, their enhancing effects have not yet been investigated. 7-HMG, but not MG, replaced self-administration of morphine in a dose-dependent manner in the paradigm of self-administration in rats. After the replacement procedure, re-evaluation of self-administration of morphine revealed a significant increase after 7-HMG replacement and a significant decrease after MG replacement. In a separate cohort, 7-HMG, but not MG, elicited and sustained self-administered intravenous administration in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of pretreatment with nalxonaxine (NLXZ), a μ1-opiate receptor antagonist, and naltrindole (NTI), a δ-opiate receptor antagonist, on 7-HMG and morphine alone was also studied. Both NLXZ and NTI reduced the self-administration of 7-HMG, while only NLXZ reduced morphine intake. The present results are the first to demonstrate that 7-HMG is readily self-administered and that the enhancing effects of 7-HMG are mediated in part by μ- and δ-opiate receptors. In addition, prior exposure to 7-HMG increased subsequent morphine intake, while prior exposure to MG decreased morphine intake. The present results indicate that MG has no abuse potential and reduces morphine intake, desirable characteristics of candidate pharmacotherapeutic agents for opiate dependence and withdrawal, whereas 7-HMG should be considered as a component of kratom with a high abuse potential, which can also increase the intake of other opiates.

According to Psychedelic Shack employee Gabriel Thompson, 10 years ago he began looking for an alternative to opioid drugs, which he had to take for back pain. “Kratom helped me. I have been using it for 8 years now – no side effects.” Thompson is not alone.  Medium.com also reports:

“As the study authors note, several factors have prompted patients suffering from chronic pain to seek alternatives to traditional methods. One such factor is the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) opioid prescribing guidelines that urge physicians to limit opioid prescribing for the long term. This approach, experts recognized, negatively affected the well-being of patients who were denied access to opioid prescriptions. Inverse reports that some patients who experienced unacceptable side effects of conventional opioids also switched to kratom. Observations of kratom consumers in the United States are consistent with case reports and descriptions of traditional uses of the herb in Southeast Asia, suggesting that kratom may indeed replace the more dangerous classical opioids for pain relief, and should be studied in well-controlled clinical trials.

Usa.one cites research by Scott Hemby, professor of pharmaceutical science at High Point University, North Carolina: “The scientist recently conducted extensive research on kratom and presented his findings in the Biology of Addiction. In it, the scientist notes the great therapeutic potential of this product. The fact is that the substance has two main psychoactive compounds in its structure: mitragynine (MG) and 7-hydroxy-mitragynine (7-HMG). The first is about 60% of the substance, and the second, only 2%. It was because of MG that kratom was recognized as a narcotic drug.

However, later it turned out that 7-HMG plays the main role in its consumption. In this case, the body develops a protective reaction in relation to opioid dependence, reducing its effect on a person. Kratom also contains immuno-stimulating alkaloids and antioxidants found in chocolate. According to Hemby, if this substance is specially treated, it is possible to increase the presence of the compound 7-HMG. This should enhance the effect of reducing opioid dependence and open the way to combat the drug crisis. In addition, he points out that kratom contains powerful immune-boosting alkaloids and antioxidants, which are also found in dark chocolate. “What matters is that this product is able to alleviate the symptoms of addiction and allows someone to switch to a lower dosage and then get rid of opioid drugs altogether,” says David Jurlink, professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. In general, researchers are drawing attention to the need for further study of kratom.