Kratom – The ongoing debate

Kratom is a leaf that is closely related to the coffee tree. It is embraced by some 2-5 million pain patients who often ingest the leaves in powdered form or brew them as tea to treat pain.

There is an emerging push by the FDA to schedule Kratom as a controlled substance do to its opioid properties and the lack of evidence around its safety profile, the variability of how it’s being formulated, sold and used.

Many clinical researchers think Kratoms abuse potential is limited. Pharmacological models predict that Kratom generally binds to mu opioid receptors. However, Kratom alkaloids are potentially novel in that they activates G-protein analgesic  (pain) pathways but spares the Beta-arrestin pathway which controls breathing centers, and the cause of death from opioid overdose.

The biggest challenge appears that like with supplements, Kratom products are unregulated and that a portion of these products are adulterated with other substances.

Clearly more research and oversight is needed to better understand the risks and benefits of this plant product for patients in pain.