Understanding Kratom
What Is Kratom?
Kratom is a tropical evergreen native to Southeast Asia. The botanical grows mostly in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Kratom is primarily consumed because of the active alkaloid mitragynine.
Lower doses of kratom act as a stimulant and give a quick boost in energy and alertness. Conversely, higher quantities interact with the brain’s receptors in a way that acts like pain relief medications. These doses produce a more sedative, euphoric effect.
Markets parade kratom around as a natural supplement for everything from chronic pain to improved mental health. However, the “natural” label is a major part of the problem. Despite being a plant found in the wilds of Southeast Asia, this doesn’t negate the fact that the drug often causes profound psychological and physical dependence.
Is Kratom the Same as 7-OH?
No. The alkaloid 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) finds itself in the same conversations as kratom, but they aren’t the same thing. This alkaloid exists within kratom leaves in trace amounts. Kratom is the name of the entire plant.
The isolate of 7-OH interacts more intensely with the body than the whole leaf. Many in the recovery space separate it from kratom because it is much stronger and has a different safety profile, especially for anyone in recovery or with a history of drug addiction.
Where Does Kratom Come From?
Kratom comes from the kratom tree (Mitragyna speciosa), which thrives in hot, humid climates. It loves the high temperatures and rich soils of Southeast Asia.
Traditionally, workers would chew raw leaves to push themselves longer and manage the physical pain of hard labor. Today, the substance is most often found in powder form. Leaves are first dried, then crushed, and sold worldwide.
Is Kratom Addictive Like Opioids?
Yes, it can be.
While kratom may not be an opiate, it still activates the brain’s opioid receptors. Over time, the brain stops producing the chemicals it gets from the plant, which can cause dependence, addiction, and challenging or even painful withdrawals when the individual detoxes.
Those with a history of substance use disorder or drug dependence can be even more susceptible to kratom’s addictive properties. Not only are the physical mechanisms addictive, but kratom also becomes a necessity for people who often turn to substances to regulate themselves. True healing means looking past the substance to address the underlying mental and emotional pain that the person is trying to soothe.
What Are Some Other Terms for Kratom?
Since kratom sales happen largely in an unregulated market, it goes by many other names, including:
- Biak or Biak-Biak
- Ketum
- Ithang
- Thom
- Kakuam
Some companies sell kratom under brand names like “OPMS” or “Kratom Divine,” often in colorful packaging and relatively easy to find at convenience stores or smoke shops.
Risks & Effects of Kratom Use
What Are the Risks of Kratom Use?
Higher doses of kratom can significantly impair a person’s physical and mental health.
Individuals who use kratom face the constant risk of both dependence on kratom itself and consuming contaminated products with harmful chemicals or biohazards, like Salmonella.
Aside from contamination, the physical dependence produces a long list of risks. Anyone experiencing kratom dependence likely needs it just to get themselves out of bed in the morning. They may also rely on it so much that it causes financial strain and emotional distress.
Does Kratom Change the Way You Look?
Yes, continuous use of kratom can alter your physical appearance. Fortunately, many of these changes are theoretically reversible, but that isn’t always the case for everyone.
Many people experience weight loss and malnutrition because the drug suppresses appetite. The temporary boost in energy isn’t a long-term fix for a lack of rest, either, so others will have a more fatigued appearance.
Those who take kratom regularly can develop hyperpigmentation — a darkening of the skin. Combined, these changes often transform the person into someone they and their loved ones don’t recognize: a person who’s lost the glow and aura that makes them “them.”
What Organs Are Affected by Kratom?
The liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal systems are the body parts most impacted by heavy or continuous kratom use.
Metabolizing the complex alkaloids pushes the liver to the breaking point, often causing liver damage or jaundice. Kidneys also bear much of the burden, and kratom can limit or impair kidney function over time.
Does Kratom Affect Teeth?
Heavy kratom use can inadvertently impact tooth and gum health.
Kratom itself won’t rot your teeth, even at higher doses. That said, the side effects associated with its use certainly can. Frequent kratom use strips the mouth of saliva. Without enough saliva, tooth decay and gum disease become much more likely.
Does Kratom Cause Your Hair to Fall Out?
Hair loss is a common side effect that people who use kratom experience.
While the exact science behind the “why” is foggy, the symptom can be attributed to the nutritional deficiencies caused by high kratom use. Fortunately, individuals who begin their healing journey and return to eating a balanced, nutrient-dense diet often find their hair returns to good health.
Does it Affect Blood Pressure?
Yes. Lower doses of kratom can raise heart rate and blood pressure. However, the more sedative effects from higher amounts can cause blood pressure to drop.
Neither is good for short or long-term health, but both also strain the heart and blood vessels. Anyone with high levels of stress or a family history of cardiovascular issues is at a much higher risk of these blood pressure changes negatively impacting their health.
How Does Kratom Use Affect Long-Term Health?
Long-term kratom use deteriorates health from the inside out. Chronic consumption strips the body of vitamins and minerals. It disrupts the endocrine system. Worst of all, it muddies and alters the brain’s neurochemistry.
Ironically, the last issue can actually exacerbate the very issues the person was taking kratom to mask. Many turn to kratom with the promise of better mental health, only to find issues like generalized anxiety and major depressive disorder getting worse.
Can You Overdose on Kratom?
Yes, kratom toxicity is a very real and dangerous possibility.
Although fatal overdoses from kratom alone are less common than with opiates or other designer drugs, they can still happen. It’s especially concerning when a person combines kratom with other substances like alcohol or benzodiazepines.
Symptoms of toxicity include severe tremors, rapid heartbeat, seizures, nausea, hallucinations, and respiratory depression.
Kratom Withdrawal & Symptoms
What Is Kratom Withdrawal?
Kratom withdrawal is the body’s reaction to stopping the substance use after a period of dependence.
Since the alkaloids bind to the brain’s receptors, the sudden lack of kratom shocks the central nervous system, as it’s now forced to function without it.
The body readjusting to homeostasis is a necessary part of healing, but it can be incredibly taxing. It often comes with waves of overactivity in the nervous system, often leading to highly uncomfortable and even painful symptoms, both physical and mental.
What Are Common Symptoms of Kratom Withdrawal?
Cravings are common and are marked with irritability, mood swings, and a powerful desire to consume kratom. Many going through withdrawal also experience severe muscle aches, insomnia, sweating, and joint and bone pain.
Unfortunately, restless leg syndrome (RLS) is also a major hallmark symptom of kratom withdrawal. While the discomfort can be intense, it can be softened with support from a professional inpatient or outpatient healing and recovery program.
How Long Does Kratom Withdrawal Last?
Acute kratom withdrawal often begins 12 to 24 hours after the last dose. Symptoms usually continue for the next few days, and eventually peak between days 3 and 5. Intense physical withdrawal symptoms fade away after 10 to 14 days.
The psychological symptoms are far more stubborn. Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) can linger for weeks or even months. The syndrome saps a person’s energy and takes a toll on their mental health, often manifesting in anxiety or depression-like symptoms.
What Other Factors Affect Withdrawal?
A patient’s kratom withdrawal timeline differs based on several individual factors, like duration of use and how much they usually consume.
Other mental health conditions, like bipolar disorder or trauma, can intensify certain psychological aspects of the withdrawal period. An individual’s environment will also determine how comfortable they are during withdrawal. The goal should be to create a serene, calm environment where both physical and mental health are always top priority.
How Does Kratom Compare to Opioid Withdrawal?
The withdrawal symptoms between those with opioid use disorder and kratom dependence are similar.
Many of their shared symptoms, like severe RLS and insomnia, can feel equally intense for individuals detoxing from kratom as they do overcoming opioid withdrawal.
Managing Kratom Withdrawal
Should You Quit Kratom Cold Turkey?
Suddenly stopping kratom with the “cold turkey” approach can shock the nervous system, intensifying withdrawal symptoms and increasing the likelihood of relapse.
Tapering is one of the safest ways to manage withdrawal symptoms. Medical supervised tapering prevents unnecessary discomfort while improving outcomes.
Should I Detox from Kratom at Home?
It’s much safer for people dealing with kratom addiction to put their healing in the hands of a treatment center.
At home, you’re left fending for yourself against overwhelming cravings and withdrawal symptoms with no support. These symptoms can be painful, debilitating, and demoralizing, lowering your chances of pushing through to the other side of the detox period.
A luxury setting that manages your comfort and safety at all times is ideal for getting through to the other side of kratom withdrawals. Prioritizing your physical comfort and medical safety brings a gentleness that few are afforded when self-managing kratom withdrawal symptoms.
Should I Seek Professional Help for Kratom Withdrawal?
Absolutely.
Professional help for your kratom withdrawal puts you in the hands of caring experts specializing in addiction treatment. Premium facilities like Exclusive Hawaii Rehab offer medical and holistic therapies to support your body as it returns to a healthy baseline.
Support also looks like psychiatric and mental health care to help guide you through the emotional first steps of recovery. Even if you or your loved one can manage the physical symptoms of kratom withdrawal, it rarely means you’ll have the energy or capacity to discover the core root of the dependency — and that’s what professionals are for. Their care gives the post-kratom “you” a fighting chance to stay happy and healthy without dependence.
How Can Loved Ones Help During Kratom Withdrawal?
If a loved one is experiencing side effects of kratom withdrawal, the most important thing you can offer is your non-judgmental support.
The irritability or isolation they’re experiencing isn’t a moral failing or a character flaw — it’s a flailing nervous system that’s doing its best to heal. Help them by researching reputable, private healing programs while encouraging them to continue their path to wellness. It’s a simple yet powerful way to offer love in a time when they likely need it most.
Treatment for Kratom Addiction
How Is Kratom Addiction Treated?
Successfully treating kratom addiction is about addressing the person: why does their mind and body feel like it needs to numb the pain? Why do they feel like they can’t manage their stress without the use of substances like kratom?
The consistent use of kratom can lead to physical dependence, but breaking free requires more than just stopping the substance.
High-end healing programs focus on personalized care for working professionals and C-suite executives. These are people who lead high-octane lives that may also be struggling with mental health conditions, leading them to seek relief wherever they can. By addressing these conditions and taking them head-on, the need for numbing subsides, and true healing can begin.
Can Medical Detox Help With Kratom Addiction?
Yes, medically supervised detoxing is the beginning of a successful recovery journey.
Specialized care ensures that physical dependency is managed gracefully. It gives both the individual and their care team more space to focus on other elements of their healing.
If you or a loved one is ready to heal from and overcome your kratom dependence, a holistic kratom rehab is an ideal first step toward reclaiming an authentic life and finding peace.
Will I Need Medication to Help Manage Kratom Addiction?
Not necessarily. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” answer to managing kratom addiction because everyone’s neurochemistry is different.
Some might benefit from medication-assisted options during the initial taper phase to manage cravings and pain. Others might find more solace and better results in holistic support combined with supplements to ease their transition and limit potential side effects.
What Medications Treat Kratom Addiction?
Non-narcotic comfort medications, like muscle relaxers and sleep aids, are excellent for calming the nervous system as it heals.
Pharmacology options are mostly reserved for assisting with kratom detox and withdrawal symptoms.
Are There Non-Medication Approaches for Treating Kratom Addiction?
Absolutely, and these non-medication approaches are doubly beneficial in a supportive environment.
Exclusive Hawaii Rehab combines high-end luxury with holistic healthcare and healing practices to create a personalized experience to help you become your best self —a self free from the clutches of a controlled substance like kratom.
FAQs
Kratom dependence puts you at the center of a cycle that’s hard to break on your own. The symptoms of kratom withdrawal might seem overwhelming, but you can overcome them with the right treatment program. Exclusive Hawaii Rehab bridges the gap between healing comfort and professional care. Contact us at (866) 390-5070 to learn more about our luxury recovery services.
