Kratom

    Written by:
    Marina Shkayeva

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Shyam Jayaraman, Morgan Pfiffner
    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Kratom is an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia whose leaves contain chemicals with partial opioid effects. Although kratom leaves have been used traditionally for hundreds of years, research on its safety and efficacy is limited. Anecdotally, kratom is used for pain, opioid use disorder, anxiety, and other conditions. Kratom may lead to dependence and withdrawal and can cause serious adverse effects in high doses.

    Overview

    Dosage information

    Because kratom has been studied in very few clinical trials, most of the information about how it is used comes from surveys and traditional use. Traditionally, kratom leaves are chewed and can also be boiled to make tea. In Western countries, kratom is usually available as a powder to be mixed with liquids and also in capsule form.[1]

    In a survey of 129 regular kratom users in the U.S., most consumed kratom daily, and most consumed 1-3 grams of kratom per dose. Some users consumed 4–6 grams per dose (33%). Of the 129 regular users, 37% consumed kratom as a beverage, 43.6% ingested raw kratom powder, and 18.9% took kratom capsules.[1]

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