For people who find taking kratom in capsule or tablet form to be a bit too cumbersome, kratom tea can provide a more gentle alternative. It’s simple to make and provides a wide array of different effects. The best way to enjoy kratom tea is to start with a quality product. Look for a brand that has been tested for contaminates and a reputation for reliability. Some kratom companies will even send their products out for third-party testing to ensure the results match what’s on the label.
The kratom plant (Mitragyna speciosa) is native to Southeast Asia, where locals boil its leaves to make a tea. The tea is believed to offer stimulant and opioid-like effects. In the West, kratom has gained popularity as an alternative to prescription pain medication and as a means of managing stress and anxiety.
UF researchers have studied the chemical compounds in kratom, which are known as alkaloids. They found that traditionally prepared kratom contains more than 20 of these alkaloids in varying levels. However, kratom sold in the West is often concentrated and formulated as manufactured products with manipulated alkaloid content. For this reason, UF researchers focused their studies on lyophilized kratom tea (LKT), which most closely mimics traditional preparation.
In animal studies, LKT was found to produce significant pain-relieving effects. The effect seems to occur by interacting with mu-opioid receptors in the brain and nervous system. It also stimulated the production of enkephalins, which are neurotransmitters that help reduce opioid-like pain and anxiety. In addition, LKT significantly reduced the withdrawal symptoms of morphine dependence, while at the same time preventing nausea and vomiting.
The researchers note that despite these benefits, kratom is still unregulated in the United States and has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA warns that there is little scientific evidence that kratom has medical value, and it can have adverse side effects including depression, anxiety, insomnia and diarrhea. The agency recommends that individuals with any health concerns discuss kratom with their physician. In the meantime, more research is needed into safe dosage levels.