Kratom leaf is a plant that has long been known as a herbal medicine. The benefits of kratom leaves are believed to relieve pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders. However, this herbaceous plant also has the potential to endanger health if misused.
Kratom or purik leaves (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical plant that grows a lot in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. This plant has long been used as traditional medicine by the local community.
In Indonesia itself, kratom leaves are often processed into herbs or herbal teas. In addition, kratom is also available in the form of powder or powder and capsules.
Contents of Kratom Leaves
The various benefits offered by kratom leaves cannot be separated from the content in it. Kratom leaves contain at least 40 types of alkaloid compounds, including:
- Mitragynine
- 7-hydroxymitragynine
- Speciociliatine
- Corynantheidine
- Speciogynine
- Paynantheine
- Mitraphylline
Not only the above alkaloid compounds, kratom leaves also contain flavonoid antioxidants, terpenoids, saponins, polyphenols, and glycosides.
Various Benefits of Kratom Leaves
Because it contains various substances above, kratom leaves are considered to provide the following benefits:
1. Increase body stamina
Supplements or herbal medicine for kratom leaves have long been used to increase stamina and keep the body from getting tired easily when doing activities. This benefit is due to the stimulant effect of kratom leaves.
Not only does it increase stamina, the stimulant effect on kratom leaves is also believed to increase alertness, concentration levels, and improve mood.
2. Overcoming sleep disorders
Some research shows that kratom leaf extract with a dose of 10-25 grams, can cause a calming effect and trigger drowsiness. Because of these effects, many people use kratom leaves to treat insomnia.
However, until now, kratom leaves have not been proven safe and useful for use as a treatment for insomnia. In fact, there are several case reports that state that long-term use of kratom leaves can actually cause insomnia.
Therefore, if you want to use kratom leaves to treat sleep disorders, you should consult a doctor first.
3. Relieves pain
Kratom leaves are also often used as a natural pain reliever. This is thanks to the alkaloid content in kratom leaves, especially Mitragynine and 7-hydroxygynine, which has anti-pain (analgesic) and anti-inflammatory effects.
Kratom leaf extract is also used as an alternative medicine to relieve acute and chronic pain, such as pain due to arthritis or arthritis, back pain, and fibromyalgia.
4. Relieves anxiety and depression
If used in certain doses, kratom leaves appear to have a sedative effect and work like sedatives or antidepressants. The benefits of kratom leaves are considered to relieve anxiety and depression.
In addition to relieving anxiety and depression, kratom leaves can also treat hallucinations because they have antipsychotic effects.
Not only the various benefits above, kratom leaves have also been used as traditional medicine to treat various complaints, such as cough, diarrhea, and fever. Kratom leaves are even said to be able to treat diabetes and high blood pressure.
Kratom leaves are known to be rich in benefits. However, studies showing the safety effectiveness of kratom leaf as a drug are still very limited. Therefore, the benefits of kratom leaves in general still need to be studied further.
Kratom Leaf Risks and Side Effects
Although it has many benefits and has the potential to be used as medicine, kratom leaves can actually harm health and cause side effects.
If used inappropriately, kratom leaves can actually cause the following side effects:
- Nauseous
- Itchy rash
- dry mouth
- Constipation or constipation
- Frequent urination
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Insomnia
- Seizures
Not only that, kratom leaves can also cause various dangerous side effects, especially if used inappropriately.
Under certain conditions, the use of kratom leaves can cause poisoning, liver or kidney damage, brain swelling, cardiac arrest, coma, and even death. The use of kratom leaves simultaneously with certain drugs or supplements can also cause drug interactions.
Not only that, various studies also state that the use of kratom in the long term appears to cause dependence effects. This effect can cause a person to become addicted to using kratom leaves.
Therefore, considering the benefits and risks, you should not carelessly use kratom leaves. In addition, now BPOM has banned the use of kratom leaves as a supplement or herbal medicine.
To be safer, you should consult a doctor first if you want to consume kratom leaves, especially if you have a disease or are undergoing certain medications.