Photos 1-4 of 4
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a medicinal leaf harvested from a large tree native to Southeast Asia in the Rubiaceae family. It is in the same family as coffee and the psychoactive plant Psychotria viridis.
Kratom is used for its psychoactive effects in its native region, with some use elsewhere in the world. Although structurally related to yohimbine and other tryptamines, its pharmacology is quite different, acting primarily as a mu-opioid receptor agonist. Kratom also contains alkaloids which are thought to play a beneficial role on the immune system and lower blood pressure, as well as epicatechin, a powerful antioxidant also found in dark chocolate and closely related to the EGCG that gives green tea its beneficial effects.
- « prev
- 1
- next »
