Can kratom help to end alcoholism?
People in these nations have long eaten or brewed kratom leaves as tea after discovering that they may treat pain and boost energy levels without any adverse effects. Kratom is well-known for its ability to alleviate opiate withdrawal symptoms. Opium abusers frequently transition from opiates to kratom, then chewing or drinking it. In reality, Thailand’s government outlawed kratom in 1943 because it was interfering with their opium earnings. While it is currently illegal in Thailand, the government contemplates lifting the restriction to assist the country’s citizens in overcoming rampant drug addiction.
Table of Contents
What Does Kratom Do?
Kratom is not an opioid, unlike the painkillers that kill tens of thousands of Americans each year. Mitragynine, the primary alkaloid in kratom, is a partial opioid agonist. (Mitra tea is another name for kratom.) For alcohol withdrawal, kratom is used.
Kratom binds to a portion of your brain’s opioid receptors. Depending on how much you drink, it will give mental stimulation and pain relief. The high quality kratom capsules bind to brain receptors less effectively than opiates like oxycodone, heroin, and methadone. These three drugs are full opioid agonists, which means they activate the opioid receptors entirely in the brain and provide a strong (“full”) opioid impact.
Once we understand the differences between the three primary opioid receptors, we can better understand the distinction between kratom and full opioid agonists. When the mu, kappa, and delta-opioid receptors are active, they have various consequences.
Kratom’s Effect on Alcohol Cravings
So, how do opioid receptors relate to alcohol consumption? Using kratom for alcohol withdrawal may help activate opioid receptors that cry for endorphins (natural opiates generated by the brain), released when alcohol is consumed.
What Exactly Is Alcohol?
Even though alcohol is widely available and drinking is a socially acceptable activity, it is responsible for thousands of deaths and injuries each year; despite the knowledge that it is an addictive and harmful chemical, people continue to tolerate it in ways that other substances would not. If you are a regular consumer of alcohol, you need to know that kratom can help you get rid of the addiction that it has caused to your body.
Is kratom a compulsive drug?
People who are hooked on kratom have been reported. However, after studying this plant and consuming it several times, I am convinced that kratom is considerably safer and less addictive than alcohol, opioids, or even benzodiazepines.
Unlike these other medications, kratom has a self-limiting effect: increasing the dosage does not just improve your mood. The benefits of kratom have a natural peak, and persons who purposely consume excessive doses of it frequently have stomach aches or headaches.
Above all, kratom is far less harmful than alcohol. It’s debatable whether or not this plant, which includes a plethora of other minerals and chemicals, is even detrimental. There has never been a single reliable instance of someone dying from a kratom overdose.
Kratom works to combat alcohol cravings while also reducing the agony of alcohol withdrawal. Because other neurotransmitters, like GABA, have a role in alcohol withdrawal, kratom may be beneficial for mild to moderate alcoholics but not for severe alcoholics.
If you’re going through severe alcohol withdrawal, you’ll require anti-convulsant medicine to avoid seizures caused by low GABA levels and high glutamate levels. With that out of the way, I’ll go over the connection between alcoholism and opioid receptors, as well as the potential for kratom to aid with alcohol withdrawal.
The Best Kratom For Stress Relief & Recovery
Because kratom leaves wilt and spoil rapidly after being collected, powdered kratom, which can be turned into a tea or simply blended with juice, is the best alternative. Since 2014, I’ve tried kratom from about a dozen trustworthy merchants, so I’m somewhat of a kratom connoisseur.
That being said, I don’t consume kratom on a daily, weekly, or even monthly basis. I’m an infrequent recreational user who finds it useful as a nootropic or relaxant depending on the strain. I’m no longer addicted to alcohol or experiencing withdrawal symptoms, but kratom has aided my productivity and relaxation, particularly during moments when I need to get a lot of work done and then unwind at the end of a long day.
What about the effects of alcohol withdrawal?
Anecdotal testimonies from persons who have taken kratom to ease symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may be found online. However, there is no evidence to back up these statements.
Kratom has the potential to be addicted once again. Furthermore, withdrawal is a serious matter that should be managed by a trained healthcare professional. For some people, rapidly cutting back on drinking or stopping cold turkey might lead to alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS).
Tips for being safe
There are several key safety measures to follow if you’re intending to consume kratom on its own or with alcohol:
- Take a tiny portion of each. It’s best not to mix them, but if you do, keep the amount of kratom and alcohol to a minimum to avoid significant side effects or overdose.
- Make sure you get your kratom from a reputable supplier. Because kratom isn’t controlled, it might be contaminated with other chemicals. So make sure you’re receiving your kratom from a trustworthy provider that tests its goods thoroughly.
- Drink plenty of water. Dehydration may be caused by both kratom and alcohol. So keep a supply of water or other nonalcoholic beverages on hand.
Conclusion
An overdose happens when a person purposefully or inadvertently consumes too much of a single substance or a mixture of substances. In many cases, overdoses are lethal. On the other hand, people who overdose can be revived if medical help is offered quickly. Every day in the United States, an estimated 100 people die from drug overdoses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 67,367 drug overdose fatalities in the United States in 2018.
Illicit drugs, alcohol, prescription pharmaceuticals, and various other substances can cause an overdose. When most medicines are used in high dosages, the risk of an overdose is comparable. When two or more drugs are mixed, or when one substance is taken while under the effect, the dangers are increased. Kratom plus alcohol is one such potentially deadly mix.