A study involving kratom and more specifically, mitragynine, was published online by Jack E. Henningfield of Pinney Associates and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine on October 29th, 2022. It is significant in that it outlines scientific findings on the very low respiratory effects (effects on breathing) of mitragynine when in its natural, non-adulterated state. The study was designed to evaluate the respiratory effects of kratom’s primary alkaloid, mitragynine, in comparison to oxycodone, a prototypic opioid that reliably produces dose-related respiratory depression and death in humans, rats, and other species.

Kratom is a tropical evergreen tree in the coffee family (Rubiaceae) native to Southeast Asia. For centuries, kratom has been used throughout Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It has been traditionally used to help with pain and energy, as a local anesthetic, and to help with coughs and intestinal issues. Today, kratom powders, tablets, teas, and extracts are taken orally, primarily for health and well-being by millions of people in the USA. Others take kratom to eliminate opioid use for analgesia and manage opioid withdrawal and use disorder.

One purpose for this study is the avid debate over the possible respiratory depressant overdose risk of kratom’s primary active alkaloid, mitragynine, a partial μ-opioid receptor agonist, that does not signal through ß-arrestin, the primary opioid respiratory depressant pathway.
Another reason is perhaps to demonstrate that individuals now potentially have a safer alternative to the opioids unabashedly propagated by Big Pharmaceuticals (“Big Pharma”). Individuals struggling with calamities such as chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety, sleeplessness and addiction may no longer be trapped by addictive, dangerous opioids, but have a non-synthetic, much less dangerous and addictive alternative.
Naturally, it is not hard to see that this amazing plant is Big Pharma’s worst nightmare. As such, they continue to do everything in their power to discredit, condemn and illegalize kratom. Important scientific studies like this are instrumental for natural medicine to pave the way to a healthier, safer world.
