1d • Kratom Science
American Herbal Products Association Handbook Entry For Mitragyna Speciosa (Kratom)
1. Safety Classification
- Safety Class 2b, 2c
- Interaction Class B
This entry specifically focuses on traditional kratom leaf preparations (chewed leaf, tea, decoction), not highly concentrated extracts or enhanced products.
2. Traditional Use Context
- Indigenous to Southeast Asia.
- Leaves traditionally:
- Commonly used similarly to coffee by laborers for endurance and stress resilience.
- Typically consumed 1–4 servings per day in traditional settings.
Important distinction: The handbook differentiates plain leaf from modern concentrated extracts or alkaloid-enhanced products, which fall outside the scope of this safety review.
3. Alkaloid Composition
Kratom leaf contains:
- 0.5–3% total alkaloids by dry weight.
- Primary alkaloid:
- Other notable alkaloids:
7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH):
- Present naturally at trace levels (0.00–0.06% w/w) in leaf.
- Environmental factors (light, soil, water) influence alkaloid variability.
The “red/green/white vein” marketing claims:
- Current analytical data show no significant cross-strain alkaloid differences.
- Reported effect differences may be driven more by marketing than chemistry.
4. Standard Serving Range
Traditional dried leaf intake:
- ~0.2–4.3 grams per serving (based on leaf weight)
- U.S. surveys:
- Typical mitragynine exposure:
5. Dependency & Withdrawal
Key conclusion: dose- and duration-dependent.
At moderate intake:
- ≤5 grams per serving: negative effects uncommon
- <4 glasses of tea/day: withdrawal unlikely
Reported withdrawal symptoms (when present):
- Muscle aches
- Insomnia
- Runny nose
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Mood disturbance
Severity is generally described as milder than classical opioid withdrawal in the surveyed literature.
6. Adverse Events
Mild to Moderate Effects (more common at higher doses):
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Jitteriness
Higher-Dose or Non-Traditional Products:
- Tachycardia
- Agitation
- Hypertension
- Seizures (rare)
Serious Events (including deaths):
- Reported in literature
- Most cases involved:
The handbook notes:
- Severe adverse reports are rare in Southeast Asia
- When reported, frequently linked to poly-substance use.
7. Drug Interaction Risk (Clinically Important Section)
Kratom alkaloids:
- Primarily metabolized by CYP3A4
- Can inhibit:
Human Clinical Study (2 g kratom tea):
- Inhibited intestinal CYP3A4
- Increased exposure to midazolam
- Did not significantly affect CYP2D6 at that dose
Implication:
- Potential interaction risk with:
This is the most medically actionable safety concern in the document.
8. Pregnancy & Neonatal Cases
- A few reported cases of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) linked to maternal kratom use.
- Symptoms are manageable.
- No lactation safety data available.
Therefore:
- Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless medically supervised.
9. Clinical Trial Safety Data
Human studies using 2 g dried leaf tea:
- Generally well tolerated
- No serious adverse events
- Mild, transient symptoms (drowsiness, nausea) resolved the same day
- No participant dropouts due to adverse effects
10. FDA Position (Regulatory Context)
- FDA recognizes kratom as a botanical that qualifies as a dietary ingredient.
- However:
Bottom Line Summary
The AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook (July 2024)
✔ Distinguishes traditional plain leaf from concentrated or enhanced products.✔ Describes moderate-dose traditional use as generally associated with low incidence of serious adverse effects.✔ Identifies dose-dependent withdrawal potential.✔ Highlights meaningful CYP3A4 drug interaction risk.✔ Advises against use in pregnancy/lactation.✔ Notes that most serious adverse case reports involve poly-substance use or non-traditional products.
The central theme is context matters:
- Plain leaf, traditional preparation, moderate intake → generally manageable risk profile.
- Concentrated, adulterated, or combined with other drugs → significantly higher risk.
2
1 comment
American Herbal Products Association Handbook Entry For Mitragyna Speciosa (Kratom)
powered by
skool.com/christophers-kratom-education-8543
Christopher’s Kratom Education: clear, science-based kratom education, beginner walk-throughs, brewing tips, safety, policy, and community together.
Suggested communities
Powered by