# What does Kratom (herb) do? Anyone here tried it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 19, 2010, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kratom-herb-do-anyone-here-tried-it/561203 "2010-11-19T05:30:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kratom-herb-do-anyone-here-tried-it/561203/43 "2012-06-12T05:33:26Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Well, I was digging around last night and I found a message board post by a pharmacy student who said that the active substance in kratom does not have a universal affinity for all of the opioid receptors, but only binds to the ones that are responsible for opium’s _antidepressant_ properties. Now this intrigues me. Maybe this thing could be studied and finally get a faster acting antidepressant, for use until the current ones kick in, since they take so long, and actually temporarily increase the risk of suicide during that time. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kratom-herb-do-anyone-here-tried-it/561203/44 "2012-06-12T05:50:48Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Update: [Police finally act on krathom trade](http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crimes/297492/police-finally-act-on-krathom-trade). (“Krathom” is the usual spelling.) I had never even heard of it and didn’t notice this thread when it was new, but a quick google search indicates it is still legal in the US and has a big following with many companies selling it. (except for Indiana which banned it very recently) A similar attempt to ban it in Louisiana was supposedly defeated by outraged citizens backed by a lobby of companies that sell it with the argument that it is not a synthetic drug like bath salts and synthetic marijuana that were being banned in the same bill. They say it is more closely related to the coffee plant than a narcotic plant despite claims of opiate-like effects. Most of the companies selling it online in the US seem to be very concerned about the Indiana ban, but there isn’t any noticeable concern about any developments in Thailand. I would imagine they have long since found other suppliers or grow it themselves. > [@jjimm](#): > > My 20g of kratom leaf just arrived today, prompted by this thread. Will get back to you with my experiences, but don’t want to take it on a work night. > [@PlainJain](#): > > So, how was it? I was wondering the same thing. (while we’re still allowed to talk about it for the time being) There is no shortage of testimonials and first-hand accounts online but it would be nice to hear a review from a trusted Doper. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kratom-herb-do-anyone-here-tried-it/561203/45 "2012-06-12T05:52:26Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Thanks for that. Is that happening by you Siam? I found the article amusing for two reasons. > > 1. The whole “hey, I thought that was just a pretty indigenous tree in my yard, but now you say I can get high off it too?” angle. > > 2. There is some concern that people will turn the krathom into 4x100, but the buried lead is that 4x100 also has cough syrup in it. So which is contributing the offending active ingredient? Also, the mild description of the withdrawal effects was amusing. > > I’m wondering if the article was tongue in cheek. Or if the situation is more like a bunch of people not really caring but wondering if they are supposed to care. Myself, I found “Bankokians” to be the amusing part. ISTM that Bankokans or Bankokers would sound less silly. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kratom-herb-do-anyone-here-tried-it/561203/46 "2012-06-12T09:34:37Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > I was wondering the same thing. (while we’re still allowed to talk about it for the time being) There is no shortage of testimonials and first-hand accounts online but it would be nice to hear a review from a trusted Doper. I’ll bite. I suspect method of taking it, and freshness of material, and maybe even expectation/mindset may make a difference, but FWIW: Prompted by this thread I ordered some online and made some tea with it. I would describe it as a mild antidepressant. I felt a tiny bit happier, and a tiny bit more motivated while at the same time being relaxed. So there was not the stress that sometimes comes with stimulation. But, it was all pretty subtle. On the level of caffeine, but without the jitteriness. Maybe if you took a lot more or smoked it, it might be recreational. But my experience was just pleasant. There’s probably better reports at erowid. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kratom-herb-do-anyone-here-tried-it/561203/47 "2012-06-12T13:32:54Z")
Folks, it’s an opioid. As is heroin, methadone, and oxycodone, to name only a few. Non-medicinal use of opioids is often associated with problems. Sometimes big problems. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kratom-herb-do-anyone-here-tried-it/561203/48 "2012-06-12T15:46:43Z")
Old thread, updated in a proper manner, now it’s drifting. Closed. **samclem** , moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-kratom-herb-do-anyone-here-tried-it/561203.md?page=2)