Legal notice
Legal status varies widely by country; banned in some countries and US states, unrestricted in others.
Not federally scheduled in the USA but banned in some states. Thailand removed kratom from its narcotics list in 2021. Check the laws that apply to you.
For education and documentation only. Not a consumption guide, not legal or medical advice. Possession, cultivation and use are regulated differently by country and species — check the law that applies to you.
© Uomo vitruviano · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Kratom
CautionKratom · (Mitragyna speciosa)
Coffee family (Rubiaceae)
Description
Mitragyna speciosa is an evergreen tree of the coffee family (Rubiaceae) that can grow 10 to 30 metres tall and is native to Southeast Asia (including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar). Its leaves are dark green, oval and prominently veined. They contain over 40 alkaloids, of which mitragynine is the most abundant. The plant is related to the coffee shrub. Its active compounds produce dose-dependent effects that are both stimulant-like and opioid-like.
Historically, laborers in rural Southeast Asia chewed the leaves or brewed tea to fight fatigue, improve work output and treat pain and diarrhea. Documentary information only, not a recommendation for use.
Some Western users attempt to manage pain or ease opioid withdrawal with kratom. Its efficacy and safety for these purposes are not adequately established.
Psychoactive plant, regulated in many countries. Kratom may be addictive; serious liver problems have been reported with long-term use of large doses. Side effects range from nausea and dizziness to seizures. Mitragynine can interact with other medications (UGT inhibition). Use in pregnancy may cause neonatal abstinence syndrome. Deaths have been reported mainly in combination with other substances; some products were contaminated. Documentary information only, no consumption or dosing advice.
Harvested part: Leaves
- MitragyninAlkaloid
- 7-HydroxymitragyninAlkaloid
- [1]MonographKratom — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)(accessed: 2026-06-23)
- [2]MonographKratom — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)(accessed: 2026-06-23)
- [3]MonographThe Chemical and Pharmacological Properties of Mitragynine and Its Diastereomers (PMC8907881)(accessed: 2026-06-23)
- [4]WikipediaMitragyna speciosa — Wikipedia(accessed: 2026-06-23)
- [5]CommonsFile:Mitragyna speciosa111.JPG — Wikimedia Commons(accessed: 2026-06-23)