Host Brian Gallagher and Dr. Jonathan Cachat welcome Dr. Marc Swogger, social scientist and clinical psychologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center to discuss his 2018 article published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence “Kratom Use and Mental Health: A Systematic Review”. Along with co-author Zach Walsh, Dr. Swogger looked at all the literature published …
Is kratom a drug, a medicinal herb, a dietary supplement, a “safe food”, a tea? These terms have a whole lot to do with social perception, a little to do with legal issues, and nothing to do with science. Kratom is a shrub that grows natively in Southeast Asia. Botanically, kratom comes from the Rubiaceae …
In a recent webinar, psychiatrists describe kratom as dangerous with lethal overdose and toxicity potential. Using the studies they cite, Brian Gallagher explains why the dose of mitragyinine to establish LD50 in mice is far beyond the levels consumed in leaf and even extracted kratom, and why one investigation into coroners’ reports disproved claims of …
38. Psychiatrists Overstate the Dangers of Kratom Read More »
Mitragynine is the most abundant alkaloid in kratom. Kratom contains about 40 alkaloids that we know of. All of the alkaloids combined make up only 0.5-1.5% of the total leaf material. Estimates of percentage of mitragynine in alkaloids range from 12% in Malaysian kratom to 66% in Thai kratom. If alkaloids make up only 1% …
Citation: Macko E, Weisbach JA, Douglas B. Some observations on the pharmacology of mitragynine. Archives Internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Therapie. 1972 ;198(1):145-161. We discuss this study from 1972 that tested the effects of mitragynine in rats, mice, cats, dogs, and monkeys. Dr. Jon talks about the difference between now and then in pharmacology labs. …
Journal Club #6: 1972 Animal Study Shows the Promise of Mitragynine Read More »
Joseph Cialone, a US Customers officer, is being charged with a felony for stealing approximately $10,000 from travelers coming into the United States in violation of 18 U.S. Code § 654. Over a period of a year, Cialone would target handbags and discreetly snatch money with a closed fist, then remove the latex glove from the …
Just me this time around. I talk about a soon-to-be-released document I’ve been working on through COVID that’s 200 pages of kratom testimonials from over 800 consumers who posted to KratomScience.com. I talk about a study on kratom and metabolism I blogged about here https://www.kratomscience.com/2020/09/22/study-shows-mitragynine-metabolizes-into-7-hydroxomitragynine/. And I talk about my own history of drinking alcohol …
Dr. Cachat and I talk about a study that tested rats with morphine, mitragynine, naloxone, buprenorphine, and rimonabant, and measured responses based on food-reinforcement training. The study concluded “The findings suggest that MG does not induce physiological dependence but can alleviate the physical symptoms associated with morphine withdrawal”. We talk about how the rats are …
Julie Current is a survivor. She had a rough childhood and as an adult she survived physical abuse that led to multiple disabilities like PTSD, chronic pain, and epilepsy. With kratom, kava, and cannabis as tools, she’s coming up on two years sober on October 28. This is Julie Current and this is her kratom …
36. Surviving Abuse and Addiction with Julie Current Read More »
Article Citation with Link to Full Text Harun N, Johari IS, Mansor SM, Shoaib M. Assessing physiological dependence and withdrawal potential of mitragynine using schedule-controlled behaviour in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2020;237(3):855-867. doi:10.1007/s00213-019-05418-6 Summary by KratomScience Rats were studied in two separate experiments: Experiment 1: Observing withdrawal in rats given morphine vs. rats given mitragynine Three …
