Kratom

Kratom is the common name for Mitragyna speciosa, a tree indigenous to Southeast Asia, Thailand, northern Malay Peninsula to Borneo. It is mostly grown in the central and southern regions of Thailand.

 
The Mitragyna genus, part of the family Rubiaceae, is found in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Asia and Africa. Asian Mitragynas are often found in rainforests, while the African species which are sometimes still classed in a separate genus, Hallea is often found in swamps. Most species are arborescent, some reaching heights of almost 100 feet (30 meters).

The genus was given its name by Korthals because the stigmas in the first species he examined resembled the shape of a bishop's mitre. This genus is characterized by a globular flowering head, bearing up to 120 florets each. Mitragyna species are used medicinally as well as for their fine timber through the areas they grow. More recently the plant Mitragyna speciosa has also gained popularity as a recreational drug.

Kratom contains a number of active components, so called alkaloids, of which mitragynine is believed to be responsible for most of its effects. Mitragynine is an opioid agonist, meaning that it has an affinity for the opioid receptors in your brain. These receptors influence one’s mood and anxiety. Mitragynine binds to these receptors and improves your mood and gives a euphoric-like feeling, just like opiates such as heroin and opium. The big difference between kratom and opiates is that mitragynine prefers so called delta opioid receptors, while opiates bind to mu opioid receptors. At higher doses, mitragynine increasingly stimulates mu receptors. This is believed to be the reason that kratom has a stimulating effect at lower doses and narcotic effects at higher doses, and that it is not (strongly) addictive.

Kratom, and more specifically mitragynine, is known for its positive effects on your mood. It stimulates your body and thus increases activity.
Traditionally, kratom is mostly used as a stimulant by Thai peasants, laborers, and farmers who use the plant to overcome the burdens of their hard work and meager existences. These people use kratom on a daily basis. Some studies have found no addiction problems in villagers using kratom, while others apparently have. Heavy users may chew kratom between 3 and 10 times a day. While new users may only need a few leaves to obtain the desired effects, some users find with time they need to increase doses to 10 or 30 leaves or even more per day.
In some parts of the country, it was said that parents would choose to give their daughters in marriage to men who used kratom rather than men who used marijuana.

The belief is that kratom users are hard working, while marijuana users are lazy. This belief is also maintained by many of the users themselves, who report beginning use because of a desire to work more efficiently, and who say using the drug gives them a strong desire to do work.

However, the Thai government has banned the use of kratom and classed the plant as a drug in the same category as cocaine and heroin. Consequently, kratom has the dubious honor of being banned in the country it originated from and has been used traditionally for centuries.

In recent years Kratom has gained popularity as recreational drug, due to its narcotic-like effects, producing feelings of euphoria similar to heroin - but not as strong, of course. It is a good alternative for real narcotics, because it is legal to possess in most countries and it is not strongly addictive. There are different methods of using kratom.
Most users describe the effects as stimulating and euphoric, for some it also has a relaxing and analgesic effect. People report feeling euphoric, but still energetic enough to function normally.

Most sources say that it is a stimulant in lower doses, becoming sedative in higher doses.
Some people report head aches and nausea after using the plant, which usually go away after a little while. There are some known possible negative effects to kratom use, especially after a longer period of regular consumption.