Kratom is quickly taking the medical world by storm because of the inherent medical compounds that can be found inside of it. Originally native to Southeast Asia (and some parts of northern Asia), Mitragyna Speciosa, or Kratom, is a plant that can grow up to 30 feet tall in the right fertile, humid conditions. The most interesting part of the plant, however, is the leaf. The leaves are where the immense potential medical compounds and many alkaloids are found.

Origins of Kratom

According to the site Sacred Kratom, the plant was known to scientific and medical communities in Southeast Asia for years before its official discovery by Dutch botanist Peter Willem Korthals. However, once it was formerly identified and classified, it was written about in a medical journal called ‘Observasions de Nauclais Indicis’.  Today, scientists and botanists are continuing to study the plant to see what medical advances can be made from its unique leaf makeup.

Here are some of the potential known side effects of using Kratom:

1. Improvement in Focus

Kratom has some small sedating effects which can help to calm the mind and reduce anxiety. As a part of that, it also induces the release of a chemical called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a special chemical that can help with neurotransmission and enhance the body’s ability to focus. On top of that, some studies have shown that memory can also be enhanced because of the increased ability of cortical circuits to make a response to the stimuli they receive.

2. Improvement in Cognitive Ability

In addition to focus and memory improvements, Kratom also has other mental benefits that can occur. The alkaloids contained in Kratom can be metabolized and act on delta receptors and Mu receptors. When both these things happen, cognitive performance can be enhanced for the person affected.