Magic Mushrooms & Kratom Pills (Benefits, Negative Effects, Treatment)

Over the past few years, people have once again started turning to nature to look for ways to help improve their health. Whether it’s a plant, herb, or what have you, people have been on the lookout for the next big thing in health and wellness.

Spirulina, for example, came under attention a few years back for its supposed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. More recently, people have been looking at hemp for another source of vitamins and minerals. What’s more, hemp became highlighted even more for its possible role in sustainability.

There’s no denying that there are a lot of things that we can get from nature. But, while there are several things to try, not all of them can be beneficial – what can sometimes appear to be good for us may have a lot more drawbacks than expected. Kratom and psilocybin-containing mushrooms are perfect examples of how that can apply to those kinds of things.

What’s Kratom?

Kratom, also known as Mitragyna speciosa, is a tree that is closely related to the coffee plant. It’s commonly found in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In traditional herbal medicine, the kratom leaves were used to help treat many medical conditions and diseases and recreational uses.

The main active ingredient in kratom is a chemical called mitragynine. Mitragynine works similarly to codeine and morphine, which are opioids. To that effect, it works a lot like a pain reliever.

People were said to chew the leaves to relieve pain and increase energy and appetite. It’s even said that these leaves help with sexual desire. Aside from that, these were used on wounds as an anesthetic. Kratom became associated with treating cough and gastrointestinal diseases.

The Facts on Kratom Pills

Usually, kratom leaves are dried, and then they can either be crushed or turned into powder. This can then be made into a paste, tablet, capsule, or pill. It’s one of the more popular ways in which you can supplement with this herb.

Companies like Krave have kratom supplements in pill form. These Krave Pills have several blends, with each combination made up of a specific strain of kratom plants.

Unfortunately, there are two drawbacks to supplementing with kratom. One drawback is that the production of kratom and its byproducts aren’t regulated. As the FDA does not currently monitor the safety and purity of these herbs, there are no safety standards in producing these supplements.

Another drawback with these supplements is that the FDA does not recommend this for consumption. While studies show some benefits with kratom usage, their safety and efficacy are still in question. So, any possible side effects or dangers are yet to be discovered. Until then, there is a considerable risk in supplementing with kratom.

What’s the difference between Magic Mushrooms & Kratom Pills?

While kratom may seem like an excellent natural alternative to treating certain diseases, certain things prevent it from being widely accepted. As compared to psilocybin-containing mushrooms, the way people view kratom is drastically different.

Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are outright looked at negatively by a lot of people. This is because they associate this right away with a hallucinogenic drug. The stigma that comes with these kinds of mushrooms stems probably from the fact that it is illegal. But even if it’s still currently viewed as unlawful, psilocybin is known to have many beneficial effects.

The therapeutic potential this substance has is incredibly promising. As this is still being studied, psilocybin is still not wholly understood. But with how it’s looking so far, the good it could bring can help change the way people see this substance in the future.

Kratom, on the other hand, is more widely accepted. This might have to do with the fact that it’s been used in traditional Southeast Asian medicine. It may also be because it’s just a herb that’s also widely used.

While it is currently being used for pain management purposes, relief of inflammation, and even as a stimulant, some side effects do not make it entirely safe. Despite this, it’s not considered an illegal substance in the United States. Though the FDA currently doesn’t recommend consuming this substance at all.

There is a disparity between what effects the substances have and how people view them. But, at the same time, it might not be suitable to conclude that one is outright wrong and the other good. There’s a lot more thought that needs to be given when you consider these two substances. 

Benefits

Aside from kratom’s pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, traditional medicine has also used this herb for other substances. Depending on its dosage, kratom can be used as a stimulant or as a sedative. There are also some reported appetite-increasing effects when using kratom. Some people even use kratom for its supposed aphrodisiac effects.

One other use that kratom was popular for was to help treat opioid addiction. Since mitragynine acts on the same receptor as other opioid drugs, it could be used as an opioid substitute. Using this could then help wean people off opioids, which was being done in the 19th century.

Psilocybin, on the other hand, has different benefits. While it is known as a hallucinogen, this substance does more than make you hallucinate. It can help put you in an elevated state of mind, helping you even reach a spiritual state. Studies have also reported that people feel more open and have a more positive outlook on things. This could also be attributed to the psychedelic experience.

Aside from these effects, psilocybin has been seen to help in treating depression, among other mental illnesses. In depression, psilocybin was seen to also act on the same neuroreceptors as antidepressants. What made it different was that it seemed more effective and even helped those with antidepressant depression.

Negative Effects

While kratom is being used as a supplement and self-medication for pain and opioid addiction, it does have its drawbacks. Using kratom was seen to be rather unsafe, with several side effects being linked to its use.

Some side effects include hallucinations and seizures, which happen with long-term use. Other noted adverse effects common with those who used them have decreased appetite, weight loss, constipation, hair loss, insomnia, tremors, and even temporary erectile dysfunction.

This substance can even harm the liver. Just how hard is kratom on the liver? It can cause liver damage, which can eventually lead to liver failure. Chronic and unsupervised kratom supplementation is said to even lead to death. This can explain why the FDA recommends staying away from this substance until further studies are done.

As for psilocybin, the most common adverse effects would be nausea and vomiting. In cases of an overdose of magic mushrooms, the most reported adverse effects would be paranoia and a bad trip. Aside from that, deaths relating to psychedelic mushroom use are rare. If ever deaths occur, it’s because of the ingestion of poisonous mushrooms, which are thought to be psychedelic mushrooms.

Treatment

Currently, there are no medical treatments that make use of kratom. While it is still used in traditional medicine and self-medication, there are no approved uses of this substance in the field of medicine. Until studies help better understand kratom and its effects, it is not yet cleared for use in medical treatments.

As for psilocybin, there are also no current medical treatments that utilize this substance. However, studies are showing that it does have potential in treating mental illnesses like depression. So far, psilocybin is used in clinical trials so that its benefits can be fully understood. There is a chance that it could be part of treatments, such as depression, soon.

Conclusion

While the use of kratom for medical or supplementation purposes may be well-intentioned, there are still several things you have to think about regarding this. In this instance, the cons may outweigh the pros of kratom use. People might argue that because it’s legal, it’s okay to consume. But not everything that’s currently legal may be good for you.

The FDA has already made recommendations that kratom use may not be suitable for you and must be stopped until understood better. Right now, there are a lot of adverse effects that come with its consumption.

The same goes for psilocybin-containing mushrooms. There’s a lot you have to consider when it comes to this substance. Yes, it is illegal. But, there is also a lot of therapeutic potentials that these mushrooms carry. Of course, it still needs to be studied further, too, to be better understood. But, it appears that the pros outweigh the cons, if there are any.

Whatever the case may be, legality shouldn’t be the only basis for it when considering what to consume and what not to consume. You also have to do what you can to inform yourself of the pros and cons and the dangers each may have. That way, you at least make the best-informed decisions you can make regarding what you put in your body.