Doctors are warning Americans about the health effects of an increasingly popular supplement added to ‘health’ drinks and pills linked to a spate of deaths.
Kratom first became popular in the US as an opioid withdrawal treatment, but more recently has gained ground as a wellness supplement for anxiety and stress.
But the plant leaf extract – slipped into popular drinks and tablets sold in wellness stores and gas stations – has been linked to a range of serious side effects, including seizures, hallucinations and addiction.
Several deaths from taking the supplement have also been reported.
kratom is the name for the entire plant, and 7-Hydroxymitragynine, often abbreviated as 7-OH, is the chemical byproduct of the substance.
While some products use the entire kratom plant, others are specifically made with high concentrations of 7-OH, which can be extremely dangerous. The Mayo Clinic has reported that studies have found some kratom sellers add more of the active ingredient to products than it naturally has.
And recently, the FDA has requested that the Drug Enforcement Agency classify 7-OH products as illegal substances due to their potential for abuse, toxicity, and severe health consequences.
And during a July press conference, FDA commissioner Martin Makary reiterated plans to initiate the sanction.