Let us go back to the world 5000 years ago when ancient people were oblivious to the diseases around them and did not have access to the treatments. Their sheer curiosity and dying need for the cure resulted in their search for various medicines in nature. Due to this, the idea of establishing medicinal herbs came into existence, and later the civilians made different drugs from either bark, flowers, or leaves of the plants.
The use and insight of medicinal herbs have passed on from generation to generation, and till today even with the advancement in technology, many people still use them. The reason behind this is the increasing contraindications and price of artificial drugs and the reality that they have confidence in natural-made drugs.
When we mention herbs, there is a long list of them, but the one that has become limelight nowadays is Mitragyna Hirsuta, a Latin word meaning hairy headdress.
Mitragyna Hirsuta also goes by the name of “kra thum khok” and has few milder effects similar to the opioid drug class.
What Is Mitragyna Hirsuta?
Mitragyna Hirsuta is an evergreen, tall tree with a large, opposite, and whorled leaf, belonging to the family of Rubiaceae, found in Southeast Asia countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The natives of these countries have obtained Mitragyna Hirsuta from the leaves for a long time and used it as a medicinal herb.
Most of them chew the leaves and extract the juice directly to gain maximum effect, while others convert them into a dry powder and mix it with tea. Due to its growing demand, the natives have now started a business and sold it to other parts of the country in powdered leaves, crushed leaves extract, or seeds form.
What Does Mitragyna Hirsuta Do?
Mitragyna Hirsuta has multiple effects on the mind and body because of the long list of alkaloids it is made up of. Alkaloids are the elements that have physiological actions on the human body. The active ingredients are Mitraphylline, Rhynchophylline, Iso mitraphylline, Isorhynchophylline, and Hirsutine.
Rhynchophylline and Isorhynchophylline have brain-protecting functions achieved by suppressing calcium channels, opening potassium channels, and regulating the brain chemicals.
Mitraphylline, the most important one, is the central nervous system alkaloid that binds to the mu-opioid receptor. Once the receptor is activated, chemicals are released from brain cells and act on the body that later gives many health benefits; it elevates the mood and gives an energizing boost to the consumer.
When taken in moderate amounts, the consumer may become excited, well-focused, more productive, releasing uneasiness from the body. It is also known to increase the stamina of the consumer, hence widely used among farmers and labor workers. When taken in large amounts, it makes the person sleepy, lethargic and gives a relaxing effect to the body. All these effects usually do not last for more than 2-4 hours. On account of this, the quantity or the dosage consumed is of great importance.
According to the user’s review in many forums, 15 grams of powder in a cup of tea is a safer choice for beginners and later can be increased to 20 grams of powder. The leaves are left in the pot for almost 30 minutes for maximum effect and should be drunk within 30 minutes slowly for the most absorption.
Common Problems With Mitragyna Hirsuta?
There is a saying that every rose has a thorn, which means that everything comes with pros and cons. Mitragyna Hirsuta works similarly. The only harmful effects of this drug are noted when taken in large quantities. These effects are identical to those caused by intoxicants, for example, increased sweating, extreme sleepiness, and shortness of breath, except they do not cause any tolerance.
For some reason, Mitragyna Hirsuta is not available on the market and stores easily; therefore, many people buy it from online pages. As a result, it is difficult for everyone to access it, and the quality is not always of the same standard. Few consumers call this a bad batch or a weaker version of Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) as they did not feel the change when consumed.
How Is It Different And Similar To Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa)
Mitragyna Hirsuta, due to its high resemblance with Kratom, is also called Kratom’s sister. They belong to the same family of trees known as Rubiaceae, but Kratom’s leaves are smaller than Mitragyna Speciosa. Both are found in similar areas of South Asia and used by the natives of Thailand and Vietnam to cure diseases. Although the name suggests that Mirtagyna Hirsuta constitutes Mitragyna alkaloid, Mitraphylline is the main component.
On the contrary, Kratom consists of Mitragynine, and 7-HydroxyMitragynine is a more potent mu-opioid receptor stimulator. Hence, Kratom has more powerful effects on the body.
As both of these stimulate similar receptors, their effects on the body are also identical. The small quantity of Kratom has a stimulating, mood-lifting result on the consumer, whereas the large dose makes the consumer low and sleepy.
Mitragyna Hirsuta is now mainly used as an alternative to Kratom, usually when the consumers develop a dependency on Kratom and want to avoid its withdrawal symptoms.
Kratom has effects for a shorter duration of 1-2 hours as compared to Mitragyna hirsuta. Therefore, consumers prefer to use Kratom and Hirsuta together, making them a deadly and powerful combination, and the results stay for an extended period.
Kratom also has many powerful side effects, has a high potential for tolerance, and has withdrawal symptoms when used for more than six months. As there have been reports of Kratom overuse, it is considered a controlled drug in many countries like Australia. On the other hand, there has been no incidence of Mitragyna Hirsuta abuse and has very few side effects. It is also legal all around the world and most popular in Thailand.
Lastly, the amount of dosage usually required for people to benefit the most from Kratom is around 4 grams, and on the other hand, Mitragyna Hirsuta usually is taken in 15-20 grams.
The legal Status Of Mitragyna Hirsuta
The legality of the drug is a crucial step made by the government for its citizens. The constitutional laws of substances are made to discourage its citizens from the manufacturing, possessing, selling, buying, and usage of certain substances. These substances are illegal because of their high potential for abuse and their “do more harm than good” properties. In every country, there are different strict penalties concerning such offenses.
However, Mitragyna Hirsuta is legitimately manufactured and consumed around the whole world. Mitragyna Hirsuta has no tolerance characteristics and mild effects on the body as it constitutes less potent alkaloids. However, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved Mitragyna Hirsuta for its curative use. Also, some countries are not allowed to sell the leaves because people might use them for the wrong purposes; hence only sold in powder form. It is a better choice for many people than Kratom, as Kratom is banned in most countries.
Conclusion
Mitraygna Hirsuta is also available in online stores for $12 for 1 oz, but the quality remains a question when everything is just one click away. The first thing is not to buy a cheap one, as usual, a cheap one does not go through any product testing, and one of the most dangerous things about it is that it is contaminated with lead and other bacterias, and most of the sellers filled them with other ground leaves of some other plant so that it wouldn’t give the desired effect.
Hence, it is advised not to compromise on the quality and buy it from an authentic page. But should you try Mitragyna Hirsuta? Well, it has both pros and cons, pros win in this case, but there are certain things which consumers should consider before starting it.
You must not have any health problems that might interfere with it, or you’re not already taking any other drug that might interact with it. If you do, make sure to consult your doctor before starting it. If you are pregnant then, take this herb with caution.
Begin with a small dosage and later adapt it slowly and gradually with a greater dosage, and if any side effects appear, stop using it immediately. Although, lightheadedness is very normal with Mitragyna hirsuta. If there are other symptoms, then it is advisable not to proceed further with them. According to the research that has already taken place, it is safe to use, but further studies still need to be done to know everything in detail.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is for educational purposes only. Research is still being conducted on it; hence, there is not enough data.
Heather lives with her husband and two children in beautiful British Columbia. Her passion has always been to enhance the lives of others by helping them reach their own personal goals and accomplishments. Content management is her specialty, and writing is what she does best. Her love for helping others lead her to the cannabis and kratom scene, where she saw an immense gap between patients and medicine that can help them.
