kratom

[ krey-tuhm, krot-uhm ]

noun

1. a Southeast Asian evergreen tree (Mitragyna speciosa) of the coffee family, whose leaves contain a psychoactive substance.
2. the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, or the psychoactive substance they contain: used in various forms as a mood enhancer, pain reliever, etc., or in higher doses as a sedative with opioid-like effects.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kratom¹

First recorded in 1920–25; from Thai krathom

Example Sentences

Kratom products are derived from the leaves of a tree that grows in Southeast Asia, where kratom has long been chewed and brewed into teas.

From Los Angeles Times

Kratom has also been involved in a small share of overdose deaths, although most also involved other drugs, analyses have found.

From Los Angeles Times

Scientists have raised concerns about its effects: One study in the Journal of Medical Toxicology said 7-OH “is likely to be a major contributing factor to the addictive potential of kratom.”

From Los Angeles Times

Kirsten Smith, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, said that because 7-OH appears naturally at very low levels in the kratom leaf, products with much higher levels of 7-OH are “easily identifiable as being manipulated and man-made.”

From Los Angeles Times

It was backed by the Global Kratom Coalition, whose executive director, Matthew Lowe, argued kratom products should have an alkaloid content similar to the natural plant that has long been used.

From Los Angeles Times