Some of the most recent kratom news headlines claim that kratom causes liver damage. However, is that a reason for concern or merely a negatively biased piece of news as 92% of news on kratom.
Let’s take a closer look at the data behind these headlines and examine how accurate they are.
Kratom Liver Damage News Data
WebMD published an article referencing a study that looked at 404 liver damage cases accredited to dietary supplements. The study was led by Dr. Navarro, the head of gastroenterology at Albert Einstein Network in Philadelphia.
The team he led attributed eight liver damage cases that occurred between 2004 and 2018 to kratom. Another professor who reviewed the study referred to this data as “concerning.”
While liver damage is a severe health concern, the article also referenced the FDA’s warnings about kratom and nearly 100 CDC kratom deaths. Both of them have been instances of exaggerated claims.
Dr. Jack Henningfield issued a review of a report on the dangers of kratom pointing out the lack of credible data to back the claims. And out of the nearly 100 CDC kratom deaths, most cases had other substances in the blood in addition to kratom. Nonetheless, regardless of what they were, kratom was referenced as the main issue.
Taking a closer look at this study revealed that all of these eight people were also using alcohol.
According to the American Kratom Association, there are at least 5 million kratom users in the United States. 8 people out of 5 million are 0.00016%, which is an extremely rare incidence. In the meantime, alcohol is the fourth leading cause of death among Americans and the second most common cause of liver cirrhosis.
Kratom and Alcohol
Alcohol is a depressant, and kratom can be both a depressant and stimulant, depending on its type and dosage. While some kratom lovers find small doses of kratom and alcohol enjoyable, it is generally not advisable to take kratom with depressants or substances that are broken down by the liver. These include alcohol. Avoid taking it together with kratom even if you’re willing to quit alcohol.
So, combining kratom and alcohol, especially in large doses, is not advisable. But that does not mean that kratom in itself is harmful and that it can cause liver damage if taken exclusively.
Kratom is not the only substance that you should not take with alcohol. There are various medications that one should not take with alcohol either. These include antibiotics, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, antihistamines, opioid medications, and even over-the-counter pain relievers such as Aspirin and Ibuprofen.
That is not to say that all these medications are necessarily harmful. Not in the least. Mindful usage of them can help people feel better. However, taken in combination with alcohol, they can cause adverse side effects.
And, most importantly, alcohol itself is not a healthy substance.
Other Kratom Liver Damage Studies
We dug a little deeper and found another study that claimed that kratom was associated with rare instances of acute liver injury.
This study admittedly couldn’t determine what exactly caused the liver damage to occur. Yet, it added that kratom is often used in combination with other substances, including drugs of abuse. Therefore, the study concluded that it is not always possible to determine the actual cause of liver damage.
Kratom Intake Advice
Kratom is a raw botanical that originates from Southeast Asia where hygiene standards are low. So, it is not impossible for you to get unpure kratom.
Therefore, we strongly advise any kratom user to be cautious when selecting a vendor. Make sure you choose a trusted US-based vendor who lab-tests their kratom. While importing directly from the source may be cheaper, the potential health risks are not worth the minimal savings that you could make. That is if you are lucky enough to land a vendor who doesn’t want to scam you.
Moreover, keep in mind that any unwise decisions and behavior that you may take can endanger you. It can also put the legal status of kratom and its reputation at risk.
We strongly advise against combining kratom with alcohol or illegal drugs. If you take any prescription drugs, there may be kratom drug interactions. Therefore, it is wise to consult a physician who is not against alternative treatment methods before you add kratom to the mix.
If you would like to transition from opioid prescription medication to kratom for pain relief, optimally, we’d advise you to allow your body to detox from opioids first. This way, you’ll be able to accurately evaluate the effects of kratom and the dose that your body needs.
What are your thoughts on kratom liver damage news? Is it accurate information or not, in your opinion?
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