Since time immemorial, humanity has depended on nature for healing, with various civilizations obtaining remedies and medications from plants that grew around them. The knowledge about which plants are beneficial in treating various ailments has been passed down from generation to generation and has survived until the modern day. Even after the rise of Western medicine and synthetic pharmaceuticals, there are many medications with natural origins – such as the antibiotic penicillin from penicillium mold and quinine, a cure for malaria obtained from the bark of the cinchona tree – that are being used in mainstream medicine. Over the past couple of decades, the wellness movement has taken off. While there are various definitions of ‘wellness’ depending on the practitioner, the common thread is that wellness is multifaceted, encompassing not just physical health, but also mental, emotional, spiritual, and social health. This more holistic approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of these aspects, and improving one’s wellness includes working on all these areas. All over the world, there is a growing demand for natural health solutions, and these include botanicals, which are medications or supplements derived from fruits, berries, flowers, roots, and leaves of various plant species. Due to their natural origin, people perceive botanicals as better for the body and cleaner because they do not contain synthesized compounds and many of them have been used by various cultures for a very long time. One such botanical that is growing in popularity in the US is kratom, derived from the Mitragyna speciosa plant, which originates from Southeast Asia. In this region, kratom goes by various names, such as thom, biak, ketum, and kakuam. Kratom is a relative of the coffee plant and was traditionally used as a source of energy. Farm workers would take the leaves of the kratom plant and suck or chew on them, giving them a boost throughout their day. The leaves were also brewed into tea and used to treat pain, diabetes, diarrhea, and various other ailments. Some of kratom’s active components are mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine, which activate the brain’s opioid receptors, providing energy and focus in low doses and imparting a soothing effect in higher doses. Kratom has made it to the West, with an estimated 15 million Americans having used it in the past year. In the US, kratom is often sold in powdered form, where it is blended into drinks or taken as capsules. It is also used as an ingredient in gummies and liquid ‘energy shots’, which provide more concentrated doses. There has been an attempt to have kratom listed as a Schedule I drug, or one, that has no currently accepted medical use and has a high potential for abuse, but it did not succeed due to numerous comments from the public. Thus, kratom remains a substance that is not controlled under the US Controlled Substances Act. There has been a clamor from organizations for kratom to be properly regulated in the US, to ensure responsible use and prevent the sale of adulterated and contaminated kratom-based products. Especially after the opioid crisis came to light, many people have turned to alternative plant medicines and natural substances. According to Tim Drescher, chief operating officer of Mitragaia, a leading manufacturer and distributor of kratom-based products, people are now more mindful of the substances they put into their bodies due to the rise of natural wellness and clean living movements. This has caused an increased number of people to embrace natural supplements of plant origin, such as kratom. With Gen Z trending towards drinking less, kratom’s stimulating effects can give them energy and sociability without the hangover effects associated with alcohol, as well as the negative mental health effects caused by excessive drinking, such as depression and anxiety. “With changing social attitudes towards wellness, kratom is gaining recognition as a natural option, valued for its ability to support energy, focus, and overall well-being,” Drescher says. “Kratom has been traditionally used for centuries in Southeast Asia, and more people all over the world have begun embracing it, as well. With people now consciously choosing natural solutions, especially plant-based alternatives, kratom offers a holistic approach to enhancing daily life.” The post With the Modern Wellness Movement Gathering Steam, People are Embracing Kratom and Other Natural Alternatives appeared first on LA Weekly.