Allergy relief is a big concern every Spring. More and more, people are seeking natural methods of producing relief without the drowsiness (and other side-effects of antihistamines and anticholinergics) caused by many of the OTC and prescription medicines.
Consumption of the herb kratom is reported to reduce the symptoms of allergies. This we know. What we don’t know is how it works to provide allergy relief. This would be nice to know for the purposes of this article, but not essential.
What we know about kratom is that it has been used safely as a traditional medicinal herb and social lubricant for centuries in Southeast Asia. With 40 or more compounds making up this complex herb, most of them alkaloids, we shouldn’t be surprised that people continue to find unexpected benefits in this user-friendly tree leaf.
It has been said that “People tend to find what they are looking for.” Another way to put it would be: Our expectations determine our outcomes. Perhaps this partially explains how kratom’s many alkaloids contribute to allergy relief in those who seek it.
Those who know and love this plant — and who use it wisely — find little to complain about and much to celebrate, as they learn to effectively use this botanical. Many find kratom in their search for a better pain reliever that doesn’t incapacitate them in the way that opiates do. As they experience it, they find many added benefits, such as allergy relief.
To learn how kratom may provide allergy relief, we need to look at what is known about the alkaloids that make up kratom.
Ajmalicine is — among other things — a smooth muscle relaxer. (This alkaloid was used as the basis for creating a pharmaceutical, designed to reduce blood pressure.)
Ciliaphylline is an antitussive, as are 7-hydroxymitraginine and mitragynine.
Corynoxeine is a calcium channel blocker, which relaxes the blood vessels, increasing the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart and other part of the body, which might have an effect on allergies.
Epicatechin: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, also found in Green Tea
7-Hydroxymitragynine: Analgesic, antitussive
Isomitraphylline, isopteropodine, isorhynchophylline: immunostimulants
Mitragynine: antitussive
Mitraphylline: vasodilator, antihypertensive, muscle relaxer, possible immunostimulant
Paynantheine: smooth muscle relaxer
Rhynchophylline: vasodilator, antihypertensive, calcium channel blocker, anti-inflammatory
Speciogynine: smooth muscle relaxer
Relaxing smooth muscles, such as those that line the bronchial tubes, might be helpful in reducing the congestion commonly caused by allergies. Antitussive effects of kratom would reduce the tendency to cough. Kratom’s proven ability to reduce blood pressure by calcium channel blocking, vasodilation and antihypertensive action might also be helpful in reducing the discomfort of allergies.
The anti-inflammatory nature of Rhynchophylline and Epicatechin might contribute to reducing inflammation in areas affected by allergens, such as pollen in nasal passages, etc.
The immunostimulants and the antiviral/antibiotic qualities could help to explain the increased resistance to colds, flu, and allergies that some consumers report.
The gentle pain relief and feel-good qualities of the mitragynines in kratom also would contribute to allergy relief.
All-in-all, kratom is reportedly working for many people, offering allergy relief. It would be refreshing if the medical establishment could investigate the many benefits this herb is giving those who consume it, rather than saying kratom has no medicinal uses (while researchers feverishly seek to patent new painkilling drugs, based on its alkaloids).
Author Paul Kemp writes frequently about kratom, natural health strategies, and other health-related topics
To obtain high-quality kratom for research purposes, visit OnlineKratom
