Kratom is the newfound craze that has taken over the west , but it's an ancient plant native to southeast Asia and it's been used for centuries. Kratom is also known as mitragyna speciosa is indigenous to Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Its leaves are dried and used to make tea or encapsulated to ingest as a supplement. Kratom can also be smoked like tobacco.  Kratom has a myriad of uses, but its main uses are to relieve pain, alleviate depression and help treat opioid addiction. The two most active compounds found in Kratom are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which work on opioid receptors, but with fewer side effects. Kratom has been used for centuries in Asia as a natural home remedy. Traditionally, it has been used to treat: Fatigue Pain Diarrhea Muscle Cramps Research has found several potential health benefits to taking Kratom  Libido Enhancement Kratom has been studied as a potential sexual enhancement supplement. Researchers examined several clinical studies and reported findings regarding the aphrodisiac effects of kratom. They concluded that kratom is an effective plant-based sexual enhancer. Pain Relief Kratom comes in three different strains, which all are effective relievers for chronic pain. White vein, green vein, and red vein varieties provide pain relief by attaching to opioid receptors. One compound found in kratom, 7-hydroxymitragynine, is 13 times more potent than morphine. Although kratom targets opioid receptors like morphine and codeine, it is considered an atypical opioid. Kratom selectively inactivates specific signals, which may explain the more tolerable side effects compared to typical opioids. Mood-Boosting Kratom has many mood-enhancing effects. Reports show that kratom is an effective treatment for opioid addiction. It has been proven to help alleviate the withdrawal symptoms of morphine and ethanol. Other studies show that kratom has potential as an antidepressant and a hunger suppressant. In one animal study, researchers determined that kratom lowers corticosterone levels in mice. Elevated corticosterone levels are associated with depression. In another study with rats, kratom supplementation suppressed hunger by inhibiting the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for appetite and cravings. More research on humans is needed to examine if kratom has similar effects. Since Kratom is fairly new to the market, further research is needed to deduce its long-term effects on the body. What we do know is that Kratom is a natural supplement with a plethora of health benefits.