“Kratom has a long history of safe traditional use,” said Jane Wilson, AHPA Director of Program Development. “But, as with any botanical, we encourage consumers to take safety information available in the Botanical Safety Handbook and from other reputable sources into consideration when using herbs to support their personal health and wellness.”
The kratom entry is based on review of published literature that documents:
- pharmacological and toxicological profile of the herb
- clinical investigations
- case reports of adverse effects.
The entry also includes information relevant to traditional use of kratom in Southeast Asia, where it is indigenous to several countries.
Key points on kratom:
- It is classified as not to be used during pregnancy (Safety Class 2b) or while nursing (Safety Class 2c)
- It is classified as an herb for which clinically relevant interactions are biologically plausible (Interaction Class B).
For comparison, the Botanical Safety Handbook safety classifications for kratom are the same as that of kava, AHPA shared.
The Botanical Safety Handbook provides safety information on more than 500 species of herbs, derived from data compiled from clinical trials, pharmacological and toxicological studies, medical case reports, and historical texts. All entries are reviewed by an Expert Advisory Council that includes some of the most renowned herbal and integrative medicine experts in the United States. AHPA members can obtain a hard copy or an annual individual subscription to the onlineBotanical Safety Handbook for $95, with multi-user rates available. Subscribers can review short descriptions of updated entries in the “Revisions” panel on the homepage when they log in.
