The world today is facing a challenge of great magnitude. Back in January, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of global emergency due to COVID-19. And a few days ago, they described the situation as a pandemic. Although there have been many cases of epidemics before – you may remember the Ebola outbreak only a few years ago – what we are experiencing now is unprecedented in the modern world.
As this situation develops, we are being bombarded with news and information that change every day. And, what is worse, this quickly changing situation is a great breeding ground for fake news.
If you are in the kratom community, you’ve probably come across information claiming that kratom can be an aid to combat COVID-19. But are these claims true? What is the relationship between kratom and coronavirus? Moreover, will kratom’s supplies be affected by the current situation? We have researched all of this to try to bring some light into the subject.
Kratom and Coronavirus: What We Know Today
As you may know, COVID-19 is not the only coronavirus in the world. Coronaviruses were first described in the 1960s, getting their name from the distinctive “corona” or crown of sugary proteins that surrounds the particle. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause illnesses of varying severity: from common colds to potentially dangerous diseases.
Lately, kratom blogs and information sites alike have started to share news about kratom’s potential against coronaviruses. But is this a legit claim?
The Indonesian newspaper Pontianak Post has published a recent interview with Dr. Thamrin Usman, professor of Chemistry at the Tanjungpura University, in West Kalimantan (Indonesia). Dr. Usman revealed that “the diversity of tropical plants in West Kalimantan contains compounds that help strengthen the immune system and ward off coronaviruses.”
However, the above doesn’t mean that kratom can cure or prevent COVID-19 or any other coronaviruses. But, like other tropical plants, it shows the potential to develop medicines for it in the future.
You can read the full article of the Pontianak Post in Indonesian here (you may want to use Google Translator to help you translate the article).
What Is COVID-19
COVID-19 is a new type of coronavirus that was first identified during an outbreak in Wuhan (China). It’s a very contagious type of coronavirus that spreads from person to person. This coronavirus causes respiratory illnesses that be mild or severe. Symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- fever
- cough
- shortness of breath
Severe complications of this illness include pneumonia, multi-organ failure and, ultimately, death. For this reason, you must take some necessary precautions to prevent infection:
- avoid contact with infected people (keep a security distance of 6 feet with others)
- cover your cough with your elbow (don’t use your hand, as you will touch things that will be touched by others afterward)
- wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and regularly. You can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
- avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth with unwashed hands
And, finally, since the situation is quickly developing, keep informed and follow the authorities’ instructions.
Kratom and Coronavirus: Should You Take Any Precautions?
Since kratom is not grown in the US, will access to it be granted?
All kratom that you find in the market is imported from South East Asia, especially from Indonesia. Cases of coronavirus in Indonesia are still not as high as in other areas, so, as of today, kratom production should not be affected. Additionally, postal service and courier companies are working normally. However, this situation may change (or may not) in the future.
Moreover, so far, there are no reports of shortages from kratom suppliers. Nevertheless, since the situation is quickly developing, we recommend that you contact your vendor to make sure that they have enough kratom supplies.
Finally, as you know, kratom’s method of consumption is by ingesting it. So, should you take any precautions when using kratom?
There are no reports of kratom and COVID-19 contamination. So you should not be worried about using kratom powder. However, this illness is so new, that it won’t hurt to take extra-precautions not only with kratom but with foods and other remedies too.
As you know, there are various ways to consume kratom, i.e.: toss and wash, capsules, kratom tea. Using hot water to prepare kratom tea, will help you get rid of contaminants.
And, remember, that kratom is not a cure for any disease, so use your common sense and stay safe.
