Doctors are warning people against taking a popular 'natural' supplement that has claimed the lives of many of its users.
Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, and extracts from its leaves are used for their medicinal and psychoactive effects as an apparent form of pain relief or mood and energy booster.
While it is currently banned in the UK under the 2016 Psychoactive Substances Act, it is often marketed on places like TikTok is being a 'natural' supplement to support better mental health - but the substance is far from safe.
The substance, which contains psychoactive alkaloids, can induce side effects such as nausea, constipation, dry mouth, dizziness, drowsiness, appetite loss, and mood change, but it can also have much more serious risks.
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These include elevated blood pressure and heart rate, seizures, liver injury, respiratory depression, psychosis, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms, especially when kratom is taken in higher doses or as part of prolonged use.
A mother recently issued a desperate plea urging anyone considering the drug to think again after her 37-year-old son lost his life.
Jordan McKibban collapsed on his bathroom floor and died in 2022 after mixing a tablespoon of powdered kratom into his lemonade.
"Kratom is often marketed online as a ‘natural’ or ‘herbal’ remedy—especially on TikTok and wellness spaces," NHS GP Dr. Hana Patel told LADbible, via Superdrug Online Doctor.
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"But ‘natural’ does not mean 'safe'. Its potency and purity are unregulated, dosage consistency is unreliable, and serious health risks remain poorly understood and under‑researched."
Dr. Patel continued: "I strongly advise against using kratom. It’s an unregulated substance with unpredictable effects and real risks—including addiction, liver damage, and even death.
"Just because something is sold as a ‘natural supplement’ doesn’t mean it’s safe."
The doctor added: "Before taking any supplement, especially one you’ve seen promoted on social media, make sure you research it thoroughly using trusted medical sources.
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"Speak to a healthcare professional first, and avoid unregulated, poorly studied substances entirely. Your health and safety are not worth the gamble."
These thoughts are echoed by Doctor Wuraola Odunlami, a GP and founder of science-backed supplements brand Seazenal.
"There is a dangerous misconception that ‘natural’ automatically means safe, and kratom is a prime example of that," Dr. Odunlami further told LADbible.
"Kratom is a plant-based substance, but it acts on the brain's opioid receptors in a way that is similar to morphine and other opioids.
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"Ironically, some studies exploring kratom as a treatment for people withdrawing from opioids found that participants developed withdrawal symptoms from Kratom itself after six months of use.
"Research has shown that its active compounds can cause opioid-like dependence, and frequent or high-dose use is associated with serious risks including liver toxicity, seizures, and, in some cases, death, particularly when combined with other substances."
Working in the supplements field herself, Dr. Odunlami says marketing branding the substance as a 'natural supplement' is incredibly dangerous and misleading.
"Supplements should support health, not mimic pharmaceutical drugs with known abuse potential" she said. "More careful monitoring is needed around how these substances are marketed online, particularly to younger audiences who are drawn to wellness trends without access to the full picture."
Emma Rosemurgey