Health

Thailand and the Kratom Leaf: Everything You Need To Know

The Kratom leaf, scientifically known as Mitragyna speciosa, is a tropical evergreen tree in the coffee family, noted for its stimulant and opioid-like properties. The tree is native to Southeast Asia and can be found in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea.

In countries where kratom grows indigenously, extracts from the herb have been used from at least the 19^th century to manage several ailments, including headache and erectile dysfunction. More recently, the plant has garnered recognition, particularly for its energizing and opioid-like properties. It’s also a potent mood stabilizer.

Now, Thailand has widely been used as a reference point when charting kratom’s origin, global popularity, and journey towards legalization.

Not only does Thailand boast vast fields of indigenous kratom trees. The country has also experienced a checkered history in its quests to legalize and mainstream kratom. This post takes you through historical milestones in the journey towards kratom’s legalization in Thailand.

Kratom, Narcotics List, Thailand

Which Kratom Leaf Strains Are Native To Thailand?

One great thing to love about the kratom leaf, besides its numerous therapeutic benefits, is several strains to choose from. Kratom strains fall into three broad categories. They include White Vein Kratom, Red Vein Kratom, and Green Vein Kratom.

White vein kratom is known for its incredible stimulant effects. The strain can boost your physical energy while also enhancing your mental concentration.

Red vein kratom produces calming and soothing effects. It’s the right strain to consume if you’re battling stress, anxiety, or sleep disorders like insomnia.

Lastly, green vein kratom offers the best of both worlds. You should consider green vein kratom if you’re looking to synergize the benefits of the white vein and red vein strains. It’s worth noting that all these strains are pretty distributed in Thailand. Also, besides the three, kratom produces numerous other strains. Examples include Thai Kratom, Maeng Da Kratom, Indo White Kratom, to mention but a few. Out of these, the Thai Kratom and Maeng Da Kratom are probably the most common you’ll encounter across Thailand fields.

Thai Kratom is native to Thailand. The strain produces a mix of feelings you’d experience in red, white, and green veins.

Maeng Da Kratom also boasts potent therapeutic benefits. This strain is noted for its long-lasting effects and higher safety profile compared to most kratom strains. It’s one of the highest quality kratom strains you’ll find in Thailand and various countries that have legalized the herb. And although it’s native to Thailand, Maeng Da is also fairly widespread in Malaysia and Indonesia.

But perhaps the most important thing is to invest in kratom products by reputable brands. Over the years, Mitragaia Kratom has consistently offered premium-quality kratom supplements at industry-competitive prices.

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Kratom in Thailand: The Journey Towards Legalization

Initial Adoption Challenges

Officially documented records of global kratom use suggest that the plant gained mainstream recognition from around the mid-19^th century. However, communities around Southern Thailand have been using kratom extracts in traditional medicine from time immemorial.

But despite the Thailand government being fully aware of kratom’s long integration into alternative medicine, the country criminalized the herb in 1943. The government was responding to a sudden surge in kratom’s popularity as an alternative to opium. Note that around this period, the Thai government was trying to gain control of opium, a move that saw the drug become scarce; hence, expensive.

The criminalization of kratom was formalized by the Kratom Act 2486, which illegalized the planting of kratom trees. What ensued were protracted tensions between regulators and kratom proponents.

As no party was willing to cede ground, medical researchers and lobby groups embarked on a series of sensitization campaigns in a bid to raise awareness of the health benefits as well as side effects of kratom.

Kratom for cultivation

In one survey conducted in a few areas in Southern Thailand, it emerged that most participants argued in favour of the decriminalization of kratom for cultivation and consumption. The survey also revealed that people who used kratom before were positive about the herb, with a negligible percentage reporting worrying side effects. The most common reasons cited by kratom proponents have enhanced workplace productivity and overall physical and mental health improvement.

Another interesting finding from this survey is that most respondents preferred consuming fresh kratom leaves instead of decoctions, which were considered more harmful. This revelation suggested that kratom consumers were not just ignorant folks looking for the cheapest drug available. On the contrary, they were well-informed users who were upbeat about kratom’s therapeutic effects while also mindful of the plant’s potential adverse effects.

This, and many similar studies, successfully pitched kratom as a potential therapeutic drug with minimal side effects. It was only a matter of time before the Thailand government relaxed its punitive measures on kratom use.

Eventual Legalization

For several years, the Thai government toyed with the idea of decriminalizing kratom for both medical and recreational purposes. In 2004, 2009, 2013, and 2020, the government stopped short of legalizing the herb for recreational purposes.

In 2018, after decades of successful lobbying, kratom eventually became legal in Thailand for medical purposes. And in 2021, the Thai government fully legalized kratom and removed the herb from the list of Category V narcotics. Following this historic milestone, up to 12,000 inmates who had been convicted when kratom was still an illegal drug received amnesty.

The new kratom’s use for medical purposes applies to production, importation, exportation, possession, and use. However, kratom producers, traders, and even researchers will still require licenses to handle the plant. Similarly, patients looking for kratom-based supplements will need a valid prescription from licensed medical practitioners.

It’s also worth noting that the law still prohibits bulk possession of kratom. Users are encouraged to handle minimum amounts of kratom at one time to avoid getting prosecuted for illegal possession.

Summary on the Kratom Leaf

The recent decriminalization of kratom in Thailand is a landmark milestone that will trigger a surge of kratom-based supplements. And perhaps it’s only a matter of time before the herb finds its way into the mainstream global pharmaceutical industry.

Read even more trending news, Visit: https://www.chiangraitimes.com/trending-new

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP