Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a plant that grows in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. For centuries, farmers chewed the leaves of the plant to get an extra boost of energy while working in the fields. While commonly known as Kratom, Kratum or Ketum, its scientific name is Mitragyna Speciosa. It belongs to the Mitragyna species and is a member of the Rubiaceae family.
Traditionally Kratom leaves have been used as a medicine; as a treatment for diarrhea, as an analgesic (pain control) and as a way to treat addiction to opiates. It is also used by Thai agricultural workers, who take advantage of its properties as a stimulant at low doses, thus enabling them to work long, backbreaking hours in the fields.
Main reasons people have used Kratom include:
analgesic pain relief
anti diarrhea properties
mild stimulant for manual labor
opiate addiction treatment