Is Kratom Safe?

Safety issues are also a serious concern, as kratom products may have contaminants such as heavy metals and harmful bacteria. Kratom Country has been a trusted source since 2009, offering lab-tested kratom products with a focus on quality, consistency, and customer satisfaction. 7 OH (otherwise referred to as 7-OH, 7-hydroxy, and 7-hydroxymitragynine) is a potent kratom alkaloid that occurs naturally in the kratom plant (Mitragyna speciosa). If concentrated, those kratom extracts can produce stronger – and, according to McCurdy, riskier – products that are quickly absorbed into the body. Unlike opioids, kratom is not derived from the poppy plant, but recent research has raised concerns about the addictive properties in kratom extracts and synthetic versions of the plant. To some, kratom offers relief from pain or opioid addiction.

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Kratom is usually advertised as a safe herbal supplement that’s used as an energy booster, pain reliever and, crucially, an aid for quitting opioids. Stay up-to-date on the biggest health and wellness news with our weekly recap. "They’re marketed for children," RFK commented on the products at vape shops.

“The best way to protect yourself is to avoid using 7-OH and kratom-related products.” While these products are sometimes marketed as nraes natural remedies, they are dangerous and can result in fatal overdoses,” said Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. “Although illegal to sell or manufacture for consumption, we are still finding kratom and 7-OH products for sale in gas stations, smoke shops, online and other retailers. These products may lead to addiction, serious harm, overdose, and death. Real Botanicals remains committed to providing safe, lab-tested, naturally extracted 7-OH products in compliance with state and federal law. Whole-leaf kratom powder and full-spectrum extracts with natural alkaloid ratios generally remain legal in locations where kratom itself is permitted.

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Botanic Tonic’s “feel free” tonic mixes kratom and kava root, which according to the new law, will be illegal to sell in Utah as it combines kratom with a “nonkratom” substance. Interested in more 7-hydroxymitragynine products (also known as 7 Hydro)? Both kratom and kava's active ingredients bind with receptors in the brain, impacting how we feel.

Limited knowledge can lead to the sale of a lower-quality product

• But we have a very complicated healthcare system now, and people are hurting, and there are gaps in access to care.
• The ban comes after similar ordinances approved in Newport Beach, San Diego and Oceanside, among other cities.
• “Kratom alkaloids, especially 7-OH, are dangerous opioids that carry serious health risks,” Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway said.
• There haven’t been any cases of kratom causing yeast infection.

The bill is named for a Chattanooga man whose 2024 death was linked to an interaction between kratom and prescription medication. The FDA has stated repeatedly that 7-OH is not permitted in dietary supplements or conventional foods and that there are no FDA-approved drugs containing it. "This legislation, combined with the kratom labeling law we passed last year, will help protect New Yorkers from dangerous and highly addictive substances," Steck said in a statement.

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While kratom is considered a “drug of concern” in the U.S., it’s not on the U.S. schedule of controlled substances. Many people who use kratom also use it with other drugs or substances. The FDA also warns people against taking kratom due to side effects such as nausea, constipation, dizziness, liver problems, and, in rare cases, death. The FDA hasn’t approved kratom for pain relief, anxiety, depression, or as a treatment for withdrawal from opioids or other substances.

The AG’s office said the company did this repeatedly without disclosing the risk of addiction in its marketing. The lawsuit asked the court to prohibit the manufacture, distribution and retail sale of kratom and its alkaloids, mitragynine, and 7-OH. The CDC has also published data showing that annual hospitalizations from kratom exposure increased by 1,200% from 2015 to 2025. “Retailers who use free samples and misleading marketing to hook consumers, especially those struggling with addiction, will face swift enforcement.”

Check out our Blogs for expert guides, wellness tips, and the latest news on Kratom and other natural herbs. These kratom strains are most often reported to have discomfort Relied / Pain relief like effects. "However, 7-OH demonstrates substantially greater mu-opioid receptor potency than kratom’s primary alkaloid constituent mitragynine, as well as other classical opioids such as morphine," the FDA wrote in its findings.