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What is Kratom? The FDA targets dangerous products of 7-oh in national repression

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American health agencies are targeting a threat to Americans who are easily available nationally.

7-hydroxymitragynin, also known as 7-OH, is a concentrated form of kratom, a substance derived from the plant that has been commonly used for pain relief and as stimulating.

The concentrated by-product has been linked to the opioid receptors of the body, triggering the potential of abuse and various symptoms linked to drugs.

Health managers warn against the dangerous substance available in stores across the country

The substance, which is considered a “synthetic opioid”, has been bottled in drinks, powders and tablets sold in vape stores, service stations and other stores across the country.

An increase in medical events linked to 7 OH has led the Ministry of Health and Social Services (HHS) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to suppress sellers of these products.

Cannabis dispensary CBD Kratom in New York

A CBD and Kratom dispensary is represented in New York. The substance, which is considered a “synthetic opioid”, has been bottled in drinks, powders and tablets sold in vape stores, service stations and other stores across the country. (Plexi / GHI / Universal Images images group via Getty Images)

In a press release on Tuesday, the HHS announced that the FDA recommended planning action to control these products under the law on controlled substances (CSA).

FDA commissioner, Marty Makary, MD, MPH, wrote in a press release that vape stores “appear in all America districts, and many sell addictive products like concentrated 7-OH”.

In the midst of Kratom’s overdose allegations, groups call for regulations, to a better medication test

“After the last wave of the opioid epidemic, we cannot get caught again,” he said. “7-OH is an opioid that can be more powerful than morphine. We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the epidemic of opioids.”

There are no 7-OH drugs approved by the FDA, according to the health agency. It is not legal in food supplements, and it cannot be legally added to conventional foods.

What is Kratom?

The Kratom is derived from the leaves of a tree (Mitrayna Speci) found in the regions of Southeast Asia, such as Malaysia and Thailand, according to Lori Karan, MD, professor of internal and preventive medicine at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California, which previously spoke to Fox News Digital.

A bunch of Kratom sheets is visible in a stand on the market in Bangkok on September 11, 2021, in Bangkok, Thailand. The Kratom is derived from the leaves of a tree (Mitragyna Speciosa) found in the regions of Southeast Asia.

A bunch of Kratom sheets is visible in a stand on the market in Bangkok on September 11, 2021, in Bangkok, Thailand. The Kratom is derived from the leaves of a tree (Mitragyna Speciosa) found in the regions of Southeast Asia. (Vachira Vachira / Nurphoto via Getty Images)

The leaves of the tree contain more than 40 different active compounds, the most widespread being mitragynin, 7-hydroxymitragynin and speciofoline.

It is believed that the plant has two properties. It produces a stimulating effect at low doses and an analgesic effect of the opioid type when taken in higher quantities, according to Dr. Richard Clark, medical director of the San Diego division of the California poisons control system.

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“It has an activity in opioid receptors in the brain, such as opioid pain relievers, and for this reason, has been used as a substitute for opioid pain relievers or a tool to improve the symptoms of opioid withdrawal,” said Clark to Fox News Digital.

Americans most often use Kratom for the treatment of chronic pain self-treatment and to help fight against withdrawal symptoms of opioids, he added.

How is Kratom different from 7-OH?

When it is isolated in its concentrated state, 7-OH, the active metabolite present in the Kratom plant, becomes a very powerful analgesic.

7-OH can be more powerful than morphine, leading to a potential for abuse and symptoms linked to drugs such as dependence and withdrawal, according to HHS.

Kratom plant powder in Indonesia

The leaves of the tree contain more than 40 different active compounds, the most widespread being mitragynin, 7-hydroxymitragynin and speciofoline. (Louis Anderson / AFP via Getty Images)

Although sellers can announce the Kratom as safe and “entirely natural”, the composition may vary considerably and may not precisely reflect the labeling of the products, cautious.

It is rare that Kratom causes major toxic effects, but when people ingest large quantities or combine it with other drugs, they can feel hallucinogenic reactions, convulsions, coma and, in rare cases, death, warned Clark.

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“There is also a potential for individuals to develop dependence and withdrawal with a strong use of Kratom,” he said.

Other side effects may include nausea, dizzy, confusion and tremors, according to Karan.

Vaping shop showcase displaying colorful products

“They are marketed for children,” said RFK on vape shops products. “These are eraser bears, they are bright colors, they are candies.” (istock)

The FDA and the HHS announced on Tuesday a call for action against 7-OH products at a press conference, where Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described his growing availability and the weight of dependence on the American people.

“They put (vaping stores) in schools, they put them in our poorest neighborhoods, and now they put them in each service station,” said HHS secretary.

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“They are marketed for children. These are gumm bears, they are bright colors, they are flavored with candies. It is really a sinister and sinister industry.”

During the same press conference, Makary noted that there was no intention for agencies to consider the Kratom pure as “safe” for use for the moment.

Shiv Sudhakar contributed to this report.

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