NIH showing signs of lacking credibility
The following quotes have been taken from NIH's PubMed study - giving a rundown of their review on Kratom [see link below for reference].
- Here’s where things get confusing -
STATEMENT A: “In Southeast Asia, kratom has been used for decades as an herbal medication to treat chronic pain, increase energy and stamina, treat chronic pain and diarrhea, and as a substitute for opium or for opium withdrawal.”
STATEMENT B: “Extracts of kratom have been used to treat chronic pain, diarrhea and cough.”
STATEMENT C: “Kratom has not been shown to have any beneficial medical uses.”
[Now is that a not contradiction or what?! Since when has chronic pain, gastrointestinal or respiratory issues been deemed 'non-medical related'? Last I checked, pharmacies were still prescribing pain meds to those in chronic pain; handing Imodium to those with diarrhea; and codeine cough syrup to those with bronchitis. Who is NIH trying to fool here? Maybe I haven't ingested enough fluoride to fall for their tactics...] ——————————————————————————————————————————
Now lets check out what references NIH used to cite their propaga#%&…I mean information ;)
STATEMENT A: “Kratom has been linked to rare instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury.”
STATEMENT B: “Chronic use of kratom recreationally has been associated with rare instances of acute liver injury. The onset of injury is usually within 2 to 8 weeks of starting regular use of kratom powder or tablets, with symptoms of fatigue, nausea, pruritus and dark urine followed by jaundice.”
CONTRADICTING CITATION #4: “Chalasani N, Fontana RJ, Bonkovsky HL, Watkins PB, Davern T, Serrano J, Yang H, Rochon J; Drug Induced Liver Injury Network(DILIN). Causes, clinical features, and outcomes from a prospective study of drug-induced liver injury in the United States. Gastroenterology 2008; 135: 1924-34. PubMed Citation (Among 300 cases of drug induced liver disease in the US collected between 2004 and 2008, 9% were attributed to herbals and dietary supplements, BUT NONE TO KRATOM).”
CONTRADICTING CITATION #5: “Reuben A, Koch DG, Lee WM; Acute Liver Failure Study Group. Drug-induced acute liver failure: results of a U.S. multicenter, prospective study. Hepatology 2010; 52: 2065-76. PubMed Citation (Among 1198 patients with acute liver failure enrolled in a US prospective study between 1998 and 2007, 133 were attributed to drug induced liver injury, including 12 [9%] attributed to herbals, BUT NONE TO KRATOM).”
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Ref: http://livertox.nih.gov/Kratom.htm