Health Effects & Risks of Kratom, Opioids & Other Natural Occurring Medicines | Dr. Chris McCurdy

My guest is Dr. Chris McCurdy, PhD, FAAPS, professor of medicinal
chemistry at the University of Florida and a world expert on the
pharmacology of kratom and other plant-derived medicinal compounds.
We discuss kratom’s wide-ranging effects, including its use for
boosting energy, enhancing mood, managing pain and as a potential
opioid substitute, while also explaining its critical safety
concerns and addictive potential, especially for
kratom-derived/isolate products. We also discuss plant-based
compounds more generally for their potential benefits and risks.
Dr. McCurdy offers a balanced perspective on kratom and other
plant-based and naturally occurring medicinal compounds,
highlighting and contrasting their promise for human health with
potential serious risks. Read the episode show notes at
hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1:
https://drinkag1.com/huberman David Protein:
https://davidprotein.com/huberman Eight Sleep:
https://eightsleep.com/huberman ROKA: https://roka.com/huberman
Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00
Chris McCurdy 00:02:51 Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), Origin,
Effects, Low vs High Doses 00:07:19 Sponsors: David Protein &
Eight Sleep 00:10:07 Kratom, Traditional Use vs Commercial Kratom
Products, Absorption 00:17:00 Kratom Products, Serving Size, Kids;
Semi-Synthetics; Tool: Understand Kratom Product Labels 00:23:16
Kratom Products & Various Desired Effects; Physical Dependence
00:32:53 Different Kratom Usage Patterns, Opioid Dependence
00:36:59 Alkaloid Compounds, Nitrogen, Nicotine; Animals &
Self-Experimentation 00:47:47 Sponsors: AG1 & ROKA 00:51:05
Medicine Development, Disconnection from Nature, Product
Concentrations 00:59:00 Alkaloids & Natural Products, Opium
Poppy, Coca Leaf, Tool: Kratom Leaf vs Extracts
(Kratom-Derived/Kratom Isolates) 01:09:06 Is It Safe for Kids to
Consume Kratom Products? 01:12:19 Kratom, Energy, Mood & Pain
Management, Dose; Caffeine 01:16:56 Respiratory Depression &
Kratom Products 01:20:16 Sponsor: Function 01:22:04 Kratom Leaf vs
Derivatives, FDA Regulations, Usage Guidelines 01:26:59 Kratom,
Alcohol Consumption, Respiratory Failure? 01:29:09 Kratom
Alkaloids, Mood & Stimulant Effects, Multiple Pathways for Pain
Relief 01:38:17 Plant Alkaloids & Chemical Defense, Kratom
& Antifungal Alkaloids; Geckos 01:44:35 White, Red & Brown
Vein Kratom, Leaf Processing; Terpenes 01:51:08 Kratom as an
Anti-Depressant?; Discontinuing Kratom Use, Opioid Use 01:58:03
Kratom, Drug Interactions & Seizure, Opioids 02:01:51 Cacao
Beans, Chocolate 02:09:34 Coca-Cola, Coca Plant & Cocaine,
History of Soft Drinks 02:19:49 Career Journey, Pharmacy, Chemistry
& Education, Lobelia 02:28:44 Nicotine; Natural Products &
Career Journey, Salvia divinorum, Kratom 02:40:22 Zero-Cost
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