Posted by Two weeks ago, a friend told me he had stopped using every herbal supplement he owned because someone warned him that alternative medicines “destroy your liver.” He threw out his kratom, his kava, and even a mushroom supplement he had been taking for months.
That conversation stuck with me because I kept hearing the same claim from different people. The announcement by the DEA to temporarily schedule 7-OH products and three other alkaloids found in kratom, MGM-15, MGM-16, and Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, has reignited this conversation again.
Are alternative medicines harmful to your liver and gut? Even though we, kratom experts, are huge proponents of alternative medicines like kratom and kava, we can’t help but notice that most of the claims about the harmful effects of this natural botanical are presented as an absolute truth by the DEA, FDA, and other health regulators.
The reality that most of the regulators seem to hide is that kratom, kava, and other botanical products can affect the body in different ways, but the available evidence does not support the idea that every alternative medicine automatically damages the liver or gut.
Key Takeaways
- The available scientific evidence does not support the claim that kratom and kava automatically damage the liver or gut in healthy adults.
- Quality-tested products, responsible use, proper hydration, and avoiding alcohol or other depressants are important factors in reducing potential risks.
- The DEA’s temporary scheduling action is expected to affect Oxonol and Pseudo after August 5, while Acend will remain available.
- Acend is a full-spectrum kratom extract that offers calm focus, mental clarity, mood support, physical ease, and steady energy.
- Oxonol and Pseudo offer different concentrated alkaloid profiles for experienced users, but their availability may end after August 5 if the federal action takes effect.
Are Alternative Medicines Harmful to Your Liver and Gut
No. All the research findings we found online do not show that kratom or kava automatically causes liver damage in healthy adults. In most cases, the health issues arise from not using the products responsibly and buying from vendors who don’t screen their products for contaminants and adhere to GMP standards.
For instance, the NIH’s LiverTox database describes kratom-associated liver injury as rare and notes that symptoms typically appear within one to eight weeks of regular and excessive use.
What Happens After the DEA’s Upcoming Federal Action
Now that you know alternative medicines like kratom are not harmful to your health if you use them responsibly, the next thing we need to address is the upcoming DEA federal action.
As mentioned earlier, the DEA announced temporary scheduling action targeting several concentrated 7-OH-related compounds, including MGM-15, MGM-16, and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl. This means that most of the 7-OH products and kratom extracts like Oxonol and Pseudo will no longer be available after August 5th.
But before then, you can still buy these products from Real Botanicals, the best kratom vendor today. Currently, this brand is offering 20% off Acend, Oxonol, and Pseudo with code WTFDEA, so this is the time to stock up.
Let’s shift gears and briefly look at how to use these kratom extracts and the commonly reported effects.
Acend
Acend is one of the kratom extracts from Real Botanicals that is not affected by the ban. It will still be available after the ban takes effect. Each Acend tablet contains 160mg of fermented full-spectrum Mitragynine speciosa extract and other naturally occurring compounds.
The alkaloids are extracted using ChromaPure technology that guarantees purity and high potency of the final product. The splitable tablet design allows users to divide it into four servings of 40mg. This is the recommended starting dose, and you should wait for 90 minutes before redosing. Also, don’t use more than one tablet within 24hours.
We spoke to customers who have tried this legal kratom extract, and here are some of the commonly reported effects.
- Physical ease
- Steady energy
- Calm focus
- Mental clarity
- Mood support
Note, this extract is meant for kratom users who have used extracts before. Exceeding the recommended dosage can result in overwhelming effects.
Oxonol
Sadly, Oxonol won’t be available after August 5th, as it contains one of the alkaloids that will be scheduled, MGM-15. This extract is available in two tablet formats, 30mg and 60mg.
The recommended serving depends on the tablet you choose, that is;
- 2 servings per tablet for the 30mg tablet (Available in 4ct)
- 4 servings per 60mg tablet (Available in 10ct, 20ct)
Most people who enjoy using Oxonol because it offers:
- Mood support
- Mental quiet
- Deep relaxation
- Longer-lasting effects
- Smooth focus
Stock up today using the code WTFDEA to get 20% discount before the ban takes effect.
Pseudo
Pseudo has a more grounded profile, and the effects last longer than Oxonol and other 7-OH products. This product won’t be available after August 5th if the ban is implemented. Each tablet contains 50mg of mitragyne pseudoindoxyl, and the recommended starting serving is ¼ tablet (12.5mg).
Some of the commonly reported effects are:
- Physical ease
- Deep relaxation
- Mental clarity
- Longer-lasting effects
- A heavier and more grounded feeling
Pseudo is considered the strongest profile among the three extracts and is intended for experienced kratom users.
Will Kratom Extracts Affect My Liver and Gut
NO. In fact, the right question should be, are you using a quality-tested product, following the recommended serving, staying hydrated, and avoiding combinations that increase risk, such as alcohol, sedatives, or other central nervous system depressants?
Honestly, kratom and kava are not automatically harmful to the liver or gut, and the available scientific evidence DOES NOT support treating every alternative medicine as dangerous.
If you are looking for a legal, high-quality, concentrated extract that will still be available after the August 5 federal action, Acend is the strongest long-term option.
Oxonol and Pseudo are still available right now, but that window may close once the temporary scheduling order takes effect.
Use code WTFDEA to save 20% on Acend, Oxonol, and Pseudo before the August 5 deadline.
You can read more about how to use Oxonol and Pseudo extracts for the first time here.