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Kratom versus Tobacco:
Get the priority right about the dangers of these plants
Recently, a little known leaf allegedly used by addicts to complement their
craving habits was thrust to fame. It is the ketum leaf, also known locally as
daun biak.
The leaf is mainly found in the northern part of the country and in neighbouring
Thailand, where it is called kratom.
Scientifically the plant is identified as Mitragyna speciosa Korth, a tree of
about 30 metres tall, with dark shiny green leaves and yellowish coloured
flower. It contains an active compound called mytragynine, said to have a
stimulating and/or sedative effects on the brain. It is this effect that is
causing concern among some people and the authorities. Some have equated the
effects to that of ganja and even morphine. But there is no convincing evidence
regarding this. It looks like daun biak is in a class of its own.
Studies conducted at the Universiti Sains Malaysia indicated that the active
compound can also cause effects like dryness of mouth, constipation, loss of
appetite and increased urination. Some of these effects could be useful in
medical treatment but others could be regarded as harmful effects. There were
also reports that some of the effects can lead to some addiction, though users
are usually not rendered unproductive, unlike other drug addiction.
According to some herbalists however, the plant is not all bad. For decades some
documented traditional uses include reducing body temperature, for de-worming,
diarrhoea and cure for stomach ailments. An Internet source suggests that it
could also be used to treat high blood pressure, diabetes and for tiredness.
Like all other traditional plants with many potential uses, pokok biak is
legally grown; in some cases an ornamental tree. Given the recent spate of
events, it is possible that this will change if the authorities decide to ban
it. Others insist that the plant be immediately chopped down and destroyed which
could mean a loss in our biodiversity, especially when the species is uniquely
found in this part of the world.
But there is an extreme irony in all these hue and cry when one considers
another, no less controversial, leafy plant locally known as tembakau or
tobacco.
Like the biak, tembakau is also legally grown and consumed. More importantly
both are addictive and could endanger health. The difference is, tembakau is
evidently more hazardous than biak.
For example, tembakau has been documented to cause other serious and harmful
effects, namely a variety of cancers, especially lung cancer, the major cause of
death of tobacco-related disease. It can also cause serious cardiovascular
disease and high blood pressure, yet another cause of death. When smoked the
fume released is equally deadly.
More than the addiction associated with tembakau is likened to that of cocaine
and heroin. This is not the case for biak.
Despite all these, most ironic of it all is the way tobacco commands respect in
this country. For example, rather than calling for its destruction, the
authorities seem to be protecting the tembakau plant and the industry based on
it. Nationwide, more than 15,750 hectares of land are being planted with this
obnoxious plant, and the produce subsidised. Just late week, tobacco producers
got a major boost in the form of a RM22.5 million special credit assistance from
the government.
This is expected to increase production to no less than nine million kilogrammes
this year, translated to mean millions of tobacco-related deaths.
So why the preoccupation with biak, if the even more dangerous tembakau is given
so much protection. What justification can we offer to ban and destroy the
sparsely grown biak, mostly wild, when thousands of hectares of tobacco plant
are being cultivated. Some may cite that the Thais have banned biak, and that we
should follow suit. Unknown to many however, Thailand too has a very tightly
regulated tobacco market. Should we not consider emulating this first? Moreover,
so far there is no known biak related death documented in this country compared
to the millions attributed to tobacco. If it is the health of our citizens that
we are trying to protect then we should get our priority right. Whatever is
decided for biak, the same treatment must be accorded to tobacco simultaneously.
Lest we look a nation of fools!
Specific to Mitragyna speciosa
(Kratom):
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