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

Andrew Huberman

Jul 21, 2025

Episode description

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.

Episode show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/uFp1jn2

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*Dr. Chris McCurdy*
University of Florida academic profile: https://pharmacy.ufl.edu/profile/mccurdy-christopher
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=wxLykmcAAAAJ&hl=en
Translational Drug Development Core (University of Florida): https://www.ctsi.ufl.edu/research/laboratory-services/translational-drug-development-core
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-mccurdy-bsph-phd-faaps-9b20542

*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 Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Episode description

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Beware of kratom isolates causing opioid-like respiratory depression

New research shows that commercially sold Kratom isolates, specifically 7-hydroxymitragynine, can cause respiratory depression equivalent to traditional opioids.

#opioid

Discover Coca-Cola's secret ingredient: de-cocainized coca leaf extract

Coca-Cola is the major importer of coca leaves to the US, using a de-cocainized extract as the secret flavoring ingredient in products like Coke Classic and Coke Zero.

#nutrition

Discover the medicinal origins of soft drinks

Many original soft drinks were developed as pharmacological tools, such as 7Up which contained lithium for mood and Pepsi which contained the digestive peptide pepsinogen.

#nutrition

Understand kratom's antifungal defense mechanism

The Kratom tree produces its complex alkaloids not for human benefit, but as a highly effective chemical defense against fungus in its native hot, humid environment.

#fungus

Utilize lower doses of kratom for greater benefits

Many regular users of Kratom leaf products report that "less is more," deriving greater benefit from lower amounts rather than developing a tolerance that requires higher doses.

#supplement

Recognize kratom isolates as pure opioids in commercial market

Unlike the complex leaf, specific Kratom-derived isolates like 7-hydroxymitragynine are pure opioids that are now being sold commercially.

#opioid

Utilize kratom's diverse alkaloids for multifaceted brain support

The Kratom plant is like a "pharmaceutical shotgun" because its various alkaloids simultaneously target the opioid, serotonin, and adrenergic systems in the brain.

#cognition

#supplement

Recognize kratom's widespread daily use among 20 million Americans

While official reports suggest around 2 million users, industry sales data estimates that over 20 million people in the US use Kratom products on a daily basis.