Here we have just two options. Tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient of marihuana, has recently found more and more acceptance as a painkiller in cancer therapies where traditional opiates often have failed to show the desired effect.

Even more interesting seems to be mitragyna speciosa, the leaf from the South East Asian kratom tree. In its region of origin this leaf has traditionally been prescribed and is still recognized as an adequate opium substitute. It can easily be concluded that after THC has found its way into modern western medicine as an opiate substitute, mitragyna speciosa could be THC’s even more exotic and modern follower.

Both drugs are also comparable by their strong psychotropic effects. THC is well known for its hallucinogenic properties, whereas mitragyna speciosa is depending of the dosage rather stimulating or sedating. Also in this aspect mitragyna speciosa could prove to be superior to THC in treating the symptoms of Fibromyalgia syndrome and the fatigue associated with it.