The FDA issued a public health advisory on Tuesday , an herb with narcotic properties that has become popular as a natural remedy for a variety of conditions.
"There's clear data on the increasing harms associated with kratom. Calls to U.S. poison control centers regarding kratom have increased 10-fold from 2010 to 2015, with hundreds of calls made each year. The FDA is aware of reports of 36 deaths associated with the use of kratom-containing products," said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, in a statement.
He also warned sellers of kratom products that the agency can take action against them if they promote kratom as a medical treatment without formal agency approval.