Kratom, or Mitragyna Speciosa, is a tree found in some parts of southeastern South-East Asia. It has a long history of use in this region for it's stimulant and narcotic effects. Kratom seems to be popular among older males in Thailand & Malaysia, where it is often chewed to help aid with physical labor. The working class seems to use Kratom for much the same reasons Americans use coffee. It has become somewhat of a crutch for those engaging in hard physical labor. Kratom has been made illegal, but Kratom use is still widespread, since Kratom trees grow in these regions.
Though Kratom use is popular in some parts of South-East Asia, there are still a lot of things not known about Kratom. Research has been done, but there is not a great deal of continued research. Most online information tends to originate from a limited pool of research and text. Some of the research is inconclusive and would require further studies to confirm any results. In particular, there is no clear answer as to the side effects of continued use of Kratom.