Mitragyna Speciosa, or Kratom, is a tree in the coffee family native to Southeast Asia that can grow over 80 feet high. Kratom has been used in traditional medicine practices for at least a hundred years. Laborers in Southeast Asia have traditionally chewed on raw Kratom leaves to relieve pain and boost energy levels. Today, Kratom is used for similar reasons; Kratom acts as an opiate (although it is not!) in the body, and is used to relieve pain, increase energy, reduce anxiety and depression, and more. While traditional uses often used fresh leaves, today’s Kratom is most often dried and powdered for ease of dosage.
While Kratom works similarly to an opioid, we want to clarify that it is not an opiate. Other things like chocolate, coffee, and exercise also affect your brain like an opiate. Kratom produces these effects with the presence of certain alkaloids. Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds. Or, part of the stuff that makes up plant matter. Some plants have alkaloids that are toxic to humans. However, Kratom’s particular alkaloids work wonders for people.
Further, studies have found that these alkaloids produce opioid-like effects on the muscle systems of animals. In fact, scientists isolated these compounds and found that most of the opioid-like activity present has been attributed to the presence of certain “indole” alkaloids. These compounds relieve pain, as well as block the brain’s detection of painful stimuli.
Kratom comes in three main colors: green, red, and white. These are the “color veins.” These vein color differences come from the maturity of the plant. So, white vein comes from a young tree. Green vein is from a maturing plant. And, red vein is from a fully mature plant. There are also yellow vein strains emerging. The process of drying the leaves also has effects on the color of the product and the alkaloids present.
Kratom has a wide variety of benefits, depending on the color and strain. Particularly, any of our customers will attest to its pain relieving properties. In fact, pain relief is one of the top reasons people turn to this leaf.
Kratom is also great for boosting energy when taken in the proper dosages. Additionally, it can help you to improve your focus throughout your day, relieve anxiety, and boost your mood. Certain strains help to wake you up in the morning and some strains can help you fall asleep at night.
Another big important effect is that it can help people recover from opioid addiction. Since this leaf acts similarly to an opioid in the body, it is very effective at easing withdrawal symptoms.
Kratom has been the subject of a lot of banter and speculation. Consequently, like a lot of herbal remedies- take CBD and marijuana, Kratom has had some very negative feedback from media and government. That’s why we encourage you to do your own research, and here you are! The facts are that the DEA backed down from taking action to make it a Schedule I drug after an outpour from medical professionals and the community at large urging to keep the powder available. You can read more about that here, as well as more myths that the FDA is spreading falsely.
Nevertheless, products are getting safer. The attention Kratom has received has caused greater market competition, and this is driving the powder quality up. There is an organization, The American Kratom Association, that focuses on safety, and keeping this organic supplement available to the public. This is their vision:
The American Kratom Association was formed in 2014 and officially launched in 2015, to protect the right of all Americans to use the natural botanical Kratom for improved health and well-being. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a natural analgesic which has been used for hundreds of years to safely alleviate pain, combat fatigue and help with the effects of anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, the spread of misinformation, both scientific and anecdotal, about Kratom has created a challenging regulatory environment. The American Kratom Association was formed to organize and represent a community of responsible consumers, provide the general public with clarification surrounding matters of health and wellness where Kratom could play an important role, educate lawmakers and regulators and support scientific research efforts.
When talking about Kratom safety we think it’s important to consider the alternatives. This powder is used as an alternative to opiates. With the scale of the opioid epidemic in the United States, this natural supplement is surely a much safer alternative.
There are many Kratom users who take it to alleviate their withdrawal symptoms from opioid addiction. The opioid epidemic in the U.S. is staggering, and people are using Kratom to effectively get out from under those harsh drugs.
Kratom is not addictive in the way that prescription opiates are. However, it can cause dependence in the way that caffeine or nicotine can. We want to be up front with our customers and tell you that yes, Kratom can cause dependence, and there are withdrawal symptoms associated. However, these withdrawal symptoms are very mild in most cases, usually only lasting a few days. We urge our customers to be aware of Kratom’s abuse potential, and maintain a responsible and healthy relationship with Kratom.
In the U.S. Kratom is legal in most states, but there are states that have a ban. Additionally, there are even cities within legal states that have banned the substance themselves. So, be sure to check out your local laws and make sure that can legally buy and use the powder. You can check out this map with updated information about Kratom laws.
Even if you are living in a legal state, drug tests can be worrisome. Not to worry, the likelihood of getting tested for Kratom is very, very low. While it is entirely possible to run a drug test on someone for this leaf, it is not common. The bottom line is, testing someone for Kratom is expensive, and most places just don’t do it.
Kratom has been used in traditional medicine practices since the nineteenth century. Starting in the 1800’s scientists began to document its usage, and the plant was officially classified and given its scientific name, Mitragyna Speciosa.
Fast forward to the 1900’s, and Kratom was legal in Thailand, but started to grow in popularity. The Thai government found it to threaten the opium market, and dubbed it illegal. It stayed that way until 2018, but workers still found ways to use it for their troubles. But, the leaf becoming legal opened the door for medical and scientific advancement.
In the U.S., Kratom has never been federally banned, though there are local laws and regulations in different states that regulate or outlaw it. But, this leaf is becoming much more in the spotlight, and the science and medical community are taking notice. Kratom has been the subject of much more research in recent years.
So, there are a LOT of places out there to buy Kratom. The gas station. Your local headshop. Pretty much everywhere online. But there are some issues with just buying your Kratom from anywhere. As with most anything from gas stations, sure, you can get it there. But, is that really where you want to get it from? As far as headshops go, it is very common that Kratom isn’t their main offering. A lot of these shops sell Kratom, but they don’t really know what it is. The workers usually aren’t knowledgeable about the product, and they are unable to make recommendations based on your needs. At best, most headshops are running with whatever Kratom they get in that week, and they can tell you that there are different colors.
Fortunately, there are tons of reputable online sources for Kratom. Unfortunately, there are a lot of poor quality bulk suppliers online. So, when looking to buy online, there are some steps you can take to ensure that you are getting top quality Kratom. Look around their website before you go to the product page. Can you get to know them? Any place you buy Kratom from should be easy to contact and quick to respond. They should be experts on Kratom and be able to talk to you one on one about your specific needs and what strains will work for you.
If you came here with a question about Kratom, we hope we answered it! If you think of a topic we forgot to mention get in contact with us! We really encourage you to spend some time with the information in this guide. Explore the links and resources, and learn as much as you can about Kratom before you buy. We love informed customers!
