What is Kratom?
Kratom is a tree native to Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar [Burma], Indonesia, and elsewhere). Its botanical name is Mitragyna speciosa. Kratom is in the same family as the coffee tree (Rubiaceae). The leaves of Kratom have been used as an herbal drug from time immemorial by peoples of Southeast Asia. It is used in folk medicine as a stimulant (at low doses), sedative (at high doses),
recreational drug, pain killer, medicine for diarrhea, and treatment for opiate addiction. For more information on Kratom, please see our page: An Introduction To Kratom by clicking here.
How is Kratom taken?
In Thailand, Kratom leaves are often chewed fresh (usually after removing the stringy central vein). Dried leaves can also be chewed, but since they are a bit tough, most people prefer to crush them up or powder them so that they can be swallowed. Powdered Kratom can be mixed with fruit juice or apple sauce. This partially masks the taste and allows it to be quickly swallowed. Dried Kratom leaves are often made into a tea that is strained and then drunk (this is the most frequently used method in the West). Kratom can be smoked, but doing so has no advantage over chewing or making a tea from it. The amount of leaf that constitutes a typical dose is too much to be smoked easily. A paste-like extract can be prepared by lengthy boiling of fresh or dried leaves. This can be stored for later use. Small pellets of this extract can be swallowed, or it can be dissolved in hot water and consumed as a tea. Some people like to mix Kratom tea with ordinary black tea, or other herbal teas, before it is consumed. This is done to make it more palatable. Sugar or honey can be added to sweeten it. There is a wealth of information available online regarding various methods of using Kratom including many recipes you can make at home. One of our favorite resources is www.KratomSources.com
What are the effects of Kratom?
Kratom is unique in that a low to moderate dose will usually (but not always) be stimulating, while a high dose is almost always quite sedating. This is apparently because the active alkaloids have both stimulant and sedative effects. Which predominates probably depends both on blood level and individual differences between users.
The stimulant level: At the stimulant level the mind is more alert, physical energy and sometimes sexual energy is increased, ability to do hard monotonous physical work may be improved, one is more talkative, friendly, and sociable. Some people find this level edgy rather than pleasant.
The sedative-euphoric-analgesic level: At this dosage you will be less sensitive to physical or emotional pain, feel and look calm, have a general feeling of comfortable pleasure, and may enter a pleasant dreamy reverie. You may experience some itching or sweating. Your pupils may be constricted (small). It is possible you may feel nauseated, but if you lie down and relax the nausea should quickly cease. You may find your appreciation of music is increased. It will be very pleasant to lie down on your back in a
semi-darkened room, with eyes closed, and just listen to your favorite music. If you do this you may be fortunate enough to enter the delightful mixed-state of ‘waking-dreaming’ where you have one foot in dreamland and the other foot in the real world. This state was much prized by the 19th century Romantic writers, who, lacking knowledge of Kratom, resorted to the much more habit-forming narcotic, opium, to achieve it.
The effects of Kratom usually last about six hours. The higher the dose, the stronger the effects, and the longer they last. Many people report a positive ‘afterglow’ the next day.
What effects are associated with different doses? (dosage guidelines)
2-6 grams = mild effects (typically the effects are stimulant-like)
7-15 grams = medium strength effects (the effects can be stimulant-like or sedative-euphoric-analgesic)
16-25 grams = strong effects (sedative-euphoric-analgesic effects; too strong for highly sensitive people)
26-50 grams = very strong effects (sedative-euphoric-analgesic effects; TOO STRONG FOR MOST PEOPLE)
Caution: These dosage guidelines apply to Kratom leaves (not extracts). People vary in sensitivity to Kratom, and different batches of Kratom vary in potency (sometimes quite a lot), so these dosage estimates should be regarded as loose approximations. One should always start with a low dose when experimenting with a new batch of Kratom. One can then increase the dose gradually with subsequent experiments until one obtains the desired level of effects. DO NOT take a strong, or very strong dose, the first time you are sampling a new batch of Kratom. Most people experience nausea when using doses above 25 grams. Sensitive individuals may experience nausea at lower doses, but usually not at doses below 10 grams. For this reason, it is best to take Kratom on an empty stomach when using strong doses (i.e. wait about 3 hours after eating). Some people are hypersensitive to Kratom, and may experience adverse reactions (such as severe and prolonged vomiting) when using strong doses.
For additional information regarding the safe usage of Kratom, please read our Guide To SAFE Kratom Usage, located here.
What are the risks of using Kratom?
When Kratom is taken by itself (without mixing it with other drugs), the greatest risk is falling asleep while engaged in hazardous activities. NEVER drive while under the influence of Kratom, even if you feel stimulated, rather than sleepy, for sleepiness may come on you without warning. Use common sense. Do not use power tools or climb ladders while under the influence of Kratom Be careful not to leave a pot on a lit stove and then fall asleep.Pregnant women should not take any drug or medication except on medical advice. Since there have been no studies of the risks of Kratom use by pregnant women, it is not known whether it could cause birth defects or fetal death. We strongly recommend that any woman who could possibly be pregnant NOT use Kratom.
For additional information regarding the safe usage of Kratom, please read our Guide To SAFE Kratom Usage, located here.
Is Kratom habit forming?
Although a small number of people have become dependent on Kratom (primarily in Thailand), Kratom is not habit forming when it is used responsibly. If used occasionally as a recreational drug, rather than daily, there is virtually no risk of becoming dependent on it. But it is very important not to get into the habit of using it every day. For Kratom like many drugs [e.g. alcohol, coffee, tobacco, etc.] if used on a daily basis for a prolonged period of time, could become a habit hard to break. IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO USE KRATOM EVERY DAY. Before starting to experiment with it set yourself usage guidelines. If you EVER find it is hard to stay within your usage guidelines immediately quit using Kratom.
What are safe usage guidelines?
It is best to err on the side of caution. Therefore, we recommend that people not use Kratom more than once a week. Preferably, no more than once or twice a month. This will insure that Kratom does not become a habit. In other words, Kratom should be reserved as a special, but OCCASIONAL treat. By using it infrequently, you will avoid habituation and get more pleasure from it.
For additional information regarding the safe usage of Kratom, please read our Guide To SAFE Kratom Usage, located here.
Where can I learn more about Kratom?
There are a number of great forums out there that may help you. Some of our favorite forums are:
http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showwiki.php?title=Kratom
Are there any reported health problems?
Health problems are unlikely unless one is consuming large quantities of Kratom every day. In Thailand, where there are some people who use Kratom every day, those dependent on it can develop weight loss, dark pigmentation of the face, and have physical withdrawal symptoms if they quit abruptly. The withdrawal symptoms may include muscle aches, irritability, crying, runny nose, diarrhea, and muscle jerking. Health problems are unlikely to occur in occasional Kratom users. Like any drug or medicine, people’s reactions vary and some people could possibly have an allergic or other unusual reaction to Kratom, even if they used it responsibly.
Can kratom be combined safely with other substances?
In general, combining drugs can be risky. We recommend that Kratom not be combined with yohimbine, cocaine, amphetamine-like drugs, or large doses of caffeine, because of the possibility of over-stimulation or increased blood pressure. We recommend that Kratom not be combined with large amounts of alcohol, with benzodiazepines, opiates (other than possible use with red poppy tea—see below), or any other drugs that depress the nervous system. This is because of the possibility that such combinations might cause over-sedation or even possible respiratory depression (not breathing), We recommended that Kratom not be combined with Syrian rue, Banesteriopsis caapi, or any other MAO inhibitor drug. Serious, even fatal, reactions can occur if MAO inhibitor drugs are combined with monoamine drugs. The combination of MAO inhibitor drugs with Kratom, which contains monoamine alkaloids, has not been studied. Certain combinations have been reported by users to be pleasant and supposedly safe. Kratom can certainly be combined with ordinary tea without risk. It has been used with a tea made from red poppy flowers (Papaver rhoeas), which itself has an extremely mild narcotic effect, and with a sedatingeuphoriant tea made from ‘blue lotus’ (Nymphaea caerulea). It has been safely combined with SMALL quantities of alcohol, however large quantities of alcohol must be avoided. Some people report they like
to smoke tobacco or cannabis while under the influence of Kratom. But anyone smoking under the influence of Kratom must be very careful not to nod off and drop lit smoking materials.
What is kratom’s legal status?
Kratom is illegal in Australia, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), and Thailand (these countries impose severe penalties for possession of the herb). It is legal in most other countries, including the United States and all of Europe. Laws can and do change, so be sure that Kratom is legal where you live before using it.
What are Kratom’s active constituents?
There are many closely-related tryptamine alkaloids in Kratom. The most important ones are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These are primarily responsible for Kratom’s pain relieving, sedative, euphoric, and stimulating effects. These alkaloids resemble yohimbine in structure, but do not have the same effects.
Where can kratom be purchased?
There are a number of online merchants who sell the dried leaves, extracts, or both. Beware of misleading labels and marketing hype. Some vendors offer several different grades of Kratom leaves (with names such as “premium,” “super,” and “super premium”). Many users have found that there is little if any difference in these “different” grades. Kratom leaves do vary in potency, but it does not
appear that vendors have found a reliable method for separating the leaves accordingly. It is important to find a trustworthy source, like Detox Doctor to purchase quality Kratom. There have been problems with some vendors selling bogus “kratom” (misrepresenting other herbs as kratom).
Can Kratom be cultivated?
Kratom plants are occasionally offered for sale by nurseries that specialize in unusual medicinal plants. They can be grown as house plants (but will have to be cut back because they can grow quite large). They prefer a humid environment. They dislike cold weather and do not tolerate frost. Potted plants can be grown outdoors in temperate climates when the weather is sufficiently warm, and grown indoors the rest of the time. Kratom can be grown outdoors all year in tropical climates. Potted plants should be lightly fertilized every few weeks, but only when actively growing. They can be propagated from cuttings.