What is Kratom?

Kratom is an herbal drug consisting of the leaves (or any preparation made from them such as ‘extract’) of a Southeast Asian tree or shrub whose botanical name is Mitragyna speciosa. This plant is in the Rubiaceae family, the same family to which coffee belongs. The name kratom isused to refer to both the kratom plant and the herbal drug made from it.

It is used as a stimulant (in low doses), sedative (in high doses), recreational drug, pain killer, medicine for diarrhea, and treatment for opiate addiction.

Where does it come from?

The plant is native to Southeast Asia and has a long history of use in Thailand (where it is currently illegal). Most of the commercial kratom sold is imported legally from the island of Bali in Indonesia.

What forms does kratom come in?

Fresh leaves are chewed in Asia, but are not sold elsewhere. When chewing the leaves the fibrous central vein is often removed before they are chewed. Dried whole leaves, dried crushed leaves, and powdered leaves are commercially available and come in several grades from several countries of origin. Extract is also sold. Most extracts are water based --- essentially kratom teas that have been boiled down until they form a sticky semi-solid with a tarryappearance and consistency. Some are extracted with alcohol or possibly other solvents.

How is kratom taken?

Either dried, or fresh, leaves can be chewed. The crushed leaves or powdered leaves can be boiled into a tea. Adding a cinnamon stick to the final boil improves the flavor. To extract most of the alkaloids from the leaves may require 2 (or even 3) boils of 15 minutes or longer each. The liquid from both boiling is combined and can be boiled down further so that a smaller volume of the liquid has to be consumed per dose. Some people skip the boiling and just suspend the powder in water and drink the mixture before the kratom settles out. If taken this way on an empty stomach a strong effect can be experienced. If this is done, another glass of water should then be taken to ‘wash it down’. The powdered leaves can be blended with chocolate milk to make a milkshake. Or the powder can be added to applesauce and eaten. These methods make kratom reasonably palatable. However, since kratom is being taken with a food which will increase the time it takes kratom to leave the stomach and get into the small intestine, these methods slow the onset of effect, somewhat decrease the peak effect, but prolong the effect. This may or may not be desirable. Kratom leaf powder (especially the more potent grades) can be added to chocolate syrup and spooned over ice-cream. Or it can be mixed with honey or chocolate syrup and smeared on bread. The resinous extract can be added to hot water to make a tea. The leaves can also be smoked in a pipe or bong or joint. However, oral use works at least as well as smoking kratom, so most kratom users prefer to take it orally. Kratom is NEVER injected. Doing so could prove fatal.

What are kratom’s effects?

Kratom has stimulant, narcotic-analgesic, and visionary properties. In low doses, the stimulant effects predominate. The stimulation is mild and somewhat like coffee, but not identical to it. Mood is improved, and energy level or resistance to fatigue is increased. Tedious tasks are less bothersome. One can function normally on low doses (but don’t drive, or use power tools). Moderate doses bring out the sedative and pain-killing effects. There can be considerable euphoria. Good to excellent relief of pain may occur. There is slight impairment of ability to work at moderate
doses. One remains rational, but performance of complex tasks requiring sustained concentration may be impaired. At high dosage, the user often will lie down, listen to music, and enter a world of hypnogogic visions and ‘waking dreams’. This state may or may not be pleasant. High doses produce impairment of functioning noticeable to others --- slowed speech, clumsiness, drugged facial expression with droopy eyelids and pinpoint pupils, and a tendency to nod off. Extreme doses are not enjoyable. Overly high doses produce intense itching, nausea, and vomiting. Fainting may occur, particularly when standing up too quickly. Different people use kratom for different reasons. Kratom is used as a recreational drug, a mild stimulant, a mood elevator, a reliever of anxiety, a potent pain killer, a medicine for diarrhea, and even as a treatment for opiate withdrawal symptoms. None of these uses are FDA approved.