TL;DR: Kratom is a powder or extract from the leaves of the Southeast Asian Mitragyna speciosa tree. It can produce stimulating effects at low doses and relaxing or pain-relieving effects at higher doses. Legal in most U.S. states, kratom is sold as powder, capsules, or extracts, with red, green, and white strains offering different effects.
- Origins: Long-used in Southeast Asia for energy, pain relief, and recreation
- Active ingredients: Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine
- Legality: Federally legal; banned or regulated in some states
- Forms: Powder, capsules, teas, and concentrated extracts
- Strains:
- Red — more relaxing/pain relief
- Green — balanced effects
- White — more energizing/focus
- Drug tests: Rarely included in standard tests, but possible to detect in specialized screenings
What is kratom? Kratom is the common name for powdered leaves and extracts of those leaves from the Mitragyna speciosa tree, a tropical evergreen native to Southeast Asia. Known to produce both stimulating effects and relaxing effects based on dosage and the specific strain of leaves used, this substance is increasingly popular with a wide variety of users.
This basic description only scratches the surface of what kratom is, however. Keep reading as we review what kratom is in much more detail, from what kratom is used for to common types of kratom products and much more.
The Key Details About Kratom
A Very Brief History of Kratom
Kratom has a long history of use in some areas where it grows naturally in Southeast Asia. It’s been a common choice for pain relief, cough suppression, and treatment of other common ailments for hundreds of years. It has also been used as a performance enhancer, giving workers increased energy for strenuous jobs and long shifts.
Additionally, kratom has a history as a recreational substance due to its stimulating effects at lower doses and relaxing effects at larger doses.
Kratom’s reach has expanded since 2010, becoming more popular in the US for both its functional benefits and recreational effects.
What Are the Active Ingredients in Kratom?
As the scientific journal BioMed Research International explains, kratom leaves contain several psychoactive chemicals. The two commonly cited as the major or main causes of its effects are:
- Mitragynine
- 7-hydroxymitragynine
The mix of different active chemicals is thought to be a key reason why kratom has both stimulating and relaxing effects, depending on the dose, strain, and other factors.
Is Kratom Legal?
Kratom is federally legal in the United States, with no countrywide bans on its possession, sale, or use. It is sometimes sold as an herbal supplement or under other classifications.
However, kratom is illegal or has its possession and sale restricted in certain states. Nonprofit news group Stateline reports that several states have bans on kratom sales in place. However, some states, like Rhode Island, have moved from a ban to a regulatory framework to restrict sales without prohibiting them.
When purchasing kratom, it’s always important to look into local laws and ensure these products are legal to receive.
What is Kratom Extract, and What are Other Common Kratom Products?
Perhaps the most common form of kratom sold by retailers is the crushed and powdered leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree. This powder is most often found in capsules and loose in bulk containers. Capsules are popular for their consistent dosing, while bulk powder allows users to fine-tune their own dose as well as make kratom teas and other preparations.
Kratom extracts are also commonly offered by retailers. These tablets contain the extracted active ingredients of kratom while leaving the plant matter behind. They are popular because of their convenience as well as the ability to carefully combine the many chemicals present in kratom into a specific dose.
What is Red Kratom Used For? What About Green and White Kratom?
There are many varieties of kratom, each with the same big-picture effects but noticeable differences in the experience of individual users. The three primary types are distinguished by their color:
- Red kratom. Red kratom is thought to provide more pain-relieving and relaxing effects than other varieties.
- Green kratom. Green kratom is generally seen as the most balanced variety, offering both sedating and relaxing effects in roughly equal measure.
- White kratom. White kratom is considered to be more on the uplifting and energizing side, offering users more energy and focus.
What are Kava and Kratom?
Kava is a shrub native to certain areas in the Pacific Islands, the roots of which contain a psychoactive substance called kavalactones. This substance is thought to have relaxing and calming effects that can reduce anxiety and boost mood. At lower doses, it does not generally cause significant overall impairment.
Kratom differs from kava because it comes from a different part of the world and a different plant, with different active ingredients. On a practical level, kratom also has a broader range of effects. It can increase energy and focus as well as have relaxing, sedating effects that are somewhat similar, although certainly not identical, to those of kava.
More Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About Kratom
What are the Effects of Kratom?
Kratom generally has energizing and uplifting effects at smaller doses, roughly 1-5 grams of powdered green or white kratom leaves, for many users. Doses above 5 grams and smaller doses of red kratom tend to provide more relaxing, sedating, and pain-relieving effects.
Why is Kratom Illegal?
Kratom is not illegal federally. Only a small number of states have banned kratom. Many more states have either not created legislation related to it or have developed a regulatory framework to limit access by minors and enforce similar common-sense rules while still providing access.
What Type of Drug is Kratom Considered?
Kratom has effects that some users compare to stimulants and opiates, depending on the strain and the dose. However, kratom is distinct from other specific types of substances that fall into the opiate and stimulant categories – it is its own unique type of substance, in other words.
How Long Does a Kratom High Last?
The effects of kratom tend to last several hours, with the exact length of the effects depending on the size of the dose, the user’s metabolism, the kratom strain used, and other factors. Kratom’s effects often peak within 1-2 hours of taking it.
Does Kratom Show Up on a Drug Test?
There are drug tests that can detect the use of kratom, generally through the metabolites the body creates by processing its active ingredients. However, the vast majority of standard drug tests do not look for kratom. So, while kratom can show up on a drug test, it is very rare for a test to include kratom in its results.
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