Kratom trees are endemic to Southeast Asia and grow to tower heights. Botanists and arborists are amazed at the tropical evergreen’s ability to survive in seemingly opposite conditions. Kratom grows in humidity, floodplains, and extremely arid conditions.
It’s not only the trees’ resilience that’s appealing. Balinese, Tibetan, and Indonesian folks in these areas have incorporated this fantastic tree, expressly its leaves, into their lives for centuries. Whether chewed or brewed into a strong bitter tea, indigenous people in Southeast Asia use Kratom in communal rites and as a pick-me-up.
Kratom has made its way worldwide and is now prevalent as a botanical in most states. Each strain – red, green, white – has its particular characteristics.
Its prevalence also means that there may be purveyors of sham Kratom or products of inferior quality. There’s also a lot of disinformation about Kratom as a plant, so you must find a reliable source of information if you want to learn more or get some advice about using Kratom for specific issues.
As with any other wellness regimen addition like probiotics or CBD, there are pros and cons to Kratom. Here’s the good, the bad, and the maybe – all you need to know about these mysterious tree leaves from Southeast Asia.
The Good: Extremely Beneficial for Many
The beneficial ingredients in this tree’s leaves are the alkaloids, and there are tons of them in Mitragynine speciosa. Specifically, mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine may promote a slew of fabulous results.
This evergreen is in the same family as coffee plants, but not every strain provides the same vivacity as drinking coffee. Red vein Kratom promotes peace of mind and creates a tranquil atmosphere, and is best taken in the evening when you’re relaxing.
Some strains provide an uplifting outlook; the green and white strains of Kratom can promote a more focused and optimistic demeanour. White Kratom includes red and green Kratom’s best properties, but green and white are well-suited to daytime use.
Many Kratom users turn to Kratom to navigate daily stresses, promote recovery from activity-induced soreness, and for a general boost to their wellbeing.
Kratom leaves are usually sold and transported as powder, making them convenient and easy to mix into water or tea. Some people use the toss-and-wash method for a quick and transportable delivery method. Capsules are the most discreet method.
The Bad: No Regulatory Body
Since Kratom is relatively new to Westerners, there’s not much research on what it does for people and how it does it. Scientists and the medical community know about alkaloids and what they do in the human body, but it’s challenging to draw broad results without a range of studies.
There’s also not much oversight for the processing, transporting, and packaging of Kratom as it becomes more popular. It is not considered a controlled substance by the DEA; instead, it’s classified as a dietary supplement, a vague industry without regulations. There’s also no oversight for who can sell what kind of Kratom and what tests it needs to undergo.
If you’re interested in adding Kratom to your daily routine, you need to consider the delivery method – how you take it – as well as the other elements of what the Kratom you’re buying has in it. You don’t want your Kratom to have adverse components like heavy metals, pesticides, or mould.
This means consumers must do their due diligence and purchase Kratom from reputable, highly-reviewed vendors who perform third-party lab testing. These lab tests should be available on the website or by request, so you can get all the information you need about the potency and purity of your Kratom.
The Maybe: More Research Should Be Conducted
There are tons of satisfied customers that laud Kratom’s ability to provide a more focused and optimistic outlook. However, reviews are not research, and the scientific studies and literature on Kratom are few.
More consumers are turning away from problematic pharmaceuticals, concerned with socialized healthcare problems. Kratom’s organic roots appeal to a more nature-based health enthusiast.
Although we all navigate our lives with subjective choices like which vitamins we take or how much exercise we get, these are on a small-scale compared to an overall regulatory body. For regulations of this ilk, large-scale studies need to be conducted by reputable bodies.
What Can Be Done?
Without the research, broad conclusions cannot be drawn about how well or if Kratom works for one condition or another, even though Southeast Asian cultures have been using it for centuries.
There are three central angles to make Kratom more widely accepted: Education, research, and regulation.
Education
When you fully understand the pros and cons of adopting Kratom into your daily routine, you can make informed decisions. The more you know about the industry, the more clearly you discern reputable sellers from others. As a consumer, if you buy Kratom online, ensure that you can examine lab results. Look for vendors who are part of the American Kratom Associations’ Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) program, ensuring a higher safety standards level.
The AKA also has excellent resources for you to find out the basics about Kratom so that you can share these insights with friends and family. Word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to educate others about the benefits of this botanical.
Research
If any health claims have even a remote chance of being substantiated, it’s worth more research. This particular botanical compound has not been well-studied, and the absence of evidence of value does not equal the absence of value.
Regulation
Without regulatory guidelines or authentication, disreputable sellers can water down their products or decrease vigilance in their testing. Responsible vendors want more oversight and regulations to ensure tainted Kratom harms no one. The American Kratom Association is pushing to introduce legislation to provide regulatory oversight and protect consumers and reputable vendors.
The AKA provides resources for contacting your representatives to voice your support for Kratom in your state.
The Takeaway
Kratom is a unique botanical you can incorporate into your daily wellness routine. With proper research, you can find a vendor who rigorously lab tests their products, so you can rest assured your Kratom is 100% pure.
