Kratom, also called Mitragyna speciosa, is a tropical tree indigenous to Southeast Asia (think Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.). It’s actually from the coffee family (Rubiaceae) but the two are quite different!
These evergreen trees stretch up to 80 feet, though they’re traditionally much shorter, and the Kratom leaves grow to about 6 inches long. They typically grow in clusters of 3 leaves per branch. There are a variety of strains, based on vein color and unique properties. The most common strains of Kratom are Green, Red, and White strains. Head over to our blog to read a more in depth breakdown of each type and their specific purpose.
The leaves are utilized in many different forms, primarily through oral ingestion. Kratom is most popular in powder form, though it’s also been encapsulated, dried, and even created as a concentrated extract. In earlier days, the dry leaves were commonly brewed for tea.
Okay, so it’s essentially just a tropical tree with these very dark, shiny green leaves. What is it, really, that makes Kratom so special? It ultimately boils down to two compounds — mitragynine & 7-hydroxymitragynine. Having a tough time pronouncing those? Us too, it’s okay. What’s important to know is what each of these compounds contributes to the Kratom plant that makes it so unique.
For starters, they’re both alkaloids, or naturally occurring organic compounds which produce physiological effects on both humans and animals. Fun fact: Nicotine & morphine are also considered alkaloids. They’re most popular for their perceived pain mitigation, but there have not been any official clinical trials completed to confirm any effects. The combination of these two alkaloids ONLY occurs in the Kratom plant, which is what makes it so special. Don’t be mistaken, though. Kratom is not a drug or synthetic substance — Rather, it’s an herbal supplement.
While Thailand is essentially where Kratom originated from, there has been quite the legal battle surrounding the growth of Kratom. In modern times, most Kratom is actually grown in Indonesia, where it’s legal to export the product. That, too, might change in the coming years, with a proposed ban on exports in Indonesia. As it stands, about 95% of the Kratom that arrives in the US originates in Indonesia. This would devastate their nation, and deplete a significant resource for US consumers.
Kratom use dates back to the late 1800s, but can probably be traced even further back if we dig deeper. During this early time period, Kratom leaves were chewed on, and this resulted in work efficiency and reduction in fatigue for many manual laborers. In addition, the plant was used across various cultures & religions for different purposes, but primarily in traditional medicine.
Kratom was first brought to the US post-Vietnam War, when soldiers wanted to continue using the supplement for all of the benefits they experienced, both mentally and physically, while at battle. Once they returned stateside, they would reach out to friends and family to send Kratom back to the states.
In modern times, Kratom is more popularly used as both a recreational and a medicinal supplement, across many different demographics. According to the American Kratom Association, in the US alone, there are an estimated 5 million people who consume Kratom regularly. There are also many scientists and medical professionals further researching the plant so we can better understand it’s benefits, and work to have authentic Kratom legalized worldwide.
According to the National Institute of Health, Southeast Asia was said to use Kratom to relieve ailments such as diabetes, fever, pain, and even wound management dating back 150 years ago. As discussed above, each strain provides a wealth of unique benefits for consumers. If you’re not quite sure which Kratom strain is best for you, we have fantastic guides to help you make that decision.
We cannot stress enough how important it is to ensure your Kratom is authentic. There are so many reputable farmers and growers that we know work hard to produce an authentic and genuine product, but there are also people in today’s society who are utilizing Kratom in an unethical & unsafe manner.
Since the early 1990’s (and possibly even before this time) It’s been said to be mixed with other chemicals or illegal substances, some of which are highly lethal.
You want to be sure you’ve obtained the highest quality, authentic Kratom
product. Anyone can claim they have the ‘best of the best’ or the ‘top quality’ product, but at the end of the day, those are really just words. Most genuinely reputable sources will provide independent laboratory testing to prove they’re selling authentic Kratom. If this is not something a retailer is able to provide, even upon request, it would not be advised to consume that product.
Why laboratory testing? This is typically a third party, FDA compliant location in which we have unbiased scientists that test the microbiological compounds and chemical composition of the product batches. There are specific requirements that each batch has to meet in order for it to receive a seal of approval. If it fails any of the testing, it doesn’t move on to production.
Your health & safety should always come first, and Clearview Harvest is dedicated to upholding that golden rule. Browse our Learning Center to continue learning about all things Kratom. We’ll keep you up to speed on regulations, industry innovation, and even provide delicious Kratom recipes to try! If you’re ready to pick your first Kratom product, head over to browse the different strains we have available. As always, we stand by our product and offer a money-back guarantee. If you aren’t happy, we aren’t happy.
We’re excited to be a part of your Kratom journey — Contact Us if we can assist in any way!