Phyto

What Is Kava? All About “Nature’s Relaxer”

by

With the return of natural dietary supplements and the rise of products like kratom and CBD, it can be hard to keep up with all of the different offerings that are available today. 

Here at Phytoextractum, we have a wide variety of these products available to our consumers: kratom, CBD, kombucha, mushrooms, and more. We believe that all of these products can have some positive effect on consumers’ lives, so we do our best to stock the best, highest quality versions of these products on the market. 

Additionally, we also aim to educate consumers that are curious about the history, power, and status of each of the items that we keep in stock. 

Many of our consumers don’t yet know much about kava kava. Have you heard of kava before? This natural root is a bit of a mystery to some, but it’s worth taking the time to learn a little bit more about it!

What Is Kava?

Let’s start with the basics!

Kava is an extract that is taken from the roots of a plant known as Piper methysticum. This plant is also known as “awa,” “ava pepper,” “intoxicating pepper,” or “long pepper.” While the plant has many names, the extracts that are taken from all of these plants have similar effects when used as a supplement.

The kava plant is a member of the pepper family, and that is why there are some names for this plant that include the word pepper. If you look at the leaves of the plant, you will see that they are similar in shape and size to a bell pepper plant. 

Where Does Kava Come From?

The plant that kava originates from typically grows in tropical regions. In particular, kava can be found in the Hawaiian islands, the South Pacific, and in other regions like Indonesia and Thailand. If it has tropical weather and a relatively long rainy season, there is a chance that kava grows in that region.

How Was Kava Traditionally Used?

Many believe that the original usage of kava originated in the South Pacific. The word Kava actually comes from a Polynesian word. This word, “awa,” can be translated to bitter. 

Traditionally, kava is brewed into a drink. This drink is mildly intoxicating, and it is usually consumed socially. In the same way that western societies drink alcohol, South Pacific Islanders drink kava!

What Benefits Does Kava Offer?

While kava cannot be treat any conditions, there are a number of anecdotal stories about how it can benefit a user. We’ve found that many consumers take kava in hopes of benefiting from its relaxing properties, often finding that it helps them deal with stress or get a better night’s sleep.

Beyond these issues, some people rub kava on their skin to improve skin conditions while others use it as a mouthwash when they are dealing with things like canker sores in their mouth.

Again, kava is not FDA approved to treat any of these conditions, and we do not sell kava as a way to treat these issues. Instead, we suggest you use it as a dietary supplement for your overall health at your own discretion.

Today, we simply aim to share how and why many consumers use this botanical.

How Is Kava Taken?

When kava is used, the parts of the plant that are mostly used are the root and the underground stem. Kava is often divided into noble and non-noble cultivars, with only noble cultivars being appropriate to consume. These are used to prepare drinks, especially for traditional use in South Pacific cultures. These parts of the plant can also be ground and made into capsules, tablets, or straight powder extracts.

Typically, kava is consumed in a beverage form, but it can also be taken more directly in powder or capsule form. For some benefits, there are users that report rubbing a kava paste on their skin to help deal with dry skin and other issues. Finally, some people use kava as a mouthwash.

How Does Kava Work?

Several studies have been done on kava and its active ingredients, called kavalactones. Scientists have discovered at least 18 kavalactones in kava plants and have studied their pharmacology (or how they act and react in the human body). Most studies indicate that kava has relaxing effects. Many kava users agree that kava affects the brain and central nervous system. Kavalatones are thought to bind with receptors in the nervous system to causing the observed effects.

Is Kava Legal?

While there have been health concerns raised by the FDA about kava in a few specific circumstances, kava remains legal in the USA. The substance has been banned in some European countries, and Canada also forbids its sale. 

Pacific Islands that export kava took a hit to their economies when this happened, but the US still permits the import and use of kava as a dietary supplement. Of course, it cannot be sold as a medicinal herb or remedy. 

The main concerns that have been cited over time about kava are similar to the problems caused by alcohol. In particular, there has been some concern that too much kava usage can lead to liver problems, but further studies are needed to understand this risk and incidences are generally rare.

Kava is quite popular in the United States and is marketed as an herbal supplement. In some cities, there are even kava bars where consumers can gather to socialize without alcohol.

Kava Kava!

Like kratom, kava is a very old botanical with a long history of being a beneficial body booster. And, as with all our other botanicals we do our best to only source highest quality product, and to handle that product in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices. 

If you are looking for quality kava powder, you can trust that we here at Phytoextractum always strive to stock only superior products.

Love Kratom? Then You Need To Know These Kratom Facts!

by

Kratom has become a very popular botanical, but there’s a lot that most kratom lovers do not know about this little plant. For instance, many don’t know that kratom is actually a tree that can grow very tall!

When you get a lot from something like kratom, it’s a good idea to learn more about what that botanical really is, where it comes from, and what the world has to say about it. At least that’s what we believe here at Phytoextractum!

Becoming more educated about kratom, however, can be overwhelming for those who don’t know where to begin their research. And that’s why we’ve created this series of blogs to help our customers learn more about the items that we are so proud to offer!

A Brief History of Kratom’s Origins

Kratom, also known as Mitragyna speciosa, is a tropical tree that has existed for thousands of years. This tree is related to coffee trees in a way, but the tree has very different characteristics and properties when compared to the coffee tree.

The kratom tree can be found natively grown in many Southeast Asian countries, particularly those with tropical climates:

  • • Thailand
  • • Malaysia
  • • Papua New Guinea
  • • Borneo
  • • Indonesia
  • • Myanmar

In these regions, locals have used the fresh leaves as a type of chew when grinding through hard labor. Additionally, a brewed version of kratom has been used in ritual ceremonies for hundreds of years as well.

As far as western history goes, there are European records which note the local usage of kratom from the 1800s and onward. The tree was first identified by Pieter Korthals in 1839, but it took until 1859 for a formal classification to be confirmed. 

What Do Kratom Trees and Leaves Look Like?

When you see kratom, it’s probably already in a capsule or ground up into a powder for easy consumption. If you walked into a forest of kratom trees, would you be able to recognize them? Our guess is no, and that’s okay!

But it can be fun to learn more about what the kratom tree is like. You never know when you’ll need this piece of trivia to win a big cash prize!

Kratom trees are very tall. On average, they are around 50 feet tall. If they are growing in their preferred regions, however, they can tower to well over 80 feet!

Similar to other tropical trees, the leaves and bark have certain tropical characteristics:

  • • Smooth bark without many ridges
  • • Large leaves
  • • Leaves that appear waxy
  • • Leaves that are pointed at the tip
  • • Seemingly random brand pattern that helps the tree soak up as much sun as possible!

The leaves of kratom trees can be various shades of green, and the veins on the leaves will also change color depending on when in the growing season or life cycle of the tree they are harvested.

The specific weather patterns where the trees grow affect how they grow. In areas where the conditions are ideal (i.e., it’s always hot and humid like in Thailand), the M. speciosa tree will be huge and very tall because they need to compete with a lot of other plants for light.

In other areas (such as Indonesia), the weather changes throughout the year and can change how much growth the kratom tree goes through during the year.

Different Growing Locations

Depending on which type of conditions a tree grows in, the specific chemical makeup of the kratom tree and its leaves can change. This is how the first observable difference between strains of kratom was noticed, but these strains are now often named for the seeds’ area of origin rather than where the trees are grown.

Why is that?

Simply put, kratom trees have been made illegal in some areas where they are indigenous, such as Thailand. This means that Thai strain Kratom cannot be grown and exported from Thailand, but the Thai-style strains of kratom are still being grown in other regions with similar growing conditions.

What Are Kratom’s Active Alkaloids?

When browsing your favorite kratom websites, you’ve probably noticed that many vendors will list the percentages or amounts of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine that can be found in a specific type of Kratom. 

Have you ever thought about what these compounds are? Many people have, but others are still clueless about the how kratom works.

These compounds are known as active alkaloids, and they are the power behind the kratom!

There are a lot of different alkaloids found in kratom, but the two that have been studied most extensively are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. At this time, the research that has been done on these substances specifically is relatively limited. 

Still, we know that these chemical structures do a few things:

  • • They interact with a specific type of receptors in the nervous system.
  • • When they interact with this receptor, they do not bond permanently.
  • • The temporary bond creates some effects in the body, and this is what kratom users experience.

We’re very excited for more research about kratom and how it truly works within the body to happen in the coming years as kratom’s popularity continues to rise!

Legal Status & Future Advocacy

At this time, kratom is not illegal in the US, but it is still a point of contention for the FDA. Due to a lot of widely circulated misinformation, there is a certain perception that kratom is dangerous. This is widely inaccurate, and that message is changing.

And it can continue to change even more with your support!

The American Kratom Associate is a kratom advocacy group that works hard to ensure that kratom consumers will be protected from unscrupulous vendors while also advocating for the legal status of Kratom at all turns.

They have even created a Good Manufacturing Practices Standards program for kratom vendors to ensure that consumers aren’t being sold bad products. If you want to help support the future of kratom, do your part and only buy from vendors who are willing to participate in this compliance program.

As a consumer, you have the power to can help keep kratom on the market!

New To Kratom? 3 Tips To Get You Started The Right Way

by

People on the other side of the world have used kratom for hundreds if not thousands of years, but the popularity of this plant in the United States has skyrocketed in the last decade. From doctors to engineers to office employees, there are people from all demographics who are using kratom to improve the quality of their day-to-day lives.

When you first hear about kratom, it might sound too good to be true. But the benefits of kratom when used properly might change your mind!

One issue, however, is that much of the information available about kratom use today is shrouded and hidden within a slew of misinformation about this botanical and what it is used for.

If you’re ready to start your journey with kratom, you’ll benefit from the tips that we’ve gathered up in today’s kratom guide for new consumers!

Tip: You Don’t Need Large Servings

It can be fun to dive headfirst into something, getting completely involved before you decide that you’re too invested and pull back out. It can definitely be tempting to take on that same mentality when dealing with kratom!

The truth, however, is that you don’t need to take large servings of kratom to see the effects in action. In fact, most users will tell you this, “less is more.”

Think of the way that kratom works with your body as a sliding scale. The effects change depending on how much you take, and most people don’t need much:

  • With very small servings, the positive qualities of Kratom are minimal.
  • With very large servings, the side effects of Kratom will be strong, and generally, the positive qualities of kratom are actually weakened when taken in huge quantities.

Choosing a serving size that is in the middle-of-the-road is a great option with kratom. It’s a little like Goldilocks and the Three Bears! A “just right” serving will be more effective than a very large serving, and it will be more sustainable for you to consume regularly.

Don’t feel like you need to take a lot of kratom to find out what people think is so great about it. Keep your servings small and reasonable, and you’ll still have that answer in no time!

And as a final reminder – large servings can really stick you with all the negative side effects and none of the benefits! If you want to avoid these problems, don’t go too big on your servings.

Tip: Increase Serving Size Gradually

Along the same note, start with a small amount of kratom and gradually increase it over weeklong trial periods in order to find the right serving size for you. If you change how much you take every single day, it will be hard to remember which servings had what effects, and you’ll end up being more confused than when you started your journey!

Try this methodology:

  1. Start with one-quarter of the recommended serving size when you first try using Kratom, and keep this up for at least three days.
  2. If you aren’t satisfied, move up to one half the recommended serving size. Try for another three days.
  3. Continue to increase the amount in ¼ serving quantities until you feel like you’ve gone too far or you’ve hit the right point. Adjust to that point, and then keep it even!

You aren’t required to take a lot of kratom or the same amount of kratom every single time that you try. As you gain experience with the botanical, you’ll be more able to know what will work best with your body.

After all, everybody’s bodies are different! If you don’t take time to get to know how your body reacts to kratom, you’ll never find that sweet spot.

Tip: Prepare To Avoid Tolerance

Because kratom interacts with your central nervous system receptors, it is possible to gain a tolerance to this plant. This means that over time, kratom won’t be as effective as it once was. Even if you start increasing the serving sizes that you consume, you might not be able to regain the same desired outcomes. 

There are a number of ways that you can avoid building up too much of a tolerance, and we think that it’s best to learn these techniques before you are even dealing with any tolerance at all!

Change Strains Frequently

When you first get into kratom, it’s always a good idea to try out different strains to see what you enjoy the most and what might not sit well with you. But that’s not the only reason to have different strains on hand.

Kratom consumers have found that alternating which strains they use from day to day helps them avoid building up as much of a tolerance to any one strain. This makes sense because each strain has different alkaloid percentages and profiles, so your body cannot predict what to expect as easily if you change things up.

Consume Infrequently

Kratom is not a medicine. It does not need to be taken daily in order to see results. In fact, many people find that using kratom less often has helped them see better results. 

Try not to consume too frequently. If you take kratom more than one time a day, there is a very high chance that you will become tolerant too quickly. Consuming daily can be done in small amounts if necessary, but it’s best to try to use kratom only two or three times a week if you want to truly restrict the risk of tolerance.

Your Kratom Is Up To You

Ultimately, your own experience will be the best guide to help you figure out what you want to do when it comes to kratom. The experiences that we and our customers have had, however, can give you some early advice so you don’t have to go through the same things that we did!

Remember that kratom can cause tolerance, so you want to be smart about how you are consuming from the beginning. By using the tips that we’ve outlined above, we’re confident that you can make your experience as smooth and enjoyable as you want it to be!

How The Kratom Consumer Protection Act Affects You

by

As kratom vendors, we feel that it is our responsibility to help ensure that you, our customers, get the best product possible. We’ve seen a lot of vendors that lie, exaggerate, and act dishonestly about the products that they offer. And that’s the last thing that we want to do.

There is a lack of regulation and control in the world of kratom. Regulation is an important step to ensuring consumer safety. While many kratom vendors are compliant with Good Manufacturing Practices and always have their products tested before selling them, there are some companies that would rather make a quick buck than guarantee the safety of their customers. 

Here at Phytoextractum, we do our best to put time, energy, and money into compliance and into supporting organizations and projects that we believe will make kratom safer and more widely accepted. 

Recently, we’ve been thrilled to see a few states adopt the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), and we hope to see these bills spread across the entire country.

What is the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, and why do we think that it is a wonderful thing for vendors and consumers alike? Let’s explore this issue together.

Why Protection Is Needed

At this time, there are not many official regulations about kratom, kratom packaging, kratom sales, kratom processing, or any other aspect of the industry.

Usually, the rules about a product like kratom would depend on what category it is, such as a dietary ingredient or a supplement. Unfortunately, there is not even an official ruling about how kratom will be managed, so vendors are in the position of to marketing and selling kratom without clear guidelines to follow.

Unfortunately for the consumer and the industry at large, that has at times allowed not-so-good kratom to slip through and cause a lot of misunderstanding about the plant itself. Kratom can be a safe product when harvested, processed, and used properly, but not every vendor is in a position to do that on their own.

Most problems seen in the media about kratom today were caused by contaminated kratom that could have been kept off the market if vendors were given better guidance about testing requirements. Without changes, it’s possible that contaminated and adulterated kratom will continue to cause problems for both consumers and vendors alike.

For that reason, we believe that explicit consumer protections are absolutely necessary.

Introducing The Kratom Consumer Protection Act

It’s time to meet the Kratom Consumer Protection Act.

This act is a set of guidelines that ensure consumers can safely and legally buy kratom in the form of consistent, reliable, and unadulterated products. The guidelines offer protections to kratom users while also giving guidance to vendors about the right ways to test, label, and market their products.

There is no reason that kratom vendors should be permitted to sell dangerous and contaminated products on the market, and these laws help to prevent that from happening.

Generally speaking, the guidelines of the act have included the following terms:

  • • Officially defines kratom
  • • Gives vendors and processors guidelines about how to label kratom with specific terminology and disclaimers
  • • Prevents the sale of adulterated or contaminated kratom products
  • • Establishes a penalty system for kratom vendors who break the rules
  • • Requires vendors to register themselves with state regulators
  • • Requires that each state set up testing standards and other procedures for kratom vendors and processors

When companies follow protocols such as these, kratom consumers can feel more safe and confident in their purchases. Additionally, the fear of kratom that has been caused by contaminated products will begin to disappear as the market is overtaken by safe and controlled products.

Who Created These Guidelines?

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act was conceptualized and put into motion by the AKA. AKA, the American Kratom Association, is an organization which advocates on behalf of kratom consumers and vendors. Their goal is to promote safe and legal kratom use. 

AKA is involved in many areas of Kratom advocacy. One of their most well-known initiatives is their compliance program, which tracks the testing progress of Kratom vendors. The program requires vendors to follow Good Manufacturing Practices, including lab testing policies to ensure their customers’ safety.

Here at Phytoextractum, we are fully in support of AKA’s work on the compliance program and the Kratom Consumer Protection Act! We are AKAA GMP Qualified, and we hope to help pass the KCPA here in Oregon.

States With Consumer Protection Laws About Kratom

Since the AKA first introduced the Kratom Consumer Protection Act at the beginning of this legislative session, it has been adopted in a number of states.

At this point, it’s important to understand that every state will need to pass this type of law individually because there is no federal law about kratom. Similar to cannabis, these laws will need to be passed on the state level until the federal government offers more guidance on regulating kratom.

Because of this, every state’s Kratom Consumer Protection Act may be slightly different. AKA has proposed the guidelines to many states in their original form, but state officials may alter them to fit the specific wants and need of their states and constituents.

At this time, these states have passed Kratom Consumer Protection Acts:

In Oregon, the bill has made it through the Senate Judiciary Committee and will be presented to the Joint Ways & Means Committee in the coming weeks for another vote before it reaches the chamber floor.

In addition to several states have passing the Kratom Consumer Protection Act so far, the federal government recently approved funding for more studies about kratom and its effects. We can only hope that the findings of these studies will help to pave the way for more open acceptance of kratom use for its many benefits.

The Future of Kratom Depends On The KCPA

Kratom is at a critical juncture in the United States. Due to some issues with misinformation and contaminated products, the FDA has been looking at kratom vendors and users with a critical eye. As huge proponents of the right to choose kratom, however, we know that that perception needs to change. 

In order to protect consumers and help change the mainstream opinion about kratom, laws like the Kratom Consumer Protection Act must be put into place. These regulations will help ensure that consumers are properly educated and protected while also keeping the industry alive for reputable vendors who care about compliance and their customers’ safety. 

In the end, these laws will be a win-win for everyone involved.

All About CBD: Cannabidiol Definition, Uses, Legality, and More

by

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, has become a buzzword of sorts with the recent regulation and legalization of marijuana in many states. While medical marijuana has been around for decades, the common usage of CBD has people who know nothing about cannabis wondering what these three letters are all about.

CBD is one of the many chemical compounds found in cannabis, and its use is on the rise. To understand why and how it’s gaining such popularity, we’ll need to get into the CBD definition, common uses, proposed benefits, and more. Let’s get to it!

What Is CBD?

CBD is a cannabinoid. A cannabinoid is a specific type of chemical compound that can be found in cannabis, also known as marijuana or hemp. Cannabis plants have over 100 different cannabinoids in them, and these compounds cause various effects to our bodies when ingested or smoked.

Our bodies also produce cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids, and we have what is known as an endocannabinoid system (ECS). When cannabinoids are made by our bodies or ingested, they bind to receptors. These bonds cause different physiological and mental effects such as sleepiness, hunger, relaxation, and more. The receptors in the ECS have been linked to the nervous, digestive, and immune systems.

How Is CBD Used?

CBD is most commonly used in the form of CBD oil. The CBD is extracted from a cannabis plant, and then it is put into a carrier oil such as hemp seed, coconut, or avocado oil. The specific strain of cannabis that is used to extract the CBD, along with a host of growing and processing conditions, determine the strength, but the dilution in a carrier oil also affects the concentration of CBD in the finished product.

There are some CBD products that are known as full spectrum CBD oils. These oils contain not only CBD but also other beneficial cannabinoids as well as terpenoids and flavonoids, compounds that give plants their distinct aromas and flavors. The blend of CBD with other powerful chemical compounds creates a more well-rounded effect than CBD isolate in many cases.

CBD oil is taken in a number of different ways:

  • • Internally (swallowed, mixed into food or drink)
  • • Sublingually (under the tongue)
  • • Vaporized (using a vape pen or other vaporizer device)
  • • Topically (on the skin)

Who Uses CBD?

While using marijuana has been stigmatized as sign of being lazy, the broad array of people across all demographics who consume CBD products today prove that CBD use is not synonymous with slacking.

Doctors, lawyers, mothers, fathers, children, veterans, nurses, teachers, and more have all been known to use CBD. There are, of course, regulations on the types of CBD and times when using CBD is allowed in various professions, but most CBD products do not cause the psychoactive high that is characteristic of smoking marijuana.

Why is that?

Why Doesn’t CBD Get You High?

Most CBD products do not cause a psychoactive high that you would get if you were smoking full-leaf marijuana. That is because CBD is a non-intoxicating compound. The high that people associate with cannabis is largely caused by THC.

CBD oils on the market today are high in CBD and other beneficial cannabinoids and extremely low in THC. In fact, to be considered legal, CBD must be extracted from hemp plants that have naturally low THC levels, not from resinous marijuana plants that produce high concentrations of THC. And, all CBD products must keep THC percentage below 0.3% threshold.

Some media coverage and assumptions about those who use CBD still put out the idea that CBD is an illicit substance, but that misconception is gradually being changed with the normalization of CBD and its benefits.

What Are The Alleged Benefits of CBD?

There are a lot of benefits that people say CBD can give you with regular use. While many of these benefits have been shown in human clinical trials, there hasn’t been enough research or evidence done to fully confirm that the effects are truly caused by the CBD.

Anecdotally, however, there is overwhelming evidence to support CBD as an herbal product which can help with many different things. There are more and more places documenting the possible benefits of CBD, and you’ll likely discover helpful information by researching organizations that study CBD and advocate for its use.

Studies About CBD

There have been studies done for all of these benefits, and the evidence is piling up to support CBD as an overall wellness product. We encourage you to find some trusted sources of actual scientific information and explore the studies that have been done on CBD and its possible applications.

You’ll probably find that the potential uses for CBD oil and other CBD products are incredibly varied. As this interesting substance is studied and understood more deeply, its power will be able to be incorporated into many applications.

Is CBD Legal and Safe To Use?

Before the 2018 Farm Bill was passed, CBD oil was legal in at least 30 states, most of which had legalized medical and/or adult-use cannabis. Many states had their own sets of rules and regulations about where you can buy the oil and how it can be used.

CBD’s legal status seemed to shift when the Farm Bill was made law, because it explicitly legalized industrial hemp, the plant from which most CBD products are extracted. Additionally Pharmaceutical-grade CBD, in the form of Epidiolex, was recently approved by the FDA as a prescription available to children with intractable seizure disorders. Still, it’s unclear if, when, and how the FDA will decide to handle CBD products.

The biggest danger that you should be aware of when using CBD is the current lack of regulation. Because CBD-based products are still relatively new, there are numerous companies out there that make CBD products. Many of these companies do not yet have the appropriate safety and testing practices in place.

So, you should be careful to choose a reliable vendor that tests and monitors their products for safety. As sad as it is, there are companies who are willing to lie about CBD percentages, carrier oils, and more in order to make money, so finding a trustworthy supplier is important.

Cheap Kratom: The Scary Risks of Saving Money

by

Saving money when you find a great deal is always fun. Whether you have a coupon code or you simply found the same item for a cheaper price, the savings always feel like a big win.

When it comes to Kratom, however, saving with cheap Kratom may actually be more risk than you realize!

Many consumers find themselves comparing different Kratom websites without being sure of what they should look for when they’re choosing Kratom. For many, the lowest price that they can find becomes the Kratom that they invest in. But is this the smartest options?

Honestly speaking? No; it’s not.

While we do our best to make our Kratom available at a price point that works for our customers, we don’t agree with Kratom vendors cutting corners to sell for a lower price or turn a bigger profit. Doing that is downright dangerous, and we believe that you have the right to know why!

The Dangers of Cheap Kratom

Why is that taking cheap Kratom can be dangerous?

Cheap Kratom is usually untested or mixed Kratom which means that you may not know what is going into your body at all. Even though these Kratom products are never advertised as anything but pure, the vendors are not being completely honest with you when they market their products.

Untested Kratom can contain many different substances, all of which have their own unique effects on the body:

  • Dried powder products: mixed into Kratom to add bulk weight
  • Added chemicals: use to fake the chemical composition of the Kratom
  • Pathogens: unsanitary processing can spread disease

These are just a few of the many ways that Kratom can become infected or contaminated with something that you certainly wouldn’t put into your body knowingly! And since these companies lie or disclose the truth about their products, you would never know the difference without additional research.

How Kratom Vendors Cut Corners

Now that you know how low quality Kratom can be dangerous, you might be wondering where along the supply chain these contaminations occur. Where exactly do Kratom sellers and suppliers cut corners in a way that leads to these risks?

Today, we’ll go into a little bit of detail about the different ways that we suspect companies are saving money by skipping essential safety routines.

While we cannot say exactly who does what, our experiences have shown us that these safety precautions are some of the most expensive to implement -and that is a good indicator that they are things that might get skipped!

Lab Testing

Lab testing is one of the most important steps of selling Kratom, and many suppliers fake their lab tests or lie about it altogether. Testing, when done properly, will reveal the exact composition of the Kratom and warn the company about any potential contamination. Regular testing can help ensure that contaminated products never reach the customer.

But Kratom vendors that want to sell at incredibly low prices do not always follow through on testing due to the costs, and that can be very dangerous to you.

Here at Phytoextractum, we know that lab testing is one of the most important things that Kratom companies must keep doing.

Always make sure that a site gives you information about their testing produces before you buy anything from them. If that information is not clearly available, send an email to find out how their testing works and to let them know that you care about seeing the testing results before buying.

Quality Checks & Staffing

Some vendors do not do enough random quality checks or have the proper quality assurance staffing availability to be able to sort, package, and sell their products without increasing the risks that are passed on to customers like you.

If a company is not willing to talk about their QA practices or how they ensure that every order is checked for quality and packed safely, you should keep looking for a different vendor.

Doing The Bare Minimum

The biggest way that Kratom vendors save money is simply by doing the bare minimum.

Because there aren’t many official regulations in place about how vendors must source, store, test, or sell Kratom products, there is no reason for vendors to do more than that if their main priority is their profit margin.

Until regulation and rules become required, however, there are ways that the Kratom industry is working to self regulate.

AKA’s GMP Standards

AKA, also known as the American Kratom Association, is leading the pack to ensure that Kratom consumers aren’t left in the dark about what goes into their products and whether or not it is safe. After all, customers have a right to know exactly what they are taking and how it moved through the supply chain.

AKA has a program called GMP Standards. These standards represent the manufacturing practices that specialists at AKA have determined should be followed to ensure that a truly uncontaminated product is sold every single time.

Joining this program is voluntary and costs the company a bit of money. We happily signed up and are now proud to be one of the certified Kratom sellers through AKA!

Companies that care more about making more money and less about fixing their cheap Kratom problem, however, will not have joined this program. Keep this program in mind as a factor to consider when you choose which company to buy from next time.

You Deserve Safety

Here at Phytoextractum, we understand the power of Kratom, and we also understand the power that we have when it comes to your Kratom experience. We want every single experience to be perfect, and for that reason, we’ve put the time and resources necessary into creating a safe and secure supply chain.

The next time you’re trying to buy the cheapest Kratom that you can possibly find, remember that not all Kratom companies are created equal, and not all companies will treat you equally, either. Do you want to be treated like nothing more than a way to make some extra money? We didn’t think so.

Leave the cheap Kratom in the past, and find the company that cares about you!