Kratom

The Importance of Sustainable Kratom Sourcing & Production

by

The U.S. Kratom industry is booming like never before, fueled by increasing consumer interest and quality-focused production processes. According to one estimate, the U.S. Kratom industry is a massive $1 billion powerhouse that attracts imports from several South-East Asian countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Bali, and so on. 

Kratom is extracted from Mitragyna speciosa, a wild plant belonging to the coffee family. As demand for Kratom surges, farmers in tropical Asia are turning to this “cash crop” for export-oriented opportunities. As the overseas demand for Kratom grows, it fuels deforestation, soil degradation, freshwater wastage, wild animal habitat loss, community dislocations, and countless other problems in this region. Entire ecologies are being endangered by unregulated farming. Not only the local population and communities are threatened, but the entire planet feels the effects of the ecological damage wreaked by unhinged Kratom supply chain practices. 

Sustainable farming is the need of the hour. Sustainable farming is not only essential to preserve the planet and all its inhabitants but also to protect the industry against potential prohibitions that may arise to combat its impact. 

How Sustainable Kratom Farming Protects Biodiversity

There are multiple dimensions to sustainable farming, each offering unique solutions to specific challenges arising from unfettered farming and deforestation. Here are the most common solutions employed by the sustainable farming industry:

  • Agroforestry

Large-scale Kratom farming often entails clearing out huge swathes of forests for cultivation. This destroys local ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity. It also contributes to soil erosion and climate change.

By integrating other trees into Kratom farms, soil erosion can be arrested, while allowing wildlife to thrive. In particular, indigenous plants and animal species are safeguarded and preserved, without being entirely driven away to an ever-smaller tract of land.

  • Organic Farming

Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides are known to wreak havoc on the delicate ecological balance. The residues often contaminate soil and inflict irreparable damage. Organic farming practices protect soil health while encouraging local biodiversity.

How Sustainable Kratom Processing Conserves Resources

The vast majority of Kratom farms in South-East Asian countries rely on outdated, decades-old agricultural methods to process the Kratom harvest. These methods are highly resource intensive and threaten the availability of resources to other food crops; not to mention their contribution to resource depletion. Innovative and eco-friendly processing methods can help address these problems in the following ways:

  • Energy-efficient Drying

Traditional Kratom drying processes are energy-intensive and produce huge amounts of greenhouse gases. Using solar drying and heat recovery systems can slash down energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during Kratom processing.

  • Waste Reduction and Recycling

Kratom processing generates huge quantities of organic waste. However, there are convenient, cheap, and even lucrative waste reduction and recycling options available. For instance, leftover plant material can be repurposed as compost or animal feed.

  • Water Conservation

Kratom processing can utilize large quantities of water and put undue pressure on local freshwater resources. Innovative solutions like rainwater catchment, drip irrigation, low-energy spray irrigation, and so on, can conserve tremendous quantities of freshwater.

How Green Packaging & Can Help Protect The Environment

While Kratom production is largely concentrated in a handful of closely-knit countries in South-East Asia, it is consumed worldwide. Packaging, shipping, and last-mile delivery of Kratom to users worldwide consume enormous amounts of fossil fuel, generate vast quantities of non-recyclable packaging waste, and contribute heavily to greenhouse emissions. Fortunately, several emerging solutions are already addressing these supply chain issues:

  • Eco-friendly Transportation

Electric and hybrid vehicles for transporting processed Kratom can drastically reduce greenhouse emissions, especially when the energy source is clean, such as solar, wind, or hydroelectric power. Advanced algorithms are also being utilized to optimize shipping routes to reduce fuel consumption and thereby reduce greenhouse emissions.

  • Carbon Offsetting

Some aspects of logistics, such as container shipping, have a long way to go before it becomes energy-efficient. However, businesses can invest in carbon offset projects to bring down their carbon footprint.

  • Minimal and Biodegradable Packaging

An overwhelming majority of the plastic is never recycled. Some estimates put recycled plastics at just 10% of the plastic waste. Environmentally-conscious businesses are battling plastic pollution by using biodegradable packaging materials like paper, cardboard, and plant-based materials. Where it’s impossible to use biodegradable packaging, some businesses use minimal packaging to minimize their plastic waste.

How Ethical Business Practices Are Making The Kratom Industry More Sustainable

Sustainable business practices not only focus on ecological footprint but also on local communities. Ethical business practices address the social responsibility of businesses that utilize the resources and hard work of the communities involved in their supply chain. Here are some ways the Kratom industry can engage in ethical business practices:

  • Fair Wages and Humane Working Conditions

Overseas sourcing often gets mired in controversies involving child labor, slave labor, inhumane working conditions, and so on. By enforcing international labor standards throughout the supply chain and insisting suppliers or producers adhere to them, Kratom businesses can ensure that local communities are paid fair, competitive wages, and are not exploited.

  • Support to Local Communities

The local populace, such as small-scale farmers, do not have the resources necessary to market and attract foreign Kratom importers. Therefore, they cannot capitalize on the economic opportunities available to large-scale producers. By sourcing from such small players, Kratom businesses can contribute to their economic prosperity.

Additionally, Kratom businesses can also invest in local community development projects, like healthcare, schools, and transportation. This can inspire loyalty and guarantee a reliable supply of Kratom too.

  • Education and Training

Kratom businesses can educate the local producers on sustainable farming practices and give them access to learning resources to help them learn about innovative farming techniques. The transition will not only help save the environment but also contribute to the social and economic development of local communities.

Bottomline

In conclusion, at Phytoextractum, we believe that sustainable and responsible Kratom practices are of paramount importance. Our commitment is more than just a catchphrase; it’s a core pillar of our mission. We understand the environmental and social implications of Kratom production, which is why we source exclusively from farmers committed to fair trade practices, biodiversity preservation, and sustainable farming techniques. This means each product you purchase from us not only supports your well-being but also contributes towards the betterment of the communities involved in its production and the conservation of the environment. We are proud to be part of the solution, contributing to a sustainable future for both the Kratom industry and our planet.

Nano Kratom: A Modern Innovation In The Kratom Industry

by

Kratom enthusiasts are always seeking new ways to enhance their Kratom experience, and one of the latest innovations in the Kratom industry is Nano Kratom. This new product involves breaking down Kratom particles into smaller sizes to increase its surface area and bioavailability. The result is a highly concentrated form of Kratom that offers a much more robust alkaloid profile. In this blog post, we will dive into the world of Nano Kratom and this new and unique form of Kratom. Whether you are a seasoned Kratom consumer or new to the Kratom world entirely, this post should be helpful for you!

What Is Nano Kratom?

Nano Kratom is a refined form of Kratom powder that is engineered to have smaller particle sizes, thus increasing its surface area. This enhanced form of Kratom promises faster absorption and more efficient delivery of its active ingredients — alkaloids like mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which are responsible for how the plant interacts with your body.

How Is Nano Kratom Made?

The process of making Nano Kratom involves advanced technology such as sonication and high-pressure homogenization. First, high-quality Kratom leaves are carefully selected, dried, and ground into a fine powder. This powder is then subjected to a process called nano-grinding or nano-milling.

Nano-grinding uses specialized equipment, such as high-pressure homogenizers or bead mills, to break down the Kratom powder into even smaller particles. This process can be quite lengthy, as it may require several rounds of grinding and filtering to achieve the desired particle size. 

The resulting Nano Kratom powder boasts particles that are much smaller than those found in regular Kratom, typically in the range of 50-200 nanometers.

Why Should You Try Nano Kratom?

  • Faster absorption. Due to its smaller particle size, Nano Kratom is more easily absorbed by the body. This means that you can enjoy the full experience of Kratom more quickly than with traditional tea or powder.
  • Increased alkaloid content. Because of the increased surface area, Nano Kratom delivers a higher concentration of active alkaloids to the body. This could potentially result in users needing a smaller serving size to achieve the desired results.
  • Improved bioavailability. Bioavailability refers to the proportion of a substance that enters the bloodstream and is available for use by the body. Since Nano Kratom is more easily absorbed, its bioavailability is also enhanced, allowing users to experience the plant more quickly.
  • Versatility. Nano Kratom is suitable for various methods of consumption, including mixing it with beverages, adding it to food, or taking it in capsule form. This versatility allows users to incorporate Nano Kratom into their routines with ease.

Should I Try Nano Kratom?

Deciding whether to switch to Nano Kratom depends on individual preferences, needs, and experiences. For those who have tried traditional Kratom powder and found it to be less effective than desired or slow-acting, Nano Kratom may be a suitable alternative. Its faster absorption, increased concentration, and improved bioavailability could provide for a better experience.

In conclusion, Nano Kratom is a modern and innovative product that has become increasingly popular in the Kratom industry. Its unique production process, involving advanced technology, results in a highly concentrated form of Kratom with greater bioavailability.

When you buy Kratom online, it is crucial to choose a reputable supplier like Phytoextractum who can provide information such as COA’s on the products provenance and quality. As with any Kratom product, responsible and informed use is key to enjoying the product to it’s fullest potential.

What Affects Kratom Alkaloid Content?

by

As Kratom enthusiasts, we know that understanding the composition and chemistry of Kratom is essential for studying this incredible plant. But have you ever wondered why the alkaloid content of Kratom varies from batch to batch? In this blog post, we’ll explore the factors that influence the alkaloid content of Kratom in order to help you better understand this mysterious plant.

First things first, what are alkaloids? Read on to find out.

Quick Refresher — What Are Alkaloids?

First things first — alkaloid isn’t exactly a household term. What exactly is an alkaloid?

An alkaloid is an organic molecule found in plants, usually containing a ring of nitrogen atoms. About 20% of all plant species contain alkaloids.

What do plants use these compounds for? Scientists believe they may serve as a storage of reserve nitrogen (a crucial nutrient for plants). Alkaloids may also serve as a defense mechanism to help plants survive microbial diseases and attacks from predators, since they are generally toxic and repulsive. 

If they are toxic and repulsive, does that mean they are bad for humans? Some of them definitely are, but many alkaloids are popular for human consumption — both for medicinal and recreational purposes. Caffeine is an alkaloid. So is the quinine found in tonic water.

What Are the Alkaloids Found in Kratom?

Most of the alkaloids in Kratom are found in trace amounts and vary widely. However, two alkaloids may play the most significant role in the reported bio-effects of Kratom:

Mitragynine

Mitragynine is the alkaloid found in Kratom in the highest concentration. For example, dried Kratom leaves can contain up to 2% mitragynine. However, healthy Kratom plants can have significantly less mitragynine.

From a biological perspective, mitragynine is known for its ability to act as a partial agonist of the µ-opioid receptor.

7-hydroxymitragynine

7-hydroxymitragynine (or 7-OH for short) is a variant of mitragynine. It is found in Kratom in much smaller concentrations, but it is also far more potent than mitragynine. As such, the 7-OH content of Kratom may significantly contribute to the reported effects. 

There are many other alkaloids found in Kratom in less concentrated amounts. To learn about all of the other alkaloids found in Kratom, see our blog post ‘Understanding Kratom: Alkaloids Explained‘.

How Are Alkaloids Formed in Kratom?

Plants naturally produce alkaloids according to specific genetic processes. These gene pathways are subject to external influences, so the environment and conditions under which the plant develops can significantly affect the alkaloid content. Alkaloids tend to be created in the highest quantities when the plant is in its youth and undergoing active growth.

What Causes Kratom Plans to Have Different Alkaloids in Different Quantities?

Many factors play a role in how much of which alkaloid a particular Kratom plant will produce. Alkaloid production in plants is not well understood. Even though scientists have studied the process, the studies have not necessarily focused on mitragyna speciosa. 

We can speculate on some of the effects of different conditions on the alkaloid content of Kratom from studies of different plants, but each alkaloid-producing plant is different. What causes one species to produce more alkaloids might actually inhibit alkaloid production in another species.

Here are some of the known or inferred factors that impact the alkaloid content of your Kratom:

Age of the Plant

Alkaloid production is most active in younger plants. If Kratom was harvested from a young and actively growing plant, experts believe that the alkaloid content is likely to be higher.

Moisture in the Growing Environment

The natural habitat of mitragyna speciosa is humid and rainy. A particularly dry year or a particularly wet year can significantly impact the alkaloid content of the Kratom harvested from those trees.

Generally speaking, the trees grow better in a wetter environment. However, particularly dry seasons are speculated to produce more potent Kratom with higher alkaloid concentration, the alkaloids having formed as a coping mechanism for the stress of the dry environment. 

Temperature of the Growing Environment

Higher and lower growing temperatures definitely have an impact on the alkaloid content of the plant, but the effect varies from species to species. Some plants produce more alkaloids in response to heat, others produce less.

So which way does Kratom swing? It’s not well-understood. Experts have also speculated about the effect of exposure to carbon dioxide on the production of alkaloids, but this might have more to do with the fact that carbon dioxide affects the temperature of its environment than any direct impact of the CO2 on the plant.

Exposure to Sunlight

Exposure to sunlight also impacts the production of alkaloids in plants, but again some plants produce more alkaloids with lots of sun exposure, others less. 

The best studies of the effect of sunlight exposure on alkaloid production showed that plants produced the most alkaloids when exposed to 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of darkness, but those tests were not performed on mitragyna speciosa, so the effect of sunlight on the alkaloid content of Kratom is still unknown.  

Bacterial Microbiome of the Soil

Plants are highly responsive to the presence of certain bacteria in the soil. This bacteria causes the plants to grow larger, with more extensive root structures. Robust presence of this bacterial microbiome has also been observed to produce Kratom with higher concentrations of alkaloids.

Nitrogen Content of the Soil

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for all plants. Experts believe that a plant exposed to more nitrogen in the soil and the atmosphere will produce more alkaloids. This makes sense, since alkaloids are at least partially defined by the nitrogen in their chemical composition.

Kratom farmers will try to nourish their plants with nitrogen-rich soil and fertilizer. This has the added benefit of making the plant grow more quickly and to grow larger.

Salt Content of the Soil

Significant salt content of the soil has been shown to shock plants into creating more alkaloids. However, this stress also puts negative pressure on the growth of the plant. As a result, with salty soil you may get potent Kratom, but in smaller quantities.

As a plant-based product, Kratom is understandably susceptible to the environmental conditions in which it was grown. The alkaloid content is no exception. Research on exactly how this works with Kratom is ongoing. Suffice it to say — grow your Kratom under conditions that stimulate more alkaloid production, and the result is more potent Kratom.

Buy Kratom online at Phytoextractum

Introducing Kratom Blends From Phytoextractum

by

After years of hard work and experience working in the Kratom industry, we’re releasing a new type of product for us. Kratom blends and Enhanced Kratom blends are now available for sale from Phytoextractum! We’re super stoked to announce the launch of these 2 new unique Kratom products.

While you may have seen Kratom blends for sale elsewhere on the market, they are new for us. At Phytoextractum, always stuck with our tried and true selection of products, but after careful consideration, we believe these 2 products will fit our catalog perfectly.

The idea with these two new superior Kratom blends was to combine your favorite strains into one consistent product.

But what does that mean exactly?

Well, Kratom blends are mixtures of several Kratom strains that have been carefully measured and blended. The goal of this process is to combine the best qualities from each strain into a single consistent end product. That’s why each one of our blends was specifically designed and calibrated to ensure our customers enjoy these superior and incredible combinations.

Now, if you’re new to Kratom, understanding the difference between Kratom strains, blends, and all the different products available on the market might feel a little bit daunting!

That’s why, in this article, we’ve highlighted what Kratom strains are before explaining what makes our two new blends so special.

What Are Kratom Strains?

Kratom is an herbal extract from Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical evergreen tree in the coffee family. This tree is native to Southeast Asia. More specifically, it’s indigenous to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Myanmar. People in these countries have been using it as herbal aid for centuries.

Now, contrary to common belief, Kratom strains don’t refer to different species of Mitragyna speciosa. In fact, all Kratom products, whether white, green, or red, and whether from Thailand, Malaysia, or Indonesia, are derived from this one species. However, each plant has its own chemical compounds based on geography and local climate. These chemical compounds are called alkaloids. And it’s the difference in alkaloids or chemical composition that creates so many different Kratom strains.

But that’s not all. The age of the leaves when harvested also impacts the chemical composition and, therefore, strain. For instance, if the leaf is harvested while young, it will exhibit white veins, and the Kratom strain produced from these leaves will then be classified as a ‘’white vein’’ strain. Leaves harvested from maturing plants will exhibit green veins producing a Kratom strain classified as a green vein strain. Lastly, leaves harvested from fully maturing plants will show red veins, creating a Kratom strain classified as a red vein strain.

What Is So Special About Our Two Kratom Blends?

Kratom Powder Blend

Our standard Kratom blend is made of our most popular strains, including green, yellow, and red veins. This unique Kratom product is made with a proprietary blending process that ensures a smooth and consistent end product.

Each strain used in our Kratom blend is produced in small batches, maintaining the consistent quality you’ve grown to expect. If you’re looking for something new to try, this product may be just what you’re looking for. It offers a little bit of all of our most popular products, all combined into 1!

Enhanced Blended Kratom Powder 

Our Enhanced Kratom Blend is made by taking the above mixture of popular Kratom strains and adding a proprietary extract as the final ingredient. This product is suitable for people who enjoy Kratom extracts and are looking for something new.

Standardized to contain 5% alkaloids per serving, our Enhanced Kratom blend will not disappoint. Made using a small batch process, this Kratom blend benefits from the same quality assurance standards you will find with the rest of our products.

If you’re a fan of Kratom extracts and you’re looking for something new, we think you’ll enjoy our Enhanced Kratom Blend!

Ready To Try Our New Blends?

At Phytoextractum, we make it our mission to invest the time, effort, and money to create superior Kratom products for our customers. We are always looking for ways to improve our existing catalog to cater to our customers. As always, our products are lab tested to ensure there is no contamination.

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch should you have any questions about these new Kratom blends or any of our other Kratom products!

Honey Sticks & Their Sweet Origin (Plus New Kratom Honey!)

by

Everyone is familiar with honey, but what do you really know about this sweet, sticky substance?

Honey comes from bees; that much is obvious. But how (and why) exactly do bees put time into creating this nutritious, delicious food? There’s a lot to learn about honey and the many different types of honey that you can enjoy.

Honey sticks are one of the easiest ways to try honey, and we’ve launched our own honey sticks (packed with kratom, of course) that you can order today. Let’s learn more about this sweetener so you can get a taste of what our honey sticks are made of.

All About Honey

What is honey?

Honey is a sweet food that is usually found as a thick liquid. Honey bees make honey by gathering nectar from flowers and other plants. After pollination, the nectar gathered goes through a process inside the beehive before it is stored as a future resource by the bees.

The natural variation in plants causes the variation found in honey. The nectars produced by plants have varying sugar, mineral, and organic compound contents. The honey created by a bee’s hives is very dependent on what type of nectar is gathered.

Why Honey is Made

Why exactly do bees make honey? Do they make it just for humans like us to enjoy?

Of course not!

Honey bees gather nectar to create honey as a food source to help the hive’s health and ability to survive difficult seasons like winter. The daily food source of bees in favorable seasons is actually pollen from the same plants they gather nectar from. 

Pollen is an immediate food source for honey bees and even helps them grow a larger brood. The bees have pollen baskets on their legs which help with pollen collection; nectar is added to the pollen to help compact it for easier transport.

When nectar is brought back to the hive, honey bees add enzymes which cause a shift in the nectar’s chemical composition. As dehydration occurs, the water content reduces, and honey forms.

Different Colors of Honey

If you’ve ever bought honey at the grocery store or a farmer’s market, you’ve probably noticed that the color of honey can vary. In fact, there are seven official color categories used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to classify honey.

These seven categories are:

  • • Water white
  • • Extra white
  • • White
  • • Extra light amber
  • • Light amber
  • • Amber
  • • Dark amber

“White” honey may seem confusing as there isn’t any honey that is truly white in color. Rather, this designation means that the honey is transparent or very near so.

What exactly do these designations mean, and why are there different honey colors at all?

The color of honey is inconsistent because the pollens and nectars collected by bees vary. Different plants lead to different colored kinds of honey, and one hive can even produce varying colors of honey depending on the season or crop availability in the area.

If you want to get more technical about it, the variation of color can be somewhat attributed to the mineral content of the flower source. Magnesium, sodium, copper, iron, calcium, potassium, surfer, and manganese can all influence the color of honey.

Flavors of Honey

Do the flavors of honey vary alongside its color?

Yes, it can vary. Often, the two vary in similar and expected ways once you learn that lighter honey is more mild and darker kinds of honey have richer, stronger flavors. Of course, there are always going to be some exceptions to this rule. For instance, bees that collect pollen and nectar from tulips create deep-colored honey that has a very mild taste.

Some types of honey are more popular (and common) than others. These are some types of honey you likely come across while shopping:

  • • Blueberry honey: light amber honey with a rounded, full flavor.
  • • Clover honey: among the most popular in the US; mild tasting
  • • Wildflower honey: used for varieties made from miscellaneous or undefined plants

Honey Changes Color

Did you know that honey can change color over time?

No matter what color honey is initially, it is likely that the color will darken over time or when heated. This is natural and normal, but it can confuse your understanding of whether these actions always cause variation in honey’s color. However, we’ve already shown how honey simply comes in many color and flavor varieties!

Just Launched: Phytoextractum’s Honey Sticks

You might wonder why we’re excited to share so much about honey in this blog post, and that’s because we’re excited!

Here at Phytoextractum, we’ve just launched a new product that we know our kratom fans might love: Kratom Honey Sticks.

Kratom honey sticks are a simple, easy way to enjoy kratom. Each stick contains 25mg of mitragynine, and the packaging is as convenient as one might expect from honey sticks. We’ve made sure to introduce a product that might surprise you in both its usefulness and uniqueness.

Enjoying Our Honey Sticks

Our customers have shared that it’s easy to enjoy these honey sticks. The sticks simplify kratom for many and can be eaten directly. Mixing the sticks into your favorite drink or even your kratom tea is also easy – the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. Consider how you like using honey or sweetener and see if kratom honey sticks would work in those applications.

High-quality Service, High-quality Products

As always, we want to remind our customers how important it is to ensure they purchase their kratom and kratom-related products from high-quality vendors. Contamination is a serious risk, and you want to be sure to purchase from vendors with your safety in mind.

We were one of the first American Kratom Association members to qualify for Good Manufacturing Practices certification. We test all products for accurate identification, alkaloid content, heavy metals, and microbial safety. If you have questions about our testing processes, contact us at any time. Every good vendor should be ready and willing to answer these questions; we know we are!

Buy Kratom online at Phytoextractum

Kratom & Social Media: The Limits Of Discussion

by

Did you know that kratom companies have to be incredibly careful about what we say about kratom? From our packaging to our blog, many topics are off limits due to the current stance of the FDA regarding our product.

One place where kratom businesses are currently most restricted is on social media platforms. Social media companies, whether private or publicly traded, have to carry out their business in line with the laws of the countries they operate in. Although kratom is not and never has been federally illegal in the United States, this leads to some opposition to kratom advertising and posting.

The effects of those restrictions can be seen throughout the industry. Let’s look at the policies around what can and cannot be discussed on social media about kratom.

Why is Kratom Talk Limited?

To understand why there are limits on what can and cannot be said about kratom online, it’s essential to understand that kratom is in a bit of a regulatory gray area. The FDA has made no secret of its dislike of this product, but it has not been successful at its attempt to ban kratom. 

So companies selling kratom are very limited in how they advertise, what they claim, what is written on the packages, and much more. As there isn’t an evaluation that determines exactly what can and cannot be said, the companies are instead limited to avoiding specific topics altogether.

What Cannot Be Said About Kratom

The FDA has been particularly vigilant in enforcing this policy when it comes to kratom. In particular, companies have received warning letters for talking about the following topics on their packaging, marketing posts, and even on their informational blogs:

  • Serving size
  • Different strain effects
  • Customer testimonials and anecdotes
  • How to use kratom
  • How kratom interacts with the body or brain

As you can see, this covers a lot of what kratom consumers may want to know about kratom. This makes it hard for suppliers to talk with their customers about their products and, in some cases, can be very confusing for everyone involved.

Still, companies must respect these rules if they want to stay in business. Instead, they are careful about how they communicate. Even on this blog, we are careful about how we discuss kratom. While it is essential for information going to consumers to be factual, it is also vital that the flow of information isn’t halted altogether.

Kratom on Social Media

How does this limitation on what can be said about kratom online extend to social media?

Before

When kratom first became popular for use in the US in the early 2010s, many social media sites began banning discussion of the substance. This was due to the questionable legal status of the botanical. Social platforms didn’t want to be responsible for any legal trouble and instead avoided talking about kratom.

For many years, this was the norm. Some kratom companies made social media profiles, but their use was limited due to the limitations on what can be said about kratom and the rules of advertising supplement products. Posts can be interpreted as marketing in some cases, and that makes social media companies nervous.

The Present

However, we’re starting to see more and more companies and kratom advocacy organizations appear online. Brands have been more open about their presence as the kratom consumer market has grown and as states have enacted reasonable kratom regulations through the Kratom Consumer Protection Act.

Unfortunately, social media platforms use their community agreements and terms of service to shut down the accounts of kratom companies. Similarly to cannabis companies, kratom brands can’t count on keeping their profiles and pages. They also face “shadow bans” – accounts and posts may not be removed, but they are shown to an extremely limited (if any) audience.

We are still optimistic that positive change is coming. Misinformation about kratom is hard to combat, and it is often spread online in locations where knowledgeable individuals are restricted. This means that there is no clear pipeline to clear up misunderstandings and brands often have no chance to appeal decisions that social media platforms make.

Only time will tell if the shift will continue in this direction or if social media will once again restrict all talk about kratom. For that reason, it’s essential not to rely on social media to get your information about kratom and other topics.

Where to Get Information about Kratom

If you cannot expect to always find information about kratom on your usual social media websites, where should you go to find information? Many kratom users are eager to learn more about the substance, its origin, and its science. However, that information isn’t always easy to find for the reasons we outlined today.

Thankfully, there are several places where you can regularly find interesting and informative posts about kratom, kratom news, and the general kratom community. Some shops have informational blogs, and many advocacy groups periodically share kratom’s latest science and political information.

Here at Phytoextractum, we keep our blog updated with posts inspired by the latest happenings in the community and questions our customers ask us. While there are limits on what we can and cannot say about kratom, we do our best to communicate clearly whenever the topic cannot be covered in-depth due to legal limitations.

If you are looking for updated information with fewer restrictions, visiting sites of advocacy groups such as the American Kratom Association is a great way to do so. They have a page specifically for the latest science being done on kratom, and this is just one of the many dedicated corners they cultivate for curious minds like yours.

Finally, consider reaching out to your local kratom shop. They will be able to talk with you about the products they stock, the information they have, and even connect you with local advocates. This local source of information is powerful, and you can also get involved in grassroots organizations to help legalize and protect kratom in America.