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What Affects Kratom Alkaloid Content?

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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

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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!

3 Tips For Talking About Kratom

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So you’ve discovered the world of kratom. You’ve enjoyed your experiences so far, but you’re hungry to learn more. Beyond that, you’re eager to share the wonders of kratom with others, but you aren’t sure how to approach talking about what many still see as a taboo area.

Like the early days of CBD oil and similar products, figuring out the best ways to talk about kratom so that you can accurately and honestly describe your experiences can be hard. What can you say even when the legal status of kratom can be a bit hard to describe?

At Phytoextractum, we are dedicated to ensuring that kratom consumers will be protected for decades to come. A big part of accomplishing that goal lies in advocacy. Today, we’ll help you learn how to become one of kratom’s best advocates by talking about it in the right ways.

Tip #1: Get Educated

Before you even try to talk about kratom with someone else to help them get an idea of what this product is like, you need to learn more about kratom yourself. Sure, you already know that you like it and that you think they might, too, but will you be able to answer their questions?

If they want to know how it works with your body to have various effects, can you explain the science of how it might work? Or would you be filling their mind with ideas rather than truths?

When it comes to kratom, we need to avoid creating or spreading any more misinformation than is already out there. Trying to educate someone about kratom when you know very little about the scientific, historical, and legal details of kratom yourself may cause more harm than good.

Before you start talking about or advocating for kratom with others, be sure you have the tools that you need. Get familiar with the following before you open that flood gate:

  • • Kratom’s history
  • • Where kratom comes from
  • • How scientists believe kratom works
  • • How to find a reputable vendor and make sure you’re getting safe products

These are just four basic things that every kratom user should be learning about kratom anyway, but knowing these things is even more important when you are going to be suggesting another person give kratom a try.

Knowledge is power. With more knowledge about kratom, you’ll be able to do a better job of sharing your feelings about it with others.

Buy Kratom online at Phytoextractum

Tip #2: Don’t Push The Limits

Remember that not everyone is going to be interested in what you’ve gained from kratom or what you have to offer. And that’s okay!

For many, the misinformation they’ve already heard about kratom and its constantly changing legal status can be too much of a barrier to overcome. While they may come to be interested in kratom once it is more clearly on the “approved” side of the law, there is no reason to push them to be interested now.

After all, what you want to do is help kratom to have a more positive image in the public eye. Pressuring people about kratom is only going to make kratom appear more dangerous than it is!

Pay attention to how much people care when you are sharing your kratom experience. If someone is engaged and asking questions, keep going! If, however, they seem a bit hesitant and are focused on the legality more than anything else, consider pointing out the current legal status of kratom and moving on.

It’s not a win-lose situation when talking about kratom. Instead, think of it as an ideas meeting where you’re sharing what you’ve got, but where there doesn’t need to be any official outcome or decision at the end of it.

Tip #3: Offer Resources In Addition To Stories

Even people who trust their friends and family often need more solid proof of something existing or working before they believe it. This is the case for many different issues, and the same can be said for kratom.

If you’re talking about someone and they have a lot of questions about how to use kratom or how it works, give some information about how it figures into your life. Sharing our stories can be a powerful way to connect with other people and to pass along important insights through personal experience.

But, don’t be surprised if someone is looking for more solid evidence than anecdotal info. In that case, you might say:

  • • “You seem really interested. Can I recommend a blog with great articles that can help you get a better understanding of kratom?”
  • • “Do you want me to send you the kratom advocacy group so you can learn more?”
  • • “Here’s a reputable online vendor; why don’t you check out the info on their site?”
  • • “Let’s go to my favorite kratom shop together sometime; you can learn a lot from the people there, too.”

It’s almost always a good idea to offer someone more than just stories when you are teaching them about something outside of their comfort zone. Knowledge will help them feel more secure in their interest, so setting them up with a way to get more of that knowledge at their own pace is one of the best things that you can do for someone.

Kratom: A Gift to Share

If kratom has changed the course of your life, it’s only natural that you’ll want to share more about the experience you’ve had with everyone who expresses any interest in kratom. But remember, simply rambling about kratom to someone for hours isn’t going to be the best way to deliver your information.

Instead, consider taking a gentle yet educational approach when you are talking to someone new about kratom. The balance between their personality and your words will create a lot of the person’s first impression of kratom, so it is important to consider your tread carefully and to try to follow their lead.