mitragynine

Kratom Strains, Colors, and More: A Phyto Guide

by

So you’ve dipped your toes in the proverbial kratom pond. You’ve looked around; you’ve decided to give kratom a try. But you’re suddenly being bombarded with dozens of different varieties, names, and words that you don’t really understand.

Where do you go from here?

All that you need is a simple, straightforward guide to the strains and colors of kratom and what they should mean to you. We’ve got you covered! Today, we’re putting together that very guide so that all kratom users, new and experienced, can gain the most complete understanding of what they’re looking at when browsing kratom.

Why Are There Different Kratom Varieties?

Those new to kratom might be wondering how it is that one plant can come in different varieties when it reaches the market. The difference lies in the growth and methodology, not so much in the plant itself.

When kratom leaves are harvested, they then need to be dried, blended, and then packaged as they will be sold. Depending on where the tree grew and how the conditions were, the exact makeup of the plant will differ.

Then, the drying method will change the final chemical composition of the leaves. The final product depends completely on what type of process the leaf went through when it was grown to when it was dried after harvesting. All of the differences of kratom varieties come about during these parts of the process!

How Kratom Colors Are Classified

When you browse kratom varieties, you’ll likely see that kratom is usually divided by Red, Green, and White varieties. There are a few specialty colors that might pop up from time to time like Gold or Yellow, but most will be Red, Green, or White.

Over the years, there has been some dissent within the kratom community about what the meaning of these colors truly is in the industry. Is it a marketing effort? Is it based on the color of the leaves? Or is it something else?

In our opinion, it’s a bit of all of them! Certain leaves have colored veins, which lead them to be a specific variety, and the marketing component can’t be overlooked either.

Drying Matters Most!

Ultimately, however, the color of kratom often has a lot to do with the way that it was dried! Green leaves are usually dried indoors for 80% of their drying time while whites are dried inside in the dark. Red leaves are given more sun exposure via outdoor drying or UV lighting, depending on the variety.

Often, the variation between red and white kratom will be more simply explained as red being more “mature” and white being “younger.” In terms of overall light and sun exposure, this is true, but the terminology can be quite confusing. 

The only way to be absolutely sure about what the color terminology means in regards to your kratom is to ask the supplier or vendor that you are purchasing from. They will be able to give you the most accurate information about what you should expect from the kratom.

All About Kratom Strains

In addition to seeing a lot of different color words used when marketing kratom, you are likely to have also seen a lot of different strain names such as Maeng Da Thai or Red Bali. What are these strain names, and how are they decided?

Today, we’ll attempt to unravel some of the confusion that exists about strain names and their origins.

Strain Names: What Do They Mean?

There are a lot of specific strain names that are well-used and well-known:

  • • Red Bali
  • • Maeng Da
  • • Borneo
  • • Super Green Malaysian
  • • … and more!

All of these names seem to have specific meanings, but do the kratom varieties truly align with their names?

Yes and no.

Originally, kratom sellers would create the names for their kratom based on where it came from or what experience it would give you. Bali kratom, for example, may have originally been grown solely in Bali, but now the name may refer to the strain’s lineage (where the seeds came from), or even to different strains that have comparable alkaloid profiles.

Many of the origins of kratom strain names have similar stories. Some names, like Borneo kratom, were originally given to the strain because the kratom was grown there. Now, however, the name doesn’t always indicate where the particular leaves were harvested.

Instead, the name indicates the specific style, content, and processing method that the kratom was created with. 

What To Expect From Specific Strains

As mentioned above, kratom strain names might not always match up with the location that the kratom originates from, but the stain names do consistently describe specific attributes of the kratom itself.

Red Bali kratom, for example, is known for its high alkaloid content, but it tends to be grown in Sumatra because of the more consistent growing conditions. 

Thus, the strain names are assigned to kratom based on:

  • • The conditions the trees were grown in
  • • The alkaloid content
  • • The drying method
  • • The processing

These four factors are what makes up a specific strain of kratom, and you can expect different effects from the kratom supplement depending on how exactly it falls into these four categories.

Are New And Unique Strains Trustworthy?

Now that you know more about how the strains are named and what the colors mean, you might be wondering if you can trust a strain like a Platinum Maeng Da Thai or Gold Malaysian blend. Do these blends fit the pattern, and what would they be like?

Our belief is that as long as you make your purchase from reputable vendors, you can give any strain a chance! Reliable vendors will explain the strain and its attributes in their product descriptions, so use that info to get an idea of what to expect when you try something new.

Improving Kratom’s Future

As you can see, understanding what to expect from kratom when the names are so confusing and seemingly randomly assigned can be overwhelming. We support organizations such as the American Kratom Association that are pushing for more clarity in the kratom industry because it would better inform and protect consumers like you.

Among other things, we believe that GMP compliant processing, testing, and marketing is going to be a requirement in the future. Until then, we will do our best to ensure that you can get a clear understanding of our products! As always, feel free to contact us with any questions that you might have.

What is Kratom? All About Mitragyna Speciosa

by

Have you been hearing about a new product called kratom and have no idea what it is? Wondering why so many people seem to be enthralled by this unique product and all that it is has to offer?

Don’t worry; you’re not the only one! Despite the surge of popularity that kratom has seen in recent years, it is still a relatively unknown substance when you look at the entire population. Many people assume that it is something illegal or dangerous, but they would be wrong in doing so.

Today, we’ll be introducing kratom in more detail so that you can get a clear answer about what it is, what it isn’t, and what you should know about this unique botanical. Let’s get started!

Defining Kratom

The first thing that you need to know is what kratom is! Kratom is a plant. Specifically, it is a tree that is native to southern Asia where warm and wet climates help this deciduous tree grow big and strong. There are huge forests of kratom trees in Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, and other neighboring regions as well.

Kratom is one of the largest tropical trees; it can tower to heights of over 70 feet when the conditions are optimal. People that are trying kratom, however, are more interested in what kratom has to offer them and not as interested in how tall it can grow!

What’s So Special About The Kratom Tree?

If it’s not the height of the Kratom tree that makes it interesting, what is it that people find attractive about this plant?

Kratom is a kind of tree that is part of the coffee family, and its Latin name is Mitragyna speciosa. There are about seven different trees in this species, but kratom is the most well-known variety. Kratom trees and similar varieties contain what are known as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Both of these compounds are types of alkaloids, and alkaloids are substances that can have effects on your body. Common alkaloids include the caffeine in coffee or tea and the quinine in tonic water.

In short, kratom tree leaves contain special plant compounds that interact with your body when consumed!

Why Do People Take Kratom?

Before we get too much deeper into the history of kratom and how it is used, let’s talk about why people are taking it. Does anyone you know use kratom? Have they told you why they are using it?

If you’ve only heard about kratom in passing, you might not yet have a good idea of why there are people that use this botanical daily, if not more frequently. 

Most kratom consumers are using this plant because they feel that it helps improve their quality of life and makes their days better. They may have specific issues they hope to address, and different people use kratom for a wide variety of different reasons.

The American Kratom Association has estimated that perhaps 10-15 million people in the United States use kratom every week!

The History of Kratom

Kratom has been used in the areas where it is native for hundreds of years, if not longer. The tree has many traditional and medicinal uses in the areas where it is native, and the local cultures have found ways to incorporate it into their belief systems and rituals for a long time.

Most commonly, Southeast Asian cultures have used kratom leaves in the following ways:

  • • Brewed as a tea
  • • Chewed on the leaves

Today, the kratom leaves are still used in these ways, but it’s more common to see the international populations that are using kratom to grind it into a fine powder before consuming the leaves instead of using the more traditional consumption methods.

Consuming Kratom Today

How do people use the kratom once it is ground into a fine powder? There are a lot of different ways that the kratom can then be consumed, but we’ll briefly introduce the most common methods.

Some people create Kratom tea from the powder; others put the powder into capsules and take it directly. You can even make a tincture with the powder to try a different intake method. Ultimately, the best method for you is going to depend on your taste and your needs, so you will want to try out a few different methods to get it right for you and your body.

The Legal Issue of Kratom

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention one big aspect of kratom: its pending legal status. At the time of writing, kratom is still fully legal in most states, though there are some states that are considering restrictions on its use. If you search kratom online, you might even find some articles about the supposed dangers of kratom.

At the same time, you may also know that some states have passed a law that protects both kratom consumers and the kratom industry, requiring reasonable regulation on all kratom products. Look for more states to pass the Kratom Consumer Protection Act in the upcoming legislative session.

Unfortunately, there hasn’t been enough research done about kratom yet, so there are a lot of incorrect or misrepresented stories about kratom out there. Most of the situations covered in these stories were caused by misuse of kratom or by vendors that were selling impure kratom. 

Our Stance on Kratom

Here at Phytoextractum, we ensure that all of the products we sell are of the highest quality. We believe it is very important that vendors are held responsible for the quality of their products, and that is why we support the ongoing efforts by the American Kratom Association to encourage all vendors to follow Good Manufacturing Procedures.

We believe that Kratom can be a completely safe and productive botanical as long as it is used, managed, and created responsibly. It is our hope to be able to provide only high-quality and lab tested products to you!

Is It Time To Try?

Now that you know a little bit more about kratom, are you interested in giving it a try?

If so, we welcome you to take a look at the different strains, colors, and consumption styles of kratom we have available here at Phytoextractum! If you have any additional questions or concerns about kratom, check out our resources or message us to get more information. We hope that we can help you explore the world of kratom with ease!

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!

Lab Testing: Why Buying Lab Tested Kratom Is Important

by

Researching Kratom strains, powders, and vendors will often bring you to these words: lab tested Kratom. Often, sites (ours included!) will talk about why buying Kratom from a vendor that does lab testing for quality on their Kratom is important.

But what exactly does that mean, and why does it matter so much?

We think it’s important for Kratom consumers to be able to make informed decisions about the products that they buy and the vendors that they buy from. To be able to do this, you’ll need to know a bit more about what lab testing Kratom involves, how companies do it, and why it matters so much. Let’s get into it!

What Is Kratom Lab Testing?

Like with all botanicals, it is possible to run Kratom through a series of tests at an accredited testing laboratory to ensure that the powder is what the supplier says that it is.

In the case of Kratom lab testing, the testing is usually done to ensure all of the following:

  • • Identity, i.e. that the plant material is actually Kratom
  • • No pathogens or other contaminants present
  • • Sample does not contain high levels of heavy metals
  • • Kratom isn’t mixed with an undisclosed substance
  • • Amount of common alkaloids, mitragynine, and 7-hydroxymitragynine
  • • Alkaloids are real

For most commercially available Kratom, the amount of mitragynine present is not typically more than 2%. There is usually even less 7-hydroxymitragynine in any given substance unless it has been processed further into a tincture or extract.

As far as pathogens, it is possible that Kratom that is not processed safely by the supplier could contain the following:

  • • Coliforms
  • • Salmonella
  • • Mold or yeast

Finally, the following heavy metals should be tested for in Kratom supplies:

  • • Arsenic
  • • Lead
  • • Mercury
  • • Cadmium
  • • Nickel

When a Kratom seller tests their supply in a lab, they are typically testing for pathogens, metals, and alkaloid content to ensure that their customers will only be sold high-quality Kratom that is not dangerous to use.

Why Is Kratom Lab Testing Important?

The biggest reason that Kratom lab testing is important is to ensure both the safety and the quality of the product that is being sold to Kratom consumers.

Contaminated Kratom can cause illnesses such as a Staph or Salmonella infection, and both of these conditions can be dangerous if not treated properly. If a Kratom user gets sick from their Kratom, they might not even know that either of these infections is a risk to them!

For that reason, it’s very important that vendors do their due diligence and have their supplies regularly tested for quality and safety purposes. Without testing, they could be accidentally giving their customers an adulterated or contaminated product.

Testing is always important when consumables are being sold, and that truth is no different when it comes to Kratom.

Advocating For Safety Testing

Another reason that it is very important to test Kratom for safety is to help dispel many of the misunderstandings and misconceptions about Kratom consumption that are commonly spread.

Kratom consumption is currently a grey zone in terms of its legality. While it has not been banned in most places, it is also not regulated in most places. Instead, Kratom waits somewhere in the middle. And all it takes is one bad batch of Kratom for it to be ruled illegal and dangerous.

As a Kratom vendor, it is part of our responsibility to the community to help prove that Kratom can be safe when used and vetted properly. Like anything that you eat, it can be dangerous if the supplier was not honest about its source. For that reason, it is incredibly important to test Kratom.

Having solid testing proof about the composition and safety of Kratom – in the form of Certificates of Analysis from accredited labs – will help to advocate for its regulation as a safe and beneficial supplement. Any vendor that sells a product without testing is putting both their customers and the entire Kratom community at risk due to bad products.

How To Know If Lab Testing Was Done

Now we’ve come to another difficult part of understanding what goes into lab testing Kratom: how do you know that the testing was completed?

First, you’ll need to check the website of the vendor in question. Because there are not yet any widespread systems of proving whether a vendor tests their product or not, you will need to a little bit of research on your own.

Some vendors have worked with the AKA – American Kratom Association – to show that they regularly test their product and have other Good Manufacturing Practices in place, and this may be noted on their website by a seal that they are GMP Qualified.

If you do not see evidence of lab testing on a company’s website or marketing materials, ask for Certificates of Analysis. Any reputable vendor should be willing to provide you with this document that guarantees lab testing and quality assurance.

Without the legitimate proof demonstrated by Certificates of Analysis, it will be up to you to do the investigative legwork and decide whether or not you believe vendor claims that they tested a product.

Our Testing Policy

Here at Phytoextractum, we are very proud of our commitment to only selling high quality products that pass lab testing and meet all of our other rigorous standards.

In fact, we were one of the first companies to be recognized by AKA as a GMP Qualified Kratom Vendor!

This means that we have proven to AKA, through an independent third-party audit, that we follow all of the standards for both processing and manufacturing Kratom to ensure our customers’ safety. You can read our final audit report which confirmed our status as GMP qualified here.

We hope that today’s article has helped you to get a more complete understanding of what it is that we mean when we say that we are dedicated to lab testing our products to ensure that you are getting the highest quality Kratom that we can possibly offer to you at this time.