Mitragyna Speciosa

The leaves of the Mitragyna Speciosa tree, known commonly as kratom, are at the heart of an exciting global movement of all-natural ethnobotanical use. When consumed, kratom’s broad range of physical, mental, and emotional effects can be felt right away. In addition to powerful analgesic, stress-relieving, and mood-enhancing benefits, kratom also works behind the scenes to boost immunity and protect the body from cell damage. This suite of feel-good Mitragyna Speciosa effects have made it one of the most popular new herbal remedies to hit the internet in years. However, its story begins long before the advent of computers.

Where Is Mitragyna Speciosa Grown?
Mitragyna Speciosa is indigenous to the rainforests of Southeast Asia. This deciduous evergreen tree has been a natural resident of these regions for thousands of years or more. It has been used medicinally, ceremonially, and socially among the local people for perhaps hundreds of generations. Today, the modern nations of Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam inhabit those lands, which continue to offer the perfect warm, moist climate for the kratom tree to thrive in.
Kratom was introduced to Europe and the West much later in the timeline, when 1830s Dutch explorer Pieter Korthals discovered and named the Mitragyna Speciosa plant, which in some cases stands up to 100 feet tall. Instantly popular, commercial kratom trade began, and remained largely unfettered until Thailand enacted a ban in 1943 to cut competition with its other natural export – opium. Today, this herb is legally enjoyed all over the world. Kratom’s availability through popular online vendors like Arena Ethnobotanicals has created a global interest in and appreciation for this natural wonder-remedy.

What Are The Physical Effects of Kratom?
The reason for kratom’s renewed and intense popularity can be found within the leaves of the plant. Naturally-occurring organic compounds called alkaloids within Mitragyna Speciosa are known to create powerful effects in the human body and mind when consumed. These alkaloids, like mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, stimulate cell receptors to great effect.
Kratom’s celebrated physical effects include muscle relaxation, soothing of digestive issues, powerful pain relief, increasing of libido, lowering of blood pressure, and anti-oxidant defense.

Mitragyna Speciosa extract has the power to both energize and relax. Often, the difference between the two is determined by both the specific strain that is consumed, as well as the dosage amount. In smaller doses, kratom generally creates a more stimulating physical sensation, whereas larger doses can have more of a sedative effect.

What Are The Mental and Emotional Benefits of Kratom Use?

Kratom is even more famous for its mental and emotional impact. It has been observed toeliminate feelings of worry, stress, and anxiety. Mitragyna Speciosa effects also generate intense mental focus, as well as create a powerful sense of euphoria and joy. All of these feelings are gently and naturally incorporated into a user’s normal activities and outlook, lasting anywhere from 3 to 10 hours.

Long Record of Safety
In all of the years of widespread kratom use, there has not been one recorded case of a serious health condition connected solely to its use. It has not been shown to be physically addictive. In fact, kratom is known as a powerful tool in the amelioration of opiate withdrawal.

As Mitragyna Speciosa leaves has been used for thousands of years, the majority of its case histories are anecdotal. However the continued prevalence of its use as handed down through the generations is in itself powerful proof of its safety.

Where Can You Buy Mitragyna Speciosa?

There are currently many quality online vendors of kratom products, including crushed leaf, powders, extracts, and tinctures. With fully legal distributors operating from the U.S., anyone who’s interested in trying Mitragyna Speciosa dosages can obtain it fairly easily.
How do you pick a trustworthy seller online? The key factors to look at are selection, price, shipping options, customer reviews, and clear policies for satisfaction and privacy. Respected and well-known websites like Arena Ethnobotanicals and Bouncing Bear Botanicals receive high marks in all of these categories – you should never settle for less or risk dissatisfaction with an unknown vendor. As the long, rich history of the Mitragyna Speciosa enters a new renaissance period, a whole new community of kratom enthusiasts is starting to form. They are the new generation, embracing a natural gift that nature has already been sharing with mankind for millennia.

The kratom plant, also known as Mitragyna Speciosa, is the source of one of the most widely-used herbal supplements in recent history. The plant itself, which resembles a leafy green tree, grows to a stately height as tall as 30 feet. But nobody talks about this deciduous rainforest tree for its trunk, roots, or branches. Kratom is a world-famous plant because of its broad green leaves, which are known to create a wide range of health benefits when consumed by humans. Before you sample Mitragyna Speciosa leaves as an herbal remedy, explore all of the basic facts about their source – kratom plants.

Where Does The Kratom Plant Grow?

The kratom plant is indigenous to the jungles of Southeast Asia, specifically the modern countries of Thailand, Bali, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The trees are adorned with dark green leaves, and also small, yellowish flowers. Local cultures have used the leaves for medicinal and ritual purposes for as many as thousands of years. Historically, they called it by many names, including biak biak, ithang, and familiar sounding names like krathom, ketum, and kakuam. But it wasn’t until a Dutch explorer rediscovered the plant in the 1830s that it was introduced to European cultures and formally named “kratom.”

Today, this herb continues to primarily grow in the same regions, though contemporary politics have in some cases made that natural harvesting illegal. You can still find many authentic kratom products originating in Southeast Asia, such as the very popular

What Are The Effects of Eating Kratom?
Long before scientists analyzed the leaves of the kratom tree, traditional users started to identify the many positive effects on mind and body that this plant produces. Time has not diluted the potency of the plant, which is still generates powerful effects when its leaves are chewed or ingested. Effects vary from plant to plant, but here are some of the most common benefits and results:

• Stress relief
• Sedation
• Stomach relief (anti-diahrreal)
• Pain relief (analgesic)
• Enhanced sex drive
• Lowered blood pressure
• Raised immune response
• Cell Protection
• Mental focus
• Energy boost
• Mood enhancement
• Eases symptoms of depression
• Reduced social anxiety

What Gives The Kratom Plant Its Famous Effects?
Kratom is not traditionally processed, refined, or chemically altered. Its effects are completely natural and not manufactured in a lab. Each kratom leaf is packed with naturally-occurring alkaloids. These are simply organic compounds that form in about 25 percent of all plant life. When a plant alkaloid is ingested, it’s molecular structure bonds with receptor sites in human cells and creates new conditions in the mind and body. These changes can be mild or quite profound, and are usually very beneficial. In fact, many prescription medications are designed to mimic the effects of natural alkaloids.

The leaves of the kratom plant are known to contain at least 40 alkaloids. The full extent of benefits provided by these alkaloids is not yet known. It is believed that mitragynine is one of the most prevalent alkaloids in kratom powder and is responsible for many of its main benefits. Other alkaloids of interest include ajmalicine, which is thought to lower blood pressure, epicatechin, a powerful anti-oxidant, and speciophylline, which could fight leukemia.
History of Easing Opiate Dependence
One of the most fascinating uses of the kratom plant historically has been as an aid in stopping opiate dependence. As far back as 1897, scientists published papers recommending the use of kratom to help sufferers of opiate addiction kick their habit. In modern times, 7-hydroxymitragynine has been identified as a possible opiate agonist which bonds to damaged receptors withdrawing from opiates. Many major medical outfits have since also recommended the alkaloid mitragynine for this purpose, including the National Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine in Bangkok, and methadone detox programs in New Zealand.

Is Kratom Safe?
Used responsibly, kratom leaves are completely safe. In fact, there have been no documented cases of any major ill health episodes connected to its use in a hundred years of modern science. Combined with the world-wide stats of the countless users around the globe in that time, safety of kratom is fairly assured.

Are there side effects? Kratom’s potential side effects are generally mild if they occur at all. By respecting dosage guidelines, the vast majority of individuals will not experience any side effects. When taking too much kratom plant for one’s body type, some side effects like nausea or drowsiness may occur. These are typically not long-lasting.
Where Can I Buy Kratom Legally?
Kratom is legal to buy, possess, and ingest just about everywhere in the world.
Where kratom is illegal: Only a few countries have banned its use, including Australia, Thailand, Burma, and Malaysia.

Where kratom is monitored/controlled: There is a small list of countries which have classified kratom as a substance to be watched. These include Russia, South Korea, and possibly the U.K. If you are traveling through these countries, check the current legality of all kratom transaction before you buy.

Is kratom legal in the U.S.? Yes. Kratom is currently legal in every U.S. state except Indiana. Some states, like Arizona, Louisiana, Hawaii, and Vermont are discussing its legal status, so check local government websites for the latest updates if you live in those states.

Otherwise, kratom is easy, safe, and legal to buy online. Web-based wholesalers like Arena Ethnobotanicals offer high-quality products directly to the public. You no longer have to travel to remote rainforests to sample the benefits of the kratom plant. Today, the ancient medicinal is just a click away.

The use of kratom leaf products is on the rise in America. However, the medicinal and social uses of the leaves of this Southeast Asian tree have been going on for a long time. Kratom comes from the Mitragyna Speciosa evergreen tree and has been a mainstay of Thai culture for hundreds of years. Why is this tropical deciduous tree so enduringly popular? When ingested, kratom leaves provide a broad host of health benefits for total mind and body wellness. Let’s explore the powerful effects created by this simple green leaf.

The Many Physical Benefits of Kratom Leaf

Embedded within every kratom leaf are naturally occurring compounds called alkaloids. These alkaloids are the active components that interface with receptors in human cells to create positive physical reactions. There are over 40 potent alkaloids within kratom, each with its own distinct effect on the body.

When kratom is ingested orally, the alkaloids can enter the bloodstream and do their work. Here are just a few of the documented physical benefits the body receives from kratom:

• Lowered blood pressure
• Pain relief (analgesic)
• Increased metabolism
• Increased sexual performance and desire
• Calming of opiate withdrawal
• Control of blood sugar levels
• Anti-oxidant cell protection
• Anti-viral protection
• Anti-bacterial protection
• Overall immunity boost

The wealth of kratom’s benefits for the human body are only beginning to be unlocked and understood. As it continues to gain more widespread use and popularity, more science dollars will be spent to explore its potential as a healing herbal medicinal.

What are the potential physical side effects of kratom leaf use? There are very few. As long as it is used within broad dosage guidelines, side effects are rare and mild. Headache and light nausea are sometimes cited as unwanted side effects, but they go away quickly with water and rest.

Kratom Leaf Is A Tool For Mental Relief
In addition to its physical applications, Kratom has also been observed to have powerful effects on the mind. As with all herbal remedies, these effects can vary based on the particular strain of the plant, as well as the body chemistry of each individual user. However, there are many cognitive benefits that have been shared and confirmed by the global community of users. The incredible mental benefits include:

• Stress relief
• Anxiety relief
• Easing of depression-related symptoms
• Loosening of social fears
• Regulating sleep patterns
• Sedative
• Natural energy booster
• Assists concentration
• Mental stamina to complete large tasks
• Mood enhancer
• Promotes feeling of optimism and joy

All of these mental benefits are derived from an all-natural plant that has not been chemically altered or refined in any way. The kratom leaf is simply plucked from a tree and chewed raw, or dried and crumbled into a dry powder. This is quite a difference from the products of the 80 billion dollar per year psychiatric pharmaceutical industry, which often seek to achieve all of the same above effects via chemical means.

The mental side effects are also minimal. Kratom has not been shown to be addictive. It is not an opiate, even though some users have compared some of kratom’s effects to opiate-like substances. Side effects are mild and not long lasting. They may include either sleeplessness or mental fog. By taking a break from use and resting, the side effects will go away fairly quickly.

Unlocking Spiritual Growth With Kratom
There is a potential with kratom use to achieve benefits that transcend the mind and the body. The leaves of the Mitragyna Speciosa tree may have been used for thousands of years ceremonially, as local tribal cultures incorporated it into spiritual rituals. Today, the modern user can use the ethnobotanical medicinal in conjunction with common spiritual pursuits like meditation. Kratom’s deeply relaxing and clarifying properties – both physical and mental – can lead the user into the kind of relaxed and contemplative state that is a part of spiritual practices and explorations from all denominations and all walks of life. Some people even describe Kratom as producing a natural high.

Kratom leaves have also been observed by users to combine in viscerally pleasing ways with gentle outdoor activities, making it the perfect partner for communion with the natural world. The peaceful, euphoric feeling reported by many kratom herb fans is not entirely dissimilar to what devotees throughout history have described as “religious experiences.” Whether you choose to enjoy using Kratom crushed leaves for its physical, mental, or even spiritual health benefits is up to you. In all cases, this herb and its powerful alkaloids will positively enhance your total state of well-being.

Most scientific and first-hand reports you read about the effects of the natural botanical Mitragyna Speciosa mention the power of kratom alkaloids. What are these somewhat mysterious and powerful components of the popular kratom leaf? Some people enjoy this herb for years without considering where its psychoactive, body-rejuvenating, mood-enhancing properties come from. But it’s not a magic trick. Let’s break down what the alkaloids in kratom are, and the excellent benefits they give to users.

What Are Alkaloids And Why Are They Important

Don’t be intimidated by the name. An alkaloid is simply a naturally occurring compound that is found in organic plant life. It is not, as some assume, created in a lab or stoked into existence by a chemistry experiment.

Quick facts about alkaloids:

• Made primarily of nitrogen.
• Occur in a broad range of plants and fungi.
• Most concentrated in the leaves of a plant.
• Often have medicinal benefits for humans.
• Famous for bitter taste.

Modern medicine has drawn heavily from these natural compounds. In fact, many synthetic chemical medications are actually based upon the design of plant-derived alkaloids.
The 3 Main Psychoactive Kratom Alkaloids

The kratom tree, also known as Mitragyna Speciosa, is known to contain at least 40 distinct alkaloids in various concentrations. The amount and variety varies based on the qualities of each individual strain, and where and how it is grown. Each alkaloid has unique interactions with the human body and account for many different health benefits.

The primary kratom alkaloids found in all of the plants are mitragynine, speciogynine, and paynantheine. Of these, mitragynine gets the most attention and credit as the provider of kratom’s famous psychoactive effects. It is not an opioid, but may behave like one. However, contemporary medical research and testing has only recently began in earnest, so the exact nature of how mitragynine binds to receptors in the body and the results it produces are not fully known.

Health Benefits of The Broad Range of Kratom Alkaloids
Almost all of the rest of the alkaloids found in kratom are what we call Yohimbe-type indoles and oxindoles. These compounds behave in similar ways to the alkaloids found in Yohimbe, but without the addictive properties of opioids. Here are just a few of the prominent alkaloids and the effects upon the body they are thought to have:

• Ajmalicine – increases oxygen to the brain
• Ajmalicine – lowers blood pressure
• Mitraphylline – muscle relaxer
• Speciophylline
• Epicatechin – antioxidant

The Best Ways To Experience the Benefits of Alkaloids

So, how do you get the benefits of kratom alkaloids? You must introduce them to your bloodstream. This can be easily achieved by a few different methods.
Chewing: This was the original method for delivering this herb into the bloodstream. By chewing on raw, fresh kratom herb leaves picked right off of the tree, indigenous people in Southeast Asia were able to gain the health benefits without any preparation required. The leaves were not to be swallowed – the action of chewing plus the acids in saliva released the alkaloids into the system. This method is still practiced where kratom grows naturally today.

Eating kratom powder with food: By drying and crushing the leaves, then grinding them into a powder, kratom may be added to any food and eaten normally. This method is popular as it masks the botanical’s sometimes bitter taste, and has led to countless innovations and home Kratom recipes over the years, as home chefs and enthusiasts constantly devise newer and tastier ways to eat their favorite plant.

Drinking powder-infused beverages. Mixing the powder into a liquid beverage or brewing it into a pot of kratom tea is also a very popular way to consume it. Mixing with orange juice is the most widely-used method of drinking kratom, with hot, honey-infused tea coming in a close second. Either method significantly sweetens the bitter taste of the plant.

Smoking: Yes, it is possible to smoke dried kratom leaf, but most users world-wide do not prefer this method. Why? It is the least efficient way to get kratom alkaloids into the blood. In fact, it is thought that this method strips the leaf of many of its powerful alkaloids. So, most user reviews agree that eating it in some form is best.

Whichever method you prefer for delivering kratom alkaloids into the blood, make sure you start with high quality product, and select a strain and dosage that is right for your body and its particular chemistry. This process may take practice and patience to get just right. Don’t know where to start? It’s always a good idea to consult with what other users have said. Most of the major kratom store websites, like Bouncing Bear Botanicals, feature user testimonials that will point you in the right direction.

Thailand is the native home of the Kratom tree where it has been cultivated and harvested by the local populations for thousands of years. The Kratom plant – also known as Mitragyna Speciosa – grows fruitfully in the south of the country where it is referred to as Kakuam and Ithang. It has been used as a natural mood enhancer by Thai people as well as in in folk medicine to treat diarrhea and other common ailments. It is popular among manual laborers and truck drivers who take it for an energy lift in the place of energy drinks which can cause over-stimulation and anxiety.

Kratom History in Thailand
Kratom use is also tied up in Thailand with the history of opium which is abundant in the country. Individuals addicted to opium would substitute it with the much safer Kratom leaf which provided milder effects. One would then be able to wean themselves off their addiction to opium by slowly taking less and less Kratom every day while avoiding withdrawal symptoms.

It is this relationship between Kratom and opium that caused the plant to be banned in Thailand in 1943. As use of Mitragyna Speciosa continued to grow, it cut into the opium tax revenues collected by the government. The Thai government imposed highly lucrative taxes on traders and shops involved in the opium trade. But as more people started substituting opiate drugs for the less expensive Kratom, the government started to see declining tax revenues. This prompted them to interfere with the sale of Kratom and in 1943 they passed the Kratom Act 2846.

This Act made Kratom and its alkaloids a controlled and scheduled substance within Thailand. Possession of the herbal product was made illegal and the law demanded that no new Kratom trees could be planted. The act also required that all existing trees were to be cut down and destroyed so that no new leaves could be harvested. However, enforcement of this law was not very effective since the tree is naturally indigenous to the region. Many traditional populations especially in the south of the nation continued to grow and use Kratom.

In some other parts of the country, people started to replace Mitragyna Speciosa with other related plants that were thought to provide some degree of similar effects. A popular legal alternative was Mitragyna Javanica or Mitragyna Parvifolia which was cultivated in the place of Kratom. However, almost everyone will agree that M. Javanica is not as effective because it does not contain the same precise alkaloid mix as the original Kratom herb.

Current Legal Status
Nowadays, if you purchase Thai Kratom online, it is usually grown in some other local and simply branded with the name Thai for marketing purposes. The Thai Kratom strain that you buy may in fact come from Indonesia, particularly the island of Borneo where much of the Kratom sold in the USA originates. The most popular form of Thai Kratom is the Red Vein variety, but the White and Green types are also frequently sought after. Red Vein Thai is said to be slightly energizing, very relaxing and a powerful pain reliever. The Thai strain is viewed as ideal for new users of Kratom powder, but even experienced users will stock it in their collection.

More recently, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board has looked at decriminalizing Kratom in Thailand because it is an integral part of Thai culture. It is also likely that they want to be able to export Kratom to the large North American market. This business is currently dominated by other countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, but Thailand has always had a reputation of producing the best quality plants. There is also a growing push to legalize it to help people with opium withdrawal symptoms. It is viewed as the best detoxification method for treating these patients.

At present, Thailand is the only country that classifies Kratom as a narcotic. But proposed legislation will change that by taking this herb off of the narcotics list. The bill is being sponsored by Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri who comes from the southern part of the country where it is an important part of society. Much of the concerns about decriminalizing Kratom comes from fears that it is heavily abused, makes people high or is very addictive.

Politicians in Thailand are striking back against these claims by pointing out that Kratom does not make people high and that it is less addictive than the caffeine in coffee. According to a report put out by the Narcotics Control Board, Kratom possesses limited health dangers or risk of abuse and causes no social harm. They have concluded that the only reason it was banned was for economic reasons as opposed to any genuine issues related to health.

In fact, in Thailand there is already a general cultural appreciation of the many health benefits that Kratom offers. It contains mitragynine which is an alkaloid that can stimulate receptors in the body for endorphins. These natural neurochemicals protect against pain and make you feel better overall. Kratom is seen as a preferred alternative to morphine and other harsh pain drugs which usually have serious side effects. When compared to morphine, Kratom is 10 time weaker but can still dramatically reduce pain symptoms without the risk of addiction. There are also no adverse effects for respiratory function and Kratom displays a much lower prevalence of causing nausea. Kratom’s position in Thai society is one of great importance and it is likely that the law will be changed soon to reflect that long history.

The last decade has seen an increased demand for herbal alternatives to prescription drugs – especially for anxiety treatments, anti-depressants, concentrating aids and pain medications. Many of the drugs prescribed by doctors today for these purposes are addictive and have a high risk of side effects. There is also growing interest in exploring herbs that can improve your health, help you feel better both physically and emotionally, and give you more energy. The wilk Kratom herb fills all of these roles and have been used for hundreds of years for its natural medicinal properties. It is revered in Thailand as an analgesic, a stimulant that provides smoother, less jittery energy compared to caffeine, and an anxiolytic that can boost your productivity and your state of mind.

Kratom is the colloquial name for the Mitragyna Speciosa tree which grows in parts of Asia such as Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Malaysia. The leaves of this tree have psychoactive properties and are used as herbal remedies in curing ailments like headaches, diarrhea and fatigue. Traditional peoples in these areas would use the Kratom herb by chewing the fresh, undried leaves or by drying the leaves and preparing it as a tea. This herb contains natural active compounds like mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine that give it both a pain relieving and mood enhancing effects. It is also used by local populations as an energy supplement to help them deal with strenuous agriculture-based work in the fields.

Herb Research Kratom
There are several different types of the Kratom herb based on the strain of tree that the leaves come from as well as the color of the central vein in the leaves. Kratom strains are normally named after their geographic local with popular options including Borneo, Bali, Malay, Indo and Thai strains. Depending on which strain you select, this herb can give you a highly stimulated state of mind or a more sedated and subdued mentality. The effects that you can expect will also be determined based on whether the central vein in the leaf is colored red or green or white.

Red veined leaves have a higher concentration of the 7-hydroxymitragynine alkaloid which is believed to cause the analgesic and euphoric qualities of Mitragynine Speciosa. As such, red Kratom is characterized as providing potent pain relief while helping you to calm your mind and body. Red veined trees are also said to be more abundant which is why the red leaves tend to be the cheapest and most widely available.

On the other hand, white veined leaves are observed to contain more mitragynine which gives this herb a highly energizing nature. White Kratom is commonly said to increase your cognitive energy levels. It can create a feeling as though your brain is working faster than normal and allow you to focus more intently. Consuming while Kratom does not result in an intense energy rush like caffeine, but instead leads to increased mental wakefulness and attentiveness. The Green veined type of Kratom is sometimes grouped in with White Vein since they do share a lot of properties in common. However, most users will tell you that the Green Kratom herb falls somewhere in between Red and White on the spectrum of benefits and effects.

Instead of using a single strain or color of Kratom powder at once, most traditional users are observed to mix different colors together to get the benefits of both. Blending Kratom leaves like this can give you a better-rounded and more balanced experience. It may prevent over-stimulation while also causing you to not be drowsy or excessively tired and it can result in the effects being spread out over a longer period of time.

Grading Potency & Strength
These differences between strains and leaf vein colors are important, but they do not tell the whole story of the wild Kratom plant. You will also see different grades of Kratom advertised online as Commercial, Premium, Super, and Ultra Enhanced. These differences between these are somewhat vague and often the names are only applied for branding purposes. In general, the commercial grade leaves are supposed to be cheaper and weaker while Super and Ultra Enhanced powders are considered more expensive and higher quality.

Weather and other environmental conditions, the age of the tree, preparation techniques such as how the leaf is dried and the type of extraction method used all determine the potency of the Kratom herb. Potency of this herbal remedy is measured by the alkaloid content of the leaves. However, there is great diversity in the industry when it comes to quality and there is no standard process for measuring the percentage of active alkaloids in the leave. Also, when using a natural product like Kratom, stronger is not always better. The benefits of this tree seem to follow an inverted U-shaped curve where taking too much can actually decrease positive results and cause more negative effects.

Natural Properties of Kratom
The unique mix of Kratom’s medicinal benefits comes from the diversity of alkaloid interplay in the leaves of this tree. There are over 25 different alkaloids which combine together and some 40 total active compounds. This is what makes the Kratom herb so appealing to people who do not want to use lab-created synthetic drugs. Most prescription drugs will only give you one chemical at a time that only acts in one way and can easily cause addiction, overdose or tolerance.
Kratom has many counterbalancing natural alkaloids which can prevent this risk and is less likely to cause addiction compared to pharmaceutical pain killers and the likes. For example, the alkaloids in Kratom are known to stimulate the mu-opioid receptors which makes it a good replacement for certain pain medicines. But these alkaloids also act as NMDA channel blockers in the brain which may reduce the addictive potential of this herb and prevent you from developing a dependence on this natural compound. Other pharmaceuticals do not have the same dynamic mix of effects, leading to heightened risk of tolerance and dependence.

The Kratom herb has been used for centuries by indigenous populations and is considered to be very safe when taking as directed. Some people do abuse it by using excessive amounts or relying on it every day for an extended period of time. However, the same can be said for using coffee or many other psychoactive natural products. If you control your use of this herb, you will not develop an addiction and will not suffer any sort of withdrawal or tolerance issues. Kratom is an effective herb for promoting relaxation, getting rid of stress, helping you feel better and perking you up when you’re feeling tired or drained. Consider trying the Kratom herb today if you want to experience all of these benefits for yourself.

Mitragyna Speciosa is a tropical tree with large, green leaves that grows in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. It is part of the Rubiaceae family of plants which makes it a close relative of the tree from which coffee beans are derived. Mitragyna Speciosa is famous as the source of Kratom leaves – a mind-altering herbal medicament also known as kakuam, ithan, thom, ketum and biak-biak. Kratom is chewed or made into a tea with the psychoactive properties of increasing energy, improving mood, reducing stress and eliminating pain. It has been used since ancient times by rural workers to increase productivity while putting them in a better mood. Mitragyna Speciosa started being imported to North America in the early 2000’s and has become one of the top selling ethnobotanical products available.

What is Mitragyna Speciosa?
The name Mitragyna Speciosa was coined for this plant by Dutch botanist Pieter Willem Korthals some one hundred and fifty years ago. He thought that the leaves of this lush green tree resembled the characteristic pointy white hat that bishops wore in the Netherlands. The hat is known as a Mitre which naturally lead to the name Mitragyna. Korthals also documented the use of Mitragyna Speciosa in southern parts of Thailand where it is a traditional plant.

The Kratom Tree
Raw Kratom leaves were chewed by rural populations for thousands of years, holding an equivalent place in their society as the Western world views coffee. The growth and use of Mitragyna Speciosa was banned for a long time in Thailand – not due to a perceived health risk, but rather because it posed competition for the international opium trade. However, the tree is indigenous to this region and the law was never successfully enforced with full efficacy. Now, health officials in Thailand have stated that there is low risk of side effects or abuse from Mitragyna Speciosa use
The Kratom tree grows to between 12 – 30 feet and can be as wide as 15 feet in circumference. Some trees will grow as high as 95 feet if given the right conditions of a wet and warm climate. The leaves are dark green in color and weigh between 500 mg to 2 grams each. The tree is also recognizable by the presence of yellowish flowers that can grow containing small, flat seeds. Mitragyna Speciosa also features the rare property of being either deciduous or evergreen depending on the environment it is grown in.

Active Compounds
Mitragyna Speciosa leaves contain 40 distinct active compounds with 25 alkaloids. This is what gives the Kratom leaf so many unique traits and mechanisms of action in the body. The most prominent alkaloids are mitragynine, mitraphylline and 7-hydroxymitragynine – all of which are unique to this species. These alkaloids have positive implications for pain, depression, anxiety and fatigue, binding to a number of different neurotransmitter receptors through the nervous system. Higher alkaloid content is found in older Mitragyna Speciosa trees especially in tropical climates with slightly acid soils

There are other species of Mitragyna growing in Asia as well, but none have the same potent mix of alkaloids as the original. Some examples of related plants include Mitragyna Javanica, M. Tubulosa, >M. Parvifolia, M. Hirsuta, M. Diversifolia, M. Rotundifolia and M. Kuntze. M. Ciliate, M. Inermis, M. Stipulosa and M. Africanus. There has been some experimentation with using these leaves for pain relief but in general the other species are viewed as not as effective

Using Mitragyna Speciosa
Mitragyna Speciosa is classified into several different strains and then divided into different colors of vein – either red, white or green central veins. Each of these varieties has unique properties and distinct psychoactive effects. Some strains like Green Maeng Da and White Borneo are considered to be very stimulating and energizing while other strains like Red Bali or Red Thai are said to be calming and sedating. Finally, when buying Mitragyna Speciosa the leaves are classified into different grades depending on the alkaloid content and the quality of the leaf. You will see high quality grades sold with names like Ultra Enhanced, Super or Premium and low quality grades are labelled as Commercial or Wholesale.
Today, it is possible to buy Mitragyna Speciosa in several different formats like crushed leaves to make Kratom Tea or a fine ground powder. One can also purchase capsules filled with the powder to make for more convention consumption. Another option that you may consider is Kratom FST extract which is a more concentrated form of the alkaloids in the plant. The extracts are sold in a number of forms such as a solid resin, a liquid tincture or a powdered extract. It is even possible to buy seeds online or to purchase live Kratom plants. Using Mitragyna Speciosa offers the interested individual a number of benefits, but you should make sure to read up on proper administration techniques to ensure that you know how to use it safely and appropriately.