Origins of Kratom
There are now an estimated 3 to 5 million U.S. citizens using Kratom. It has become increasingly popular in the last decade, which begs the question as to why that is?
Kratom isn’t new by any means and has been used for centuries. So, why are we all now talking about it?
In this article, we’re going to go over the origins of kratom and provide you with the full history of it and why so many people are now using it.
Let’s get started.
What Is Kratom?
Before we get into the history of Kratom, let’s take a look at what exactly kratom is. Kratom is a plant that is indigenous to Southeast Asia.
The leaves of the tree are removed, dried out, and crushed into either a powder or pill form. It is then consumed for its natural solution to stress relief.
The tree thrives in tropical landscapes such as in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is directly related to the coffee plant.
Besides having stress-relieving qualities, kratom can also either give a stimulating feeling or have a calming effect, depending on the type of kratom consumed.
There are several different kinds of kratom that are consumed, but before we get into those, let’s move onto the origins of kratom.
The Origins of Kratom
As we said before, kratom has been used for thousands of years, but it didn’t really start becoming popular until the late 1800s. Traditionally, villagers in Southeast Asia have used it for therapeutic uses.
It was during this time that the discovery of kratom came from a botanist named Pieter Willem Korthals who documented the villager’s use of it.
Although Korthals documented the villager’s use of it, there hasn’t much recorded other than the villagers would chew the leaves for its natural qualities and use it as a cheaper form of opium.
Although it thrives in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, kratom is illegal now in both Thailand and Malaysia. In the U.S. it’s legal in most states, but not all.
Alabama, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Vermont, and Indiana have all made it illegal to use or sell kratom. Alabama has kratom listed as a schedule 1 controlled substance.
Uses of Kratom
Kratom can behave differently when consumed in higher or lower doses. When consumed in a higher dose, it can act as an opiate. With lower doses, it can act as a stimulant.
Kratom has an ingredient called Mitragynine, which is an alkaloid that behaves much like opioids but with little to none of the bad side effects.
Traditional Uses
Kratom has been used as an opiate since the 19th century because its effects are so close to those of opioids. Although kratom is very similar, it has never been recorded to cause death when used and consumed in its traditional way.
Kratom has been used to help wean people off of opiates. A scientist named H. Ridley recorded that local villagers were using the kratom to help addicts.
Besides using it for natural medicine, villagers would also chew on the leaves while working to stay focused and energized. This was most popular with laborers who had mostly physically-demanding jobs.
Modern Uses
Today, kratom is used for several different purposes. Consumers can get red vein kratom for its calming and stress-relieving qualities. This could be used for headaches or any other type of body aches.
It is also commonly used to provide energy throughout the day, very similar to coffee. When using veins such as white, you can receive a jolt of energy with none of the bad side effects.
There are many other uses depending on the strain and vein used. Let’s look at the types of kratom.
Species of Kratom
There are four primary species of kratom, and they all provide different effects when consumed. Here are the different varieties of kratom and how they can affect you.
Maeng Da
Meaning “Pimp Grade,” Maeng Da grows primarily in Thailand. It’s one of the most popular types of kratom because it’s the strongest strain with energizing effects.
Thai
Rather then the strongest strain, Thai is instead the longest-lasting strain. It also has a more calming effect rather than energizing.
Malaysia
This strain of kratom can give you a relaxing effect with a high dosage or a stimulating effect with a low dosage.
Bali
The Bali strain is almost identical to Malaysia and can have the same effects.
Veins of Kratom
After understanding each strain, you can now move onto the veins. Within each strain, there are also veins that further describe the effects.
White Vein
This is the most energizing vein that offers a great energy boost.
Green Vein
This kratom vein is also emerging and can give you an uplifting feeling.
Red Vein
Opposite of green and white vein, red vein offers a relaxing and calming feeling. It’s also the most lasting vein.
Benefits of Kratom
When you consume this natural herb, it has a stress relief effect throughout your body and also supplies it when positive energy.
The benefits of kratom depend on which strain and vein you consume.
Should You Use Kratom?
The origins of kratom came all the way from Southeast Asia. The plant has been used for centuries, and it now offers consumers many natural benefits here in the United States!
When used and consumed properly, kratom is a great way to naturally reduce stress and boost energy levels,
If you choose to try kratom, make sure that you buy it from a reputable source. You’re putting it into your body, so using quality products is important.
If you have questions about kratom or would like to learn more, head over to our blog page!