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Kratom arrived in the US 20 years ago and took the natural medicine field by storm. But it’s not novel: its traditional use spans centuries. It’s a well-known, well-loved recreational, healing and ceremonial substance in Asian cultures.
How did Kratom spread and persist through the ages? And how did we get to the current situation where it’s seen as both a cure and a threat?
Join us to discover Kratom’s story in all its controversial glory. We discuss its emergence, early uses and spread across the globe. Besides looking back, we make educated guesses about its future.
The Kratom tree appears naturally in the wilderness. Controlled cultivation started in the 20th century, but consumption began long before.
We don’t have an exact date but existing information suggests centuries-long use. The earliest references to Kratom consumption come from manuscripts detailing herbal preparations and religious ceremonies.
Let’s introduce Kratom to understand the context surrounding it.
Kratom is a Southeast Asian evergreen tree from the coffee family. We also refer to it by its botanical name, Mitragyna speciosa. It grows in tropical jungles and can reach heights of over 80 feet. Its leaves contain two active compounds that interact with the human body.
These chemicals are responsible for Kratom’s effects and much of its popularity.
Kratom leaf veins shift color with age, which reflects their changing chemical contents. Leaves begin white, then turn green and finally red as they reach maturity. As this happens, their effect profile transitions from energizing to relaxing.
Traditionally, people consumed Kratom in several ways. They chewed leaves raw, smoked them in pipes and brewed them into teas. Their reasons were three-fold:
The herbal leaf remained confined to its native home until the 1800s when the West discovered it with the arrival of the Dutch. Botanist Pieter Willem Korthals chronicled Kratom during his stay in Indonesia. His writings carry the first mentions of the plant in the Western world.
Southeast Asia is Kratom’s native region. The trees grow in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Papua New Guinea. For the indigenous populations, Kratom is a cultural staple.
As demonstrated above, the rural populace used Kratom for a wealth of different purposes. It was a popular as a pick-me-up to get them through hard days of manual labor. It was also a versatile medicinal ingredient, treating everything from stomach upset to coughs.
Kratom was also used socially, mainly by men, to help them relax and recover after a long day in the fields or at sea. It was consumed to unwind and facilitate social interaction.
When Opium arrived in Asia during the 1700s and addiction rates spiralled, Southeast Asians utilised Kratom to ease withdrawal symptoms from the poppy. Others used Kratom as a cheaper, more accessible alternative to this new intoxicant.
Eventually Kratom usage provoked a response from several Southeast Asian governments. Thailand banned its production in 1943, legalizing it as a medicinal in 2018. Malaysia prohibited it in 1952. Since it’s a naturally occurring substance, its use continued in rural areas - despite the bans. However, in cities it attracted a degree of social stigma, being particularly associated with insurgency.
Today, there’s little to no social stigma associated with Kratom use in its native homeland. It’s consumed across the demographics. For example, it’s the most-used drug in Thailand. The numbers are likely similar in neighbouring countries.
Asian immigrants brought Kratom to the USA in the 1980s, initially because of its reputation to assist with opioid withdrawal.
Unsurprisingly, Kratom got the government’s attention in the early 2000s. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) labeled it a drug of concern. In 2016, it attempted to classify the two alkaloids present in Kratom as Schedule 1 substances.
This would have made Kratom and its derivatives illegal on the federal level but the public didn’t agree and calls were made to reverse the decision. The DEA did so, stating a medical evaluation of the substance would be made.
In recent years it has gained popularity as natural medicine in the field of ethnobotany. However, despite extensive scientific analysis, many medical claims remain anecdotal and Kratom consumption continues to be a very personal experience.
Contemporary consumers state similar reasons for taking Kratom as those centuries ago:
The effects begin several minutes post-consumption and last 2–6 hours. Anecdotes describe increased sexual desire, work capacity, relaxation, talkativeness, and positive mood.
Kratom is available in leaf, capsule, extract, gummy and powder form. Americans can get it from headshops, gas stations and online stores.
Today, there is continued and growing demand for Kratom in US; an estimated 0.7% of people in the US used Kratom in 2019. That’s over two million consumers!
The latest global and federal legislation on Kratom is unclear. The World Health Organization (WHO) refuse to ban it but placed it under surveillance in 2018. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t recognize it for medical use.
Currently in the US, laws surrounding the purchase and consumption of Kratom vary from state to state. Some completely ban it and some regulate its sale. But in most cases, the state government doesn’t have regulations or even recognize the herbal leaf.
You can find out the up-to-date legal status of Kratom for your state here.
So, what does the future hold for Kratom?
It’s hard to be certain but we can make predictions based on the current environment. We expect it to be studied, regulated, commercialized and become more accessible for consumers.
First up, research. Kratom is rising in popularity and demand with the growth of natural medicine. Simply put, the FDA can’t enforce a ban without evidence that it’s dangerous and that requires scientific research into its uses, effects and adverse reactions.
Current evidence suggests Kratom has therapeutic potential with a lower addiction risk than many similar drugs. Some studies also suggest Kratom has pain relief, antidepressant, appetite suppressant and stimulant properties. That means it could have legitimate medical applications once its safety is confirmed.
Next, Kratom regulations. Unless the federal government outright bans Kratom, it won’t be able to avoid action for much longer. Advocacy is growing and the issue of safety poses many legal questions.
The American Kratom Association (AKA) demands a framework for Kratom regulation. It would impact the import, distribution and sale of the herbal leaf.
The main points of the framework would include:
Seven states have enacted a Kratom Consumer Protection Agreement with the AKA’s support.
Finally, commercialization. As Kratom leaves now travel great distances to reach the US, it's a challenge to keep the product fresh. To combat this, long-lasting powders and capsules were developed to maintain its compounds. You can browse our range of powders and kratom capsules.
You can't avoid it, Kratom leaves have a bitter taste which is difficult to mask! But as demand has risen product infusions with a more pleasant taste have entered the market, introducing Kratom to a whole new audience. Flavoured gummies and concentrated shots are becoming a popular and more pleasant way to get your daily dose.
However you like to take your Kratom, always buy from a trusted provider. At Hidden Valley Botanicals, we only supply 100% pure Kratom, sourced from a small selection of tried-and-tested growers and lab-vetted to stringent quality guidelines. This means you get the best Kratom delivered to your door. Every time.
