Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tree of the coffee family that grows in Southeastern Asia. For generations, native people of these regions have chewed kratom leaves to enjoy its multiple properties, such as analgesic, calming, or euphoric. Today, kratom has become very popular across the world thanks to these properties. People use it as a pain reliever, a remedy for anxiety and depression, or as an energy booster. Kratom is usually sold in a powder made out of its dried leaves. But there are also kratom extracts that are more concentrated and potent than your regular kratom powder. Many users of kratom prefer extracts because of their potency. When taking kratom extracts you will need smaller doses of the product to obtain the desired effects. However, when you take kratom extracts, the risks of side effects also increase.
What Are Kratom Extracts?
The therapeutic benefits of kratom come from its alkaloids, especially mitragynine, 7-OHM, and mitraphylline. These alkaloids are the active elements of kratom. They work in the mu and delta receptors of our brain to make us feel the effects of kratom. Kratom extracts are highly concentrated forms of kratom that contain high levels of alkaloids. Because of this, kratom extracts are more potent than regular kratom powder.
You can find kratom extracts in individual packages. But also as ingredients of “enhanced” kratom products, like Ultra Enhanced Indo (UEI). These enhanced kratom products are a mixture of extracts and regular kratom.
Concentration vs. Potency
You can distinguish extracts easily because their label includes a number plus an “x” (e.g., 15x, 25x, 50x, etc.). This number specifies the concentration of the extract. We can even find extracts labeled as high as 100x. Does this mean that this extract is 100 times stronger than regular kratom powder? No. This number does not refer to the extract potency but to the concentration by volume. For instance, a Maeng Da 100x extract would mean that an initial amount of 100 grams of dried leaves or powder was reduced to 1 gram of extract.
Since there is no standardized process for preparing kratom extracts and not all kratom plants or leaves have the same number of alkaloids, a high concentration number does not necessarily mean a higher potency.
It is not difficult to find kratom extracts with a concentration number as high as 100x. However, in most cases, the highest potency in full-spectrum extracts cannot be higher than 50x. Beyond that, the alkaloid contained in the kratom would be lost during the purification process.
Types of Kratom Extracts
There are different types of kratom extracts:
- Powder
- Liquid
- Tincture
- Oil
- Resin
Regardless of the form, all kratom extracts share the same initial process in their preparation.
Dry the kratom leaves and boil them in water to extract their alkaloids. Once the alkaloids and active elements have been extracted, the next step is to strain the leaves off. Finally, boil the water again to obtain the concentrated extract solution. Then you’ll need to measure the extract to check the exact concentration level.
Depending on the process, you can obtain different forms of extracts. For instance, the solution may be left to harden, which would result in kratom resin. Or it can be mixed with alcohol to obtain kratom tincture.
Kratom Extracts Dosage & Effects
Only expert kratom users should consume extracts since their effects are stronger than regular kratom. Due to this, when consuming extracts (or any enhanced kratom product), you should start with a very small dose. Adequate the next doses according to your body’s reaction. An excessive dose could provoke side effects such as nausea, stomach ache, or sleepiness.
Uses of Extracts
Just like raw kratom, extracts have several uses:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Energy
- Euphoria
- Insomnia
- Opiate Withdrawal
- Pain
- Relaxation
Where Can I Buy Kratom Extracts?
You can buy extracts online or at your local health store. However, make sure you look for reliable kratom vendors and high-quality products. While you can find kratom in head shops, online shops are more affordable. Therefore, price (and quality) wise it is better to buy your extracts online from trusted reliable sellers.
