Introduction to Kratom For Beginners
Many people are on the hunt for a more wholesome alternative to the harsh medications prescribed for various conditions. Kratom for beginners is a great place to start for a natural, organic solution to pain, anxiety, and many other unwanted symptoms of life.
The tricky thing about Kratom is that it is not a prescription medication with dosage timing and directions. Kratom affects everybody in different ways, and the perfect strain, dose, and timing of that dose will depend on your unique body factors. This is why Kratom for beginners starts out with a little responsible experimentation.
In this blog, we’re detailing what exactly Kratom is, its history, legality, variety, and benefits, as well as some tips on how to wade through biased research and find facts for yourself.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom, or mitragyna speciosa, is an evergreen tree related to the coffee family that is native to Southeast Asia. This tree, which can grow at heights up to 80 feet tall, has been used for centuries by laborers and in traditional medicine practices of these areas. Laborers would often pluck leaves straight from Kratom trees to stave off pain and fatigue and keep them going throughout their long days. In traditional medicine, Kratom was often ground for consumption or made into a tea to treat pain, depression, and insomnia.
Today’s Kratom is used in very similar fashions. However, it is highly unlikely that you will find fresh Kratom leaves anywhere nowadays. In the modern world, Kratom is more of a production. Kratom farmers harvest and dry the Kratom leaves. Once dry, the leaves are ground into a fine powder. This powder is either weighed straight into bags or portioned into Kratom capsules. This is how you will find the majority of Kratom for sale today.
A Brief History of Kratom For Beginners
Kratom was used across Southeast Asia since the early 1800s, and before. During the mid-1800s, scientists got curious about Kratom and began collecting samples. By the early 1900s, the mitragynine alkaloid had been isolated for study. With its gaining popularity, Kratom became a competitor of opium in Thailand. By 1943, Kratom was entirely illegal across Thailand.
Something similar happened when Kratom came to the west. Kratom use was (and is) on the rise as a functional, natural product. However, amid the opiate crisis consuming America, the FDA began a warpath on Kratom. After years of withholding information from the public and lying about Kratom, the FDA was still unsuccessful in making it illegal in America. However, that didn’t stop them from trying to take their proposed Kratom ban to the United Nations in favor of an international ban on the botanical substance. Luckily, the UN committee responsible saw through the shadowy FDA tactics, and that, too, was overturned.
In Thailand, Kratom won — becoming legal again in 2018. However, in America, Kratom faces difficulty. Because of the lies spread by the FDA many states have banned Kratom. Fortunately, organizations like The American Kratom Association are fighting back! The AKA helps spread peer-reviewed, factual evidence about Kratom. In addition, they also help lobby for Kratom in states where these bans have killed access to this safe, natural product. Check out the AKA site for hundreds of testimonials from Kratom users, policy and legislation updates on Kratom in the US, and great sources on Kratom science.
Is Kratom Legal?
The simple answer is: there isn’t one. Unfortunately, Kratom laws are not straightforward. Kratom legality varies from state to state in the US. At the time of writing, there are 6 states which have entirely banned access to Kratom: Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, Indiana, Arkansas, and Alabama. There are many other states that have laws regarding the sale of Kratom to users under a certain age. For example, in North Carolina, you must be 18 to purchase Kratom. While, in Tennessee, you must be 21. Further, some states do not have state-wide Kratom bans but may have cities in which the botanical is illegal.
Additionally, in several states, the American Kratom Association has worked hard to pass the Kratom Consumer Protection Act. This is legislation that specifies Kratom production, packaging, and safety regulations. The KCPA is a great stride in regulating Kratom so that all consumers can access safe, quality Kratom in any state.
Be sure to double-check the legality of Kratom where you live by visiting this lovely map made by the AKA.
What Are the Varieties of Kratom?
There are three main color types of Kratom for beginners to know. These colors of Kratom refer to the literal vein colors on the leaves as they grow. Young Kratom leaves have white veins, they turn green as they grow, and, finally, Kratom veins become red as they mature. These color veins of Kratom have distinct differences in their effects.
- Red vein — Red vein Kratom is said to be the most pain relieving. In larger doses, red vein Kratom can be sedative.
- White vein — This color vein is said to offer energy and focus throughout the day, with moderate pain relief on the side.
- Green vein — Green vein Kratom is known as the middle ground. Offers moderate pain relief, as well as creating a calming, uplifted mood without the boost of energy from white or the sleepiness from red.
Each type of Kratom you come across will be labeled with its color vein. Further, though, it should be labeled with a strain. Each type of Kratom grows through the maturity of white to green to red leaf veins. But there are many, many different strains of Kratom that all have their own unique properties outside of their color veins. Part of learning Kratom for beginners is trying color veins and strains and finding the ones that work for you in particular.
Kratom Uses
People use Kratom to help alleviate the symptoms of many problems. Listed below are the most common uses of Kratom for beginners. Keep in mind that experiences vary based on the individual and the dose.
- Kratom for Pain — A century ago, one of the primary uses for Kratom was to help with pain relief. Today, people who have chronic pain and do not want to use opioids often say they find relief from Kratom. That is one of the most frequent uses for Kratom.
- Kratom for Stress/Depression/Anxiety — Some strains of Kratom seem to help people with stress and depression by providing a relaxing, uplifting mood. These benefits are often said to be helpful in situations of social anxiety, too.
- Kratom for energy and motivation — Many people have ditched their morning coffee caffeine for their daily Kratom dose. White strains of Kratom are known to be more energy-inducing. These strains can help you stay focused on a task for long periods of time.
- Kratom for Opiate Withdrawal — Some Kratom users proclaim that it has helped them overcome opiate addiction by reducing their withdrawal symptoms. Kratom interacts with the same receptors as opiates, and this works to relieve these harsh symptoms.
Kratom For Beginners Research Guide
Doing your own research is an important part of starting anything new. However, there is a lot of fear-mongering and dissemination of false information (thanks, FDA!) to wade through out there. We have a few pointers to follow when doing your own research on Kratom. First, read the experiences of actual users. Whether that’s on the AKA website, Youtube, or Redditt, there are tons of places you can find testimonials from Kratom users.
Additionally, read the science. No, not the write-up on the science someone did. Look for the source — the peer-reviewed journal that houses the publication. Yes, these studies are dense. They’re hard to read, and usually require looking up definitions of at least a few things. But you will not find a better source with more factual information anywhere. The more of these you read the easier they’ll be to understand. And, the more confident you’ll be that you have all of the information you need about the substances you’re using.
Conclusion
There is a lot of information to learn about Kratom for beginners. But you’re on the right track! From here, we recommend checking out this blog on finding the right dose for you. Additionally, if you have yet to find your perfect strain, check out our Free 3 Kratom Samples. They’re a great way to try each of our top-selling Kratom varieties without the commitment.
Should you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
