Foreward
Note: Information about Kratom is a ongoing research process. There have been many scientific studies and thousands of users and experiences through thousands of years. The information presented here is merely a collection of information and is not meant to diagnose or indicate treatment for specific problems or diseases.
What is Kratom?
Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) is a powerful medicinal plant used by thousands of people for thousands of years, throughout the world!
Botanical Information
Kratom is a tree native to Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, etc.). Its botanical name is Mitragyna speciosa. Kratom is a tropical evergreen tree in the same family as the coffee tree (Rubiaceae). The connection to the coffee plant is not merely an analogy – Kratom’s stimulant effects arise from it being in the same plant family as coffee, although Kratom contains no caffeine.
Origins & Locale
The use of Kratom goes back several thousand years, but it was first formally documented growing abundantly in Thailand by Dutch botanist Pieter Willem Korthals in the early 19th century. While the birthplace of Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa)is unknown, it has flourished abundantly in Southeast Asia and Indochina — growing naturally in regions such as:
- Thailand
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Sumatra
- Java
- Bali
- Borneo
- The Sunda isles.
Due to growing in these distinctly different areas and varied climates, Kratom has evolved and adapted to its environment, making Kratom leaves from each area vary in effects and potency. This is due to differing balances of alkaloid profiles from each strain. A Kratom strain is often named for the location of the Kratom in which it is harvested, and the vein color of the harvested leaf. For more information about strains of Kratom, please read Kratom Strain Guide.