Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa)
Kratom is a large tree native to Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, first documented by Dutch colonial botanist Korthals. It is botanically related to the Corynanthe, Cinchona and Uncaria genii and shares some similar biochemistry. Other species in the Mitragyna genus are used medicinally in Africa.
It is a well-established psychoactive drug in its native region, and there is some use elsewhere in the world. This is increasing as Kratom makes her way into the Internet / global marketplace. In South East Asia, where one can obtain the leaf for free or very inexpensively. The leaves are usually made into a decoction, chewed as a quid or extracted into water and then evaporated into a tar that can be swallowed. Kratom is not often smoked, although this method does provide some effect.
Users outside of East Asia pay a significantly higher price, thus many opt for the more efficient methods as consuming Kratom as the water based extracts are somewhat wasteful. The most efficient method is to consume the powder made from dried leaf. Some mix the powder in warm water and gulp down the bitter, sloppy mess and chase it with a pleasant tasting fruit juice or tea. This powder can also be mixed into applesauce, milkshakes, smoothies, etc. Others gel cap the powder or use the toss & wash method.
For those with a fairly high tolorence, like me. Too much powder must be consumed for tossing & washing. One can stir the powder into a nasty mug of warm water, let the powder absorb enough water until it mixes well, then stir some more. When you are ready chug a bit down, chase with a pleasant tasting juice and take a breather. Then another gulp, repeat, ect until its all gone. You will most likely need to add a little more water after each chug. This maybe too nasty for some people. I've been consuming various horrible tasting plant matter for over 15 years and seem to be able to get down substances that can make others ill.
For those who can not stomach consuming the powder in liquid or applesause, T&W or have gelcaps. You can make the decacotion described below. Please note that I feel this method wastes some alkaloids. but many preffer drinking liquid over Kratom sludge.
The following are instructions from Daniel Siebert's SageWisdom.com for making water based extracts:
This recipe makes enough tea for 10 mild doses, 4 medium-strength doses, or two moderately strong doses
1.) Take 50 grams of dried, crushed kratom leaves and put into a pot. To this add 1 liter of water.
2.) Boil gently for 15 minutes.
3.) Pour the tea through a strainer into a bowl and reserve the liquid.
(squeeze the leaves in the strainer to get most of the liquid out).
4.) Put the leaves back in the pot and add another liter of fresh water. Repeat steps 2 and 3.
(after the leaf has been strained a 2ndime, they can be discarded.)
5.) Put the combined liquid from both boilings back into the pot and boil until the volume is reduced to about 100 ml.
The idea is to boil the tea down to a small volume so that each individual dose can be quickly swallowed. You can boil it down to whatever concentration you like. Be careful near the end of the process. If it starts to become syrupy, it may spatter and/or burn.
If you want to make a tar like extract. Just evaporate the decoction in a large Pyrex dish under a fan. Then scrape the dried resin with a razor blade and roll into little balls.
For a more pure homemade extract, I suggest making a Kratom tincture. Soak crushed Kratom leaf inside a sealable jar in high proof >150 proof food grade alcohol. Shake daily and store at room temperature or less, preferably in a dark place. After 3 weeks, soak, strain and squeeze all of the liquid from the leaf pulp. Filter then its ready for use as a tincture or evaporate the tincture in a large Pyrex dish under a fan. Then scrape the dried resin with a razor blade and roll into little balls or add some to some Kratom powder & dry for enhanced leaf.
Kratom contains many alkaloids including mitragynine, once thought to be the primary active, and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which is currently the most likely candidate for the primary active chemical in the plant. Although structurally related to yohimbine and tryptamines, its pharmacology is quite different and it seems to act in some ways similarly to opiates, although it seems to also have some stimulant properties similar to yohimbine. Kratom also contains alkaloids found in ua de gato (Uncaria tomentosa) which are powerful immune system enhancers and lower blood pressure, as well as epicatechin, a powerful antioxidant found in dark chocolate and closely related to the ECGC that gives green tea its beneficial effects. Other active chemicals in kratom include raubasine (best known from Rauwolfia serpentina) and some yohimbe alkakoids such as corynantheidine.
Kratom has many potential medicinal uses, including as a safer and cheaper replacement for methadone, and as a source of chemicals with a wide range of beneficial activities.
Effects
Kratom's pharmacology shares some elements of the activity of other substances including opiates and yohimbine. While the comparison to opiates are often emphasized by persons and businesses who are selling it, this is frequently exaggerated. A good analogy might be comparing kava to benzodiazepines. For example, the analgesic and sedative activity of kratom is much lower than with narcotics. Kratom also does not produce the extreme constipation produced by opiates. Kratom also has a yohimbe-like stimulant activity, and uncaria-like immunostimulant activity. Its effects are reported to be relatively short-lived, typically fading after two hours or less.
Dosage information from SageWisdom.com
What effects are associated with different doses? (dosage guidelines)
Caution: These dosage guidelines apply to Kratom leaves (not extracts). People vary in sensitivity to Kratom, and different batches of Kratom vary in potency (sometimes quite a lot), so these dosage estimates should be regarded as loose approximations. One should always start with a low dose when experimenting with a new batch of Kratom. One can then increase the dose gradually with subsequent experiments until one obtains the desired level of effects. DO NOT take a strong, or very strong dose, the first time you are sampling a new batch of Kratom. Most people experience nausea when using doses above 25 grams. Sensitive individuals may experience nausea at lower doses, but usually not at doses below 10 grams. For this reason, it is best to take Kratom on an empty stomach when using strong doses (i.e. wait about 3 hours after eating). Some people are hypersensitive to Kratom, and may experience adverse reactions (such as severe and prolonged vomiting) when using strong doses.
Legal Status
Kratom is classified as Narcotic Level 5 in Thailand, but still can be bought at markets in more rural towns. It is legal in all other countries besides Australia, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Myanmar. Thailand is rumored to be considering altering its legal status in light of recent discoveries of its medicinal uses in treating drug addiction. Similar research is also underway in Malaysia. Kratom is currently legal everywhere in the United States (The recently passed bill in Louisiana banning several ethnobotanicals does not mention and/or include Kratom).