Kratom Extract vs. Powder: What’s the Difference?
According to data gathered from a National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only 0.7% of Americans have used kratom in the past year.
But if you’re not one of that 0.7% of Americans, then you might not know much about kratom. People use kratom for various reasons, and it’s available in several forms, i.e., powder, capsule, and extract.
But does it matter which form you purchase it in? What are the differences between kratom extract vs. powder?
If these are questions that interest you, keep reading as we explore the answers.
What is Kratom?
Kratom is a tropical tree native to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asia countries. People of several Asian cultures use kratom in herbal medicine and have done so since at least the nineteenth century.
Traditionally, the indigenous people used to chew the leaves, much like khat and coca. The reported effects and the reason for its continued use provided pain relief and heightened appetite, energy levels, and libido.
In low doses, kratom acts as a stimulant eliciting euphoric feelings, and in high doses, it acts as a sedative with opioid-like effects.
While it’s a controlled substance in some states, it’s mostly considered legal in the US. However, there are some states where it’s banned entirely, so check your local legislation to confirm.
Kratom Varieties
Much like marijuana, kratom is produced in several varieties or strains. These strains each have different reported benefits and effects. The most common strains are:
- Red Bali
- Green Malay
- Indo
- Maeng da
- Thai
- Malaysian
- Borneo
Some of these split off even further into green, white, and red strains, which all have their strengths, from mild to intense.
Reported Benefits
People who use kratom report specific effects with each strain, although it’s important to note that kratom is not yet FDA-approved, and needs further research.
However, documented effects from users and research are pain relief, libido enhancement, and mood enhancement. Kratom has also been proven to be an effective treatment for opioid addiction by alleviating withdrawal symptoms.
Kratom Products
There are several forms of kratom on the market, namely capsules, powder, and extracts. It’s also available as a resin; however, this is considered a rare find.
Kratom Capsules
Kratom capsules are popular because they’re convenient and easy to use. These capsules are filled with dry, ground-up kratom leaves, but one might need to take more than one to get the same effect as if you had taken the powder or extract form.
Kratom Powder
The powder form is the most popular way of ingesting kratom, as users can mix it into a smoothie or juice. Users report that a citrus juice like orange activates the kratom more rapidly.
Kratom Extract
Pure kratom extract is a concentrated form of the plant, and this form takes longer to make than the other forms. This extra effort usually drives up the price of kratom extracts, but it’s considered very worth it.
Kratom Extract vs. Powder
When you look at the strength of kratom powder vs. extract, you’ll find that the extract is often two times stronger than the powder version. This is due to the increased alkaloids in the kratom extract vs. powder and is indicated on the bottle as “2:1”.
Always Choose the Best Kratom Extract
When buying kratom products, you want to make sure what you’re buying is of the highest quality. If you don’t know which to try first, kratom extract vs. powder, we suggest starting with the powder, and when you’re more familiar with the effects and your particular dose, you can move on to kratom extract.
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