What Is Kratom? Southeast Asia’s Hidden Gem: Learn about a plant making waves in the wellness scene. – Events – Austin Chronicle

As holistic medicine becomes more & more popular in the U.S., new, natural substances are making waves. Things like Kava Kava tea that used to be almost unheard of are now found quite easily- but it can be hard to keep up! One product in particular, kratom, is quickly rising in popularity for a multitude of reasons.

But what is kratom? In this article, we’ll delve into this interesting plant & tell you all there is to know about it.

What is Kratom?

Kratom is a tree-like plant that grows in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia and Borneo, to name a few countries) and has been used there in traditional medicine for centuries. Kratom, aka Mitragyna speciosa, is a relative of the coffee plant. The leaves of kratom plants were traditionally chewed in order to feel their effects. Nowadays, kratom leaves are ground into a powder that is either kept as-is or is put into capsules for easy use. The powder or capsules are used for a variety of reasons, and the many potential benefits of kratom are why the plant has spread so quickly across the U.S. despite being almost completely unknown just years ago.

What Does Kratom Do?

In traditional Southeast Asian medicine, kratom was often used for things like fever, diarrhea, and pain, among other things.
In the U.S., there are a few main uses for kratom: energy & focus; euphoria & mood-boost; or rest & relaxation. Kratom is able to deliver this wide variety of benefits because there are different types of kratom- the different types tend to produce differing effects.

The Types of Kratom

There are three main types of kratom: White Vein, Green Vein, and Red Vein. The type of kratom you get depends on when you harvest the leaves! As the leaves age the alkaloids within the plant change, and that’s what allows kratom to provide its effects. The veins of kratom leaves also change color as they mature, indicating the type of kratom it is.

White Vein: Harvested first, white vein kratom is the youngest & most energizing type of kratom. Using small to moderate doses of white vein kratom tends to be uplifting, providing focus and drive that lasts, often without much of a ‘crash’ that’s typically associated with caffeine use. White vein kratom has become increasingly popular among bodybuilding & weightlifting communities as a pre-workout supplement to boost stamina.

Kinds of white vein kratom: White Sumatra; White Borneo

Green Vein: As kratom leaves age the veins turn from white to green, signifying the plant is maturing. When harvested at this point, the result is green …….

Source: https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/events/2021-01-29/what-is-kratom-southeast-asias-hidden-gem/