Kratom extracts are concentrated forms of the active alkaloids found in Mitragyna speciosa tree leaves. Due to removing excess plant material via extraction, a smaller amount of extract powder conveys as much alkaloid content as up to 50 times more standard ground kratom leaf, hence being labeled as 50x, etc. It makes extracts substantially more potent by weight than leaf powders and capsules, capable of producing kratom’s effects in much smaller doses. Finding one’s ideal dosage requires even greater precision, care, and patience than plain leaf to maximize benefits and avoid negative experiences.
Why use kratom extracts?
- Enhanced strength – The biggest draw is the ability to elicit stronger stimulation, pain relief, sedation, or nootropic effects from smaller doses than regular kratom powder.
- Convenience – Requiring much less material for desired effects makes precise dosing and portability easier than measuring out larger amounts of leaf powder. Extracts provide a hassle-free kratom experience outdoors when formulated into capsules or tablets.
- Better taste – The often unpleasant, bitter taste of kratom drinks or capsules disappears in quality extracts by needing substantially smaller doses. For the taste-sensitive, this alone is a major advantage.
How to take kratom extracts?
- Sublingual/Buccal – Placing extract powder under the tongue or along the inside cheek to allow the alkaloids to absorb into the bloodstream is a popular method. Dissolving the powder first into a small volume of high-proof ethanol like Everclear enhances absorption.
- Orally – Mixing extract powder thoroughly into a few ounces of water, juice or a smoothie is an easy method. Citrus juices like orange or grapefruit help break it down via acids, which improves ingestion. Capsules work too, but it takes many capsules to deliver higher extract doses.
- Rectally – A highly bioavailable way to introduce the alkaloids is by dissolving extract powder in water to make a solution and using an oral syringe to administer rectally. This route is not for everyone and still requires doses to be precisely measured.
- Inhalation – Vaporizing clean extract powder or extract-fortified dried leaf has also shown promise in studies for effectively delivering key kratom compounds. However, research into long-term safety via this route is still pending.
What different extract types exist?
- Powders – Finely ground extracts available from 10x to higher concentration designed to mix into drinks or swallow directly. The ease of dosing varies with density.
- Resins – These are gummy-like hardened and dried extracts that are chewed raw for sublingual absorption or brewed into a tea to drink. Appearance is dark and blocky.
- Tinctures – Extracts like resins but dissolved into a solution of ethanol and water for easier dosing dropwise sublingually or mixed with another drink.
- Enhanced Leaf – Dried raw kratom leaf batched along with concentrated extract to produce mixtures with moderately boosted alkaloid levels for vaping or steeping into tea while retaining leaf character. This product offers more step-by-step potency elevations between leaf and pure extract products.
how long does kratom stay in your system? When used correctly under good guidance, kratom extracts provide advanced explorations of this unique botanical for the cautious, but curious. The journey proves intensely rewarding when directions follow.
