A Brief History of Kratom

Kratom comes from the Thailand area and was first documented by Pieter Willem Korthals, a Dutch colonial botanist. It was found in the nineteenth century, but the actual cultivation and usages of Kratom dates back much further. The people of Thailand used it for many things before it was discovered and introduced to any of the Western civilizations.

It was first mentioned in western literature by Low in 1836, and it was noted for its usage in by the Malaysian people. Again, Kratom was referred to in 1895 by E.M. Holmes, who called it Mitragyna Speciosa. It has also been called many other names, such as biak, mambog, gra-tom, kutum, katawn, mitragyne, biak-biak and mabog.

The traditional user of kratom were labor workers, such as farmers and field workers. They would use it to help lift their mood and gain the energy they needed to get through the workday. It was a necessity with the demanding hours they spent working in the fields. By using kratom, it inspired them to work harder and more efficiently.

A Thailand tradition also states that parents preferred to give their daughters to kratom users for marriage because of their strong work ethic. Parents value the hardworking man and wanted their daughters to marry someone that was sure to take good care of them.

Kratom was also used in folk medicine to treat many things. Malay healers used it for treatment of diabetes, better blood circulation, to treat diarrhea, prolong sexual activity, for de-worming and even as a cough suppressant.

Used throughout the world Kratom became a growing herb traded in the Indonesia area and many other places. The most potent leaves are produced by the older and more mature trees, which grown in mildly acidic jungle soils.

There are a few different strains of kratom, such as Bumblebee and Rifat, which are strands that have been cloned for their higher alkaloid content. Genetics, actually are only a small variable in the kratom equation, as season, location, soil and age make a much bigger difference in the alkaloid content of the leaf.

Most parts of the world allow people to buy kratom, although unregulated. However, some countries, such as Thailand, Australia, Denmark, Malaysia, Poland, Lithuania, Myanmar, Bhutan and a few others either regulate the use or don’t allow it at all.