by Keith | Mar 27, 2015 | Products
One of the most interesting forms of kratom available from vendors is kratom tincture, also sometimes called liquid kratom. Kratom tincture is made by macerating powdered or crushed kratom leaves in a solvent, typically alcohol, to extract the alkaloids in the herb. The best types of kratom tinctures are usually water-alcohol mixtures, since kratom’s diverse range of alkaloids is soluble in both water and alcohol.
Benefits of Kratom Tincture:
Shaman’s Garden sources our liquid extracts from Herb Spirits. Our liquid herbal extracts come in amber glass bottles ideal for long-term storage, with dropper caps so you can precisely measure the amount of extract you want to work with. One way to use kratom tincture is to spray it onto a neutral base of dried herbs, such as mullein, and let it dry to make an incense blend. Some people prefer kratom tincture because it’s easy to store and has a long shelf life compared to powdered forms of kratom extract. Kratom tincture tends to last longer because the alcohol in the tincture protects the alkaloids from exposure to oxygen, which can degrade mitragynine and other kratom compounds. Our kratom extracts are for external use in aromatherapy purposes and as an incense component only.
How to Make Kratom Tincture:
It’s easier than ever to buy high-quality kratom tinctures from vendors. However, we know some of you like to take the do-it-yourself route, especially if you want to stretch your kratom and your dollars! Although making kratom tincture is a little more involved and requires a few more tools than making kratom resin, the final product is a compact and long-lasting form of kratom that is surprisingly versatile. Read on to find out how to make kratom tincture at home.
You Will Need:
-Plain powdered or crushed kratom leaf (not an extract!)
-40% ethyl alcohol. For those concerned about being exposed to alcohol, food-grade glycerin may be used instead. You can buy glycerin at most pharmacies.
-Measuring cups
-Digital scale
-Extraction bottle. These glass or plastic bottles are chemically resistant and won’t crack or leak chemicals into your finished tincture.
-Amber or blue glass bottle with dropper
-Strainer
-Funnel for pouring
Optional but Useful:
-Glycerin. This stabilizes the alcohol-based tincture and prevents evaporation. It’s also possible to make a non-alcoholic glycerin-based tincture (see above).
-Citric acid. The acidity facilitates extraction and converts the alkaloids in kratom from freebases to alkaloid salts. Both forms are present in the kratom leaf, but salts tend to be more stable.
Procedure:
Using your digital scale, measure your kratom precisely. A suggested ratio is 7 ounces of plain dried kratom leaf to 1 liter of alcohol. Combine your weighed kratom and alcohol in a chemically resistant bottle. Add the citric acid if you’re using it. Now you can either store the mixture in the fridge for about a week or take an extra step called a warm water bath to speed up the extraction process. Simmer water in a pot, then take it off the heat and carefully insert your extraction bottle. Leave the bottle for 30 minutes, then replace the water with more warm water and repeat.
After a few days to a week, pour your tincture into a dish through a strainer or sieve to remove the kratom plant material. Cover the dish with tin foil and let the alcohol evaporate until the tincture’s volume has decreased by about half. Using a measuring cup, measure the final volume of your kratom tincture. Divide this by the initial weight of kratom you used to estimate the finished tincture’s concentration. For instance, if you used 200 grams of dried kratom and ended up with 10 tablespoons of tincture, then the concentration is 20:1 (200/10 = 20). Tag your tincture with the variety and origin of kratom you used, the date, and the concentration. Your kratom tincture will typically keep for up to one year when stored away from sunlight in a cool, dry place.
by Keith | Mar 19, 2015 | Products
If you’ve ever perused our extensive selection of kratom products, you may have seen that we offer several varieties of kratom crushed leaf. If you’ve never seen this before on other websites, you may be wondering what exactly is kratom crushed leaf? And why would you buy it instead of a powder or other form of kratom? This little article is intended to give you a bit more information about crushed kratom leaf so you can decide on the product that suits your needs.
Basically, our kratom crushed leaf is made from coarsely ground kratom leaves. Also sometimes called “tea-cut” for its texture, which is reminiscent of loose-leaf tea, the crushed kratom leaf incense is one of several products we like to offer our customers, along with kratom powders, resins, and liquid extracts. However, our crushed kratom leaf products are not extracts—they are simply the unenhanced kratom leaf, conveniently crushed to make it easier to work with. You can buy any of the types of kratom we offer, from Thai Red Vein to Maeng Da, in either powdered or crushed leaf form.
Why Buy Crushed Kratom Leaf?
Whether you buy kratom as a whole leaf, powder, or crushed leaf is largely a matter of preference. Here are a couple reasons why someone might prefer the kratom crushed leaf to the powdered variety:
Price: Because crushed kratom leaves are less finely processed than kratom powder, they are correspondingly cheaper. Part of what you’re paying for with kratom powder is the extra processing by the manufacturer. If you’re willing to put the time in, you can take this extra step yourself and grind the coarse, “tea-cut” crushed kratom into a powder. There are a few different ways to do this: you can simply crush the leaves by hand or rub the coarse powder through a sieve, using a sheet of paper to collect the resulting powder. You can also grind the leaf pieces in a pepper mill or coffee grinder—just make sure your appliance is new or VERY clean to avoid contaminating residue. You’ll also want to clean the appliance thoroughly afterward.
Freshness: Crushed kratom leaves also present a smaller surface area to the air than the more finely micronized kratom powder. If you can get them, whole kratom leaves present an even smaller surface area. This can be important, especially if you think you might have to store your kratom for a while, because the alkaloid content in kratom will decrease over time as it’s exposed to oxygen. The less surface area exposed to air = the less area left for alkaloids to escape. Storing your kratom, in whatever form, away from exposure to sunlight, moisture, and oxygen will also help your kratom product last longer and stay fresher.
Ultimately though, buying kratom crushed leaf or kratom powder is largely a matter of preference, as these two forms of kratom will contain the same range of alkaloids. If you prefer a finer texture for an incense preparation, then powdered kratom is the way to go. But if you don’t mind putting in some extra effort and can spare the time to process your kratom—for instance, if you want to make your own kratom resin at home—then crushed kratom leaf is a very versatile and effective option.
by Keith | Mar 18, 2015 | Articles
One of the most popular strains of kratom in cultivation, Rifat Kratom is a type of Thai Red Vein kratom originally bred by cloning wild trees. In fact, Rifat Kratom is one of the most highly prized of the cultivated varieties due to its high mitragynine content. We sell both the Rifat and Bumblebee Red Vein Kratom varieties as rooted cuttings for the aspiring exotic gardener. Many people find these particular strains to be the easiest and hardiest-growing types of kratom as well.
What does it mean when we say Rifat Kratom is a type of Red Vein? Kratom varieties come in several strains which are described by the color of the leaves’ central veins. Kratom leaves have central veins that can be green, white, or red to reddish purple. The different colors are thought to indicate a specific makeup of kratom’s major alkaloids—mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, and so on. Strains are further distinguished by origin: so you have Thai Red Vein, Malaysian Green Vein, Borneo White Vein, etc. Red Vein varieties are generally thought to have an alkaloid makeup that is more relaxing, while White Vein varieties are classed as energizing and Green Vein varieties are somewhere in between.
Rifat Kratom is a type of Thai Red Vein produced by cloning. It is named after Claude Rifat (Ree-FAH), a Swiss botanist who was the first to grow Rifat Kratom from seed as part of his research in Thailand. The parent plant is rumored to be the same one growing at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand whose leaves have been used in numerous research studies by Chiba University in Japan. Chiba University scientist Hitomitsu Takayama was among the first researchers to synthesize mitragynine in 1995.
As might be expected from the “Red Vein” label, mature Rifat Kratom plants have leaves with red or reddish purple central and lateral veins (veins running from the central stem down the leaf). However, if you get a plant labeled Rifat Kratom whose veins appear to be white or green as it’s maturing, don’t jump to the conclusion you’ve been ripped off! Factors in the growing environment can definitely affect the color of kratom’s leaves. Also, when kratom plants are reaching maturity, the levels of alkaloids and other chemicals in the leaf are changing. This means that the leaf color may change quite a bit before the kratom has fully matured. Frequently, Red Vein varieties have green or white veins when young, only deepening to red or purple at maturity.
If you’re thinking of purchasing a young kratom cutting or kratom seeds to grow yourself, we recommend getting a Rifat Kratom if you can. This hardy, fast-growing kratom variety has remained the most popular strain of kratom in private non-commercial cultivation, not only because of its mitragynine content, but also because it’s widely regarded to be easier to grow than other strains of kratom. This might be in part because Rifat Kratom is a clone: the Rifat strain was specially bred from wild kratom trees to select for genetic traits that made it more likely to thrive in cultivation. These traits combine to make Rifat Kratom a fairly forgiving and rewarding strain of kratom to try growing on your own, even for first-time kratom growers!
by Keith | Mar 13, 2015 | Articles
There’s a lot of hype out there online about kratom 100X extract—unfortunately, it’s mostly hype. We understand the appeal of stronger is better, but unfortunately, kratom 100X extract is at most a marketing gimmick and at worst an actual rip off. Why? Well, it has a lot to do with the chemistry behind how kratom extract is made.
Along with whole and powdered kratom leaf, Shaman’s Garden also sells several forms of kratom extract, from liquid extracts to resins and powders. Our extracts can be used just like the whole leaf in incense blends, aromatherapy preparations, and in research; some people may prefer kratom extract for these uses because it is a more concentrated form of kratom, with a higher concentration of active alkaloids such as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. For one thing, since you can use a smaller amount of extract than unenhanced powder or leaf, kratom extract tends to be more economical despite its slightly higher selling price. Kratom extract also offers a purer form of some of kratom’s alkaloids that are of interest to researchers.
A Primer on Herbal Extracts
An herbal extract is a reduction of raw herbal material into a concentrated form which is a standard multiple stronger than the raw herb. The X on extract labels, such as 15X or 20X, refers to the ratio of fresh herb used to make the extract. For instance, if you have a 15X or 15:1 kratom extract, this means that 15 grams of fresh kratom leaves were used to make 1 gram of the finished extract. A 20X extract means 20 grams of kratom were used to make 1 gram of extract, and so on. Herbal extracts can be made using different solvents such as alcohol, acetone, superchilled carbon dioxide, and water. Though manufacturers have all kinds of fancy extracting equipment, it doesn’t have to be a complex process—if you’ve ever brewed coffee, tea, or kava kava, you’ve made a water-based extraction.
Kratom 100X Extract
So why should you be wary of a kratom extract that’s 100X? Two reasons. First of all, the alkaloids in fresh kratom leaves extract unevenly. Although mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are the ones most people focus on, scientists have identified up to 25 active alkaloids in kratom, and more than 40 in total. All of these compounds leach into a kratom extract with different rates of efficiency, depending on their chemical structure and what kind of solvent (water, alcohol, etc.) is used. Unfortunately, this means that a highly concentrated kratom 100X extract will have a skewed alkaloid profile: some alkaloids will be overrepresented in the extract, while others won’t be present at all. To get a true full-spectrum extract where all of kratom’s alkaloids are represented in the same ratio as in the fresh leaf, it’s better to stick to lower concentrations such as 15X or 20X extracts. Any kratom extract over 20X, and definitely any kratom extract 50X or higher, will not be full spectrum.
Second, if you plan to use kratom extract in aromatherapy or incense preparations, a kratom 100X extract would be a waste of money. There is an upper limit to the body’s ability to absorb alkaloids and other plant chemicals, as well as vitamins and minerals. Even if you could obtain a kratom 100X extract that contained the full spectrum of kratom’s many alkaloids (which you couldn’t, for the reason explained above), you wouldn’t be able to absorb any greater amount than you would from a less concentrated extract such as a 20X.
A helpful example is vitamins. Researchers have long known that different factors, including the chemical form of a vitamin, limit how well the body can absorb and make use of that vitamin. This measure is sometimes called “bioavailability”. For instance, our bodies need folate, a chemical found in many leafy greens as well as standard multivitamins. Folate naturally occurs in the form of folic acid in some whole foods, and researchers are now beginning to think that human bodies absorb folic acid more easily than folate, which is the chemical form used in most multivitamins. Another reason it’s always important to eat your vegetables!
When it comes to kratom extracts, it’s probably for the best that there is an upper limit on the body’s absorption capacity. Otherwise, with such a strong extract it would be almost impossible to reliably measure the right amount for any kind of incense or aromatherapy use. To save yourself time and money on disappointing results, we think it’s much better to go for a 15X or 20X extract that you can be assured genuinely represents all the alkaloids in this complex and intriguing herb.
by Keith | Mar 13, 2015 | Articles
Unless you’re an expert or a vendor like us, the issue of kratom legal status can be very confusing to sort out. The legal status of kratom is changing rapidly in the U.S., often on a state-by-state basis; for the average consumer, it can be tricky to figure out if kratom is legal to purchase in your home state. Remember, it’s the state you live in, not the state the kratom vendor is in, that determines kratom’s legal status for you as a consumer. Even though kratom is legal here in Illinois, we will not be able to ship it to you if you live in a state where kratom is banned. Luckily, Shaman’s Garden is here to help you sort through the complex terrain of kratom legal status.
It might surprise you to learn that kratom has been made illegal in its native country of Thailand, as well as in Malaysia and Burma. Kratom was banned in Southeast Asia despite the fact that fresh kratom leaves have been used in these regions for hundreds of years as a traditional herbal medicine. Why is this? Why would countries where kratom has been innocently used for so long suddenly decide to ban this herb? Unfortunately, as is often the case, political and economic reasons rather than medical evidence motivated the kratom ban in Thailand and nearby regions. Kratom was illegalized in 1943 in Thailand, after the Thai government decided the traditional use of kratom was cutting into the widespread (though illegal) opium trade. That’s right: the government went after kratom because it’s a native tree people could harvest for free, instead of a drug they had to pay money for. It’s currently punishable by death to possess an ounce of kratom in Thailand! The Thai government has even tried to eradicate kratom trees from their native habitat, luckily without success.
Fortunately, the legal outlook for kratom is much rosier in other parts of the world. Kratom is legal in the United States, with the exception of a few states we’ll look at below. Kratom is also totally legal to import and sell in our two nearest neighbors, Canada and Mexico, although these countries classify kratom as “not for human consumption” and ban it from being marketed or sold as a dietary supplement. Other countries that regulate kratom as a controlled substance include Denmark, Germany, Finland, Romania, Poland, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway, Israel, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, and South Korea. This is the most complete list we could find of countries that regulate or ban kratom. To be on the safe side, if you’re outside of the United States, check the laws and regulations in your country if you plan to order kratom from us.
Kratom Legal Status in the U.S.
The United States has recently ruled that kratom cannot be imported as a dietary supplement for human consumption under its import laws. However, in most of the US, kratom is totally legal to buy and sell as an incense component, for aromatherapy or research purposes, or as an herbarium specimen, which is exactly how we sell it.
States where kratom or its main compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, have been banned are Indiana, Wisconsin, and Tennessee. States where bills to ban kratom are pending (but not yet passed) are Michigan, Iowa, and Louisiana. Our home state of Illinois also bans the sale of kratom to minors under the age of 18, which has always been our company policy for all products we sell. Other gray areas in the US’s kratom legal status include the laws in Vermont: in Vermont, 7-hydroxymitragynine is banned under the state’s Regulated Drug Rules. Although kratom the herb is not mentioned, illegalizing a main alkaloid of kratom is tantamount to illegalizing kratom itself.
Then there’s Florida. The laws on kratom in this state are changing so fast that sometimes it seems like every day brings a new update. Our latest news is that as of March 11th, 2015, the Florida Senate has passed a bill illegalizing kratom and its main alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, and making their possession a misdemeanor. Previously, kratom was legal in most areas of Florida, although Sarasota County passed a motion to ban kratom and its main alkaloids, and other Florida counties considered following suit.
Finally, some states originally had bans kratom or planned to, but later amended those laws due to the efforts of kratom advocacy groups, notably the Botanical Legal Defense. Legislation has been amended to remove kratom from the banned substances list in Oklahoma, Arizona, and Illinois. If you need the latest updates to kratom’s legal status, or just have a healthy interest in the shifting legal landscape surrounding kratom in the US, the people over at Speciosa.org maintain a regularly updated, color-coded map of the states where kratom is banned, regulated, and legal. It’s a great resource, and the most dynamic source on kratom’s rapidly changing legal status that is readily available to consumers!
One of the most interesting forms of kratom available from vendors is kratom tincture, also sometimes called liquid kratom. Kratom tincture is made by macerating powdered or crushed kratom leaves in a solvent, typically alcohol, to extract the alkaloids in the herb. The best types of kratom tinctures are usually water-alcohol mixtures, since kratom’s diverse range of alkaloids is soluble in both water and alcohol.
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