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 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 | Feb 19, 2015 | Products
Of all the questions about kratom we get at the shop, among the most frequent is, “What kind of kratom should I buy?” We understand it can be daunting to choose among the diverse selection of kratom extracts, powders and dried leaves we offer; however, if you’re interested in acquiring kratom as an exotic incense rather than an herbarium specimen, it might make sense to buy kratom resin from us.
Kratom resin is a highly stable solid extract with the consistency of tar. Shaman’s Garden offers kratom resin for sale in chunks of 36 to 41 grams, though priced on the low side of 36 grams as an extra bonus for customers. Made only from freshly picked kratom leaves that have been extracted into an alkaloid-rich semi-solid form, our kratom resin has a sweet-bitter, slightly carmelized aroma—the perfect base for an intriguing, exotic incense blend. While not as intense as the Maeng Da (which we recommend only to consumers already experienced with kratom), our kratom resin can be more accessible and easier to use than other types of kratom extracts: just break or cut off a piece whenever you want to use some in a blend or by itself in an incense burner.
Of course, you might still be wondering, “Why should I buy kratom resin from you instead of one of your powdered extracts?” Honestly, it’s a matter of preference. Some people prefer working with our Maeng Da powdered extract, or our Gold, Silver, and Bronze powdered extracts; some prefer the resin; and some want to work with the whole leaf. All of these ways of working with kratom have their attractions and merits! We offer kratom resin for sale to those who prefer the merits of a solid extract, including kratom resin’s long shelf life, stability, and ease of use in incense preparations. Kratom resin requires no messing about with fine powders that can get everywhere: just break or cut off a piece, measure it on your scale, and adjust the amount up or down as needed.
As with any kratom product, positive independent user reviews are a must when finding where to buy kratom resin. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of bunk kratom on the market. Furthermore, once the kratom leaf is processed from its whole form into a powder or resin, it becomes harder to assess the quality of the herbal product at a glance. However, we haven’t been in the kratom business as long as we have without picking up a few tips about distinguising good kratom resin from bad. Besides independent reviews, look to the manufacturer’s own advertising about their kratom resin: does it include the strain and origin of their kratom? Do they include informational articles about kratom on their website or blog? You only want to buy kratom resin from a vendor who knows their stuff about this complex herb, and it’s these kinds of subtle clues that will tell you who’s done their homework and who’s just looking to cash in on the latest internet craze.
When it comes to kratom extracts such as the resin, we also have to talk about concentration. You’ll find most kratom extracts offer a concentration on their label: numbers such as 10x 15x, 20x, etc. These markers indicate the ratio of fresh kratom leaves used to make 1 gram of the finished kratom extract. For instance, 15x represents a 15:1 ratio, meaning it took 15 grams of fresh kratom leaves to make 1 gram of the finished kratom extract. This ratio can be useful to have because it gives you an idea of how much extract to use by comparing it with the known amount of fresh kratom leaves that went into the extract.
However, be wary of kratom vendors that advertise huge ratios such as 100X kratom extract: though this may sound like a great deal, in actuality any kratom extract over about 20X is not going to be full spectrum and will not preserve the full range of kratom’s properties. This is because not all the alkaloids in kratom are extracted equally. Kratom contains at least 25 identified compounds, all with different chemical properties; in order to appreciate the true range of kratom’s properties, it’s desirable to preserve as much of the chemical balance of the fresh leaf as possible. Sadly, most kratom extracts above 20X—and certainly any kratom extract above 50X—will not be a full-spectrum extract.
Finally, for those do-it-yourselfers out there, you can always choose to make rather than buy kratom resin! Here is one simple method we found that requires no complex equipment, just a pot, stove, and a freezer:
1) In 1 liter of water, add 25-35 grams of fresh kratom leaves or plain kratom leaf powder. (Note: don’t use “enhanced” kratom leaf or powder that already contains an extract of kratom. You would essentially be reextracting the kratom, which will result in a stronger-than-desired extract that is also not full spectrum.)
2) Bring to a gentle boil, stirring every 2 or 3 minutes, until half the liquid has evaporated.
3) Strain the kratom leaves or powder and set the liquid aside.
4) Add the strained kratom leaves to 1 fresh liter of water and repeat steps 1-3.
5) After one repetition, discard the remaining kratom leaves/powder.
6) Combine the two liquid portions in your pot and gently boil it down until the liquid has reached a syrupy consistency. You can then pour the liquid onto a ceramic plate or heat-treated glass container (we recommend Pyrex).
7) If desired, place your new kratom resin into the freezer for a few hours to firm it up. There! Now you have a homemade kratom resin you can place in the incense burner, dissolve in liquid, or use in myriad other ways as you desire.
by Keith | Jan 15, 2009 | Products
Both IAmShaman and ShamansGarden have been selling Kratom online for over a decade. We’ve seen it all; from the fake Kratom that appeared in the early 2000’s, to the next wave of research chemical infused Kratom that, when tested, had 0% mitragynine content. That’s never been the case here, as we not only source our Kratom from highly reputable vendors, we’ve manufactured our Kratom extracts in house since Day 001.
We’re also the only company we know if that regularly tests their Kratom products for purity and content. For example, in late 2014, we purchased Kratom extracts from 8 companies online, several of them the top selling Kratom vendors. Shockingly, 8 of those 10 companies either were selling Kratom extracts with 0% mitragynine content in them, or they had potentially dangerous research chemicals inside them to account for the popularity of those products.
Our Kratom leaf and extract is always a pure botanical, useful for a wide range of purposes. When we extract the crushed or powdered leaf into a botanical extract, it’s done with only purified water and ethanol. We never use acetone, butane, or any other potentially hazardous materials for any of our Kratom extracts. We also offer as wide a range of Kratom leaf as possible, to please every person’s personal preference.
Regardless, our sources have always remained constant, we respond to customer inquiries immediately, and we’re always here to help you make a choice of which Kratom products you purchase from us. And, something that many don’t often think about is the consistency of the Kratom product you purchase. Our stock is constantly rotating, so our Kratom leaf and extract is always as fresh as possible. Nothing sits in our inventory for more than a month or two, as we move through stock at a very consistent rate from month to month.
Also, by knowing our suppliers personally, by visiting the places the Kratom leaf is harvested, to where it’s processed and stored; we get to ensure the consistency and quality of each botanical specimen and extract we offer. With so many suppliers making so many promises, it can be difficult to know who to trust when choosing the vendor you plan to buy your Kratom from. We’ve been around longer than most, partly because of the great pride we take in the quality of our products, partly because of the stellar customer service we offer, and partly because we have unbeatable prices for just about everything we offer.
If you’ve got Kratom questions, please feel free to call us during normal business hours, or email us at shopkeeper at shamansgarden dot com or shopkeeper at iamshaman dot com. We like talking to customers and hope to hear from you today!
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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