If by some miracle you’ve not already heard of CBD, it’s recently being touted as the hot new natural product to buy. CBD has gone mainstream.
However, you may not have heard of kratom. Kratom is also a natural product with many positive reviews online, but far less mainstream than CBD. Both are being investigated for the ways the two substances could be the next hottest thing since sliced bread.
In this article, we’ll get into the details of CBD vs Kratom, and the similarities and differences between the two substances.
What Is CBD?
Let’s begin with the more popular CBD.
CBD is an acronym for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is one of many chemical compounds found within the cannabis plant. It can be extracted as an oil to be used in a wide variety of products like hygiene products and more.
CBD is non-psychoactive. This means unlike its sister compound THC, it doesn’t produce any kind of high you might usually associate with the cannabis plant. The extract may produce a calming and relaxed sensation.
CBD is typically derived from hemp, as opposed to cannabis, as hemp naturally has a higher CBD content. Products made from industrial hemp are legal in America as they produce such low levels of THC. Because of this, CBD oil extracts are widely available across the United States provided it contains a THC content of lower than 0.3 percent.
CBD works by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system, or ECS. The ECS is a network of cannabinoid receptors within the human body. These receptors exist in a huge variety of cells, which explains why CBD could have so many potential uses and benefits.
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system by indirectly influencing these receptors. Research into exactly which receptors CBD may interact with is still in its infancy. This said early studies suggest CBD may have a huge range of potential benefits from appetite to sleep problems.
What Is Kratom?
Like CBD, Kratom is an all-natural substance, but the similarities, for some, end there. Its official title is actually Mitragyna Speciosa, which is a bit of a mouthful and explains why it goes by the more common title. It’s actually more commonly pronounced ‘KRAY-TOM’ than how it is spelled. Many people debate how to pronounce kratom. You can read more about that in this article.
It comes from an evergreen tree that is native to Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand and Malaysia. Much like the plant CBD is derived from, Kratom is grown in a variety of different strains. These are what’s known as veins.
There are several different strains, but the most popular are white vein, green rein, red vein, and yellow vein.
For white vein Kratom, the leaves are harvested while still very young and the veins are white in color, hence the name. They’re then dried indoors with no light exposure.
Red vein Kratom on the other hand is harvested then exposed to lots of sunlight, as well as some fermented Kratom. Green vein Kratom is harvested much later on in the plant’s life cycle, which gives it its darker color. It’s dried indoors initially, then outdoors to finish.
The last strain we’ll talk about, yellow Kratom, is considered the rarest. The leaves are harvested at a much later stage of the plant life cycle than any of the others. The drying technique used in processing yellow vein Kratom is likely what gives it it’s unique hue.
The processing for the Kratom leaf involves boiling the harvested leaves in water and continuous stirring. Once cooled, there is a syrup-like mixture leftover which needs to be strained and left to sit for a couple of days. Once dry, this is ground or broken up into Kratom.
All these different techniques of harvesting and processing change the properties of the plant. Though, the end product is always chemically an alkaloid compound.
The herb has been sold throughout history by merchants all over the globe. Particularly in Southeast Asia, it was historically purchased by farmers but is now purchased by average Joe’s today in brick and mortar and online stores.
Like CBD, research into Kratom is new. Initial studies are being conducted on kratom and there is less currently being reported on in news as there is on CBD or cannabidiol.
CBD vs Kratom
As you’ve probably figured out from the above, the two compounds have quite a few similarities. They’re both compounds and extracted from plants.
But, the chemical compound makeup is very different between alkaloids and cannabinoids.
In terms of legality, the two also differ. CBD has been federally legalized across the United States provided the extract contains no more than 0.3 percent THC content. As it’s derived from industrial hemp, this means it’s available across America.
Kratom has a little more of a complicated relationship with the law. Federally, Kratom is still legal in the US. However, some states have passed laws to ban or regulate certain uses of the plant. You can read up on which states have banned Kratom on our blog.
Where to Find Kratom and CBD Near Me?
Now you know the difference between CBD vs Kratom, you can decide which may be the best choice. For CBD near you, there are a wide variety of reputable online stores available to choose from.
For wholesale Kratom and bulk Kratom, EZ Kratom is your best bet. We pride ourselves on consistency, quality, and reasonable prices for our wholesale customers. Providing only the best quality wholesale kratom for our customers, in a comprehensive online service.
We have great reviews from our customers and pride ourselves on our service. Whatever you need help with, please feel free to get in touch today with your queries.