It’s estimated that there are between three and five million kratom purchasers just in the United States.
You might have heard about kratom and some of the controversy that surrounds it. Millions of people are known to sell kratom.
But what’s the history behind this popular substance? And when did people start marketing and selling it?
Kratom is a fairly recent phenomenon in the United States, it has a long and storied history in other parts of the world.
Are you interested in learning more? Then continue reading and we’ll walk you through everything you’ll want to know about the history of kratom.
What Is Kratom?
Before we delve into the history of kratom, let’s first go over what kratom actually is. First off, kratom is a plant that’s scientifically known as Mitragyna Speciosa.
The leaves of the kratom plant are typically dried out and then crushed into a powder.
Kratom first originated in Southeast Asia and is most often found in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. This makes sense considering that kratom flourishes in tropical areas.
The “Discovery” of Kratom
Nobody knows for sure just how long kratom has been around. However, we do know that it’s been cherished by people in Southeast Asia for at least several hundred years.
There isn’t much in terms of recorded history surrounding kratom prior to the Dutch expeditions to Malaysia. Pieter Willem Korthals, in the mid-1800s, was the first known person to refer to kratom in Western literature. He came across the plant while working for the East India Company.
Kratom has become banned in both Thailand and Malaysia. Most of the manufacturers of kratom today now base their operations in Indonesia.
Local Uses
Before Europeans arrived in Southeast Asia, kratom was fairly popular among the native populations.
Natives would also take the kratom leaves, or extracts from those leaves, and place them on wounds. They used this to heal their injuries and the leaves would also work as a topical anesthetic.
In fact, kratom was so revered by the locals in Southeast Asia that it became part of their ancestral worship rituals too.
Identification of Kratom
Pieter Korthals was the first person to classify the plant. However, kratom wouldn’t receive its official name of Mitragyna Speciosa until 1859, after having gone through several name changes.
Becoming Mainstream
A British botanist by the name of L. Wray samples of kratom to a friend at the University of Edinburgh. This friend was able to isolate strains of kratom.
In the early 1940s, the Thai government completely banned kratom.
Modern Use
Today, kratom is identified as illegal in many countries or is even banned outright. It’s still legal in Indonesia but banned in many other Southeast Asian countries.
Interestingly enough, kratom is completely legal in the United States, although many people are trying to get that changed. Most of these kratom critics know very little about the substance, where it comes from, or the history behind it.
With that said, you should be aware of your local and federal laws before you purchase kratom. The FDA has already tried to get kratom banned in the United States, sometimes by using misleading and unethical tactics. Because of this, it’s important to stay vigilant with regards to the laws surrounding kratom.
Understanding the History of Kratom
Kratom is a substance that has helped a lot of people over the years. By understanding the history of kratom, and its original purposes, we can better appreciate this plant as a whole.
Kratom should be approached with respect and caution.
Are you looking to purchase kratom powder? If so, then contact us today and see what we can do for you!
