Are you suffering from chronic pain?
After trying various medications, someone you know may have suggested kratom for your condition. Kratom products, much like CBD products, have been generating a ton of buzz lately. If you haven’t heard of kratom before, it’s a supplement or medication that some tout as an alternative for pain management.
Kratom is also known as a recreational drug due to its psychotropic properties. While it’s not illegal in most states, the FDA doesn’t regulate its distribution.
Kratom growing is native to Southeast Asia regions. One of the concerns about kratom is that some products may be contaminated with salmonella. This issue stems from how kratom leaves are grown, harvested, and processed.
Is there any truth to this statement? Take a look at the production process of kratom so you can see for yourself.
Kratom Growing in Southeast Asia
Kratom trees need humid and tropical environments to grow and propagate. It’s why the Southeast Asia region is ideal for farming kratom. For example, some ultra enhanced kratom products come from Borneo, Bali, and Malaysia.
Being an evergreen tree, it can grow and regrow green, beautiful, and glossy leaves throughout the year. Mature leaves can fall off, or kratom farmers can harvest the leaves early.
Harvest Timing
There’s no set schedule for harvesting the leaves in the kratom farming industry. Instead, farmers harvest leaves at different times depending on the type of end product they’re pursuing. The three types of kratom strains are white, green, and red.
The colors are indicative of the level of maturity of the kratom leaves. Kratom contains two active alkaloids: mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine. The balance of these active ingredients varies depending on the leaves’ maturity.
At the earliest level of maturity, the veins of the leaves are white. As time goes on, the veins’ color shifts to green, then at peak maturity, the veins become red. Farmers monitor the color of the leaves to pick the right stage of maturity for harvesting.
Processing the Leaves
After the harvest, the farmers will wash the raw kratom leaves clean and then hang them out to dry. The drying process is crucial since it’s one factor that determines the alkaloid content, and thus the potency. The leaves are dried in the sun or left exposed to UV light for various lengths of time.
After drying, some of the best kratom products will go through additional processing steps. Some undergo fermentation, like the Bentuangie kratom, which has a distinct aroma due to the fermentation. Other kratom manufacturers pasteurize the leaves to reduce microbial loads, including salmonella.
Post-Processing and Packaging
The next step involves grinding the leaves into powder using large industrial grinders. The kratom powder will now take different forms, such as capsules and extracts, or remain in powder form.
Before packaging, reputable providers will send the powder to a third-party laboratory for testing. This extra step ensures that the product is safe for consumption and free of harmful contaminants.
Buy Only From Reputable Vendors
As you can see, kratom production, from kratom growing up to packaging, hinges on the provider’s level of professionalism. While some go the extra mile to make sure that the product is safe, others are not so well-inclined. If you’re going to try kratom to help with your chronic pain, make sure to buy only from reliable sources.
Did this post pique your curiosity? Please check out the rest of our site for more articles about health, entertainment, and other exciting topics.
