Types of kratom

Dosage

The dosage also depends very much on the strength of the kratom used. Usually 5-10 grams of dried leaves should be enough for inexperienced users. Lower the dose when using kratom powder, as it is usually stronger than plain leaves (3-5 grams). The same goes for resin. Kratom is not habit forming when used responsibly and not more than once or twice a month. However, regular users will feel the need to increase the dosage after some time.

Preparation

There are several ways of taking kratom. You can chew the leaves, smoke them, or make tea of it. This last method is the easiest way of consuming kratom.

In Thailand, kratom leaves are usually chewed fresh (usually after removing the stringy central vein). Dried leaves can also be chewed, but since they are a bit tough, most people prefer to crush them up or powder them first. You have to chew well for quite sometime. Most people drink warm water or tea after it.

Smoking kratom is another method, although this has no advantage over chewing or making tea, while the amount of leaf that constitutes a typical dose is too much to be smoked easily.

A tastier way of taking kratom is by making tea of it: put 5-10 grams of powdered leaves in a small amount of hot water and leave to infuse for a while. You can add black or herbal tea and sugar or honey, if you wish.

A paste-like extract can be prepared by lengthy boiling of fresh or dried leaves. This can be stored for later use. Small pellets of this extract (which is also sold as such in various shops) can be swallowed, or it can be dissolved in hot water and consumed as a tea. Some people like to mix kratom tea with ordinary black tea, or other herbal teas, before it is consumed. This is done to make it more palatable. Sugar or honey can be added to sweeten it.

Another method is making a liquid tea-like extract. Following is a basic recipe found on the internet :

1.) Take 50 grams of dried, crushed kratom leaves and put into a pot. To this add 1 liter of water.
2.) Boil gently for 15-20 minutes.
3.) Pour the tea through a strainer into a bowl and reserve the liquid.
(squeeze the leaves in the strainer to get most of the liquid out).
4.) Put the leaves back in the pot and add another liter of fresh water. Repeat steps 2 and 3.
(after the leaves have been strained a second time, they can be discarded.)
5.) Put the combined liquid from both boilings back into the pot and boil until the volume is reduced to about 100 ml.

The same general preparation method can of course be used with larger or smaller amounts of herb by simply adjusting the volume of water used. Kratom tea can be safely stored in the refrigerator for about five days. It is probably okay to keep it a bit longer, but it's better to play it safe and not drink it after five days. It can be stored for many months if you add some alcohol to it. Adding about 10% alcohol will preserve it for many months (in the refrigerator). That is one part vodka (whisky, rum, vodka, or a similar spirit) to three parts kratom tea.

In general, it is not recommended to combine drugs. However, certain combinations have been reported by users to be pleasant and supposedly safe. Kratom can certainly be combined with ordinary tea without risk. It has been used with a tea made from red poppy flowers (Papaver rhoeas), which itself has an extremely mild narcotic effect, and with a sedating-euphoriant tea made from ‘blue lotus’ (Nymphaea caerulea). It has been safely combined with small quantities of alcohol, however large quantities of alcohol must be avoided. Some people report they like to smoke tobacco or cannabis while under the influence of kratom.

It is important not to use kratom too often. Please check the warnings page!!