If you are new to kratom extracts, there are a few very important things you should know right out of the gate. It’s sold and used differently than the typical way in which you’d find kratom in capsule or powder form. Capsules you would obviously swallow with the liquid of your choice and the amount is controlled in each capsule. Powder is measured in grams and typically made into a tea. Kratom extracts, on the other hand, are produced and sold differently so you would need to have a basic understanding of how to measure and use it.
How Kratom Extract Is Produced
Although there are many different kratom extract strains, they are all produced in the same way. Starting with either raw plant material or kratom powder, they are boiled down until it reaches a thick, paste substance. The purpose for boiling it down is to extract the alkaloids into a concentrate. From there they are sold in different forms such as:
- Resins
- Oils
- Tinctures
- Liquids
- Enhanced powders
Here it should be said that the reason they are called ‘enhanced’ powders is because they are stronger than the average powder you would purchase in capsules or to be used to make tea. This is also why it is important to understand extracts. It’s all about the strength involved.
A Word on How Extract Is Graded
There seems to be a bit of confusion as to how kratom extract is graded. You will see numbers such as 10X or 10:1 but it does not mean that the extract will be ten times the strength of an equivalent amount of kratom. Actually, what those numbers refer to is the amount of powder being used to end up with an equivalent amount of extract. In other words, for one gram of kratom extract, they would use 10 grams of powder, but it does not mean that it is 10 times stronger.
Careful Dosing of Extracts
Having said all that, kratom extract is by its very nature stronger than the powder form you may be used to. Therefore, it is important to begin with smaller amounts, or lower dosages. Also, it is not recommended that you switch over to only using extracts but alternate extracts with your usual way of ingesting kratom. Whether you typically use tea or capsules, it is suggested that you alternate that with the extract so that your body adjusts to a level best suited to you.
Some people have an unwanted side effect with kratom powder and that is why they eventually switch to extracts. However, they do so slowly so as to get the dosage right for their particular needs. Whether they need pain relief, stress relief or simply find that kratom helps them focus better, they need a way to ingest kratom that won’t give them the unwanted side effect of nausea. While most people tolerate kratom well, it is known to upset some people’s stomachs and so the use of kratom extract helps to mitigate that effect. In any case, if you are new to kratom, start slowly with extracts and build up to higher doses over time. In this way, you will find that level that’s best for you.