From the dense rainforests of Southeast Asia emerges a centuries-old story of the Mitragyna speciosa tree—better known as kratom. Communities throughout its natural range have long used the leaves of kratom trees for motivation, focus, and comfort.

While you may not be familiar with kratom itself, its cultural journey might sound familiar to you. It parallels that of many natural psychedelics: after centuries of use in traditional settings, it was ensnared by prohibitionism, but is now seeing a modern resurgence. 

As people have become increasingly drawn to botanicals and psychedelics for healing and recreation, kratom tea has emerged as a sought-after beverage, even in regions far from those where kratom grows naturally. For many, it provides a natural energy boost, akin to coffee’s, and it can also support mood, comfort, and even sociability.

Kratom Trees Before Kratom Teas

How exactly does kratom provide these benefits? 

Whether you’re a coffee-lover or a psychonaut, you’re probably familiar with a number of alkaloids. These are physiologically active compounds found in plants and fungi, including compounds like caffeine, nicotine, and psilocybin.

Kratom belongs to the Rubiaceae family of plants, which also includes plants such as coffee and cat’s claw. Ranging from 3 to 30 meters in height, kratom trees possess glossy, dark green leaves which can span up to 8 inches long and 5 inches wide. Over 40 alkaloids have been found in kratom leaves.

Mitragynine is usually the majority alkaloid by concentration, followed by speciociliatine, paynantheine, speciogynine, isorhynchophylline, corynoxine, mitraphylline, and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Many of these alkaloids can be found in other plants and have been used in both traditional and allopathic medicine.

Researchers believe these compounds are responsible for the majority of kratom's distinctive effects, though studies on the effects of kratom from non-alkaloidal components are ongoing.

Academic research on kratom alkaloids has elucidated that mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine bind in an interesting manner with mu-opioid receptors in rat brains, and that kratom alkaloids also bind with alpha-adrenergic receptors (2A, 2B, and 2C), serotonin receptors (5-HT1a and 5-HT2a), dopamine receptors (D1 and D2, agonist and antagonist activity) to the opioid receptors (delta, kappa, and mu; partial agonists and antagonists).

We should keep in mind, however, that there have not been any published human trials involving kratom pharmacokinetics. Therefore all we know about its alkaloids stem from in vivo animal studies and in vitro and in silico lab work. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has historically been hostile to the idea of allowing human trials with kratom or approving a New Dietary Ingredient application. However, they recently approved trials in Oregon which have yet to conclude.

Most Natural Psychedelics’ Active Molecules are Alkaloids

If you’re well-versed in psychedelic science, you’ll probably recognize the above-mentioned serotonin receptors (namely, 5-HT2a) as the crux of the pharmacological activity of psychedelics. Many classical psychedelics have an indole structure that comes from the amino acid tryptophan, which is also the precursor for serotonin as well as other naturally occurring psychedelics.

The serotonin receptor’s docking site has a structural configuration which readily accommodates indole chemical scaffolds. Broadly speaking, indoles are like generic skeleton keys to 5-HT receptors. Mitragynine and its related compounds also have indole or oxindole scaffolding, so it isn’t all too surprising that kratom shares similar receptor docking sites with these psychedelics.

Psychedelic compounds found in plants and fungi, like most plant compounds, evolved over the course of millions of years. Since tryptophan is such an abundant amino acid, many different organisms throughout nature use it as a foundation for the biosynthesis of various molecules. Humans are no different. Serotonin and melatonin, for example, are biosynthesized in the pineal gland from tryptophan.

In fact, serotonin signaling is far older than the human species! It is found in single-celled organisms, and the enzymes responsible for decarboxylating and hydroxylating tryptophan are present in every plant and animal.

As a result of the widespread use of indole structures, plants developed related compounds which have been used throughout prehistory in the chemical warfare between organisms. Psychedelic plants, fungi, and kratom trees likely produce these compounds as an insecticide or as a fungicide—their functions extend far beyond how humans may benefit from them.

This is an important point for discussion. From an extra-human perspective, we can see how the existence and function of a substance are not inherently good or bad. “Good” and “bad” are subjective qualities that depend upon context.

A compound isn’t good if it imparts a psychedelic experience and bad if it doesn’t (or the other way around, depending upon whom you ask). The existence and effect of a compound is a neutral phenomena which emerged from evolutionary adaptation. Being good or bad is entirely contingent upon the context of its use by humans.

The method in which a substance is consumed and the effects it produces obviously contribute greatly to the acceptance or rejection of that substance in a community or society. You probably know that psychedelics have been used by humans throughout history, and that they have been perceived quite differently throughout space and time. So, internationally, how has kratom been differentially consumed and differentially perceived in the past few hundred years?

How do People Access Kratom Alkaloids from Kratom Leaves?

Unlike caffeine, which can be easily extracted from coffee beans or black tea with water in just a few minutes, the primary alkaloids found in kratom leaves are relatively insoluble in water. So in countries like Thailand, people would simmer the leaves in water over a fire for two to three hours to make tea to share throughout the day.

In our fast-paced society, we’d bet on the fact that you don’t have three spare hours each day to make yourself and your neighbors a cup of tea. It’s no surprise that one of the most popular kratom products in the United States is powdered kratom leaves, which people swallow and chase down or mix into another drink. Other popular options include kratom extracts, which may contain just highly concentrated levels of mitragynine. These are sold in small bottles like a “5-hour ENERGY” shot.

Though it’s easiest—and most profitable—for companies to grind kratom into a powder to ship it and sell it, the resulting product is not exactly a pleasant thing to consume. Just imagine plucking a few leaves off the nearest tree outside your home and chewing them. It’s an acquired taste, and the process of consuming it can be fairly messy as well. But even for those of us who don’t have fresh kratom leaves nearby, and who don’t want to consume extremely concentrated alkaloid shots, there are other options.

Re-enter: kratom tea. It’s a great way to consume the alkaloids without actually ingesting the extra plant material—just as you might make a tea with chamomile flowers or psilocybin mushrooms, or make a hot cup of coffee instead of munching on coffee beans.

And in fact, to turn three hours into 20 minutes, all you have to do is transport yourself back to your high school chemistry class and refresh your memory of the ideal gas law.

This is what two kratom-loving college buds did back in 2019, when they found out that kratom leaves were never actually consumed in traditional settings. After a bit of trial and error and a lot of taste-testing, they found that you can increase the solubility of kratom alkaloids to make an effective cup of kratom tea by lowering the pH of the water and maintaining a higher temperature than you would for black tea.

In practice, that just means steeping it with some lemon or lime juice and boiling water, and keeping it in an insulated thermos instead of a regular mug because the latter would cool down too quickly.

15-20 minutes later, voilà! You have an effective cup of tea that you can flavor and sweeten to your liking. You could even re-steep the leaves for a second cup because you wouldn’t fully extract the alkaloids they contain in 20 minutes. So it takes longer to steep than a cup of chamomile tea, but the process is fairly easy and the result is a drink that people are quite familiar with and fond of.

Can you see the resemblance? Kratom and Psychedelics Face Similar Cultural Obstacles

Ok, that’s probably enough chemistry for the time being. Now that we know where kratom comes from, how people consume it, and what some of its effects are, let’s dig into why it has gained undue ethnobotanical infamy, similar to psychedelics.

Where does Kratom Fit In?

In our society, we often create strict boundaries between foods, drugs, supplements, and medicines. In part, this is because we’ve created regulatory bodies like the United States Department of Agriculture, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the FDA to ensure we have safe methods for processing and selling foods and drugs.

Within our regulatory system, kratom is a bit enigmatic. Some people consume kratom regularly to get mild effects, just like coffee, and they enjoy it for a subtle boost while they complete their daily work. On the other end of the spectrum, there are people who consume the strong extract shots to achieve a significant change in their mental state, and may do so for just recreational purposes.

The Backlash Against Psychoactive Compounds

When a plant, fungus, or compound—especially one that isn’t broadly consumed or known about—is consumed by people who then disrupt societal norms in some way, it often causes some mainstream cultural backlash. This backlash can range from stigmatization of the substances and the people who use them to prohibition and criminalization of sellers and consumers.

By placing plants and fungi and the compounds they contain into distinct categories, regulators can more easily oversee them. Yet these bodies aren’t perfect, and have used their power to restrict individuals’ access to compounds for reasons that are often far more fear-based than scientific.

In 2016, the DEA attempted to add kratom to the list of Schedule I compounds. Schedule I is the most restrictive category, and includes LSD, cannabis, MDMA (ecstasy), and peyote. In 2021, the FDA recommended that the World Health Organization criminalize kratom on a near-global level. Both of these efforts failed, but have had lasting effects on the international perception and understanding of kratom.

Prohibition happens even when the substance in question doesn’t cause any significant physiological or psychological harm in moderation. There are many more examples of this in human history, recent and not. Coffee was banned in the 1500s in Mecca and later in Europe, kratom was banned in Thailand when it interfered with the government’s opium tax revenue, alcohol was prohibited in the United States in the 1920s, psychedelics are still criminalized in much of the world… The list goes on and on.

Ending Food and Drug Exceptionalism: Creating a Culture of Acceptance for Kratom, Psychedelics, and Other Substances

How do we move forward and push back against prohibitionism? Advocates can approach the problem in a number of ways, whether through politics or research, community education or business.

Creating an environment of informed, respectful discourse is crucial in the journey from traditional use to modern acceptance of substances like kratom and psychedelics. This journey is often clouded with misconceptions and regulatory hurdles. By fostering a culture that values scientific research alongside personal testimony, we can pave the way for a more nuanced understanding of these substances.

Research is a vital component in this process. Ongoing studies into kratom and psychedelics can uncover valuable insights into their effects and potential therapeutic uses. This research should be robustly supported, with findings communicated transparently to the public and policymakers, thereby bridging the gap between academic knowledge and societal perception.

Education is another cornerstone. Sharing accurate, comprehensive information about kratom, psychedelics, and other natural remedies helps dispel myths and reduce stigma. This includes fostering honest dialogue about both potential benefits and risks, and empowering individuals to make informed decisions.

In the realm of advocacy and policy reform, activists and organizations can work towards changing laws and regulations that unjustly criminalize or restrict the use of substances like kratom and psychedelics. Engaging with policymakers, sharing compelling research and stories, and rallying public support can shift the legal landscape towards more progressive, harm-reduction-focused policies.

Finally, the business approach plays a significant role in changing perceptions and increasing accessibility of a product. Companies like Top Tree Herbs exemplify this by introducing kratom in a more familiar and approachable format—kratom tea. Their efforts in making kratom more accessible and normalized align with the broader goal of ending prohibitionism. This business model not only provides a practical alternative for consumers but also aids in integrating kratom into mainstream conversations about natural health products.

Overall, building a culture of respect and understanding around the use of these substances is important. Recognizing their role in various cultural and spiritual practices and appreciating their potential as tools for healing and personal growth—and plain old fun—can foster a more accepting society.