Kratom Overview: Kratom is a tree species in the coffee family, known formally as M. speciosa. This tropical evergreen tree is grown mostly in Thailand and the nearby countries of Indochina well as southeast Asia. Leaves from 
this species have been used for centuries as a mild mood enhancer and to treat serious pain issues. The leaves have also been known to be used for expanding the mind and calm the stomach. The present day use of Kratom leaves includes opiate addiction help.
How to use kratom: Raw kratom leaf can be chewed right off the tree, this is more common for growers to do than westerners. The leaf is very flexible in ways it can be used, so fresh chewing is not the only option. Some people choose to dry the leaf and use it like they would a traditional hot tea. Other than chewing or brewing the leaf, you can also grind the leaf into powder and use put it into a capsule or pill. Smoking is also an option for kratom use, but not any stronger than the other ways to use it, similar in this way to Salvia. Kratom extract is sometimes made by boiling leaves until they become paste consistency. Kratom paste has a good and favorable shelf life and can be broken off into small pieces for use later.
How to use Kratom as a Tea: Combining chopped up leaf with boiling water produces the same effect as chewing a dry or fresh leaf. For a less awful taste, the tea of kratom leaf can be combined with regular black tea and honey or agave to mask the flavor. These instructions will provide 15 low doses.
How To Make Kratom Tea:
-Mix 50 grams of dry kratom leaf and1 litre of water, boil them together for 15 minutes in a stainless steel pot. Set aside a metal or glass bowl and strain the boiled tea after the 15 minutes are up. Get all of the water out of the wet leaves by ringing them over the new strained tea bowl.
-Take the leaves you just rung out and boil them again for round 2 with another litre of water. Strain the leaves once more into the tea you had produced in round 1. The leaves have no more active ingredients left so they can be thrown out now. You should have two litres of tea now.
-Boil down the two litres (2000 ml) of tea, to 100 ml. This concentrate can be boiled down even more to a thicker liquid but it may be more difficult to drink. Now that the tea is stronger it can be taken in smaller amounts.
*The tea will keep for less than a week. If it is to be kept for longer than 5 days, adding 30 ml of 80 proof drinking alcohol per 100 ml of tea will keep it.
Effects of kratom: The leaf of the kratom tree produces a generally euphoric feeling. Depending on how strong the dose or extract is, the effect will vary. The spectrum of effects includes mild stimulation and strong sedative states. Mild stimulation (using 2-6 grams of regular leaf) can increase alertness and even some physical arousal. Strong sedation (using 16-50 grams of regular leaf) may lower physical pain reactions for some people.
Possible risks of using kratom: When used in any strength, the mind is altered and can become distracted. If sedation sets in from kratom use, it is even possible to fall asleep from euphoria. Try not to use any power tools or climb anything tall while using kratom.
Women who are trying to become pregnant or who are pregnant should not consume any kratom as it can pass the active ingredients to a fetus.
Kratom side effects: This is a possible tree allergen for some people. Health problems are not usually seen when kratom is used quantities considered low dose. Rarely, some length may be added to intercourse timelines when using kratom. In some countries, kratom is actively used as an alcohol and opioid addiction treatment.
Negative effects are seen when kratom is used every day and when a person withdraws from it. Obsession and unhappy feelings are known to occur if it is used for more than recreation. Each person will react uniquely to using the leaf, just like any new medicine they take.
It is possible to become dependent on the effects this tree leaf. Because it is not as available and easy to buy in most western countries as it is in Southeast Asia, there are few cases of kratom addiction known outside of Thailand. The sickness an addicted person will get from not having it will cause physical aches and stomach problems. Some people find they lose weight from kratom abuse and get darker skin tone that looks sickly.
Mixing kratom with other substances: It is known to be pleasant to mix white or black tea with kratom, the caffeine level is usually not high enough to overwhelm a typical person. Some small amounts of alcohol are considered to be low danger in combination with kratom as well.
It is not recommended to use the kratom leaf in combination with other mind altering drugs. Definite bad mixers include: stimulants like caffeine or cocaine, opiates, and MAO inhibitor drugs. There is not enough conclusive evidence to show any safe interaction can be had with cannabis or large amounts of alcohol either.
Be careful when smoking cigarettes or tobacco as the stimulants can be a dangerous combination. Falling asleep while smoking and using kratom is also a danger and a reason not to do both substances at the same time.
Kratom legal state: As of 2013, Kratom is legal in these countries: The United States of America, and all of the EU countries.
Illegal countries for kratom possession or use: Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Myanmar.
Chemistry of kratom: Pain relief and other sedative effects are produced mostly by the tryptamine like alkaloids in the kratom leaf. Most notable of this psychotropic leaf is the 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine.
Kratom purchasing: It is easiest for most, to buy kratom leafs and by products online. In store sales are rare even where it is legal. Extracts and other condensed forms of kratom are common ways to buy processed ready to use leaf. The leaf from Kratom can vary in strength depending on the strain so it is possible to buy a stronger product but very uncommon to see a significant difference in strength of final product.
Growing Kratom: Some medicinal plant nurseries might carry or can get a hold of kratom trees. The small tree can be grown inside as a house plant for some time before needing a larger pot or to be grown in the ground. If growing outdoors, the climate must be tropical or near that as the plant needs humidity. Do not attempt to cultivate this plant in cold or dry regions outdoors. Clippings can produce additional plants with ease. Occasional fertilizing can be done for extra care.
Kratom has been used in Southeast Asia for thousands of years and leaves are still chewed today by about 70% of Thai men.