Millions of people across the United States suffer from pain. The CDC estimates that approximately 20% of adults in the US suffer from chronic pain. However, the numbers may even be higher.
As a result, chronic pain is one of the main reasons adults in the US seek medical assistance. Chronic pain leads to impaired mobility, increased stress and anxiety, as well as reduced quality of life.
The most common means of managing it are opioid prescription medications. Yet, many of those who take opioids also experience opioid addiction.
In the past years, an increasing number of people have been seeking alternative methods of managing their pain, such as CBD, medical marijuana, Akuamma seeds, and more.
One of these is kratom, a tropical Southeast Asian tree, the leaves of which are rich in alkaloids, polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoid saponins, and other beneficial compounds. Two of the most prominent are alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
According to studies, 7-hydroxymitragynine is about 13 times more potent than morphine. Due to this, kratom is incredibly effective against pain, chronic pain, in particular. According to users, it can even relieve severe chronic pain that can even resist regular medication.
However, kratom is a raw botanical product, and it is not regulated in the United States. Its popularity and high demand have to lead to many bad players in the industry.
These are vendors who sell contaminated, adulterated, or fake kratom or otherwise scam kratom buyers.
Therefore, it’s paramount that you buy kratom from a reputable vendor. There is a problem, though. How do you find one?
Kratom Buying Tips
1. Check the Legalities and Look for the KCPA
Kratom isn’t legal everywhere. So, it’s essential to make sure that kratom is legal where you live. Otherwise, vendors won’t be able to ship to you. In addition to that, look for vendors based in states that have passed the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, or KCPA for short.
Kratom is not regulated by the FDA, which is doing more harm than good. However, a non-profit organization called American Kratom Association has come up with a solution.
They drafted a set of regulations that they lobby to individual states. As a result, several states have already passed it. These include Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and more.
The KCPA requires vendors to have a special license to sell kratom, test it in labs as well as label it with proper disclaimers and accurate alkaloid content. Failing to comply with these regulations can leady to rather hefty fines and even jail time.
So, if you have found a vendor who’s based in one of the states that have passed the KCPA, you’re almost guaranteed to get a pure quality product.
2. Look for Lab Test Results
Almost all kratom in the west comes from Indonesia, the largest kratom exporter in the world. Sadly, hygiene and cleanliness standards there aren’t at the same level as they are in the United States. Therefore, it’s possible for kratom to contain harmful chemicals such as heavy metals, mold, fungus, E. coli, and salmonella.
When kratom reaches the US, vendors send samples of each batch to third party independent laboratories. There, kratom gets tested for any contaminants, adulterants, and other pathogens.
When any harmful substances are present, vendors must discard the entire batch. Unfortunately, not everyone does that. Kratom is expensive, and discarding entire batches can result in significant business losses. So, some sell unsafe kratom anyway. Others don’t test it properly.
After the instance in 2018, when a few hundred people got salmonella from contaminated kratom, most kratom vendors have made a point of displaying lab test results on their website. So, make sure to browse the website to locate those.
If you can’t find them or they are not updated, feel free to shoot the vendor a message. If you do not receive a reply, or they avoid showing lab-test results, it may be best not to place an order with them.
3. Look for a Vendor with No Middleman
If you can locate a trustworthy vendor who imports kratom directly from the source, which in most cases will be Indonesia. That is beneficial for two reasons.
Firstly, their kratom is going to be much fresher because it doesn’t have to spend any extra time in transit and warehouses. Moreover, it is likely to have fewer additional costs that would spike up it’s pricing.
This is also frequently the reason why online vendors are usually much better options than local vendors.
4. Choose Prices That Are Neither Too High, Nor Too Low
Kratom is a pricy product. So, it’s common for buyers to look for cheaper options. This, however, can be risky. Cheap kratom can be old, inconsistent in quality, or even contain pathogens. So, it’s best to avoid it.
However, the highest prices do not guarantee the best quality either. It can be overpriced. So, prices that are midrange yet a bit higher than the cheapest options available can frequently lead to the most consistent quality and service.
If you are looking to save on your purchase, opt for vendors that offer loyalty programs. Those allow you to collect points which you can later redeem.
5. Make Sure There Are No Exaggerated or False Claims
Some vendors try to boost their sales with flashy packaging or loud claims, such as “Kratom will give you the best high of your life.” If you notice any of that, stay away.
Kratom is a botanical product used as a natural substitute for traditional pain medication, so most vendors offer their kratom in simple packaging that looks natural.
In addition to the above, reputable kratom vendors are selective with their wording. Since kratom is not an FDA approved substance, there are many words or phrases that vendors are unable to use.
So, if you notice any blunt claims that state that kratom can cure diseases or similar, you should avoid those vendors. Trustworthy kratom vendors simply would not use words that could put them and the reputation and future of kratom in danger.
Finding the right vendor may be a challenging task. You may also go through a few unpleasant experiences before you find a proper vendor whom you can trust.
Consider getting kratom samples first rather than place an actual order. This will help you gauge what the services and the quality of the product are.
About The Author:
Layla Nash is a fitness instructor, former gymnast, nutritionist, and blogger. Having suffered multiple injuries, she discovered kratom that provided pain relief that she had not found before. Since then, Layla has been passionate about spreading positive information about kratom through her blog SpeciosaGuide.com to help others make wise buying decisions.
