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Today, kratom is available for purchase in
three forms: whole leaf, powdered extract, and as resin. And, while whole leaf
maintains the appeal of a natural, organic product, and the powdered extract is
by far the most reliable form of kratom, there are still some people out there
who have an affinity for the resin. And perhaps the allure of kratom resin is
often as simple as aesthetics: there is just "something" enticing about a solid,
dark chunk of kratom. As an exotic ethnobotanical product, many people also find
satisfaction in holding their entire supply in their hand, tossing it back and
forth as a kid might with his favorite baseball, their prized possession. There
might also, unfortunately, be a few among the fans of kratom resin who wrongly
connect it to another, far less safe and legal Asian export, the poppy plant
that is harvested for opium. It should be made perfectly clear: kratom in resin
form has no relation whatsoever to opium, despite whatever physical comparisons
some might point out.
There are, however, a few notable downsides to purchasing kratom in the form of
resin. In today's over-drawn market, where kratom retailers are popping up as
frequently as celebrity sex tapes, there is no shortage of second-rate sellers
eager to swindle their way to a quick profit. Since few retailers who sell resin
will openly attest to its potency, knowing what measurement to use can turn into
a primetime television mystery. Resins are far less reliable than more
highly-regulated, powdered extracts. Also, be sure to inquire how the extracts
behind the kratom resin were extracted. It is crucial that the extracts used to
make resin are crafted from fresh, rather than dry, leaves, since the important
oils will be lost in the drying process.
Specific to Mitragyna speciosa
(Kratom):
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