More and more people are straying away from over-the-counter medications to help manage the health problems that they have. Additionally, it’s becoming just as popular to manage other things from trouble sleeping, concentrating, and simply relaxing with more herbal methods. It’s a cleaner, safer, and much more cost-effective way to achieve better health and a better quality of life.

Kratom is one of those natural products that has been opening new doors for people for a better outlook on personal care. With kratom products, there are a few common misconceptions that you should be aware of. Knowing what is and isn’t true about kratom can help to enhance your experience when you buy kratom online and use it for your personal health and wellness.

One of the biggest common misconceptions about kratom is that everyone understands the product, and that may be where a lot of the disconnect in truthful information comes from. Being able to identify the truth from a myth might just make it easier for you to find the kratom strain that is best for your needs or the way that you take your doses altogether. Let’s discuss some of the most common misconceptions that are often associated with kratom products.

Read: Buying Kratom: Expectations vs. Reality

Myth #1. Kratom Powder Will Last Forever

Kratom powder isn’t like the indestructible twinkie (another common myth with an actual shelf life of only 25 days). Like with anything else, kratom does expire. While shelf life will fluctuate based on the type of product you’re using, the highest level of quality that kratom powder has could last anywhere from three to six months, depending on storage strategies.

This does, however, also rely on the way you store kratom because yes, kratom isn’t only subject to running out of time on its expiration clock, it can just as easily go bad from poor handling and storing of the product. While it won’t last forever, you can use a few tips and tricks to maintain a longer lifespan of kratom and to keep your kratom fresh without altering the alkaloids within the product.

Keeping Your Kratom Stored Properly Will Maintain a Longer Lifespan

When you buy kratom online, you want to ensure that you have a good batch to start with. This means taking a look at the product to ensure that there are no signs of mold, odd odors, or any inconsistencies. After this, its freshness and how close you can get your kratom products to the end of their shelf life will depend on the storing methods you use. You can do a few things like;

• Using freezer bags to expel any air and then store your kratom powder in the freezer
• Using sealed containers
• Storing in bulk rather than in small amounts
• Maintaining a dry storage area that isn’t in direct sunlight
• Avoiding areas exposed to direct heat

Myth #2. Kratom Is Addictive and Has Killed Many People

First, it’s common for people to think that kratom is addictive, but in truth, it’s not. There is a big difference between forming a habit and developing an addiction. Just like anything, habit-forming tendencies can happen and kratom is no exception but this is far from “addictive” and is more so a form of conditioning that can be altered when needed.

Many will notice that with kratom products, you will start to develop a tolerance for it the more that you use it and the more consistent you are with taking it. If you are more of a sporadic kratom user, you won’t have to worry too much about this. However, if you are using kratom daily, you will start to form a certain level of tolerance for the kratom products you use which will often call for a Kratom tolerance reset and something like this can help you to break kratom “habits” if you feel like you need to.

This is actually the beauty of using kratom, you can reset your tolerance level when you feel that you should, you can customize your experience, and you can do it safely because kratom is a 100% natural product.

The Concern of Kratom and Death: How Valid Is It?

Currently, kratom is considered to be a “drug of concern” by the FDA, and this mainly has to do with the attempt of linking kratom to unfortunate events if those involved in those events used kratom products. The science behind kratom isn’t necessarily understood, it’s simply overlooked, and this is what has caused the fear factor surrounding kratom products. Dr. Jack Henningfield, a leading scientist on addiction and safety of dietary supplements, conducted an independent 8-Factor analysis to prove that kratom use is safe and that it is simply not addictive.

He goes on to state that kratom use can and should be used in the same manner as other dietary supplements. This leads kratom tea drinkers to wonder why the FDA has assumed high numbers of “kratom deaths” when their published data included incidents such as gunshot victims, those that died by suicide from “prescription” medication, and even hanging themselves.

The only thing that allowed these incidents to be included in the count of supposed kratom deaths is that many of these victims had kratom in their systems, but the thing is, other substances were found from a range of prescription drugs and even alcohol. This shows that just having kratom in your system allows it to be counted as a death contributor although it clearly was not the cause of death. Even an elderly man with a cause of death due to DVT or deep vein thrombosis made the list…..because at some point before his death caused by DVT, he ingested kratom. Claims like this are where stigma forms and surrounds kratom products.

Even Dr. Christopher McCurdy has deemed the plant to be safe and has said that the science behind it simply resonates. He claims that it is a pain reliever that could potentially be life-changing and this scientist has a hand in determining the future of kratom so it’s important to take real data and expert opinions with seriousness rather than taking stock in scare tactics that have yet to be backed by sound science and only toxicology screening with no clear ties between kratom and death.

Myth #3. Kratom Products Are Limited to One Type

A common misconception about kratom is that it only comes in powder form. Kratom actually comes in a variety of forms which is great for anyone that has a preference for consumption. While kratom powder is considered to be the default consumption method, it’s far from the only option. A few types that you might come across other than powder are;

• Extracts
• Tinctures
• Leaves
• Soap

Along with coming in different forms, there are different ways to dose, prepare, and consume each. Different types of kratom products will also present a range of potency levels and you will also notice that you might develop a preference for the products you decide to use.

For example, the level of potency of kratom extracts is twice as strong as kratom powder. This basically means that kratom extracts contain more alkaloids than other options which are responsible for the effects that different kratom products present.

While there are a variety of kratom products there is also a wide range of different kratom strains. Not to mention, when you decide on the vein of kratom that you want to use, there are also different variations of it. This debunks the additional misconception that there is only one type of kratom within each “color” when really there are different strains within each color of kratom powder and they all help with achieving different effects.

Myth #4. It’s Not Possible to Waste Your Kratom Depending on How You Prepare It

This is another “untruth” as the way you prepare your kratom will affect the potency of the product. The same goes for the way you store it, where you buy it, and the methods that you use for dosing and if you implement them correctly. For example, if you’re preparing kratom tea, there is a bit of a trick to getting a cup or full pot just right. Overboiling your water will affect the strength of the kratom team and could ruin the entire alkaloid extraction process.

Another good example is if you’re using the toss and wash method which if you’re not used to consuming kratom this way, you should know that there is a slight learning curve involved. With this method of consumption, it’s common to mistake how easily it is to accidentally breathe in the kratom powder and have a reaction that causes you to cough it up and out. This is essentially wasting your product because chances are, you aren’t going to sweep up the powder particles to try again.

Oftentimes, kratom users, especially newer users, underestimate kratom preparation and dosing methods and either ruin the product while preparing it or physically expel it from being naive to the fact that some consumption methods like the toss and wash, take a bit of practice.

One thing that can be done when you’re afraid of wasting your kratom products, or not getting enough out of it when you still aren’t used to storing and dosing, is potentiating the kratom you do have. This means enhancing the effects that you get from your kratom powder by pairing it with things like chamomile, citrus juices, or even cayenne pepper. This will not only heighten the effects of it but help you to save money by giving you more from one dose than what you would feel without the potentiator.

Myth #5. Kratom Products Are Synthetic

This is a common misconception about kratom when the truth is far from this “claim”. Kratom by no means is synthetic, it’s actually completely natural as it comes from a plant. This isn’t to say that bad batches of kratom can’t be distributed as it’s possible to lace anything with something that doesn’t come from the original source but this ultimately plays into ensuring you’re using a reputable supplier that lab tests their kratom.

Overall, kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa is a tropical evergreen tree that is native to Southeast Asia. This tree is part of the coffee family and its natural traits used for herbal medicine are quite popular, mainly because it is a natural product.

When you buy kratom online, the best thing to do would be to work with a supplier that displays their kratom testing certificates. This will help to ensure that you are getting a batch high in quality and purity, free from any harmful contaminants that might lead you to assume kratom products are synthetic.

Navigating the Misconceptions to Drive Better Kratom Experiences

Misunderstanding kratom products will often deter some from learning what is accurate. Misinformation results in poor kratom decisions which could result in a waste of money, disruption of kratom effectiveness, and diminished shelf life. Knowing how to navigate different products from preparation to consumption can help to enhance your overall experience and knowing the truth about kratom will also give you peace of mind when determining what strains work best for you and what form you prefer to enjoy it.

Kratom has become a way for some to experience something they’ve never experienced before. These types of results deserve to be known so that every kratom user can tap into them, worry-free.

Start learning more about yourself through kratom products by starting with a sample pack from The Kratom Family.

We are not doctors nor scientists. We recommend everyone consult their physician before using or consuming kratom tea.