Skip to content
Authors:
John Meyers, Barbara Tracey
In recent years, kratom has become a subject of both curiosity and controversy in the Western world. But long before kratom appeared on the shelves of health stores and alternative medicine shops, it held a deep-rooted significance in Southeast Asia, where it was revered not only as a traditional medicine but as part of daily life. To truly understand kratom’s place in modern society, one must first journey back to its origins — through dense tropical forests, ancient customs, and generations of indigenous knowledge.
Kratom is derived from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical evergreen tree in the coffee family (Rubiaceae), native to Southeast Asia. The tree is most commonly found in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea. The active compounds in the leaves — primarily mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine — interact with opioid receptors in the brain, producing stimulant effects at lower doses and sedative or analgesic effects at higher ones.
But kratom is more than a chemical compound. In its native regions, it’s been used for centuries as a natural remedy, a social lubricant, and a symbol of cultural identity.
The first recorded use of kratom dates back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. In rural Thai, Malaysian, and Indonesian communities, kratom was traditionally used by manual laborers such as farmers, fishermen, and rubber tappers who chewed the leaves to boost stamina and reduce fatigue during long days of physically demanding work. Much like coffee in the West, kratom helped users stay alert and focused.
In addition to its stimulant properties, kratom leaves were brewed into teas or ground into powders for medicinal purposes. It was commonly used to:
In some areas, kratom also played a role in religious and spiritual rituals. Shamans and traditional healers used it in ceremonies, believing it could enhance communication with the spiritual world or offer protective energies.
Thailand has perhaps the longest and most documented history with kratom. The earliest written references to kratom can be traced back to the 19th century, when European botanists and explorers first began cataloging Southeast Asian flora. The plant was officially classified by Dutch colonial botanist Pieter Korthals in 1839, who gave it the name Mitragyna speciosa due to the mitre-shaped stigma in its flowers.
In Thai society, kratom was viewed as a common, everyday remedy. It was not considered a drug in the modern, illicit sense but rather a household plant with practical uses. Elders often used kratom for arthritis and joint pain, while younger men chewed it to endure long hours in rice fields or fishing boats.
Interestingly, kratom also played a role in traditional justice systems. In some rural villages, disputes were resolved through community mediation rituals where kratom tea was shared as part of reconciliation practices — symbolizing mutual respect and the intention to make peace.
The history of kratom took a major turn in the 20th century, particularly under colonial and post-colonial governments in Southeast Asia. As Western pharmacology and narcotic control began to influence local policy, traditional medicines like kratom came under increasing scrutiny.
Thailand, for example, passed the Kratom Act 2486 in 1943, which criminalized the cultivation and possession of the plant. The ban was not based on health concerns, but rather on economic ones. At the time, the Thai government had begun taxing opium — a major revenue source — and kratom was seen as a threat to these profits because it offered a natural, untaxed alternative for pain relief and withdrawal management.
Malaysia followed suit in 1952 with the Dangerous Drugs Act, which regulated kratom as a controlled substance, despite its cultural significance.
These bans pushed kratom use underground, but they never erased its presence from local traditions. In many rural areas, people continued to use kratom in defiance of the law, passing down knowledge from one generation to the next.
In the early 2000s, kratom began to attract international attention, especially in the United States and parts of Europe. Initially introduced as a botanical supplement, kratom was marketed for its potential to manage pain, anxiety, depression, and opioid withdrawal.
As word spread through online forums and alternative medicine communities, kratom gained a devoted following. It was praised for its ability to offer relief without the intense side effects associated with pharmaceuticals or synthetic opioids.
At the same time, regulatory bodies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began raising concerns about kratom’s safety and potential for abuse. In 2016, the DEA announced its intention to classify kratom’s active compounds as Schedule I drugs — a move that was ultimately withdrawn after public outcry and lobbying from users, scientists, and advocacy groups.
Today, kratom exists in a legal gray area in many countries. In the U.S., it remains legal at the federal level but is banned in several states. Thailand, in a major shift, decriminalized kratom in 2021, recognizing its cultural and medicinal value.
Modern scientific research into kratom is still in its infancy, but early studies have confirmed many of the traditional claims. Mitragynine, the primary alkaloid in kratom, appears to have analgesic and mood-lifting effects, and some evidence suggests it could be useful in managing opioid withdrawal symptoms.
However, like all substances, kratom carries risks — especially when used in high doses or in combination with other drugs. Side effects may include nausea, constipation, dizziness, and in rare cases, dependency.
The challenge lies in balancing traditional knowledge with rigorous scientific evaluation. Indigenous communities have long known how to use kratom responsibly, often in moderation and as part of a broader cultural context. The Western model of consumption, which often isolates compounds and pursues instant results, may lack this nuanced understanding.
The story of kratom is a reminder that natural remedies often come with long histories that deserve respect and thoughtful study. Far from being a modern invention or passing trend, kratom has been part of the cultural and medical landscape of Southeast Asia for generations.
Its recent emergence on the global stage presents both opportunities and challenges — from better pain management solutions to concerns about misuse. As we continue to explore kratom’s potential, it’s crucial to honor the communities that cultivated and preserved its wisdom long before it reached Western shores.
In doing so, we don’t just gain a deeper understanding of a plant — we reconnect with a living tradition of healing and resilience.
Published on May 19, 2025
Share the post
Learn how adult shoppers can compare kratom capsule counts, package labels, capsule contents and cost without confusing bottle size with serving information.
Compare kratom extract, powder, and capsule labels using serving information, ingredients, alkaloid disclosures, batch details, testing, and cost.
Learn what comes with the Kratom Bloom free sample and how adult shoppers can compare powder, capsules, labels, packaging, and full-size options.
If the same strain from the same vendor felt different this time, you didn’t imagine it. Kratom is an agricultural product, and alkaloid content shifts
Buying kratom in bulk is worth it the moment you already know which strains you reach for — and it stops being worth it the
Gold and super kratom are both premium strains, but they get their character in completely different ways: gold kratom is defined by how the leaf
