History

Mentions of Mitragyna Speciosa date back millennia and the information and research concerning it, have spread accurately for hundreds of years. Over the years many botanists and researchers have successfully passed on the true value of this plant; however long term studies on Kratom are still pending quality research. Unlike many other herbs, Kratom doesn’t share a romanticized history and is mostly tied to traditional use as well as folk medicine for peasants and workers who coped with hard labor in Southeast Asia. According to Western literature, first descriptions of Mitragyna Speciosa, now known as Kratom, come from Pieter Willem Korthals, botanists working for the East India Company. Additional literature came from Low, in 1836. He mentioned that the peasants and rural workers of Malaysia distributed it in Malaysia.

First signs of medical research were recorded in 1907 when L. Wray sent samples of both Mitragyna Speciosa and its relatives to the University of Edinburgh where Hooper isolated the alkaloids. This research was rectified in 1921 when Fray named the alkaloids Mitragynine as well as isolating Mitraversine from the leaves of Mitragyna parvifolia. Another medical study came in 1930 from I. H. Burkill, who studied the psychoactive effects and described its traditional use as a medicine, mentioning it as the treatment for diarrhea and fever and use as poultice and ointments. This study was confirmed the Thai study in 1975 by Dr. Sangun Suwanlert, as well as the discovery of three additional alkaloids.