A Brief History of Kratom

Key Takeaways:

• Kratom originated in Southeast Asia. It has a long history in the cultural and traditional practices of countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
• Originally, it was used by laborers engaged in strenuous tasks. It was also used in recreational and spiritual activities.
• Later, kratom was discovered in the West in the 19th century, where it was given a scientific name and experimented on by various scientists and drug companies.
• The long history of kratom shows a consistent pattern of initially banning the substance, only to later remove the ban and regulate its use. Across eastern nations like Thailand and Malaysia, and the United States in the west.

Kratom’s origin story reaches back through centuries. It’s older than modern science, older than trade routes, and older than most of the plants we talk about today. Across ages, it’s appeared in daily life, ceremony, and culture. Generations have passed it down, long before it ever had a name in the West. As global interest rises, its past feels more relevant than ever.

What gave this plant such staying power? To understand its role today, we have to look at where it all began, with a brief lesson on kratom’s origins.

History of Kratom in Asia

Long has man sought relief from daily ailments. Those from Southeast Asia had access to an indigenous kratom tree, providing a new option to help soothe a variety of symptoms. It has been integral to the traditions of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and surrounding regions ever since.

Once the kratom tree was discovered, it didn’t take long for news of the leaf to spread, not only geographically but also in its applications:

• As per the first documented uses of kratom in Thailand, it was used symbolically as a gift given to guests as a warm welcome.
• Fishermen, farmers, machine operators, and rubber tappers used kratom leaves to enhance physical endurance and productivity.
• People working in fields used the leaves raw or in tea. This eased their aching muscles and pushed them to keep going.
• Manuscripts on the history of kratom also point to various uses in ancient rituals and ceremonies across Southeast Asia and beyond.
• In traditional medicine, the leaves were used as is or in potions, smoked, or applied as salves on wounds.
• Reaching as far as Mongolia, kratom began to spread. Dozens of religions found a spiritual connection to the plant, much as their patrons did.
• In many villages, kratom was used for relaxation shared amongst men to unwind and connect during community and religious events.

The history of kratom shows how Southeast Asian peasant farmers revered the leaf for the aid it provided in an otherwise limited lifestyle. We’ve seen a multitude of sources through time lauding the kratom tree and its benefits.

But kratom was not just used for visiting dignitaries or starry-eyed shamans. Many of its earliest users were the common man, who found kratom a useful additive to their daily schedule in assisting with their work, improving their mood, and generally providing relief.

History of Kratom in the West

Pieter Korthals, a Dutch botanist who is often credited with bringing kratom’s origin into the consciousness of the Western world in the 19th century, is also credited with dubbing the kratom tree with its first scientific name. But it's not the name we know today. He initially named it Stephegyne speciosa. It was later that a British surgeon and naturalist, George Darby Haviland, provided the final botanical classification. He called it Mitragyna Speciosa.

Some attribute it to the Englishman’s clever comparison of the appearance of a kratom leaf to a bishop’s ceremonial hat called a mitre. Others link it to its ceremonial roots in Mithraic cults, an order determined to transcend the spiritual. Whatever its origin, there is little doubt of its popularity for those who use it in the West.

It all started with these key events in the history of kratom's early research:

• 1921: Ellen Field, a chemist in Scotland, isolated mitragynine, kratom's main active compound.
• 1960s: The drug company Smith Kline French investigated mitragynine as a potential substitute for other dependencies.
• 1964: A research team in Pittsburgh used X-ray technology to map the structure of the mitragynine molecule.
• 1961 onward: British scientists identified 16 alkaloids in kratom. Five of these were completely new to science.

Restrictions and Bans on Kratom

Despite being illegal in many of its native countries, kratom, originally known as “ketum,” is still wildly popular and only growing, used as a traditional medicine, as a work aid, and in social settings. Here’s a table outlining the history of kratom’s regulations, bans, and use, from ancient times up till today:

Region/Era	Restrictions & Bans	Use & Context
Southeast Asia (20th Century)
Thailand	The government made kratom illegal in 1943. It was officially banned as a hard drug in 1979.	This was about money. People used cheap kratom instead of taxable drugs, so the state lost revenue. The ban never worked well because communities refused to give up a traditional part of life.
Malaysia	Malaysia banned kratom in 1952. The law got much stricter in 2003. They levied major fines and prison time.	The ban targeted kratom and its primary compound. It was classified as a psychotropic substance on paper.
The West (Late 20th - 21st Century)
United States	It remains legal at the federal level. However, several states have outright bans. The DEA tried to schedule it in 2016 but reversed course after massive public protest.	Use started with immigrants. Then it exploded online. By the 2020s, millions of Americans used kratom. Early products were a wild west (sometimes cut with other drugs), which sparked the first government warnings.
Recent Changes (21st Century)
Thailand	In a major reversal, Thailand fully legalized kratom in 2021. This came after it was approved for medical use in 2018.	The government pardoned thousands convicted under the old laws. This ended a prohibition that had lasted over 75 years.
United States	The FDA continues to issue warnings. The fight has now shifted to state laws, where a push for regulation is gaining ground over outright bans.	A consumer protection model has been passed in several states. This law sets age limits and requires lab testing to ensure product safety and accurate labeling.

The United States alone, a still-nascent market, has an estimated 1.7 million users. And while the science is young, the American Kratom Association (AKA) recently pushed legislation through the House to increase the pharmacological studies on kratom.

Whatever anecdotal evidence has failed to show, well-funded academic research will illuminate us, and that stands to benefit not only kratom’s users but also those who could one day benefit from it. After all, the history of kratom is still in writing today.

Explore the Wonders of Kratom

Kratom’s origin is ancient. And all this while, it has helped those who needed it. This echoes in how people talk about kratom today:

“Our house was a dismal place, and I'm just so thankful that I found a botanical called kratom and right away, my life improved. I was out of bed, I was doing activities with my kids, and I lost a lot of weight. Being in bed for eight years affects your health very negatively. So I got my life back,” a user shares.

Today, kratom has found its way into all levels of society, regardless of class, race, gender, or affiliation. And kratom products have helped countless people. Both in fighting the battles of life and enjoying life.

Frequently Asked Questions When was kratom discovered? Kratom had already existed, but people in the West came to know about it in 1831 through Dutch botanist Pieter Willem Korthals. He called it Stephegyne speciosa. As per the history of kratom, it received the scientific name Mitragyna Speciosa in 1859 from British surgeon and naturalist George Darby Haviland. Where is kratom native to? Kratom comes from the tropical jungles of Southeast Asia. In the fertile rainforests of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea, the plant grows wild. What is the ancient use of kratom? The history of kratom suggests it has been known to energize people and improve mood. It has also been used to relax, soothe, and relieve discomfort. In concentrated doses, the effect could be more pronounced.