South America is made up of 14 countries. Each one has its own legalities. Prior to using kratom in South America, you should familiarize yourself with the local laws. At this point, kratom remains legal in all countries but Argentina. In Argentina, kratom remains listed as a controlled substance.

Exploring Kratom in South America

Many substances formulated from plants arise out of South America such as cocaine which is processed from the coca plant. The high incidences of substances and other illegal substances flowing from the various South American countries make many people mistakenly believe that the herb arises from the region. However, kratom’s roots are firmly embedded in Southeast Asia.

History of Kratom Use

Kratom is obtained from the Mitragyna speciosa tree. The tropical tree grows wild throughout Malaysia, Thailand, Bali, and Myanmar. In addition, the tree belongs to the same family as the Rubiaceae (coffee tree). In its native homeland, the tree reaches heights of about 50 feet with a spread of about 15 feet. For centuries, natives of the region have used the herb to increase energy and endurance to better perform hard labor. They also brew kratom into a tea for socializing and festivals. However, naturopathic doctors would regularly prescribe kratom for its opioid qualities to relieve pain.

Thailand and Kratom

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Kratom cultivation

In 1943, the Thai government passed what is known as the Kratom act 2486 which declared that kratom trees could no longer be legally planted. Therefore, by 1979, the Thai government and law enforcement had enacted what is referred to as the Narcotics Act B.E. 2522 which categorized kratom alongside marijuana as a Category 5 narcotic.

Kratom Remains Illegal in Thailand

Despite kratom being illegal in Thailand, young Thai militants often use kratom. They regularly ingest a beverage referred to as “4×100” kratom formula because they believe it makes them bold and fearless. The beverage 4×100 is a mixture of kratom leaves, cough syrup and cola served cold over ice.

Kratom Today Around the World

Nowadays, kratom has become a major export for much of Southeast Asia. In North America, kratom use has become common and widely popular. Kratom in South America is also growing in popularity in areas where it is considered legal for use.

Growing Kratom in South America

Kratom Harvesting

Farming and Harvesting Kratom in South America

In Brazil, kratom is not only legal for use but also for cultivation. The equatorial positioning of Brazil and the tropical climate makes it an ideal place to cultivate Mitragyna speciose. In fact, the trees can grow to heights of over 50 feet and produce exceptionally high-quality kratom with alkaloid laden leaves brimming with flavor and alkaloids. Also, the area’s climate appears to accelerate the tree’s growth potential making it reach maturity quickly.

Harvesters pick and cure the premium kratom leaves by hand. They also select each leaf based on its color and age. On rare occasions, they remove small branches and leaves to encourage the tree to produce new buds. Harvesting the foliage of the trees in a sustainable fashion in an all-natural environment is often referred to as wildcrafting or wild harvesting. The method has been widely employed throughout South East Asia for centuries and is now being widely employed when growing kratom in South America, specifically Brazil.

Options for Kratom in South America

In cash-poor areas of South America, locals consider kratom as a possible cash crop. Basically, a way that they can rise out of poverty and utilize their small plots of land to create income. However, the large natural size of the Mitragyna speciosa makes growing the huge trees difficult on small plots of land.

Farming Practices: Kratom in South America

Farmers who are exploring kratom in South America have started to study how the local in parts of SE Asia grow the tropical tree. They have found that they can grow small seedlings on a tiny plot of land and still make money harvesting the foliage. A simple backyard located near a river provides the trees with all the water and nutrients they need to flourish. The tropical climate makes kratom in South America grow well with extraordinarily little need for fertilizers or even pesticides. Also, the annual rainfall supplies adequate irrigation to meet the needs of the trees.

Kratom is Eco-Friendly for the Region

The small South American farmers provide kratom for their local countries and areas as far-reaching as suppling some markets in the United States. Also, growing the trees in their own backyards helps the locals stay home and avoid working for the large plantations or logging operations in the area which are widely deforesting the Amazon and exploiting the land. The small farmers however are giving back to the region by helping cultivate tropical trees. Even though kratom is not indigenous to the area, it is still an acceptable tree that does not seem to cause any harm to the eco-system.

Benefits of Growing Mitragyna Speciose in South America

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Locals cultivate kratom trees

Kratom trees cultivated beside riverbanks by local villages and villagers prevent soil erosion and create stability. The tree’s roots reach deep into the rich soil and help hold it together like a massive net. When seasonal rains and flooding hit the region, the roots hold the soil in place and prevent it from washing away. Above all, palm oil plantations perpetuate soil erosion, unlike kratom farming which firms up the riverbanks and helps to stabilize the area.

Drying and Curing Kratom

Kratom leaves are harvested by hand and drive in the traditional SE Asian ways. They are laid flat on a tarp and left to dry outdoors in the sunlight. However, the classic method reduces potency in the alkaloid levels so those lucky enough to have indoor facilities to dry the leaves now place them on mesh layers. The use of indoor drying facilities guarantees a higher level of alkaloids.

The Alkaloids of Kratom

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The Alkaloids in Kratom Leaves

Kratom is extremely diverse. It contains over 25 alkaloids with Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine leading as the two most prominent in the plant. The alkaloids feature a mu-opioid receptor agonist. It features both sedative and stimulant effects. When given in low doses the users usually experience increased alertness, greater physical energy, increased talkativeness, and a more sociable attitude.  When taken in high doses, kratom creates opioid-like effects which combine both sedative and euphoric sensations.

The effects of kratom take hold in as little as five to ten minutes after ingestion and will continue for two to five hours. As a result, frequent users can build a tolerance and require a higher dosage to continue taking the same reaction to the alkaloids.

Side effects are rare, but they can happen, especially if a user takes too much kratom. Possible unpleasant side effects of the alkaloids found in kratom include: (1)

  • Nausea
  • Sweating
  • Constipation
  • Dry mouth
  • Itching
  • Increased urination
  • Loss of appetite
  • Depression
  • Chills and shaking
  • Hallucinations
  • Breathing depression
  • Dizziness

Kratom in South America: Where to Buy It?

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Where to buy kratom in South America?

Kratom in South America varies. In Brazil, you can find it sold at a wide array of locations such as gas stations, health food stores, and smoke shops. Also, in Argentina, it is also easy to find in the cities. Paraguay does have retailers of Kratom. However, in other countries in South America, even though kratom is legal, it is sometimes difficult to locate and the herb’s popularity has not truly caught on.

In the following South American countries, kratom remains difficult to find and even though the herb is not illegal, it is still often frowned upon since very few are familiar with it:

  • Chile
  • Ecuador
  • Guyana
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Suriname
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela

Creating a Kratom Use Plan

The Harvard Medical School created an article outlining a path forward with kratom which can easily be followed in many parts of the world. Kratom in South American is still relatively new but if the various governments follow the steps below then a doable plan for users can easily be created. (2)

  • Regulation: With regulation comes dosage suggestions which make the herb far safer. The regulation also helps protect consumers from accidentally ingesting possible contaminates in an unclean, or unregulated product. Clearly, regulations are beneficial for users.
  • Education: Kratom in South America remains very veiled and many people lack the necessary education about the plant to utterly understand it. Also, educating consumers, retailer, and the medical community about the potential benefits and dangers makes them far less vulnerable.
  • Researcher: Government officials, researches, scientists, and medical providers need to start exploring the various benefit of kratom so they can better understand the herb and then provide guidance to the users. This is especially true for kratom in South America where it remains an obscure herb with a lot of misinformation floating around concerning the plant.

At My Kratom Club, we remain dedicated to educating people about kratom and providing premium kratom strains. Please contact us today to learn more.