Kratom Powder vs Kratom Extract: What’s The Difference?

Kratom is quickly becoming a popular choice for people seeking a natural way to treat a variety of conditions from anxiety to chronic pain. As more and more people become familiar with Kratom, many can be confused by its complicated terminology and nuanced history. One of the most common questions we get from new users is “What’s The Difference Between Kratom Powder & Extract?“. So – we decided to write this article to help answer that question.

If you buy Kratom online, it won’t take long to notice that nearly every reputable vendor offers Kratom in both powder and extract form. While both are derived from the Mitragyna speciosa tree, they vary significantly in terms of how theyre made, how they effect your body, and how much you should take.

What is Kratom Powder?

Essentially, Kratom powder is dried, processed, and ground Kratom leaves. The leaves are generally ground into a fine powder, although it is not uncommon to find coarsely ground or crushed leaf products for sale as well.

Kratom powder is the most popular form of the product and the most common way to take it. Due to its versatility, Kratom powder can be taken in several different ways. For more information, see our “How To Take Kratom” article.

What is Kratom Extract?

Kratom extract is a more highly concentrated form of Kratom powder. It is created in a variety of ways, most commonly by dissolving Kratom powder or leaves in alcohol or water. The resulting solution is a thick paste containing an abundance of alkaloids which is then dried and ground into a fine powder.

As a derivative of Kratom powder or leaves, extract does not retain all of its organic compounds. Instead, Kratom extract is rich in alkaloids like Mitragynine, 7-Hydroxymitragynine, Mitraphylline, Speciogynine, and others which are the main ingredient of interest to Kratom users.

The Difference

There are several key differences between Kratom powder and Kratom extract products. Here’s a quick overview of the differences:

Dosage

For beginners, Kratom powder is almost always the right choice. With powder, it’s easier to get the dosage right and it will have more predictable effects on your body. This is important, because taking too much Kratom can result in negative symptoms like nausea, anxiety, labored breathing, and more.

With Kratom powder, you’ll have more control over dosage. At Kratom.education, we always recommend starting small and working your way up to find your sweet spot. Small doses are about 1-2 grams. 3 grams is a moderate dose and is the sweet spot for most. If you need more than that, increase your dose in increments of 0.5 to 1 gram until you achieved the desired results.

Kratom extract, on the other hand, can be tricky. Besides the amount, you must also consider the strength of the extract. Kratom extracts are usually graded as 5X, 10X, or 15X. The X denotes the number of leaves that went into the production of the extract. So, a 10X extract is 10 times stronger than regular Kratom powder. Keep this in mind before take any Kratom extract products.

Effects

Alkaloids are the primary compounds responsible for how Kratom interacts with the body. So – the more alkaloids in your Kratom, the more you’re going to feel it.

Kratom powder naturally has a lower concentration of alkaloids than Kratom extract. It also has various other organic compounds which are naturally present in the Kratom plant. These natural compounds reduce how quickly your body responds to Kratom, and help dilute its full effects.

Kratom extract on the other hand is straight concentrated alkaloids. Not only are the effects more pronounced, but they are also more immediate. When you take Kratom extract, you may notice its effects in as little as 5 minutes. Depending on the strain, even with a small dose, you can experience a flood of effects ranging from stimulation to sedation.

So in summary, Kratom powder and Kratom extract offer similar effects but at different strengths.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a fan of Kratom powder or extract, you’ll eventually develop a tolerance. With a tolerance, you’ll need more and more of the same product to achieve the desired results. For that reason, we advise our readers to stick with powder products for daily use and extract products for special occasions.

Another tip that may help you get the most out of your Kratom is to switch up your strains. At Kratom.education, we keep a rotation of different Kratom strains on deck to avoid any one strain going stagnant. We recommend you do the same.