Lab-made products are becoming quite common these days, and kratom is not safe from it. As kratom is evolving and getting recognition due to its unique effects, the demand for it is increasing. Everyone wants to use it as a natural alternative to help them with their ailments.
Due to this, meeting the customer’s needs is becoming difficult, and various methods are being used to meet the growing need. One such method is synthesizing kratom in the lab.
Synthetic kratom is becoming quite common these days, and many of the kratom businesses are slowly adopting this way to meet their consumer’s needs.
But what is Synthetic kratom? And is it safe to use? The following guide will help you with all your confusion.
What Is Synthetic Kratom?
Synthetic kratom basically means the kratom is created in a lab. Now, this definition can be a misnomer as it is not the whole kratom that is created in a lab.
Instead, the alkaloid compound of the kratom is designed to replicate the pharmacological and psychological effects of kratom.
So basically, Synthetic kratom is the production of one or more alkaloids in the laboratory setting instead of deriving them from the natural plant of kratom.
However, as kratom has a complex alkaloid profile and composition replicating, the same effects can be changing. Some users even shared their experience, stating that the synthetic kratom was too potent for them.
Understanding The Alkaloid Profile of Kratom
Before we further dive into the complexities of synthetic kratom, let’s first understand the basic alkaloid profile of kratom.
Kratom has about 54 alkaloids in it; however, the major is Mitragynine and 7 hydroxy – Mitragynine.
These two are the most important chemicals that produce all the therapeutic effects of kratom. Several other alkaloids have the same chemical composition as Mitragynine; however, few studies have been conducted to explain more about them.
These are the alkaloids produced in a lab to mimic the effects of kratom. These alkaloids usually produce similar functions as the organic ones. However, the exact chemical composition depends mainly on how accurate and similar the composition is.
Is Synthetic Kratom as Effective as Organic Kratom?
Will synthetic kratom provide the same effects as organic ones?
Well, there is no specific answer to this question. That is because completely replicating the chemical composition of kratom is somewhat tricky.
Moreover, there are not many studies available as to whether it provides the same effects as the organic one, so it is still doubtful.
Moreover, this also poses some safety concerns. As there is not much evidence about synthetic kratom, it is believed it is risky to use.
There are concerns that synthetic kratom can produce some dangerous side effects as compared to natural ones.
Also, there is a matter of purity and potency. The purity of this kratom is still in question. Potency-wise, many users said that they found it way more potent than organic food. Some also experienced unwanted side effects.
Why Is Synthetic Kratom Made?
What is the motivation behind the making of synthetic kratom? Following are some of the reasons industries are switching towards the synthetic kratom:
- To Meet the Increasing Demand
As kratom is getting recognized all around the world, people are using it more and more. Individuals are switching from their OTC drugs to this natural alternative.
This has increased the demand for the strains, putting pressure on the manufacturers. That is why many kratom businesses have started to experiment with lab-made kratom to meet consumer needs.
- To Learn More About the Kratom
There are pretty limited studies to understand the kratom effects better. That is why many medical personnel and researchers are motivated to add more to the literature.
They want to learn more about how kratom is helpful to the human body. This is the primary driver of the production of synthetic kratom so that it can be tested for its effects.
- To Counter the Regulatory Pressure
There are many regulatory restrictions over organic kratom in many states. This is why many manufacturers have turned to synthetic alternatives to counter legal barriers. It is believed that synthetic products might have fewer legal issues than natural ones, although this is still questionable.
Is It Safe to Use the Synthetic Kratom?
Is the lab-made kratom safe to use? This is a very common question among the kratom community. And to be honest, there is no specific answer to this.
The process and procedure of making the kratom in the lab is still questionable. Not a lot of evidence is available that supports the effects and safety of the lab-made kratom.
Although most of the mimicable alkaloids are produced in the lab, there is still no surety that they will produce the same therapeutic effects.
If we talk about the user experience, there are few positive answers. Many kratom users on Reddit shared their experience.
According to them, the lab-made kratom was not very good. Many said it was way more potent than the actual strain, instead producing the therapeutic effects. It produced opposite and adverse effects.
Still, if you want to use the lab-made kratom, please don’t forget to exercise caution.
Risk Involved in Using the Synthetic Kratom
Using synthetic kratom can be pretty risky, and the following are some of the reasons for it:
- Unknown Effects
Although it is believed that synthetic kratom can produce the same effects as organic kratom, there is not much evidence to prove it. It can only have the same effects if the composition is completely identical to the organic strains.
Otherwise, there can be significant differences in the chemical composition, leading to unknown pharmacological effects. The type of effects may vary from person to person, and some can have adverse effects.
- Quality Issues
Quality problems are the primary concern when it comes to lab-made kratom. The production and supply of kratom may lack adequate control, which can lead to low-quality kratom
Moreover, when meeting a significant demand, a lot of the authorities ignore the quality and distribution controls, which can lead to a contaminated product.
Moreover, there are also a lot of safety concerns over the lab-made kratom. The effects it will produce are poorly understood, and users may experience severe side effects.
- Legal Issues
Lab-made kratom may face even more legal restrictions. Kratom is a sensitive topic in many countries and is still illegal in a lot of states. So, when the organic strains face a lot of restrictions, how is it possible for the synthetic strains to be easily legalized?
There are high chances of manufacturers facing legal issues on selling synthetic kratom as the compounds through which it is made are still not very reliable.
- Purity Concerns
Purity is another major issue, as the compounds used in the making may be sourced from unreliable resources. When it comes to products like kratom, purity is very important for them to produce therapeutic effects.
When made in the lab, there is no guarantee that the compounds used are of good quality. There could be many additives, heavy metals, and pesticides present in the compounds that, when ingested, can be harmful to the body.
Final Thoughts
Owing to the above concerns, it can be concluded that a lot of research is needed to develop high-quality synthetic kratom. It’s understandable that kratom can help meet the demands. However, it should be ensured that the kratom produced in this way is effective and high-quality.
As for now, our recommendation would be to not go for synthetic kratom. The effects are unknown, and you may end up facing severe consequences. However, if you still want to give it a shot, do your research and be cautious when using it.