Introduction to Kratom Tinctures
Kratom tincture is one of the most potent and convenient ways of using Kratom. Unfortunately, the increase in FDA regulations has made it very difficult to find these products. The good news is that Kratom tinctures can also be made from home using some easily available resources. But, unless you are keen when making these tinctures, you can end up destroying the alkaloids that make Kratom the beneficial herb it is. You might also make a substance with very little alkaloids which means that it won’t be very effective.
What is Kratom Tincture?
A tincture is formed when organic compounds are dissolved in alcohol to form a liquid. Alcohol is a powerful solvent that helps to keep the alkaloids found in organic compounds intact during the extraction process.
In making Kratom tinctures, ethanol is the most preferred form of alcohol used. Ethanol is 25% alcohol and 75% water or other organic substances.
A Kratom tincture is usually made up of the organic content of Kratom in both it’s intact and highly concentrated form. This explains why Kratom tinctures are usually very powerful if prepared appropriately.
How to make a Kratom Tincture?
Kratom tinctures can be very powerful and helpful but you have to get the process right. The good thing is that the process is pretty easy to follow.
The following items are required when making Kratom tinctures:
- Citric acid
- 80-100 proof ethanol
- pH strips
- Tincture bottle
- Mason jar
- Cheesecloth or a strainer
The following easy-to-follow steps should then guide you on how you can make the best Kratom tincture:
- Choose the right strain
The first and most important step is choosing the right strain of Kratom. The strain you select will directly determine how potent the final product will be and the full extent of the effects it can deliver. We, therefore, can’t emphasize enough on just how important it is to get the right strain of the highest possible quality.
Depending on your specific needs, you can also decide not to go for a strain that can deliver vast effects but one that’s only good in delivering the particular effects you are looking for.
After getting the right strain, it’s recommended that you get at least 5 ounces of it. This should be enough to make a sizable tincture but you can increase it in case you want to make more. You can also decide to use powdered or raw form Kratom. Either of them can be used it’ll all come down to what you think is suitable for you.
- Blend the ingredients
Put the powdered Kratom in the mason jar and add 80-100 proof ethanol. Mix the two until they are merged.
One of the most common complications people face at this point is how to balance the powdered Kratom with ethanol. One liter of ethanol should be used with 4 ounces of powdered Kratom. You can use this ratio to adjust the amount of ethanol you are using depending on how much tincture you are planning to make.
- Acidification
This is where the mixture of powdered Kratom and ethanol is acidified using citric acid. Take the citric acid and add it slowly into the jar containing the Kratom powder and ethanol solution. While adding the acid, use the pH strips to monitor the pH levels of the mixture. Stop adding citric acid once the pH hits 4.
Acidification helps in converting the alkaloids present in powdered Kratom into salts. These are much easier to extract.
The final solution after acidification should taste slightly sour. After making Kratom tinctures you should be able to use this taste as a measure of pH instead of the pH strips.
- Intensification
This step helps in increasing the potency of the Kratom tincture. It involves sealing the jar containing the acidified solution, shaking it thoroughly and storing it in a cool area for at least a week. Make sure that the jar is not exposed to sunlight.
- Evaporation
After one week, pick the jar and shake it for a bit before opening it. Take the cheesecloth or strainer and use it to draw the liquid from the jar. The cheesecloth/strainer should trap any Kratom powder that could be remaining in the solution.
After separating the remaining chunks of Kratom powder, pour the Kratom solution back into the jar and let it evaporate. Evaporation should take place until the final solution left matches the amount of Kratom powder that was used i.e. If you used 5 ounces of powdered Kratom, the final solution should be enough to fill 5 tinctures.
You can use that information to know how many ounces of Kratom you should use to make enough tincture for you. Bear in mind that Kratom tinctures can remain usable for up to a year from its day of production. All you have to do is make sure that it is stored away from sunlight.
Label all the tinctures with details on when you made it and the strains that you use. This should help you identify your Kratom tinctures from the rest of the tinctures in your medicine cabinet. It will also be useful in informing you when the tinctures will become unsafe for consumption.
Kratom Tincture Dosage
Most Kratom tinctures are very powerful and hence you need to be very careful with how much you consume. In fact, beginners are advised to use plain-leaf Kratom before advancing to Kratom extracts. Remember, the more powerful the tincture is the higher the risk of adverse reactions if it is abused.
How much Kratom tincture should be used is determined by various factors. First, your body chemistry will play a huge role in the dose you should use and may even determine the particular Kratom strains that you should use. It’s for this reason that most beginners are asked to start with the less powerful Kratom tinctures and only experiment on the other potent tinctures if their reaction is tolerable.
Secondly, the concentration of the specific tincture you are using will also decide the does you’ll have to use. The higher the concentration the less the doses you need.
If you are using a high-quality Kratom tincture, half a drop of the tincture is sufficient to yield the desired effects. If you don’t feel any effects after 20 minutes, you can add another half a drop.
At no point should you ever use more than 4 drops of Kratom tincture? Such high doses can deliver very strong sedative effects and can also result in unnecessary side effects.
Kratom tinctures should be used sublingually. Place the drops beneath your tongue and hold them there for some time to allow for full absorption before swallowing.
So, should one use Kratom tinctures?
Kratom tinctures are very convenient to use and they deliver remarkable results at very low doses. The tinctures have been used for different purposes i.e. as pain relievers, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, and anti-depressants.
Other than its medicinal benefits, Kratom tinctures are also preferred because:
- They are easy to dose
- Some Kratom tinctures are highly concentrated and hence only fewer doses are required to deliver immense results
- The side effects are less
- They remain usable for up to a year
- Kratom tinctures can be taken anywhere without raising eyebrows
- They work pretty fast since they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream
Final Thoughts
Kratom Tinctures are one of the best ways of using Kratom. You can easily make them from the comfort of your home and use them for up to one year. The fact that they are usually highly concentrated also means that you only need to take them in minimal doses and this will save you money. The tinctures also taste better compared to raw and powder Kratom leaves.
It’s also important to point out that the high potency of Kratom increases the risk of your bodybuilding tolerance to the herb. Therefore, don’t use Kratom tinctures in excess or too frequently. Other than that, Kratom tinctures have so much to offer making them arguably a better option than the other forms of Kratom.
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Hi there, I’m Michael and the owner of Buds & Blossoms. I’m a former opioid addict and I survived a three-year addiction. With the help of kratom I managed to get my life back on track and the main goal of this site is to inform and help people. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.