What Is Kratom?

Direct answer

Kratom refers to the plant Mitragyna speciosa and products made from its leaves. A concentrated product advertised for 7-OH should not be treated as interchangeable with botanical kratom. FDA 7-OH scientific assessment

Why this distinction matters on a 7-OH site

"The Truth About 7-OH" focuses on concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine while retaining kratom context. FDA's July 2025 announcement specifically distinguished its concentrated 7-OH focus from natural leaf. FDA July 2025 scheduling recommendation

That distinction is not an endorsement of leaf safety. It means a useful risk discussion should identify the actual product rather than treating every kratom-related substance as the same exposure.

Leaf, extract, and enhanced product

Natural leaf contains a mixture of alkaloids, usually dominated by mitragynine. FDA describes 7-OH as a minor constituent and reports it below 2% of total alkaloid content. That denominator is not the weight of the whole leaf. FDA 7-OH scientific assessment

An extract is not automatically a 7-OH isolate, and the word "extract" alone does not explain its composition. Ask for the named ingredients and the amounts per serving; do not infer a leaf-like profile from a botanical label.

Related compounds are not interchangeable

Mitragynine and 7-OH have different receptor activity in laboratory experiments. Their relationship to the same plant does not make equal weights equivalent. Kruegel et al. 2016 receptor study

Avoid converting a leaf amount into a concentrated-product amount. This site does not provide dosing or substitution instructions.

Claimed benefits are not approved treatments

A person's report of relief deserves to be heard without turning it into proof of effectiveness. FDA states that no 7-OH drugs are approved. A medical claim on a package does not establish an approved indication. FDA July 2025 scheduling recommendation

Continue with What Is 7-OH?, Science and Evidence, or Reported Benefits and Consequences.