Reference · 12 min read · May 9, 2026

The Kratom Glossary: A-to-Z Reference of 60+ Terms Every Buyer Should Know

From '7-OH' to 'wash kratom,' the kratom world has its own vocabulary — much of it inherited from forums, vendor marketing, and Southeast Asian tradition. This A-to-Z reference defines 60+ terms with plain-English explanations, citations to source articles for deeper coverage, and clear notes on which terms are technical, which are slang, and which are marketing language.

The kratom world has its own vocabulary, much of it inherited from forums, vendor marketing copy, traditional Southeast Asian use, and medical literature. Knowing the difference between 7-OH and mitragynine, between Maeng Da and Bali, between an extract and a tincture is the fastest path to being a more confident kratom buyer. This A-to-Z reference covers 60+ terms in plain English, with notes on which are technical, slang, or marketing language, and links to deeper articles where they exist.

A

Adulteration — Intentional contamination of a kratom product with non-disclosed substances. Adulterated kratom may include synthetic alkaloids (most concerning: chemically isolated 7-OH), pharmaceutical compounds, or non-kratom plant fillers. Banned under KCPA legislation in most regulating states.

AKA (American Kratom Association) — The principal US kratom industry advocacy and consumer protection organization. Runs the GMP Qualified Vendor program. See our GMP standards explainer.

Alkaloid — A nitrogen-containing organic compound produced by plants. Kratom contains over 40 identified alkaloids, with mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine the most studied. Alkaloid content (especially mitragynine percentage) is the central measurement on any kratom Certificate of Analysis.

B

Bali — A common regional kratom name. Most "Bali" kratom is actually grown on Borneo (Indonesian Kalimantan) and exported through Bali's port — a heritage labeling convention rather than a strict geographic claim. See regional strains guide.

Bentuangie — A specialty kratom variety produced by fermenting kratom leaf during the drying process. The fermentation alters the alkaloid profile and color (typically darker red), producing a distinctive sedating effect profile. Less common than red/green/white categorizations.

Borneo — The world's largest commercial kratom-growing region, primarily Indonesian Kalimantan. Most US-imported kratom originates from Borneo. Both a region of origin (often legitimate) and a strain heritage label.

C

Capsules — Pre-filled gelatin or vegetarian capsules containing measured doses of kratom powder (typically 0.5 grams each). Most convenient form factor, slowest onset (45–75 min). See our preparation methods guide.

COA (Certificate of Analysis) — A laboratory report documenting the test results for a specific batch. Per-batch third-party COAs are the kratom industry's quality verification standard. See our COA reading guide.

Cultivar — A specific genetic variety of Mitragyna speciosa. Different cultivars produce different alkaloid profiles. Vein-color and regional labels (Red Bali, White Maeng Da, etc.) often correspond to specific cultivars or families of cultivars.

D

DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) — US federal agency that proposed scheduling kratom as Schedule I in 2016 and withdrew the proposal after public pushback. See our kratom history.

Dependence — Physical adaptation to regular kratom use. Develops with daily moderate-to-heavy use over weeks. Manifests as withdrawal symptoms on cessation. See our tolerance and rotation guide.

DSHEA — Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, the US law governing dietary supplements. The FDA's position is that kratom does not meet DSHEA's framework, which is why kratom isn't formally an FDA-approved dietary supplement.

E

Extract — A concentrated kratom preparation made by extracting alkaloids from leaf using solvents (water, ethanol) and evaporating to concentrate. Typically 10–75% mitragynine vs leaf's 1–2%. See our extracts explainer.

F

FAQPage schema — Schema.org structured data type that lets search engines and AI assistants extract Q&A pairs from a page. Reputable kratom content sites use FAQPage schema to make their answers AI-citable.

FDA — Food and Drug Administration. Has not approved kratom as a dietary supplement; has issued multiple consumer advisories and import alerts; specifically issued a 2025 alert on synthetic 7-OH products. See our FDA regulatory guide.

Full-spectrum — A kratom extract that preserves the natural proportion of all alkaloids (mitragynine plus minor alkaloids), as opposed to an isolate that purifies a single compound. Full-spectrum products generally produce effects closer to leaf than purified mitragynine isolates do.

G

GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) — The regulatory framework for how consumable products are made. The AKA's GMP Standards Program is kratom-specific. AKA GMP Qualified Vendors pass annual third-party audits. See our GMP standards explainer.

Green vein — One of the four main kratom vein colors. Green sits between white (stimulating) and red (relaxing) on the effect spectrum. Often described as balanced or "all-purpose." See strains guide.

H

Half-life — The time required for the body to eliminate half of a given dose. Mitragynine's elimination half-life in humans is roughly 23–24 hours, which is why kratom tolerance and detection windows extend across days.

Heavy metals — Lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury. Plants concentrate these from soil; kratom is no exception. KCPA-style laws cap heavy-metal content in kratom; reputable COAs report measured values.

I

Indo / Indonesian kratom — Generic regional label for Indonesian-grown kratom (overwhelmingly Borneo). Often used when a more specific island designation isn't available.

Isolate — A purified single compound extracted from kratom, most commonly mitragynine isolate or 7-OH isolate. Isolates lack the natural alkaloid context of leaf or full-spectrum extract; concentrated 7-OH isolates are banned under most KCPA legislation.

K

Kratom — The dried leaf of Mitragyna speciosa, a tree in the Rubiaceae (coffee) family native to Southeast Asia. See what is kratom.

KCPA (Kratom Consumer Protection Act) — Model state-level legislation establishing kratom consumer-safety standards. See our KCPA explainer.

Kratom Consumer Protection Act — see KCPA above.

L

LC-MS/MS — Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The analytical method used by accredited labs to measure kratom alkaloid content precisely. Standard for COA testing.

Leaf — Dried kratom leaf material, typically sold as ground powder. Contains the natural alkaloid balance of the plant (~1–2% mitragynine).

M

Maeng Da — Thai phrase meaning "top shelf" or "pimp grade." Originally slang for unusually potent batches; today a quality/potency label promising higher mitragynine content than a standard product of the same vein color. See our Maeng Da explainer.

Mitragynine — Kratom's dominant alkaloid (60–70% of total alkaloid content). Partial mu-opioid receptor agonist. Responsible for most of kratom's everyday effects. See our alkaloid guide.

Mitragyna speciosa — The botanical (Latin) name for the kratom tree.

N

NAS (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome) — Withdrawal symptoms in infants born to mothers using opioid-receptor-active substances during pregnancy. Documented in infants exposed to kratom in utero. The central clinical reason kratom is contraindicated during pregnancy. See our pregnancy guide.

P

Paynantheine — Third most abundant kratom alkaloid (after mitragynine and speciogynine). Smooth-muscle relaxant properties.

Polysubstance use — Combining kratom with other psychoactive substances (alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines). The vast majority of serious kratom adverse events involve polysubstance use rather than kratom alone.

R

Red vein — One of the four main kratom vein colors. Red leans relaxing/sedating. Most associated with sleep support and analgesia. See kratom for sleep.

Rotation — The practice of using different kratom strains on different days to slow tolerance development. Modestly effective but doesn't prevent tolerance. See tolerance and rotation.

Rubiaceae — The plant family kratom belongs to. Same family as coffee.

S

Salmonella — Bacterial pathogen. The 2018 multi-state Salmonella outbreak tied to kratom (200+ illnesses across 41 states) was the worst public-health incident in US kratom history. Reputable COAs explicitly show Salmonella as "not detected."

Schedule I — The most restrictive controlled-substance category under US federal law. Kratom is not federally Schedule I; the DEA proposed scheduling in 2016 and withdrew. See our FDA guide.

Speciociliatine — Fourth most abundant kratom alkaloid. Partial opioid receptor activity.

Speciogynine — Second most abundant kratom alkaloid. Smooth-muscle relaxant properties.

Strain — Common kratom marketing term combining vein color (red/green/white/yellow) and a regional or quality descriptor (Bali, Maeng Da, Borneo, etc.). E.g. "Red Bali" or "White Maeng Da." See strains guide.

Synthetic 7-OH — Concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine products marketed as kratom but pharmacologically distinct from natural-leaf material. Higher dependence and overdose risk than natural kratom. Banned under most KCPA legislation. See our synthetic 7-OH explainer.

T

Thai — Regional kratom heritage label. Genuine Thai-grown kratom is now commercially available again after Thailand's 2021 re-legalization (kratom was prohibited in Thailand from 1943 to 2021).

Tincture — A liquid kratom preparation, typically alcohol-based, in a dropper bottle. Term often used interchangeably with liquid extract.

Tolerance — Reduced response to the same dose with repeated use. Builds within 1–2 weeks of daily kratom use.

Toss-and-wash — The most direct kratom consumption method: powder directly in mouth, washed down with liquid. See our toss-and-wash guide.

V

Vein color — Red, green, white, or yellow — referring to the color of the central vein in the kratom leaf and the resulting effect profile after curing. The strongest predictor of effect profile across all strain labels.

W

Wash kratom — Same as toss-and-wash. The "wash" refers to washing down dry powder with liquid.

White vein — Stimulating-leaning vein color. Most associated with energy, focus, and pre-workout use. See kratom for energy and working out with kratom.

Withdrawal — Physical symptoms experienced on cessation of regular kratom use. Typically resembles a moderate cold or flu, peaks at days 2–4, resolves by day 7–10. See our withdrawal timeline guide.

Y

Yellow vein — Less common vein color produced by extended or specialized drying processes. Effect profile typically sits between red and green.

7

7-OH — Short for 7-hydroxymitragynine. See above.

7-hydroxymitragynine — Kratom's second-most-studied alkaloid. Minor in natural leaf (under 0.1% by dry weight) but much more potent at mu-opioid receptors than mitragynine. See our alkaloid guide.

21+ — The minimum age for kratom purchase in most KCPA-state laws and at responsible vendors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does '7-OH' mean in kratom?

7-OH refers to 7-hydroxymitragynine, a minor kratom alkaloid present in natural leaf at less than 0.1% by dry weight. It is much more potent at the mu-opioid receptor than mitragynine — roughly 10–13x more potent than morphine on a per-molecule basis. In natural-leaf products, 7-OH is well below 2% of total alkaloid content. Concentrated synthetic 7-OH products (where 7-OH dominates the alkaloid mass) are a different and higher-risk category, banned under most KCPA legislation.

What is 'AKA' in kratom context?

AKA stands for the American Kratom Association — the principal US-based kratom industry advocacy and consumer protection organization. The AKA runs the GMP Qualified Vendor program (kratom industry's main quality certification), maintains a public list of qualified vendors, advocates for state Kratom Consumer Protection Act legislation, and serves as the main political voice opposing kratom prohibition. AKA-qualified vendors meet annual third-party audit requirements.

What does 'KCPA' stand for?

KCPA stands for the Kratom Consumer Protection Act — model legislation championed by the American Kratom Association that establishes state-level minimum standards for kratom safety, labeling, and age-restriction. KCPAs typically prohibit sales to anyone under 21, require accurate alkaloid content labeling, set heavy-metal and microbial contamination thresholds, and ban synthetic alkaloid concentrates. As of 2026, more than a dozen US states have passed KCPA-style legislation.

What does 'COA' mean?

COA stands for Certificate of Analysis — a laboratory report documenting the test results for a specific batch of a product. For kratom, a complete COA shows the percentage of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine alkaloids, heavy-metal levels (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury), microbial counts (Salmonella, E. coli, total yeast and mold), and any solvent or pesticide residues. Per-batch third-party COAs from accredited labs are the standard quality verification in the kratom industry.

What's the difference between 'leaf' and 'extract'?

Leaf refers to dried kratom leaf material — typically sold as ground powder containing the plant's natural alkaloid balance (around 1–2% mitragynine by mass). Extract is a concentrated preparation made by extracting alkaloids from large quantities of leaf using water, alcohol, or other solvents, then evaporating to concentrate. Extracts have much higher mitragynine percentages (commonly 10–75%), faster onset, and a narrower dose window than leaf.

What is 'toss-and-wash'?

Toss-and-wash is a method of consuming kratom powder: you put a measured dose of powder directly in your mouth and immediately wash it down with water or juice, swallowing without chewing. The whole process takes 30 seconds and produces the fastest onset of any traditional method (30–45 minutes). It's also the most universally hated technique because of the bitter taste and dry powder texture.

Where Are Kratom, 7-OH & Cat's Claw Banned in 2026? — Regulation
How 4 Leaf Herbals Describes Its Kratom Supply Chain — Industry
Kratom Dosage Guide — Dosing uncertainty, product differences, and safety considerations
Lab Results Library — Available product and batch laboratory reports