Advanced Kratom Alkaloids

A Comprehensive Guide: Advanced Kratom Alkaloids & 7-OH

Today at Kats, we’re opening a ‘can of worms’ for you. Because we need to talk about all this “7-OH, Advanced Alkaloids!” stuff. There are some concerns with these types of Kratom leaf products, so we’ll cover the important things you need to know.

These “advanced Kratom alkaloid” products can go by many names depending on who you ask or what label you’re reading:

  • Advanced Kratom Alkaloids
  • Advanced Alkaloids
  • 7-Hydroxymitragynine
  • 7-Hydroxy Mitragynine
  • 7-OH
  • 7-OHM
  • 7-OHMZ
  • 7ΩHMZ

Note: It is normal for 7-Hydroxymitragynine to be in your regular Kratom products. However, these “advanced” products will often indicate a higher-than-normal amount of the specific active metabolite 7-Hydroxymitragynine.

ADVANCED KRATOM ALKALOIDS: LOW REGULATION CALLS FOR HIGH CONSUMER DILIGENCE

Currently, there’s no way to uniformly regulate products made from the plant known as Kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa. This means different companies call their 7-Hydroxymitragynine-focused Kratom products whatever they want. Even for the well-informed Kratom shopper, it can be hard to discern what you’re buying, and if a particular Kratom supplement is safe for you to use. Hence – the need for us to open this ‘can of worms’ today.

At Kats Botanicals, we help inform about ‘advanced Kratom alkaloids’ even if we aren’t producing 7-OHM tablets. Along with the American Kratom Association, and state-led legal initiatives like the KCPA (Kratom Consumer Protection Act), we aim to put your health and safety as a Kratom consumer first and foremost. Even above profits.

7-HYDROXYMITRAGYNINE ISN’T NEW

But what some companies are doing with 7-Hydroxymitragynine is new… sparking the “advanced Kratom alkaloids” buzz. Recently, there’s been a wave of these very highly potent advanced Kratom alkaloid products hitting shelves across the country. The concern is over potency and purity and about users’ understanding of what they are taking. These products focus on one key element found in natural Kratom leaf: 7-Hydroxymitragynine. And since the name is familiar, many Kratom users may not know what they’re getting into when they purchase a 7-OH product.

It’s important to understand how 7-Hydroxymitragynine is amplified in these products. Especially when the trending 7-OH tablets or ‘advanced Kratom alkaloids’ products hit the market long before there’s enough research or innovation to ensure their safety. Kratom Use Tip: The keys to a safe and enjoyable experience with Kratom leaf products are to buy carefully and use wisely. We’re here to help you do that, whether you buy from Kats Botanicals, or not.

UNDERSTANDING ALKALOID-RELATED KRATOM TERMINOLOGY

We know what you’re thinking – advanced Kratom alkaloids…that sounds made up. You’re not exactly wrong. This is modern terminology coined to describe a certain type of Kratom product made from lab-influenced Kratom active compounds. It’s quite different than other Kratom products you may have tried, in two key areas:

  1. Advanced Kratom alkaloid products focus on one important but minor alkaloid.
  2. That particular alkaloid is super strong even in very small quantities…and these “advanced” Kratom products contain, well, a lot of it.

TRADITIONAL KRATOM USE

Traditional Kratom leaf use was simple – pluck a leaf, chew it, and spit out the leaf matter. The chewing (mastication) released the alkaloids, the active compounds found in Kratom that are responsible for producing its unique effects. Kratom tea was brewed from the leaves. A variety of alkaloids were involved…something we refer to as “full-spectrum.” It’s thought to be more beneficial to use the plant in this traditional way.

Since the isolation of Mitragynine in 1921 by Ellen Field, chemists and Kratom manufacturers have worked to isolate Kratom’s alkaloids and find ways to elevate their effectiveness. While shoppers still love Kratom strains like White Borneo or Maeng Da, interest is rallying around trending new strains, extracts, and products marked “advanced” on the label.

A QUICK REVIEW OF WHAT’S IN REGULAR KRATOM POWDER

When you purchase traditional Kratom products (Kratom powders, Kratom capsules, Kratom gummies, etc.), you are using regular Kratom leaf. The leaves are ground down into consumable powders, or packed into capsules or gummies to make them more palatable.

Good Kratom leaf products are extensively lab-tested for purity and to determine alkaloid distribution. These Kratom products contain:

  • Kratom leaf plant matter
  • A variety of Kratom’s active compounds called alkaloids

Different areas of Southeast Asia produce nuanced alkaloid profiles in their trees. This is made more pronounced by the post-harvest handling and drying methods. Alkaloid content varies by strain but generally does not exceed 2% of the overall plant matter. This includes Mitragynine (the most abundant) and its metabolite 7-Hydroxymitragyine, and as many as 40 others.

CUSTOMERS LOVE LOTS OF OPTIONS

7-OH products’ popularity can be partially attributed to the shopping habits of Kratom users in the West. These modern Kratom users often want larger selections and a variety of strengths. New, bigger, bolder, stronger – these are appealing from a marketing standpoint, especially in the US.

Today’s Kratom users are more likely to experiment with different ways to enjoy Kratom, including very potent ones. Hence, a variety of Kratom products are made with extracts, most notably extracts of Mitragynine or MIT. As Kratom users that seek an elevated experience, or to shake up a Kratom use plateau, they reach for these stronger, more potent Kratom selections.

HOW ARE KRATOM EXTRACTS MADE?

High quality Kratom leaf extracts are made using solvents to extract the alkaloids. The main focus is Mitragynine, or MIT, which is the most prevalent Kratom alkaloid. Mitragynine, along with other alkaloid compounds, including the plant’s natural 7-Hydroxymitragynine content, is generally less than 2% of the final product (commonly 0.5 to 1.5%). This is the total alkaloid content, which includes a variety of naturally occurring Kratom alkaloids.

Of that total alkaloid content you’ll see an alkaloid profile something like this:

  • Mitragynine – about 66%
  • 7-Hydroxymitragynine – about 2%
  • Other Contributing Alkaloids – Minuscule

While in minuscule amounts, other active alkaloids like Speciogynine, Paynantheine, and Mitraphylline contribute synergistically to the actions of the main alkaloid Mitragynine, and the minor alkaloid (and metabolite of MIT) 7-OH.

The takeaway from discussing Kratom extracts is to understand the natural makeup of Kratom leaf’s alkaloids, (not to mention the plant’s natural terpenes) can be altered when you are using extracts. This can significantly affect your Kratom experience. Especially when a minor alkaloid like 7-OH is isolated and supplied in extremely high concentrations.

EXTRACT POTENCY & ALKALOID MAKEUP

Many extracts fall in the 5-15% range in terms of stronger potency over regular Kratom products. They are meant to be used mindfully and carefully to enhance your Kratom journey. These are typically not for beginners.

When extracts are performed, solvents are used to withdraw the natural alkaloids from the Kratom leaf plant matter. This process does not alter the alkaloids or create new ones. Note that with extracts you may be enjoying the entire gamut of alkaloids from the leaf matter, only concentrated. Using the full spectrum of high-quality Kratom alkaloids is thought to be more beneficial.

WHAT IS MEANT BY RECEPTOR?

Your body is made up of all types of receptors, often referred to by the types of chemicals that work through them. Examples:

  • Cannabinoids in cannabis work on CB1 and CB2 receptors.
  • Opioid medications work on a variety of receptors, including those commonly referred to as opioid receptors.

These receptor communication “portals” help your systems pass along and receive important body chemicals, which have various effects. While Kratom is not an opioid, Kratom alkaloids interact with a μ-subtype opioid receptor (MOR), similar to analgesics. Understanding how Kratom alkaloids interact with your body may shed some light on why the extreme potency of some 7-OH products may be concerning.

THE BIG CONCERN WHEN WE START ISOLATING 7-OH

When a product has a significantly higher amount of 7-OH than what is found naturally in Kratom, Kratom experts’ eyebrows are raised. Some say the potency of these 7-OH and “advanced alkaloid” products suggests alkaloid tampering or synthesis.

ACS Laboratory reports of 7-OH products they tested, that “7-hydroxymitragynine potency exceeded that found in naturally occurring material by up to 500%” and that this “significant increase strongly suggests ‘adulteration’”. Therefore, from one “advanced” alkaloid product to another, there can be a very wide range of potency and alkaloid profiles. This brings to question a concern about potential “synthetic” alkaloids in your product.

The activity of Mitragynine is far more studied and understood. It makes sense to extract MIT and use it to boost enhanced Kratom products, for example. These are designed to provide an elevated (reliable and effective) Kratom experience ideal for experienced Kratom users. Compared to Mitragynine, 7-Hydroxymitraginine is far less understood. Extracting, concentrating, and possibly synthesizing 7-OH in the lab…this is where purpose (and the math!) gets a little fuzzy.

If you’re looking for a potentially enjoyable experience, proceed with caution when using highly concentrated (and very strong!) 7-OH products. More studies are needed on the effects of 7-OH, ensuring consistent and reliable data on the efficacy and safety of its use in high concentrations.

CONCENTRATED 7-HYDROXYMITRAGYNINE PRODUCTS

7-OH is 7-Hydroxymitragynine, one of Kratom’s many alkaloids and a particularly strong one. It is thought that the potential analgesic effects some users credit to Kratom is suspected to be largely due to the presence of 7-OH, making this particular alkaloid one of great interest. Naturally, Kratom manufacturers want to discover how to increase its impact – and some of them prioritize profits over safety. 7-OH is described as a terpenoid indole alkaloid, an oxidized derivative of MIT. Mitragynine converts in vitro into 7-OH, so 7-OH is considered a “metabolite” of the more abundant and commonly known Mitragynine, or MIT.

Like MIT extracts, concentrated 7-OH products are also made with extract methods. Naturally, 7-OH in Kratom leaf is about .05% of Kratom’s leaf mass. This may vary between Kratom strains. 7-OH is thought to be about ten times the strength of MIT. Some sources claim it’s more than forty times stronger than MIT. Yeah, read that again.

7OH OR 7-OH

So, what does the moniker “7-OH” mean when you buy a Kratom product? It essentially means that the 7-Hydroxymitragynine has been lab-isolated and concentrated. Just like with MIT extracts. But the potency is often off the charts.

There may be both Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine in a standard Kratom product. But in these new highly concentrated 7-OH products, the 7-OH levels are highly elevated to increase their impact on your Kratom experience.

Most commonly you will find these 7-OH products in liquid or tablet form. 7-OH extract products appeal* to:

  • Advanced Kratom users
  • Kratom users who struggle with plateaus
  • Kratom users who are most interested in the plant’s potential for pain relief**

*See our recommendations list below for more reliably safe high-concentration Kratom options.
**As with all Kratom products, individual results may vary.

7OHMZ TABLETS

7OHMZ, or “7ΩHMZ”, is a particular brand of 7-OH product. Because of its popularity, it’s often called out as an example of just how high the 7-OH concentrations can be. Commonly this product is purchased in a pill pack with three tablets, 6 servings per package. Each tablet is meant to be split into two servings, with no clear direction on how many servings you can take per day. Each tablet has 14 mg of 7-OH, which doesn’t sound too awfully high until you factor in how much stronger 7-OH is compared to MIT.

7-OHMZ ADVANCED KRATOM ALKALOIDS

When you see the term “advanced Kratom alkaloids” it may be an indicator that the 7-OH produced may have been lab “assisted”. Rather than consume a product with questionable alkaloid tampering, here’s what we suggest:

Use only 100% naturally derived Kratom. You can use Kratom in regular form or one of its enhanced versions, which is “boosted” with real, non-tampered, natural Kratom extracts, directly derived from Kratom leaf matter. Use 100% pure Kratom with 100% natural alkaloid extracts in one of these forms for an elevated Kratom experience:

ARE ADVANCED KRATOM ALKALOIDS SAFE?

Highly concentrated forms of terpenoid indole alkaloids like 7-OH can produce very potent formulas. Before they can be considered safe, much more innovation and research are needed. It’s important to know the concentrations of any alkaloids in a product you are consuming and work with your medical doctor to advise on their use. This is imperative if you take any other medications, stimulants, or depressants, as there may be drug interactions with Kratom. Of particular worry would be supplements or medications that work on the body in the same way or by the same receptors as Kratom does.

Note: It’s not considered safe to consume any type of Kratom substance with alcohol.

HOW CAN I SPOT SYNTHETIC KRATOM ALKALOIDS?

Sadly, you may not be able to spot them. The best we can advise is to be cautious when consuming Kratom alkaloids that are isolated and concentrated. Only purchase Kratom from an AKA-accredited vendor like Kats Botanicals.

When you see “advanced Kratom alkaloids” and are not sure what this means, do not hesitate to contact the company that produces the product and ask them. Ethical companies are happy to be transparent about their products, sourcing, and manufacturing, and offer you Certificates of Analysis to demonstrate how their products were tested.

When you purchase non-tested Kratom or products that are unethically produced, you may be getting more than you bargain for:

  • Added fillers
  • Contaminants
  • Molds
  • Pesticides
  • Heavy metals – lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium
  • Potentially astronomically high alkaloid content – Can be more than 25%-500% higher potency than normal Kratom.

FUN FACT: WE’VE SEEN THIS BEFORE WITH DELTA 8 IN CANNABIS LABS

The criticism of 7-OH isolations is similar to what’s going on in the cannabis world with Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-8-THC). Delta 8 THC is an isomer of the naturally occurring Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC). Many states consider Delta 8 to be a synthetic (or at least semi-synthetic) version of Delta 9 THC because it’s often lab-produced. This is due to its naturally low quantities in cannabis (like 7-OH concentrations are in Kratom). Companies want to maximize profits and capture the market on trending products like Delta 8, so they produce more of it in a lab.

The biggest difference, here, when comparing Delta 8 to 7-OH is that Delta 8 is a weaker version of Delta 9. The opposite is true of 7-OH; 7-OH is much stronger than MIT. Regardless, both Delta 8 and 7-OH products are enjoying a profitable time in the limelight.

STAY INFORMED WITH KATS & THE AKA!

Our biggest goal here is to make your Kratom experience a safe and enjoyable one. We hope this guide has helped to inform and shape your understanding of the complexities of Kratom and its alkaloids. We also hope to empower you to make more informed decisions about your Kratom use so you can experience the unique benefits of the Kratom plant.

We’re keeping a cautious eye on Advanced Kratom Alkaloids, 7-OH extracts, and 7OHMZ, or “7ΩHMZ” products – and so should you.

Written By Staff

The staff writers for Kats Botanicals have been researching and writing about Kratom products for more than 5 years, and have a combined experience of over 35 years of writing in the healthcare and supplement industry. The team has a keen understanding of the topic, remain current on all FDA and industry news, and use their expertise to generate engaging and informative content to help educate consumers on Kats Botanicals’ products. Each article is fact-checked and includes sources to scientific data to ensure readers receive the most up-to-date and accurate information possible.

Reviewed By Justin Kats

Justin Kats, founder of Kats Botanicals reviews and approves all content before releasing it for posting on the Kats Botanical website. Justin has been a tireless advocate for the benefits of Kratom since 2012. As a champion for botanical therapy, Justin created a Facebook group where more than 12,000 people discuss botanicals, and Kratom. He has also assisted more than 80,000 customers since the inception of his business and works directly with a single source farmer to ensure the purity of the products he sells. He also performs rigorous lab testing because he understands what it takes to get a high-quality and safe product to market.

KRATOM WARNING: For use by individuals 21+ only. Not for use by pregnant or lactating women. Consult a physician before consuming if taking any medication or if you have a medical condition, including but not limited to heart disease, high blood pressure, or liver disorder. Do not combine this product with alcohol or other medications. May be habit-forming and lead to dependency. Not intended for long-term use. For more information, see our Ideal Kratom Dosage Guide for general suggested use.

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