History of Kratom: From Traditional Use to Modern Research

This article traces the historical development of kratom—from early oral traditions and its scientific description in the nineteenth century to contemporary pharmacological studies and the major legal changes of recent years5611. It takes a strictly informative, research-based approach and does not recommend any use of the plant.

---

Traditional use in Southeast Asia: centuries before Western documentation

The traditional use of kratom in Southeast Asia probably reaches far back into prehistory, long before Western botanists first documented the plant13. Oral traditions and historical accounts indicate that local communities had used the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa for centuries24.

In Thailand’s southern provinces, on the Malay Peninsula and on Indonesian islands including Borneo and Sumatra, kratom was firmly integrated into rural life34. Manual workers—including fishers, farmers, rubber tappers and plantation workers—chewed fresh kratom leaves during long working days12. Contemporary reports often compared the practice with coffee drinking in Western cultures: an everyday, socially accepted habit associated with physically demanding work3.

Kratom’s cultural importance extended beyond work. In some Thai villages it formed part of social rituals in which predominantly male residents met in the evening to chew leaves, exchange stories and discuss village matters6. These gatherings reinforced social ties and provided a setting for community decisions2.

Spiritual and religious dimensions appeared in animist traditions that regarded kratom as a sacred plant given by spirits67. Shamans and spiritual leaders occasionally used leaves during ceremonies because the plant was believed to support concentration when communicating with ancestral or nature spirits6. In Thailand, leaves were sometimes presented as offerings during important ceremonies as an expression of gratitude for wishes believed to have been fulfilled7.

In many communities, kratom symbolised endurance and strength. A traditional Thai saying was translated as “strong like someone who chews kratom”2. In Malay culture, kratom was associated with semangat—a concept of vitality or spirit—and was believed to strengthen a person’s resilience to life’s demands3.

Some communities attached a dual symbolism to the plant: it represented strength and stamina, but also moderation and self-control. Excessive use could be regarded as evidence of weak character2.

Kratom also had a place in traditional medicine. In regions far from modern health services, village healers relied on local plants for a range of complaints14. Historical accounts describe leaves being used for fever, diarrhoea, diabetes, coughs and pain, and as poultices for wounds312. These reports document traditional practice; they are not evidence of clinical efficacy or a recommendation for treatment.

---

Western discovery and scientific classification (1836–1921)

The first documented Western encounters with kratom occurred in the early nineteenth century, when European colonial officials and botanists explored Southeast Asia511. Dutch colonial reports from as early as the seventeenth century described local people chewing leaves in connection with work and pain relief11.

Despite this early documentation, the plant’s chemical composition initially remained unexplored. Kratom became a subject of phytochemical investigation only in the early twentieth century.

---

Legal development: from prohibition to decriminalisation

Thailand: a major reversal

Kratom’s legal history in Thailand is a striking example of the interaction between economic interests, politics and drug policy1820.

International developments and the WHO review

While Thailand reversed its earlier policy, the international legal situation remained fragmented. Myanmar prohibited kratom in 19939, and Malaysia controls it under national poisons legislation9.

A significant international event was the World Health Organization’s review. In April 2020, the Working Group of the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) placed kratom under surveillance29. The 44th ECDD meeting in October 2021 conducted a pre-review and did not recommend proceeding to a critical review2830.

---

Modern scientific research (2000–2026)

Advances in alkaloid research

Scientific research on kratom has advanced substantially over the past two decades1016. One important milestone came in 2019, when researchers reported that 7-hydroxymitragynin is an active metabolite of mitragynin2526.

In 2020, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl was investigated as another potent metabolite formed through the metabolism of kratom alkaloids2526.

Pharmacokinetics in humans

The first human pharmacokinetic study was published in 201527. A comprehensive review followed in 201928, and a larger 2024 study examined mitragynin and 7-hydroxymitragynin after single and multiple doses29.

Drug–drug interactions

Laboratory research indicates that kratom alkaloids can inhibit several cytochrome P450 enzymes, including CYP2D6 and CYP3A41516. The clinical relevance depends on exposure and requires careful study; laboratory findings alone do not establish the outcome of an interaction in a person.

Ongoing clinical research

NIDA is conducting an ecological momentary assessment study of real-world kratom use (NCT05457803)30. A Phase 1 study is investigating single ascending doses (NCT06072170)31. A 2025 observational publication examined associations between bedtime use and sleep outcomes32.

---

Conclusion: a plant between tradition and modern science

Kratom’s history is a notable account of cultural continuity, scientific curiosity and far-reaching legal change51118. Historical practices, laboratory findings, clinical evidence and current laws describe different kinds of evidence and should not be treated as interchangeable. Research continues, while legal rules still differ between jurisdictions.

---

---