The Wide World of Ethnobotanicals

Botanicals

Siesta Botanicals carries several botanicals that have been shown to offer a wide variety of benefits including stress relief, improved concentration and energy levels.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry, is an ancient Ayurvedic herb. It belongs to a class of medicinal herbs known as adaptogens and has been used for more than 3,000 years to help reduce stress, improve stamina and increase concentration levels. Many of ashwagandha’s health benefits are attributed to its high levels of withanolides, hormone precursors that can convert into human physiological hormones to help bring balance to the body. Studies have shown that ashwagandha can help improve sleep and reduce stress. In one review, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, ashwagandha was shown to outperform psychotherapy by reducing anxiety in a group of subjects by 56.5% compared to only 30.5% in the psychotherapy group.

Damiana

Damiana (Turnera diffusa) hails from a small, woody shrub in the passifloraceae family that produces small, aromatic flowers. Damiana is commonly used to enhance sexual health and decrease anxiety. It is also popularly used in Mexico to make a liqueur which is then used as a substitute for Curaçao triple sec, is a type of strong, sweet and colorless orange-flavored liqueur. In 2013, we had the pleasure of visiting plantations to study the cultivation & reverance of this plant.

Marshmallow Root

Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) is a perennial species indigenous to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa where it has been used in herbalism and as an ornamental plant for centuries. A confection made from the root since ancient Egyptian times evolved into today’s marshmallow treat, but most modern marshmallow treats no longer contain any marshmallow root. Traditionally, people have used  marshmallow root for digestive problems, cough and skin conditions such as eczema. In one study, published in the journal Pharmaceutical Biology, researchers found that marshmallow root helped with lipemia, inflammation and gastric ulcer in rats with no observed negative effects.

Organic Cacao

Cacao beans (Theobroma Cacao), a highly nutritious superfood, grow on trees in Central and South America. Dry cacao solids are the components of cocoa beans that remain after the cocoa butter (the fat component) has been extracted from chocolate liquor (roasted cocoa beans that have been ground into a liquid state). Raw organic cacao has more than 40 times the antioxidants than blueberries and more calcium than cow’s milk. It’s also the highest plant-based provider of iron. People commonly consume cacao to help with issues such as depression, stress, blood pressure and heart health. Research has shown that cacao can help reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. For example, cocoa flavanols have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory action, improve blood flow, and decrease blood pressure and platelet aggregation.

Organic Ceylon Cinnamon

Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), also known as true cinnamon, is a small evergreen tree belonging to the family Lauraceae, native to Sri Lanka. Traditionally, cinnamon has been used to help with bronchitis and upset stomach. It is considered a superfood and loaded with powerful antioxidants. Although the inner bark of several other Cinnamomum species is also used to make cinnamon, cinnamon from C. verum is considered by culinarians to be of superior quality.

Organic Holy Basil (Tulsi)

Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), or Tulsi, is an aromatic perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Southeast Asian tropics. Tulsi is cultivated for religious and traditional medicine purposes, and for its essential oil. It is widely used as an herbal tea, commonly used in Ayurveda, and has a place within the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism, in which devotees perform worship involving holy basil plants or leaves. Many people consume holy basil as a stress reliever. Holy basil has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.

Hundreds of scientific studies in vitro, animal and human experiments have shown that tulsi exerts a unique combination of actions that include antimicrobial, anti-diarrheal, antioxidant, anticataract, anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective, cardio-protective, anti-diabetic, memory enhancement, anti-asthmatic, anti-arthritic, adaptogenic and anti-stress activities.

Organic Moringa

Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree of the family Moringaceae, native to the Indian subcontinent. Common names include moringa, drumstick tree, horseradish tree, and ben oil tree or benzolive tree. The flowers are fragrant and hermaphroditic, surrounded by five unequal, thinly-veined, yellowish-white petals. Moringa is an extremely nutritious plant known for its high levels of antioxidants. People consume moringa to lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation and improve heart health.

Turmeric 

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a flowering plant of the ginger family Zingiberaceae. The plant is a perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia and has a long history of use in traditional medicine. The rhizomes are used fresh or boiled in water and dried, after which they are ground into a deep orange-yellow powder commonly used as a coloring and flavoring agent in many Asian cuisines, especially for curries, as well as for dyeing. Turmeric powder has a warm, bitter, black pepper-like flavor and earthy, mustard-like aroma. Turmeric has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Research has shown that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, can benefit inflammation, pain, metabolic syndrome, and help in the management of inflammatory and degenerative eye conditions.

Reishi Mushroom

Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lingzhi) is a polypore fungus belonging to the genus Ganoderma. Its red-varnished, kidney-shaped cap and peripherally inserted stem gives it a distinct fan-like appearance. Reishi mushrooms are full of antioxidants and are a powerful immune system booster. Research in cancer patients has found that some of the molecules in Reishi mushrooms can increase the activity of helpful white blood cells known as natural killer cells.

Yerba Mate

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is an evergreen tree that is a member of the holly family from the tropics of northern Argentina’s beautiful Corrientes and Misiones provinces. Wildly popular in South America, Yerba-maté is brewed into a tea from its ground dried leaves & stemlets. In 2013, we had the pleasure of visiting plantations to study the cultivation and reverence of this plant. Yerba contains caffeine and is often used as a substitute for coffee.

 

from
https://siestabotanicals.com/thewideworldofethnobotanicals/

The Move Toward Plant Medicine and Herbs

The Move Toward Plant Medicine and Herbs

Interest in plant medicine has grown exponentially in the last decade. People are discovering the health benefits and stress-relieving qualities of traditional herbs, and as a result, many have moved away from more dangerous substances such as alcohol. 

The U.S. Has a Substance Abuse Problem

• Approximately 19.7 million American adults (age 12 and older) struggled with a substance use disorder in 2017, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
• Nearly 74% of adults with a substance use disorder in 2017 struggled with an alcohol use disorder.
• About 38% of adults in 2017 battled an illicit drug use disorder.
• That same year, 1 in 8 adults struggled with both alcohol and drug use disorders simultaneously.
• In 2017, 8.5 million American adults suffered from both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, or co-occurring disorders.
• Drug abuse and addiction cost American society more than $740 billion annually in lost workplace productivity, healthcare expenses, and crime-related costs.

Statistics are from the American Addiction Centers.

Traditional Plant Medicine

For centuries, indigenous cultures around the world have been using plant-based medicines for healing, recreational and ceremonial purposes. In fact, kratom, indigenous to Thailand and its surrounding countries in Southeast Asia, has been used for millennia in traditional medicine and in social and religious contexts. 

Kratom was used as a household remedy for various ailments, as a recreational drink (primarily among men), and in some Thai villages, it was consumed during religious ceremonies. Farmers, fishermen and other manual laborers in Southeast Asia would also chew the fresh or dried leaves to combat fatigue and improve work productivity. The leaves could also be smoked or brewed or steeped into tea.

Rural populations would ingest kratom leaves to treat common medical problems, such as diarrhea, fever, cough, anxiety and pain and even used it as a wound poultice. Kratom is still popular in Asian village communities during social gatherings. 

Unlike drug or alcohol users in these villages, kratom users, particularly males, haven’t faced any stigma. This is because kratom is widely accepted in these areas as an aid for hard work to support one’s family. In fact, village kratom users are typically seen as hard-working individuals, while those who consume alcohol, cannabis or tobacco have experienced a certain level of stigma.

Renewed Interest in Plant Medicine

In the 1960s, psychedelics, including plant-based hallucinogens such as psilocybin (magic mushrooms) were gaining interest among Western researchers as a possible way to address mental health issues and substance abuse. During this time, researchers published more than 1,000 scientific papers demonstrating the potential of these substances. Soon after, however, political and social backlash halted psychedelic research in the U.S.

Today, there is renewed interest and support for the widely experienced benefits of herbal medicines and plant alternatives. Kratom is experiencing increasing popularity and public support and now cannabis has become legal, at least for medicinal purposes, in most states. In addition, during guided sessions or healing ceremonies, many people are using natural substances such as magic mushrooms, ayahuasca and peyote cacti to address previous trauma and mental health issues.

Kratom/ Kava Bars Help Promote the Sober Life

Kratom/kava bars allow people to mingle and relax while remaining completely sober. And as a natural extension, many of these bars have sprouted friendly communities of like-minded people. 

For many, the mood-boosting and stress-reducing effects of kratom are quite conducive to social interaction without all the messiness and regrets of alcohol. Kratom/ kava bars are typically set up like alcohol bars, but instead of beer and hard liquor, you are given a wide variety of botanical teas, kava concoctions and coffee drinks that won’t leave you with a painful hangover in the morning. Most likely, you can have your choice of either white (stimulating), green (mildly euphoric) or red (relaxing) kratom. Many of these bars open early and don’t close until late at night.

Ayurveda Medicine

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of natural medicine, is also enjoying new interest in the West. The practice is based on the concept that disease is caused by an imbalance in a person’s overall being. Ayurvedic practitioners offer natural therapies and interventions to help patients regain balance within the body, mind, spirit and environment. 

Herbs are used extensively in Ayurvedic treatment. Siesta Botanicals offers three botanicals commonly used in Ayurveda including ashwagandha, holy basil (tulsi) and the spice turmeric.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry, belongs to a class of medicinal herbs known as adaptogens and has been used for more than 3,000 years to help reduce stress, improve stamina and increase concentration levels. Many of ashwagandha’s health benefits are attributed to its high levels of withanolides, hormone precursors that can convert into human physiological hormones to help bring balance to the body. 

Studies have shown that ashwagandha can help improve sleep and reduce stress. In one review, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, ashwagandha was shown to outperform psychotherapy by reducing anxiety in a group of subjects by 56.5% compared to only 30.5% in the psychotherapy group.

Organic Holy Basil (Tulsi)

Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), or tulsi, is an aromatic perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Southeast Asian tropics. Tulsi is cultivated for religious and traditional medicine purposes, and for its essential oil. It is widely used as an herbal tea and has a place within the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism, in which devotees perform worship involving holy basil plants or leaves. Many people consume holy basil as a stress reliever. Holy basil has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.

Hundreds of scientific studies in vitro, animal and human experiments have shown that tulsi exerts a unique combination of actions that include antimicrobial, anti-diarrheal, antioxidant, anticataract, anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective, cardio-protective, anti-diabetic, memory enhancement, anti-asthmatic, anti-arthritic, adaptogenic and anti-stress activities.

Turmeric 

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a flowering plant of the ginger family Zingiberaceae. The plant is a perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia and has a long history of use in traditional medicine. The rhizomes are used fresh or boiled in water and dried, after which they are ground into a deep orange-yellow powder commonly used as a coloring and flavoring agent in many Asian cuisines, especially for curries, as well as for dyeing. Turmeric powder has a warm, bitter, black pepper-like flavor and earthy, mustard-like aroma. Turmeric has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Research has shown that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, can benefit inflammation, pain, metabolic syndrome, and help in the management of inflammatory and degenerative eye conditions.

 

from
https://siestabotanicals.com/themovetowardplantandherbs/

Johns Hopkins University Kratom User Survey

2020 Johns Hopkins Kratom User Survey

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers released the findings of an anonymous online survey of more than 2,700 self-reported kratom consumers. Overall, the results suggest that kratom should be studied and regulated rather than banned and that the active compound in kratom has a lower rate of harm than prescription opioids in the treatment of pain, anxiety, depression and addiction. 

The study “Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa): User demographics, use patterns, and implications for the opioid epidemic” is published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

The study results have significant implications, because in 2016, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) proposed banning the commercial sale and use of kratom, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised categorizing it as a Schedule I drug, meaning it has no proven medical application and has a high risk of abuse. 

These proposals were met with significant public outcry and supplemental industry pushback, and no action was taken.

The research team states that kratom is neither regulated nor approved by the FDA and that scientific studies have not been conducted to officially establish safety and benefits. In addition, they say that U.S. drug agencies should seek to research and regulate rather than ban kratom sales as it appears to have safe therapeutic potential and may potentially be used as an alternative to opioid abuse.

Albert Garcia-Romeu, Ph.D., instructor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, says the new survey findings “suggest that kratom doesn’t belong in the category of a Schedule I drug, because there seems to be relatively low rate of abuse potential, and there may be medical applications to explore, including as a possible treatment for pain and opioid use disorder.”

“There has been a bit of fearmongering,” he adds, “because kratom is opioidlike, and because of the toll of our current opioid epidemic.”

Survey Findings

For the survey, the researchers recruited participants online and through social media, as well as through the American Kratom Association (AKA). Overall, users were mostly white, educated and middle-aged, and 97% were located in the United States. 

Kratom was primarily taken orally in doses of 1-3 grams (49 % of respondents), with daily use (59 %) being most common. Kratom was used for pain (91% of respondents), anxiety (67 %), and depression (65 %), with high ratings of effectiveness.

Approximately 61% of users were women, and 90% were white. About 6% reported being multiracial, 1.5% reported being Native American or Hawaiian, 0.5% reported being Asian and 0.4% said they were African American. Participants were an average age of 40. About 84% of respondents reported having at least some college education.

Of the survey participants, 91% reported taking kratom to alleviate pain on average a couple times a day for back, shoulder and knee pain; 67% took kratom for anxiety and 65% for depression. 

About 41% of survey respondents reported using kratom to treat opioid withdrawal, and of those people who took it for opioid withdrawal, 35% reported going more than a year without taking prescription opioids or heroin. 

As part of the survey, the survey participants completed a Substance Use Disorder Symptom checklist to see whether their kratom use qualified as a substance use disorder according to the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition guidelines. Less than 3% of responses met the criteria for moderate or severe substance use disorder for abusing kratom.

Factors Supporting Why Kratom Should Be Legal and Regulated

“Both prescription and illicit opioids carry the risk of lethal overdose as evidenced by the more than 47,000 opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2017,” says Garcia-Romeu. “Notably there’s been fewer than 100 kratom-related deaths reported in a comparable period, and most of these involved mixing with other drugs or in combination with preexisting health conditions.”

About a third of the participants reported having mild unpleasant side effects from kratom, such as constipation, upset stomach or lethargy, which mostly resolved within a day. 

Only 1.9% reported that side effects were severe enough for them to seek medical treatment. These effects included feeling withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, depression or insomnia when the kratom wore off. 

When asked how troubled they felt regarding their kratom use, the mean rating was 3.2 on a scale from 0 to 100.

“Although our findings show kratom to be relatively safe according to these self-reports, unregulated medicinal supplements raise concerns with respect to contamination or higher doses of the active chemicals, which could increase negative side effects and harmful responses,” says Garcia-Romeu. 

“This is why we advocate for the FDA to regulate kratom, which would require testing for impurities and maintaining safe levels of the active chemicals. Otherwise, unregulated products run the risk of unsafe additives and dosing problems, which could be like getting a shot of grain alcohol when you were trying to order a beer.”

Siesta Botanicals Testing

As with any organically-grown plant, kratom is susceptible to contaminants that may be present in the soil, water and air. However, contaminants and unsafe additives aren’t a problem with our kratom. All kratom from Siesta Botanicals is thoroughly tested for potential contaminants, including heavy metals and bacteria. In particular, a third party lab tests our kratom for lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, E.coli and salmonella. 

In addition, before we even began selling kratom, the owners of Siesta Botanicals made the journey to Indonesia to personally inspect our facilities and farms to observe their growing, harvesting and storing practices. They were able to witness firsthand the quality of the product before purchasing anything to sell directly to the customer. As an added bonus, Daniel, one of the owners of Siesta Botanicals, is also certified in quality management for government contracting. 

According to the American Kratom Association (AKA), when the FDA began focusing on the adverse events and deaths they had alleged to be linked to kratom, as well as on the contaminants and adulterants that were present in some kratom products, the AKA created the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards program that asked vendors to voluntarily adhere to the GMP standards for food and dietary ingredient products. 

“This has been welcomed as a powerfully positive step by many elected officials, public health officials, and policy makers at all levels of government. It clearly demonstrates the kratom industry is both willing and capable of self-regulation and condemns the kratom manufacturers to fail to use GMPs or who deliberately adulterate their products for profit.” The American Kratom Association

 

 

from
https://siestabotanicals.com/jhukratomusersurvey/

A Deeper Look at Heavy Metal Testing Kratom

Siesta Botanicals is dedicated to ensuring that our customers receive only top-quality botanicals. All of our kratom strains are tested at an independent lab for heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic), E. coli, and salmonella. You can find more information on these specific contaminants in our blog.

Why Test at All?

In a perfect world, there would be zero tolerance for harmful elements, such as lead and mercury, in our food, water, herbs, and supplements, but unfortunately, these compounds exist in the Earth’s soil, water and air. And many plants can readily absorb these metals. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to test our kratom for a variety of contaminants and make sure they are at safe levels. 

Why Independent Testing?

In Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal (IMCJ), Rick Liva, ND, RPh, from Temple University School of Pharmacy writes an informative article titled “Facing the Problem of Dietary-Supplement Heavy-Metal Contamination: How to Take Responsible Action” in which he explains why and how herbal supplements should be tested independently for heavy metals.

“The company manufacturing the product must independently test the material—at least for lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic, with the limit of detection at around 10–20 parts per billion (ppb). Clinicians should also know how to perform the necessary calculations to evaluate the toxicity data they receive from manufacturers,” writes Liva.

“We cannot depend upon the government or other regulatory bodies to protect us. Incredibly, there is no official authoritative agreement on the safe levels of heavy metal ingestion. The State of California says one thing, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says another, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has limits for water only, the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) has its own standards, and all are different from each other,” he writes.

“To the best of our ability, we must evaluate the heavy metal toxicity ourselves. We can make this evaluation only by holding our manufacturers accountable for independent testing of the products we purchase from them.”

The Math Can Get Tricky

Importantly, the dose or serving size of an herb or supplement should be taken into account, as well as how much product an individual person chooses to consume in a day or a week or a lifetime. For example, if two people buy the same batch of green tea that has 2.5 micrograms (μg) of lead per serving, then clearly the one who drinks one cup a day would have less of a toxic load than the one who drinks six cups a day — even if the amount of lead is the same in each serving.

In the IMCJ paper, Liva explains how important it is to analyze the toxic load based on the possible highest daily dose. For example, a manufacturer may test two of his supplier’s raw materials for lead — in this case, he gives the examples of policosanol (a dietary supplement is commonly taken for leg pain due to poor blood circulation) and Schisandra Chinensis extract (traditional Chinese medicine). 

A typical daily dose of policosanol might be 20 mg and of Schisandra extract 2,000 mg. If each ingredient tests at 4 parts per million (ppm) of lead, the ingested amount of lead coming from policosanol is 0.08 μg/day, but the amount coming from the Schisandra extract is 8 μg/day—a full 100 times more. This is despite the fact that both raw materials have the same level of contamination at 4 ppm.

Are Some Testing Methods Better Than Others?

According to Liva, the most important factors when testing for heavy metals include identifying the specific levels of individual heavy metals as well as finding the limit of detection (LOD). “The lower the LOD, the better. Currently, available technology affords LODs in the 10–20 ppb (that is billion) range, which is most desirable,” he writes.

Inadequate or Less-desirable methods

One less-desirable method for testing herbal supplements is the USP Method #231. This method does not differentiate one heavy metal from another, and in fact, groups all heavy metals together as “lead.” In addition, its LOD is 5-10 ppm (about 1,000 times too high to be of value).

Another less-desirable testing method, though slightly better than the USP Method #231, is the ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry). While this test can screen for multiple elements at trace levels, it is still not effective enough as it has inherent problems that can positively or negatively affect the analysis results.

Adequate Testing Methods

• Mercury: Cold-vapor atomic-absorption method (LOD 5–25 ppb). 
• Lead: Graphite-furnace atomic-absorption method (LOD 10–50 ppb). 
• Arsenic: Hydride-generation atomic-absorption method (LOD 10–50 ppb). 
• Cadmium: Graphite-furnace atomic-absorption method (LOD 5–20 ppb). 
• Multiple metals: ICP mass spectrometry. This method can test for several metals at once and has a very low LOD (around 10-20 ppb). 

Referring to ICP mass spectrometry, Liva says “This is my preferred methodology and the one on which I generally rely, as it offers a high specificity and the lowest analysis cost when screening for multiple heavy metal elements.”

Accepted Standards of Heavy Metal Toxicity for Ingested Products 

California Proposition 65 Daily Limits for Heavy Metal Consumption: 

• Lead 0.5 mcg (μg) 
• Arsenic 10 mcg (μg) 
• Cadmium 4.1 mcg (μg) 

FDA Tolerable Daily Diet Lead Intake:

• Adults 75 mcg (μg) 

United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Limit for Nutritional Supplements:

• Lead 10 ppm 
• Arsenic 3 ppm 
• Cadmium 3 ppm 
• Mercury 3 ppm

Source: IMCJ

Greater Accountability Among American Kratom Vendors

In 2019, the American Kratom Association introduced the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), a bill designed to increase kratom vendor accountability through stricter product quality and labeling requirements. 

The AKA has set a goal for the upcoming 2020 legislative sessions to secure passage in 21 additional states for the KCPA, bringing the total to 25 states who have enacted consumer protections for kratom consumers.

Siesta Botanicals is Dedicated to Quality Kratom

In addition to independent lab testing, the owners of Siesta Botanicals traveled to Indonesia to personally inspect our facilities and farms to observe their growing, harvesting and storing practices. They were able to witness firsthand the quality of the product before purchasing anything to sell directly to the customer. As an added bonus, Daniel, one of the owners of Siesta Botanicals, is also certified in quality management for government contracting. 

You can rest assured you’ll be getting the best of the best when you order your kratom powder from Siesta Botanicals. Check out our full selection of tested kratom powder here.

from
https://siestabotanicals.com/heavy-metal-testing-kratom/

Do We Test Our Kratom for Contaminants?

Yes. As with any organically-grown plant, kratom is susceptible to contaminants that may be present in the soil, water, and air. All kratom from Siesta Botanicals is thoroughly tested for potential contaminants, including heavy metals and bacteria. In particular, a third party lab tests our kratom for lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, E.coli, and salmonella. 

But let’s rewind a bit. Before we even began selling kratom, the owners of Siesta Botanicals made the journey to Indonesia to personally inspect our facilities and farms to observe their growing, harvesting and storing practices. They were able to witness firsthand the quality of the product before purchasing anything to sell directly to the customer. As an added bonus, Daniel, one of the owners of Siesta Botanicals, is also certified in quality management for government contracting. 

What Do We Test For And Why?

All of our kratom is tested for heavy metals lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. In high amounts — or in smaller amounts over a long period of time — consumption of these metals can cause all kinds of health and neurological problems. We also test for the bacteria E. coli and salmonella which can both cause immediate severe illness. These two types of bacteria are quite common as we all remember lettuce or ground beef being recalled due to contamination. 

Here is some more information on these contaminants and how they can get into our crops: 

Lead Testing

Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal that, if present in the soil, can be absorbed by plants. Lead cannot be removed by washing the plants or by any other processing means. While lead makes up only about 0.0013 percent of the Earth’s crust, it was used in many products and construction (paint, gasoline, water pipes, and soldering) up until the mid-20th-century before we became aware of its adverse health effects. 

Since lead does not degrade from the environment and can build up over time, low levels of lead can still be detected in soil, plants, the air, and water due to a build-up or leaching in the environment.

Arsenic Testing

Arsenic is another naturally occurring element, so it’s not possible to remove it completely from the environment. While arsenic levels in the soil are generally low, some geographic areas contain higher amounts than others, including regions with more volcanic activity. This is because volcanic eruptions can bring arsenic from the depths of the earth to the surface. In addition, fracking, mining, arsenic pesticides (quite common in the early 20th century and finally banned in the 1980s), and arsenic-treated lumber also contribute to more arsenic contamination in certain areas. 

Plants and crops can absorb arsenic through the soil, water, or air. Rice, in particular, tends to absorb more arsenic than other crops do, and since many young children consume large amounts of rice cereal, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has started ensuring that infant rice cereal stays under 100 parts per billion (ppb) for inorganic arsenic. 

Mercury Testing

Mercury is also a naturally-occurring element found in rocks, including coal. Mercury is emitted into the air from the weathering of rocks and soil, the burning of fossil fuels or medical waste, forest fires, volcanoes, and the evaporation of ocean water. Mercury can remain in the environment for long periods of time by cycling back and forth between the air and soil. 

Power plants that burn coal for electricity are the biggest source of emissions, accounting for about 42% of man-made mercury emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2014 National Emissions Inventory report. 

Fish and shellfish are the primary contributors to mercury exposure in humans. Consuming large amounts of mercury-contaminated seafood can cause neurological damage.

Cadmium Testing

Cadmium is a rare but widely-dispersed naturally-occurring element. It often occurs with zinc. Cadmium can be released into the environment through phosphate fertilizers, the burning of fossil fuels, mining and smelting, and other industrial processes. It can then be absorbed by plants from contaminated soil or water. Cadmium enters the soil by rain or falling out of the air. It can then be absorbed by plants. Certain plants, including tobacco, rice, and potatoes absorb cadmium more vigorously than they do other heavy metals such as lead and mercury.

E. Coli Testing

E. coli bacteria live in the intestines of humans and some animals. While most E. Coli is harmless and even important to the digestive system, some types are pathogenic and can cause severe illnesses such as diarrhea. The pathogenic types can be transmitted into humans through contaminated water and food. Outbreaks of E. coli have occurred in ground beef, lettuce, spinach, raw milk, untreated water, alfalfa sprouts, yogurt and produce from manure-fertilized gardens.

Salmonella Testing

Salmonella lives in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals. People can become infected with salmonella bacteria by eating foods or drinking water contaminated by animal feces. Although most contaminated foods are animal products, such as eggs, poultry, milk, or beef, salmonella is also found in fruits and vegetables.

People can also be infected with salmonella bacteria directly from animals such as pets, birds, fish, dogs, cats, and turtles. The FDA banned the sale of turtles smaller than 4 inches wide in 1975 to prevent the spread of salmonella.

Are There Any Specific Kratom Standards?

While the FDA doesn’t regulate kratom, the kratom industry has taken it upon itself to ensure high-quality products.

According to the American Kratom Association (AKA), when the FDA began focusing on the adverse events and deaths they had alleged to be linked to kratom, as well as on the contaminants and adulterants that were present in some kratom products, the AKA created the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards program that asked vendors to voluntarily adhere to the GMP standards for food and dietary ingredient products. 

“This has been welcomed as a powerfully positive step by many elected officials, public health officials, and policymakers at all levels of government. It clearly demonstrates the kratom industry is both willing and capable of self-regulation and condemns the kratom manufacturers to fail to use GMPs or who deliberately adulterate their products for profit.” The American Kratom Association

Now that you know we have the highest standard of safety for our kratom powder, you should try it for yourself. Click here for our full catalog of kratom powder.

 

 

 

from
https://siestabotanicals.com/test-our-kratom/