Extraction - Kratom Microwave Oven Extraction

[Nicaine]

Here is a technique I've learned from experience for extracting the alkaloids into a "tea" using a microwave oven instead of stove-top. It will work equally well with crushed leaves or powder, but it's best for relatively small amounts (like one or two doses).

Utensils needed:

* Two average size tea/coffee cups. One of them should be clear glass so you can see what you're doing. In a pinch, use a clear glass measuring cup + coffee cup instead. The clear glass cup must be microwaveable.

* Paper coffee filter (optional with leaves, needed for powder)

* Spoon

Preparation:

(1) Put the Kratom into the clear glass, and add enough water to cover the leaves, plus an extra 1/2 to 1 inch.

(2) Put the glass in the microwave, and bring the water + Kratom to a boil. Watch carefully through the door, so it doesn't overboil the cup and erupt all over the place. Let it boil for a few seconds if possible.

(3) Remove the glass from the microwave, scrape the Kratom off the sides with a spoon and back into the water.

(4) Put the glass back into the microwave, and repeat steps 2 through 4 about three more times.

(5) Pour the liquid through a coffee filter into the second cup, or just use a spoon to keep the Kratom in the glass while you transfer the liquid. The resulting liquid will contain about 50% of available alkaloids. If you use a coffee filter, take the Kratom and put it back into the clear glass after filtering.

(6) Put more water in the clear glass with the Kratom, and bring to a boil again. Scrape the Kratom back off the sides/into the water, and let it sit covered for 5 or 10 minutes, while you drink the Kratom tea you got from step 5.

(7) Repeat the boil/scrape/boil/scrape cycle anywhere from 5 to 20 times or more (more often = better, within limits). Add more water if it starts getting too low.

(8) Filter out the liquid. This contains about 40% more of the alkaloids.

(9) You have now extracted around 90% of available alkaloids. If you want, you can get the last 10% or so by adding more water and repeating step 7. If the Kratom is in the form of crushed leaves, be sure to stir and grind the wet leaves up with a spoon or fork as much as possible between boiling cycles. You can even throw the whole mess into a blender and "liquify" for a few seconds, then reboil, to extract as much as possible from the leaves.

This technique is clearly time consuming, but I find a certain satisfaction in it that I don't get from stovetop techniques. It can become an enjoyable ritual, and it's nice in the summertime to avoid slaving over a hot stove.

From SWIM's archives. This material is in the Public Domain -- repost freely.Edited by: Nicaine