The words get used interchangeably, and that is a problem, because a gram of one and a milligram of the other are not remotely the same proposition.
Kratom: the plant
Kratom is Mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia in the coffee family. Its leaves contain dozens of alkaloids. Dried and ground, the leaf is what most people mean by “kratom” – it is used in gram quantities, traditionally brewed as a tea or swallowed as powder.
The two alkaloids that receive commercial attention are mitragynine, present at roughly 1-1.5% of dried leaf weight, and 7-hydroxymitragynine, present at well under 0.1%.
7OH: one alkaloid, concentrated
7OH is shorthand for 7-hydroxymitragynine. Because it occurs in the plant in such small amounts, you cannot obtain a meaningful quantity of it from leaf alone. It has to be extracted and concentrated.
A 7OH tablet therefore contains a measured milligram dose of concentrated alkaloid, blended with a carrier and a flavour, pressed into a tablet. It is a product derived from kratom. It is not kratom.
Side by side
| Kratom leaf powder | 7OH products | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Dried, ground leaf | Concentrated single alkaloid |
| Scale of use | Grams | Low milligrams |
| Alkaloid profile | Full spectrum, all leaf alkaloids | Isolated 7-hydroxymitragynine |
| Formats | Powder, capsules, tea | Tablets, shots, powder |
| Precision demanded | Moderate | High – milligrams matter |
Why the scale difference is the whole point
Going from grams to low milligrams is roughly a thousandfold change in the amount of material involved. That is not “a stronger kratom product”. It is a different kind of product with a much narrower margin for error, which is why 7OH is sold in pre-dosed, milligram-labelled formats and why we recommend a calibrated scale for anyone using powder.
Where mitragynine fits
Mitragynine sits between the two. It is the dominant leaf alkaloid, so it is closer in spirit to a leaf product – but concentrated into tablets and powders that are still measured in milligrams rather than grams. Our mitragynine guide covers it properly.
Do they feel the same?
We do not make claims about effects for any of our products, and we would be cautious about any vendor who does. What we can say factually is that they are different molecules at very different concentrations, and treating a milligram dose of 7OH as equivalent to a gram dose of leaf is a serious misunderstanding with real consequences.
Which should you choose?
- New to the category? Pre-dosed mitragynine tablets are the most sensible starting point.
- Experienced, want maximum control per milligram? 7OH – starting at the lowest strength.
- Not sure? Read What is 7OH? and the dosage guide before spending anything.
Related reading
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All 7OH tablets, shots and powders, every batch lab tested.
