Combretum 25X, an extract of the Thai sakae naa
Combretum quadrangulare is a small tree in the Combretaceae family that reaches roughly 5 to 10 metres. Its young branches are sharply four-angled and sometimes narrowly winged, and the leaves sit opposite each other, elliptic to obovate, about 6 to 16 centimetres long and 3 to 8 centimetres wide. The tree grows wild or is planted in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, mostly in open, wet ground. In Thailand, where it is called sakae naa, it is planted along the banks of rivers and streams and used for firewood. This product is a twenty-five times concentrated extract of the leaves, and the pack contains 3 grams.
What the plant is actually known for comes from another direction. After kratom was banned in Thailand in the middle of the twentieth century, people in southern Thailand, Laos and Myanmar started using sakae naa leaves instead. Farmers pick the leaves themselves and chew or smoke them. Because it is largely grown for personal use, very few suppliers offer Combretum at all, not even in the countries where it grows.
Dosage
The suggested amount is 0.5 grams in tea. Experienced users take up to 1 gram. Keep in mind that this is a 25X extract and therefore a good deal more concentrated than the loose leaf.
Warnings
- Do not combine with MAO inhibitors.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- Do not drive or operate heavy machinery after use.
- Sakae naa can be habit-forming at high doses.
- Acute side effects described for it include loss of appetite, a dry mouth and constipation.
- Prolonged use is associated with weight loss, anorexia, insomnia and a darkening of the skin, particularly on the cheeks.
Using herbs stays your own responsibility. Start with the lower amount and do not combine it with medication.
Avalon Magic Plants carries more extracts in the same 3 gram range, such as Bay Bean 25X from Canavalia maritima, Marihuanilla 25X from Leonurus sibiricus and Kra Thum Khok 50X from Mitragyna hirsuta. Your order is packed discreetly.
