Kratom and ginseng are unrelated plants: kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a Southeast Asian tree in the coffee family harvested for its leaves, while ginseng (Panax) is a slow-growing herb harvested for its root, native to East Asia and eastern North America. They differ in plant family, the part harvested, their main compound classes, the forms they are sold in, and how they are regulated. This page compares them side by side. It does not cover combining the two; ask a healthcare professional about that. Browse kratom in our kratom collection.

What is the difference between kratom and ginseng?

Where do kratom and ginseng come from?

Kratom grows wild and on farms across Southeast Asia, where leaves are picked, dried and milled into powder. Ginseng takes years to mature: cultivated American ginseng is typically harvested after three to four years, and Wisconsin grows most of the U.S. crop. Wild American ginseng is listed under CITES Appendix II, so its export is regulated to protect wild populations.

What compounds are in each plant?

Lab testing for kratom focuses on alkaloids, especially mitragynine, which a certificate of analysis reports as a percentage. Read our MIT percentage guide for how to read that number. Ginseng is standardized by ginsenoside content instead, and supplement labels often list a ginsenoside percentage. The two compound classes are chemically unrelated.

How are kratom and ginseng regulated?

Ginseng is widely sold in grocery stores as tea and as a dietary supplement. Kratom’s status is more complicated. Natural kratom leaf is not federally controlled, but several states ban it, and concentrated or synthetic 7-OH has been federally scheduled since August 2026. Bedrock Botanicals sells natural leaf only and does not ship to states with bans. Check yours on our kratom legality by state page and verify your current local law before ordering.

How do the product formats compare?

Kratom is most often bought as fine powder or capsules, and increasingly as ready-to-drink shots like the Kratom Gorilla Howler. Ginseng is more often bought as whole or sliced root, tea bags, or standardized capsules. Both should come with batch numbers that link to lab results.

Frequently asked questions

Are kratom and ginseng related?

No. Kratom is in the coffee family and ginseng is in the ivy family.

Which part of each plant is sold?

Kratom products come from the leaf; ginseng products come from the root.

Can you take kratom and ginseng together?

We do not give advice on combining products. Talk to a healthcare professional.

Is ginseng legal everywhere kratom is?

Ginseng is legal nationwide as a food and supplement. Kratom is banned in some states, so check local law.

Verify your current local law before ordering.

Must be 21 or older to purchase. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Published by Bedrock Botanicals.