All There Is to Know About Kratom
The Mitragyna Speciosa or kratom tree comes from the coffee family. It grows in the regions of Southeast Asia, most notably Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Thailand. Since the 19th century, it has been used as herbal medicine. In the West, kratom was brought in 1980 but it has only been during the past 15 years that the plant gained popularity.
Kratom — What Is It?
Kratom is rich in alkaloids. It contains over 20 alkaloids but mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine are the most powerful ones. Kratom is a natural supplement that can help you manage a wide variety of conditions including pain, anxiety, diabetes, and more.
What Are the Main Types of Kratom?
There are three types of kratom — red, white, and green — that differentiate according to the color of the leaf vein. They have unique chemical composition; therefore, they’ll have different effects.
White Vein Kratom
Excellent for an energy boost, the white vein kratom gives motivation and an uplifting sensation. It’s a great choice for people that deal with anxiety and depression. It also helps in getting a good night’s sleep.
Red Vein Kratom
Best known for its pain-relieving properties, the red vein kratom is a natural relaxant. It’s commonly used as a replacement for pain medications. It can alleviate muscle pain and a range of chronic conditions. A low dose of red vein kratom also helps with sleeping disorders.
Green Vein Kratom
The green vein kratom provides the perfect balance between white and red kratom effects. Its effects are more subtle, yet long-lasting. You should choose a green vein kratom if you want to feel more relaxed without feeling sleepy or get the right energy kick.
What Kratom Strains Are There?
Beyond the standard categories we mentioned above, kratom strains are categorized depending on their region of origin. Also, they can denote the process under which the leaves have undergone.
Bali Kratom
Widely considered as the best-selling kratom powder, Bali kratom is a top choice for alleviating pain and getting an energy boost. It’s the favorite strain of first-time kratom users because of the perfect combination of effects.
Borneo Kratom
Borneo comes from the namesake island in the Malay Archipelago. The strain is characterized by strong energizing effects, stimulation, and boost in mental clarity. Additionally, it has pain-relieving properties and helps in alleviating stress.
Maeng Da Kratom
Meaning Da’s origins are in Thailand. The name doesn’t point to a region but instead refers to the level of quality. It translates into “pimp-grade” which means top-level quality. Maeng Da is praised for its strong effects and is often used for relieving strong pains. At the same time, Maeng Da kratom doesn’t have sedative effects which makes it possible for you to keep functioning.
Malay Kratom
Native to Malaysia, Malay kratom is another very popular kratom strain. Essentially, it combines the effects of both red and white vein kratom, giving perfectly balanced effects that last for a long time.
Trainwreck Kratom
Trainwreck is among the most popular choices. It’s produced by mixing several different strains. It can contain up to 11 different kratom strains. Essentially, the Trainwreck kratom combines the best of all kratom strains. It’s a powerful mood-enhancer, alleviates anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. Additionally, it has energizing and stimulating effects.
Which Kratom Is Best for Anxiety?
Green Malay, Green, and Red Maeng Da, as well as Red Thai, are the kratom types considered to be the best ones for alleviating anxiety and relieving depression symptoms. They have mild stimulating properties and subtle euphoric effects.
Which Is the Best Kratom for Pain Relief?
When it comes to pain relief, Red Bali is considered as the top choice Suitable for both beginners and more advanced users, Red Bali has strong pain-relieving properties well balanced with subtle sedation effect. Red Thai and Red Borneo are also popular choices with long-lasting effects.
Which Kratom Is Best for Energy?
White Maeng Da is very potent and gives invigorating effects. Green Maeng Da and Green Malay have stimulating and euphoric effects and are also among the top energizing kratom strains.
What Does Kratom Feel Like?
Kratom potent alkaloids bind to the mu-receptor, the main opioid receptor in the brain. Low doses of kratom give relaxing and mild stimulant effects. Many people have substituted their daily intake of coffee with kratom. In higher doses, kratom has sedative effects, mimicking the effects that opioids have on the body and mind.
What Are Kratom Benefits?
Kratom has a long list of benefits. For some, there are scientific studies while others are supported by people’s experiences.
Mood Uplift
Depending on the dose, kratom can give you an optimistic to euphoric sensation. The compounds of kratom attach to the receptors that regulate the happiness hormones, relieving stress, anxiety, and enticing elevated mood. If you’re considering using kratom for achieving uplifting feelings, consider Green Maeng Da and Green Malay.
Cognitive Improvement
Kratom is considered to be a nootropic supplement. Kratom stimulates the release of acetylcholine which is a neurotransmitter that’s associated with feeling more concentrated and focused. Kratom is a top supplement for improving the overall cognitive performance and getting mental clarity.
Pain Relief
Rich in anti-inflammatory alkaloids that bind to the opioid receptors in the central nervous system, kratom stimulates the release of neurotransmitters responsible for suppressing the pain signals. Kratom is very efficient in pain management and usually used to alleviate muscle pain, backache, joint pain, and more. If you’re looking to try kratom powder with painkiller properties, consider Red Bali kratom or Green Maeng Da.
Energy Boost
Kratom stimulates the release of the hormones associated with energy and alertness. Plus, it fastens the oxygen transportation to the body which also improves the production of energy. Kratom is an efficient supplement for alleviating fatigue and drowsiness, giving the right energy boost. The Yellow Trainwreck kratom is among the top choices for an energy boost.
Drug Withdrawal Symptom Relief
Kratom can efficiently relieve drug withdrawal symptoms by binding to the opioid receptors without causing addiction. At the same time, it effectively decreases the pain and drug cravings. Choose Green Malay kratom or Red Bali for this purpose.
Better Sleep
Kratom can have sedative effects if you take it in high doses. So, kratom is the supplement you need to manage any sleep disorders. Plus, kratom regulates the sleep-wake cycle which means you’ll be getting more quality goodnight sleep.
Diabetes Management
Kratom regulates the blood level sugar, preventing any unwanted spikes and drops. This makes kratom a great supplement for preventing or managing diabetes.
What Are Kratom Side Effects?
Kratom effects mainly depend on the dosage. Side effects might appear when consuming kratom in high doses or after long-term use.
When intaking kratom in high doses, you’ll likely feel sedation and anxiolytic-like effects but you might also experience symptoms like constipation, agitation, and irritation. Long-term use of kratom might lead to eating disorders, causing unhealthy and drastic weight loss. Chronic kratom use in high doses can lead to liver and kidney problems, as well as heart damage. It’s also advisable to avoid taking kratom if you already have a heart condition.
How Addictive Is Kratom?
Kratom addiction isn’t the same as opioid addiction. Although it’s unlikely to happen, when taking mind-altering supplements, the natural chemistry of the brain changes. Kratom binds to the opioid receptors and along with the central nervous system which can cause a backlog of the neurotransmitters involved in feeling pleasure, destroying the natural balance. This can cause a feeling of euphoria and you might get kratom high.
Once the symptoms wear off, usually within 12-16 hours of the last intake, kratom withdrawal might occur. Typical symptoms of this state include nausea, runny nose, constipation, muscle pain, agitation, insomnia, and tremors. Depending on the dose taken, the symptoms might be graver, including confusion, anxiety, and hallucination.
How to Dose Kratom?
The right kratom dose depends on the individual’s tolerance and preference. The doses might also vary depending on the effects you want to achieve.
A small dose of 1-2 grams has subtle stimulating and mood-boosting effects. If you take 2-4 grams of kratom, you might expect a balanced sensation of euphoria, stimulation, pain-relief, and sedation. These effects might be heightened with higher doses of 3-5 grams.
Taking 5-8 grams of kratom is considered high and most people can’t handle this dose. It has strong sedative effects and euphoria that can lead to hallucination. Side effects are more likely to happen when taking kratom in high doses.
Make sure to start small and then modify the dose moderately.
How to Take Kratom
There are several ways in which you can take kratom. From brewing tea to liquid shots, here we break down the most popular ways of taking kratom.
Kratom Tea
For all tea lovers, kratom tea is the go-to option. Brew the desired amount of kratom powder with water and let it sit for a few minutes. Strain the liquid and you are good to go. If you want to spice the flavor up, you can add anything from lemon juice, milk, and honey to mint leaves, ginger, and green tea leaves. However, the hot water will affect the chemical composition of kratom, thus weakening its effect. Alternatively, consider preparing a cold brew.
Raw Powder
Taking raw powder is also known as the “toss and wash” method. You need to toss the powder in your mouth and then wash it with plenty of water. Taking kratom powder in a raw form has its benefits. For one, it produces fast effects and offers a better value for money. But, the powder has a strong, earthy taste which many consumers don’t like.
Kratom Capsules
Best for kratom beginners, kratom capsules are easy to dose and take. You don’t have to worry about the taste — simply put the pills in your mouth and swallow them with water or other beverage. However, when taking capsules, you should be aware that the effects will kick in slower, as the body will need approximately 30-45 minutes to break down the pills and absorb them.
Kratom as Food Supplement
If you want more versatile methods to take kratom, consider adding it to your daily meals. It’s easy and you won’t have to endure its earthy taste. Simply add the desired dose of powder to your protein shake, smoothie, juice, milkshake, or morning granola bowl.
Liquid Kratom Shots
Fun, easy, and simple to prepare, the liquid kratom shots will likely become your new favorite way of taking kratom. Choose your drink of the day (non-alcoholic, of course), infuse it with kratom powder, and pour it in a shot glass. Chug and enjoy!
Is Kratom Illegal?
In several parts of the world, kratom is categorized as an addictive drug; therefore, it’s illegal to sell, buy, or use kratom. In the US, FDA considers kratom to be a drug of concern. While it isn’t banned on a federal level, some states have individually banned the use of kratom. Currently, kratom is banned in Alabama, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Vermont.
In Europe, numerous EU states have banned kratom including Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Belarus. In the US kratom falls under the Psychoactive Substances Act so selling, exporting, and importing kratom is illegal.
New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand have also banned kratom. Indonesia, on the other hand, has a pending ban which will become effective in 2022.
How to Buy Kratom
Nowadays, there are numerous kratom vendors both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. To ensure you’re buying the highest-quality product, make sure to choose a reputable kratom vendor to prove that they source kratom ethically and test each product for quality.