Everything You Wanted to Know About Kratom But Didn’t Know Who To Ask
The Dutch botanist Pieter Willem Korthals discovered Mitragyna Speciosa, a plant to which he referred to as an opium substitute. Back in time, Mitragyna Speciosa was used to wean people off of opium. In 1859, the plant was officially classified and became known as kratom.
People started using the plant as a medicine and as a natural stimulant. People in kratom’s native regions in Southeast Asia used to chew its leaves or brew them as tea. It was only in the 1980s that kratom entered the Western market and gained popularity for its wide range of benefits.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom contains more than 20 alkaloids and the main ones are mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine. They attach to the opioid receptors in the brain and produce similar effects as opioids but without causing harm. It can be used as an energizer and stimulant, as well as a relaxant and opiate substitute.
Kratom Strains and Effects
Kratom is categorized into three different colors. The colors come from the leaf’s vein. If the leaf is young when harvested, the veins are white, when they are mature the color of the veins is red, and if the leaf is harvested in the middle of the cycle the veins are green. Each color has its unique sets of effects.
Red Vein Kratom
Red vein kratom is typically more relaxing, sedative, and produces stronger pain relief compared to other strains. It’s also the most popular strain especially with people suffering from chronic pain. It’s also beneficial for dealing with insomnia and relieving anxiety.
White Vein Kratom
White vein kratom is mainly a stimulant. It provides a mood boost and energy kick, as well as heightened focus. People suffering from anxiety or attention disorders can benefit from the white vein kratom.
Green Vein Kratom
Green vein kratom combines the effects of both white and red strains. It helps with pains but not to the same extent as red strains. Also, it produces a mild mood boost and enhances energy but it can also cause sleepiness and a drowsy feeling.
What Is Yellow Kratom?
Yellow kratom doesn’t indicate a vein color but refers to the shade that the leaf gets after undergoing a unique process of drying. It can combine the effects of all three vein colors and it's a great way to get the right energy kick without feeling overly stimulated. Yellow Trainwreck is the best-known type of yellow kratom.
The Most Popular Kratom Strains: What They Do?
Red Maeng Da Kratom
Maeng Da strains are the most powerful strains available. Translating into “pimp grade”, the name denotes the high-level of quality of the strain. Red Maeng Da is the best pick-me-up kratom variety and it’s recommended for more experienced users. You can expect the maximum pain ease combined with mild sedative effects. It’s also great for stress relief and acts as an anti-anxiety supplement.
Red Bali Kratom Effects
A versatile and powerful, the Red Bali kratom balances pain relief properties with a subtle energy boost. It’s considered one of the top strains for achieving a euphoric state. Red Bali might be a good choice for relieving withdrawal symptoms too.
Green Malay Kratom
Cultivated in Malaysia, the Green Malay kratom is an energizing and powerful strain whose effects last longer than any other strain. You’ll feel energized, focused, motivated, and optimistic. People with highly-demanding jobs and busy lives often opt for Green Malay.
White Maeng Da Kratom
White Maeng Da is also a very potent strain. It packs more analgesic effects compared to the Red Maeng Da strain. Additionally, it’s great for boosting your energy without getting overly stimulated. At the same time, White Maeng Da is very beneficial for managing anxiety.
Green Maeng Da Kratom
Green Maeng Da has similar effects as its red and white counterparts. It increases the energy and gives mental clarity and focus. In terms of pain management, Green Maeng Da offers only mild pain relief.
Yellow Trainwreck
Yellow Trainwreck strain is made using numerous green, white, and red varieties. It’s created through a unique process called grafting. Often called a “full-spectrum” kratom, Yellow Trainwreck gives you deep relaxation, mood elevation, and stimulation.
What Are Kratom Benefits
Kratom is abundant in alkaloids which give a full spectrum of benefits. Below, we’re listing the most notable ones.
Powerful Analgesic
Kratom has a unique alkaloid profile and acts as a natural pain reliever. The analgesic effects come from the action that its primary alkaloids, mitragynine, and 7-hydroxy mitragynine, have on the opioid receptors in the body. They prevent the pain signals to reach the brain, increasing pain tolerance. Kratom can make an excellent addition to your daily routine for managing chronic conditions like acute injuries or arthritis.
Sedation
People suffering from insomnia or other sleeping disorders can take a larger dose of kratom to aid their sleep without using OTC drugs. Usually, red and green vein strains are the most useful for treating insomnia and giving sedation effects.
Stress Relief and Mood Boost
Kratom can induce a state of mild euphoria and help you elevate your mood and ease the stress without becoming impaired to do your daily tasks. Quite the contrary, it can help you achieve mental clarity and improve your mental functioning.
Energy Boost
Kratom is as good for your daily pick-me-up as it is for helping you relax. Kratom compounds affect the sympathetic nervous system, communicating with the cell receptors. That way, it helps you feel more alert and alleviate fatigue.
What Are Kratom Side Effects
Kratom side effects are highly unlikely to appear if you stick to low-to-moderate doses. When taken in high doses, you might experience several symptoms like dry mouth, insomnia, drastic weight loss, agitation, and anxiety.
Long-term use of kratom might result in more severe side effects like liver toxicity, heart damage, kidney failure, hyperpigmentation, hallucinations, anxiety, and even seizures.
Kratom overdose is also unlikely to happen. When it does happen, it usually is with people that have developed a high tolerance for opioids and need a high dose of kratom in order to achieve the desired effects. However, a kratom overdose isn’t likely to be fatal. Just avoid mixing it with illicit drugs.
How to Avoid Kratom Side Effects
Using kratom responsibly is the surefire way to avoid side effects. Keep your dose as low as possible. Beginners should start with less than 1 gram and then moderately increase the dose with time. To avoid developing tolerance, consider taking days off from using the supplement. Also, you can switch between strains.
Kratom and Alcohol: Should You Mix It?
While some users report that mixing kratom and alcohol in small doses can strengthen the mood elevation and stimulation effects, it’s best to avoid the combination. You may experience adverse effects that might occur like fast heart rate, dizziness, anxiety, tremors, high blood pressure, and lack of coordination.
Kratom and Coffee: Should You Mix It?
Caffeine is one of the kratom potentiators. This means that caffeine naturally increases kratom’s potency. You can add powdered kratom in your coffer to get an extra kick and enjoy prolonged effects. Make sure to not take this combination in high doses as it can speed the heart rate or increase the blood pressure.
How to Deal With Kratom Withdrawal
If using kratom in large doses for a prolonged period, you might feel withdrawal symptoms within the 12-16 hours of the last use. Symptoms might include muscle pain, runny nose, and watery eyes, hot flashes, constipation, and mood changes and can last for about 3-4 days. To reduce the symptoms you need to drink plenty of fluids, eat healthy but small meals, and try doing something that will distract you like meditation or yoga. Consider taking OTC medications if you’re feeling pain in your muscles.
How to Take Kratom?
There are several ways in which you can take kratom. Some of them are easier to make and some of them require longer preparation. Also, some of them will produce faster and stronger effects than others.
Kratom Tea
If you want to replace your morning coffee, you’re going to enjoy drinking kratom tea. However, this is the method that produces the weakest effects because the hot water weakens the alkaloids. Try simmering the powder instead of boiling it in the water. Alternatively, you can prepare a delicious cold brew. If you want to mask the not-so-pleasant taste of kratom powder, consider adding milk, syrup, honey, mint leaves, sugar, or lemon juice.
Kratom Capsules
Kratom capsules are highly convenient and easy to take. You need only your pills and a glass of water. A bonus is that you’ll avoid the unpleasant taste of kratom powder and still take your daily dose of kratom. They have a high alkaloid concentration, making them very potent. However, it will take roughly 30-45 minutes for you to feel the effects as the body needs time to break down the capsules and absorb them.
Toss and Wash
The popular toss and wash method include three simple steps. First, toss the kratom powder in your mouth, then drink water, and finally, swallow. The effects are almost immediate and the process takes minimal effort. However, the taste of powdered kratom is strong and not very pleasant for everybody.
Kratom Dosage: How Much Kratom To Take Per Day?
Kratom dosage mainly depends on your tolerance and body reference. It’s best if you start small with doses of up to 2 grams. If needed, you can increase the doses as you go.
Kratom Dosage for Anxiety
Kratom effectively helps in controlling anxiety symptoms. When taken in regular intervals, low doses of 50mg to 100mg can help you achieve optimal results. If you’re experiencing stronger anxiety symptoms, consider increasing the dose moderately.
Kratom Dosage for Energy
When needed to boost your energy and increase the focus, it’s recommended to take 25mg to 50 mg of kratom when needed. This amount will give you the desired kick without leading to dependency. It’s best if you take this dose once a day or several times weak.
Dosage for Opiate Withdrawal
When experiencing opiate withdrawal, you can take 70mg to 100 mg of kratom up to 4 times a day. Once the symptoms start to wear off, make sure to reduce the dosage gradually and stop using kratom altogether after the sixth or seventh day.
How to Store Kratom
Kratom powder stays fresh for about 2 months. Alkaloids deteriorate over time so after two months the powder will start losing its potency. If you want to maximize the shelf life of the powdered kratom, make sure to keep it in a dry and dark place, away from direct sunlight. Also, keep it in airtight containers to avoid exposure to oxygen which might weaken the powder’s potency. You should divide the powder into smaller bags to keep it fresh as long as possible.
Kratom Legality: Is It Safe?
FDA has classified kratom as a drug of concern. However, it remains legal to use, sell, and buy kratom. The exceptions are six states — Rhode Island, Arkansas, Alabama, Vermont, Indiana, and Wisconsin — where kratom is banned.
EU states like Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Finland, and Sweden have also made kratom illegals. The same goes for New Zealand and Australia. In the UK, it’s forbidden to sell, import, or export kratom.
In Thailand, the plant can be used for medical purposes but its recreational use is forbidden. Kratom is banned with a statute in Malaysia although people continue to use it since it grows there. The plant has a pending ban in Indonesia which is expected to take effect in 2022.
Where to Buy Kratom?
Many vendors sell kratom online but also in-person. To avoid buying a product that is pumped with other chemicals in order to give potent effects at a smaller cost, you need to find a reputable vendor that is straightforward about the sourcing process, has good company policy and tests its products for quality.
