Amongst the oversaturation of CBD products on the market, now appears a new product that seems to generate a lot of questions, misconceptions, benefits, and myths. It’s Kratom.
If you’ve been interested in plant-based supplements and ingredients to mitigate the effects of common health issues like lack of focus, depression, insomnia, and pain management, then you’ve at least heard about Kratom once or twice.
Whether you’ve tried ingesting some kratom capsules already, or the fearmongering sort of turned you off the whole thing, no worries. We’ve got you covered.
Keep on reading to learn all about Kratom, the methods of use, the common benefits, and possible side-effects. We’ll also discuss dosing recommendations and special precautions that you’ll want to keep in mind.
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Kratom 101: What Are We Dealing With?
Before taking a deep dive into the nuances of kratom usage, let’s make sure that we’ve covered our bases.
Kratom is the common market name for the Mitragyna Speciosa tree, which is native to the Southeast Asia region. The use of kratom has been documented for centuries, specifically for medicinal purposes with Thailand and Indonesia clocking the highest rates of use.
The key ingredients in kratom attach themselves to human nerve cells, behaving like opioid painkillers, creating a similar effect in the body. However, it’s critical to understand that Kratom isn’t an opioid, and doesn’t contain any opiates.
The Benefits of Kratom
Depending on the dosage and strain, you can prioritize specific benefits and effects that you desire to experience. One of the core benefits of ingesting kratom is the stimulant effects.
If you’re struggling with concentration and require way too much caffeine to function as a human being, a small dose of kratom, around one to five grams, can give you more energy and boost your mood.
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On the other side of the effect spectrum, kratom can also be used to create a sedative effect. By using specific strains, and higher doses, kratom can provide a sense of calm, euphoria, and even sleepiness.
If you’re looking for a plant-based substance that can truly tackle high levels of pain, then using a rather high dose (15 grams or more) can give a painkilling and sedating effect.
Kratom Capsules: How Do You Use Kratom?
Traditionally speaking, the native populations of southeast Asia used to chew, smoke, or make tea out of kratom leaves.
However, you’ll find more convenient ways of taking kratom like powdered kratom and kratom capsules are dominating the market due to their ease of use and the accuracy of dosage. Make sure to learn more about kratom capsules here.
But, regardless of your favorite way of ingesting kratom, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your kratom strain and dosage. For instance, white kratom strains will have more potent stimulating and energizing effects, while red strains like Red Bali kratom capsules are famous for their calming properties.
In addition to the kratom strain, you’ll be getting a different effect depending on your dose. The rule of thumb tends to be: the lower doses for stimulating effects, and the higher doses for sedation.
Dosing Factors
It’s important to keep in mind that the appropriate dose of kratom can differ from one person to another, depending on their age, health, and medical conditions. Therefore, you’ll want to follow all the relevant information printed on your product labels. Generally speaking, any form of a kratom extract will be more potent than kratom powder, so the dosing rules may differ.
You might also want to consult your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professionals before using kratom, especially in higher doses.
A general 2018 study based on a survey of around 8,000 people states that a dose of up to 5 grams of kratom powder, taken up to 3 times daily, is adequate to experience effects. Thus, we recommend you start with a rather low dose, less than 5 grams, and increasing the dosage depending on the effects you’re personally experiencing.
Dispelling Kratom Myths: Kratom Legality in the U.S.
The short answer is yes.
Strictly speaking, kratom is a legal substance on the national scale. Basically, there are no federal laws that prohibit the use of kratom.
Unfortunately, things can get a bit dicey on the state level. Six states consider kratom illegal, and those are Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
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Furthermore, there are some specific counties and cities in legal states that either limit the use of kratom or ban it completely. Therefore, you’ll want to check your city, and state legality of kratom before trying it out.
Kratom Precautions and Special Warnings
We’ve briefly mentioned that there are some medical conditions that you’ll want to be careful when it comes to using Kratom, just to be on the safe side.
According to the current science, kratom might be unsafe for pregnant people to ingest orally. The same rule applies to folks who are breast-feeding. There is no scientific literature that can tell us outright that kratom is safe to use in this case, so just avoid use to stay safe.
Besides, people who’re dealing with alcohol dependence might face an increased risk of suicide, in comparison to those kratom users who aren’t dependent on alcohol. Moreover, if you’re dealing with a mental disorder, you’ll want to double-check with your healthcare provider that kratom won’t negatively affect any medication that you’re currently taking or have recently stopped using.
Clearing Out the Kratom Information Fog
To use kratom capsules or not use?
After learning all about the kratom tree, its benefits, and the different ways you can consume it, as well as dispelling some myths, you’re now ready to start your research into the right kratom strains and dosage for you.
Just remember to start small, and note the effects on your body and mental health, then make small tweaks as you go to nail down the perfect dose for you.
Thankfully, with kratom capsules already premade, you can always take the easy way of having the manufacturer measure the dosage and seal the kratom powder into small capsules for your convenience.
