Can you smoke kratom? Although kratom has only gained popularity in the Western world in recent years, local cultures in Southeast Asia have used it for many generations. Locals from this region use kratom not only as a remedy for different ailments but also for its stimulating, mood-boosting or relaxing effects. Since kratom is relatively new for Western people, some questions may arise about the best ways to enjoy it. Is it possible to smoke kratom? In this article, we’ll try to give an answer to this question.
Knowing Kratom And Exploring Its Effects
Kratom –or mitragyna speciosa– is a tree native from Southeast Asia where it’s known by many different names: ketum, kratumum or kakuam, to name a few. Its leaves contain many different alkaloids. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine the ones that give kratom its extraordinary properties.
An interesting fact that many don’t know is that kratom belongs to the Rubiaceae family. (The same as the coffee plant).
Kratom is believed to have many different effects and it’s used amongst those who prefer natural remedies to treat ailments such as chronic pain, anxiety or many of the symptoms associated with opiate withdrawal.
Whilst you can smoke kratom, this is not the best option. The best way to take kratom is brewing it into a tea. Some people eat it raw, mixed with something sweet like applesauce. Let’s see why smoking kratom is not a good idea.
Can You Smoke Kratom? – Yes, But It’s NOT A Good Idea
It is technically possible to smoke kratom, but it’s not a good method of taking it. There are various reasons why you shouldn’t try smoking kratom:
- Cost: To experience its effects, you would need a significantly larger amount than when is taken as a tea or powder. To achieve the desired effects, some users have reported that they had to smoke 20% to 40% more kratom than when they ingest it.
- Health issues: Smoking large amounts of kratom can lead to serious respiratory problems. Also, to take in enough of the substance, you can’t use a filter. As you imagine, this only makes things worse.
- Effectiveness: There is anecdotal evidence that makes clear that smoking kratom is way less effective than ingesting it. The reason is that the system needs to absorb kratom’s numerous alkaloids into the bloodstream for the user to experience its effects.
Is It Safe to Smoke Kratom Powder?
Kratom typically comes in powder form or in capsules that contain powder. This is another reason why is not totally safe to smoke kratom and it’s also very impractical. When using a pipe to smoke it, you could accidentally inhale the fine powder while it’s burning. This poses a serious danger.
Trying to hold kratom together using a binder would be very difficult to achieve. First, you’ll need to find the formula that works better. This is time-consuming, it could require a lot of trials and attempts, and could result in a waste of product.
Smoking kratom leaves is easier and more practical, but it is not easy to find full kratom leaves in the market. Kratom leaves are usually processed into a powder prior to export.
Kratom can be also found in form of resin. Though, processing it to make it able to be smoked would be not only time-consuming but also an arduous work.
So, why wasting time trying to find a safe and practical way of smoking it when you can easily drink kratom tea or take kratom capsules?
Can I Vaporize Kratom?
This is another common question about the ways to take kratom, many users wonder if they can vaporize it. The same as we said about smoking kratom applies to vape it. You can do it, but it’s not a good method of consumption.
In order to be able to vape kratom, the herb needs to be processed and, by doing this, its ingredients have to be extracted. The problem of doing this is that the extraction of its many alkaloids may not be efficient, which could result in a different proportion of its active ingredients. This makes the final product a very different one from the original kratom leaf, and its effects could also vary. Those who have tried to vape kratom have reported that though the effects are similar to the ones that you get when drinking kratom tea or just eating kratom, they are milder. They last for about 30 minutes, instead of the several hours that they get when using the traditional methods of consumption. Some also report different effects, such as headaches or even hallucinations.
Kratom liquids are usually blended with other substances, which may lead to different effects than the desired ones. Depending on the substance that the blend contains, the effects may vary.
It is also possible to vape kratom resin, but like smoking kratom, you would need to use a larger amount than with other methods, which makes it an expensive way to enjoy it.
Best Ways to Take Kratom
The most common ways to take kratom are: drinking kratom tea, eating kratom capsules, or ingesting kratom powder. These are also the most efficient ways of consumption.
Some scientific research, as well as anecdotal evidence, has revealed that kratom is more effective when ingested. This way, the system will absorb the alkaloids through the intestinal tract into the bloodstream. This is necessary in order to experience its effects. On the contrary, when smoking or vaporizing kratom, its alkaloids are not as effectively absorbed.
Also, many of the varieties of kratom are available as a powder in the market, including Indo Kratom, Malay Kratom, and Thai Kratom, etc. Each of these types has different properties and different effects, from the more sedative and calming properties to the more energizing and euphoric.
This is not the case with kratom vape liquids or whole kratom leaves: there are not many choices.
In addition, smoking or vaping kratom is more expensive and less effective.
