FurthIn recent years, we have been witnessing a growing tendency among many individuals who suffer from different ailments, to seek natural remedies to treat their conditions. Many people have started using kratom to mitigate a wide variety of symptoms, such as chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia or just to get an energy boost. Also, kratom is widely used as a remedy to ease opiate withdrawal symptoms, being this its most typical use. But, since it has been made illegal in some states, there is an increasing number of people looking for alternatives to kratom.
So, in this article, we’ll explore the best kratom alternatives that are available in the market, and which are their properties and effects.
Kratom Properties and Effects
Kratom or mitragyna speciosa is a tree from the coffee family that grows naturally in the tropical rainforest of certain regions of Southeast Asia. Kratom’s properties were discovered by the locals hundreds or even thousands of years ago. People from these areas have used kratom to help them get through long working days, which could go up to 18 hours. They used to chew kratom’s leaves to get a boost of energy, whilst reducing the pain caused by the exhausting working days and getting a feel of relaxation.
Recently, kratom has gained popularity in the western world for its wide variety of properties that include:
- Pain relief
- Energy, euphoria and mood elevation
- Eases anxiety and some symptoms of depression
- Helps with insomnia and sleeping problems
- Calming and relaxing properties
- Mitigates opiates withdrawal symptoms
But not everyone can use kratom due to different reasons. For instance, some reside in places where kratom has been banned, others want an alternative to avoid kratom tolerance and others just can’t handle kratom’s taste. That’s why some individuals are using other natural plants to help them alleviate their conditions.
What Are the Best Kratom Alternatives?
There are many different plants and products that can be used as an alternative to kratom and we probably still don’t know most of them. So, let’s examine some of them and their effects and properties bellow.
Akuamma
Akuamma or picralima nitida is a plant that comes from some countries of western Africa, including Ghana, Congo, Zaire, and Cameroon. The part of the plant that has been traditionally used is its seeds. The reason for this, is that Akuamma’s seeds contain a number of alkaloids that are responsible for its properties, being akuammine the primary one. Akuammine’s structural compounds are very similar to those of mitragynine, kratom’s primary alkaloid.
Like kratom, akuamma’s properties include:
- Pain
- Opiate Withdrawals
- Sedative
- Relaxing
- Digestive disorders
But, besides the above properties, akuamma is also used to mitigate symptoms of diabetes, hypertension, or digestive disorders. It has also anti-inflammatory effects and is used to treat malaria’s symptoms in its countries of origin.
At the moment, akuamma is completely legal in the U.S.
Blue Lotus
Blue lotus or nymphaea cerulea is original from the Nile River in Egypt. It was discovered by the ancient Egyptians, who used the plant in their ritual ceremonies. Despite its name, blue lotus is not a lotus flower, but a water lily.
Some of the properties that blue lotus share with kratom are:
- Sedative
- Relaxing
- Antianxiety
- Stimulating
- Euphoric
- Discomfort reliever
Blue lotus also has aphrodisiac properties, promotes vivid dreams and can mitigate diarrhea. It can also help mitigate some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. It is also commonly used for socializing.
Although it’s illegal in some European countries, such as Latvia, Poland or the UK, it is still legal in the U.S., although not for human consumption.
Kanna
Kanna, or sceletium tortuosum, is a plant native to South Africa where is still sold as a commercial product. It has been used in this part of the world since prehistoric times. Mesembrine, its primary alkaloid acts as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and it’s responsible for kanna’s antidepressant effects.
So, how is kanna similar to kratom? Some of the effects that kanna and kratom share include:
- Anti-anxiety
- Mood elevation
- Stress reliever
- Energy booster
- Antidepressant
- Stimulant
Furthermore, kanna also reduces appetite, which makes it effective as an aid in diets to lose weight.
Currently, kanna is legal in America.
Kava
Kava, kava-kava, or piper methysticum is a plant from the pepper family, native to some western Pacific countries, such as Polynesia, Hawaii, and Fiji. Its actives compounds are pipermethystine (in leaves and stems) and kavalactones (in roots and underground parts). Kavalactones are responsible for the effects of the plant, that’s why its roots are the most popular part of the plant.
Kava has the following effects in common with kratom:
- Relaxing
- Helps with sleeping problems
- Anti-anxiety
Kava also has other properties: it helps to relieve muscle tension and helps deal with stress. Although it poses a low health risk in moderate dosages, it can cause liver damage when there is abuse.
Kava is currently legal in the US, in fact, there are many kava bars, especially in Florida, California, and Hawaii.
Mitragyna Hirsuta
Mitragyna hirsuta is a close relative to kratom as you can appreciate in its traditional name “kra thum khok”. It grows in some regions of Asia, such as Cambodia or Vietnam. Like kratom, mitragyna hirsuta is a tree. Its primary active alkaloid is mitraphylline, which is similar to mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, both present in kratom.
Mitragyna hirsuta has euphoric and energizing effects on smaller doses, whilst it’s more calming and sedative in larger doses, just like it’s cousin kratom. Users report that it’s somehow similar to a white strain of kratom. Some of the properties that both “mitragynas” share are:
- Pain relief
- Sedative
- Energizing
- Helps improve concentration
- Anti-anxiety
- Helps ease opiate withdrawal symptoms.
Furthermore, Mitragyna hirsuta can also help balance blood pressure.
Currently, the plant is legal within the U.S.
Sakae Naa
Combretum quadrangulare or sakae naa is native to some areas of Southeast Asia, where it grows naturally. Some of the countries where it grows are Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand, to name a few. Locals from Thailand have used this plant as an alternative to kratom since the kratom ban in 1943.
Its properties include:
- Energizing
- Stimulating
- Euphoric
- Pain reliever
Although it has some sedative effects, this is not its primary use as it doesn’t act effectively for relaxation.
Furthermore, Mitragyna hirsuta is legal across America.
Finding the Best Kratom Alternatives
If you want to know what is the best kratom alternative, there is no specific answer to that question or which of these or any other plants will work better. Each person is different, hence he or she will react differently to any substance. Also, each plant has different properties.
In order to choose the best kratom alternatives, consider the effects that you are looking for and your personal preferences. Also, remember to always start on the smaller dosages of each product to avoid any undesired effects.
So, how about you? Do you know any other kratom alternatives that work for you? Let us know in the comments section!
