The leaves of the kratom tree have become a popular remedy to treat many ailments, ranging from anxiety to chronic pain. Thus, it is no wonder that the number of people who start using kratom grows every day. If you have decided to give kratom a try, you will have a lot of questions. And, quite likely, one of these questions is “What are the best kratom strains for beginners?” Well, in this post we’ll try to give an answer to this question.
Kratom: Facts, Effects, and Uses
Kratom is an evergreen tropical tree in the coffee family that grows in Southeastern Asia. Its botanical name is Mitragyna speciosa, which refers to mitragynine, the most abundant alkaloid found in the kratom leaves. These leaves contain more than 20 alkaloids (such as 7-hydroxymitragynine or speciogynine), even if mitragynine is the most abundant one. The alkaloids of the kratom leaf have analgesic, relaxing, and sedating properties. They are also opioid receptors agonists and antagonists and, thanks to these actions, kratom also regulates mood, improves concentration and focus, and even helps during the process of opiate withdrawal. Thus, people consume kratom to:
- Relieve pain
- Alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Fight insomnia
- Get an energy boost and fight fatigue
- Improve mood
- Enhance concentration and focus
- Cope with opiate withdrawal
Different Kratom Types and Strains
When discussing the best kratom strains for beginners, it is very important to know the different kratom types and strains. As you probably know, there are three kratom types, depending on the color of the leaf’s vein and stem:
- White kratom: In general, white kratom strains are more energizing than the other two types. They are also great to promote euphoria and a better concentration.
- Red kratom: If you are looking to calm your nerves, red strains are the most relaxing ones. Some of these varieties can even be sedating. Also, users praise red strains for their analgesic properties.
- Green kratom: We could say that these strains are a mix of white and red types. Green kratom strains have energizing, euphoric, relaxing, and analgesic effects. However, they are usually milder than the red and white varieties.
But you will also find a lot of different kratom strains. These strains are kratom sub-varieties if you will, and their names often come from the place where that kratom strain comes or to other factors, such as its potency. That means that you will find Indo kratom, Thai kratom (which is not harvested in Thailand), Bali kratom, or Maeng Da kratom (“maeng da” seems to mean “pimp grade”). Every kratom strain has a different set of alkaloids. Sometimes these differences are quite small and not all kratom users notice them. However, that doesn’t mean that you are not going to notice them either, nor the opposite. Kratom affects individuals differently, and not everybody feels the same effects when consuming it.
Best Kratom Strains for Beginners
Because kratom have such a wide array of effects and it doesn’t affect everyone equally, it is not possible to do a definitive list the best kratom strains for beginners. Instead, we will provide you with some useful tips that will help you choose the best kratom strain for you.
Go Green
Green kratom strains are a great choice for beginners. They relieve pain, promote euphoria, and have energizing effects. While milder than white and red strains, green varieties are still very potent. If you are looking for a versatile strain, we recommend you try Green Malay kratom. This kratom strain is an all-time favorite among kratom users thanks to its analgesic properties and euphoric effects. Green Maeng Da is another good choice to start with green kratom strains.
Avoid sedative strains
Even if you want to use kratom for relaxation, kratom newbies should avoid strains that are too sedative. Of course, if you want to use kratom for pain relief chances are that you turn to red strains. Some of these strains, such as Red Borneo or Red Bali, have strong sedating effects that may turn out too potent for new users (or even cause drowsiness). Thus, even if you are looking for relaxation or pain relief, we recommend you use milder strains, such as Red Hulu or Red Maeng Da, which are also very potent and effective.
Think of What You Are Going to Use Kratom for
This seems obvious, but knowing what you are going to use kratom for is crucial. As we mentioned above, white strains are better for energy and euphoria, while red strains are usually the best choice for relaxation and pain relief. Nevertheless, all kratom strains are analgesic and euphoric, even if at different levels. Thus, when thinking about kratom strains for beginners, you should always consider what you want to use it for.
Avoid Kratom Extracts
Kratom extracts and enhanced kratom (such as Ultra Enhanced Indo kratom) are more potent than regular kratom powder. Therefore, if you are a kratom newbie you should avoid these products. These products are very potent and if you’re not familiar with kratom you could find it difficult to manage the dosage and the effects.
Try Variety Packs
Kratom variety packs (or sample packs) are a great choice for new users. They will provide you with a different set of kratom strains that will help you choose which one works best for you. Furthermore, changing kratom strains frequently reduces the risks of tolerance.
What is the Right Dosage for Kratom Newbies?
Kratom alkaloids are very peculiar: they are more energizing at low doses, but more sedating at high doses. That said, if you are new to kratom you should use low doses.
The recommendable kratom dosage for beginners is 2 grams. If you don’t notice any effects after 30 minutes, you can take a small extra dose (like 0.5 g). Once you become more familiar with kratom (or if you realize that this dosage never has any effect on you), you can start increasing your dosage gradually if that amount is not enough. This is a kratom dosage guide that can help you:
- 2 grams: Starting dose for beginners
- 2 – 4 grams: Generally, a low dose
- 4 – 5 grams: Moderate dose
- 5 – 8 grams: Very high dose
The higher the dose, the more sedative kratom will be. Plus, when you use high doses, the risks of building up kratom tolerance and of experiencing kratom side effects grow quickly. So, keeping a moderate approach is very important if you want to avoid tolerance and side effects. Kratom side effects include constipation, dizziness, migraine, or even eye wobbles. Therefore, you should avoid high doses as long as you can.
