Kratom or Mitragyna speciosa is an evergreen tree native to various South East Asian countries. Although it is a very popular plant in the areas where it comes from, it is still quite a stranger in most Western countries. Nevertheless, it has become very popular in the United States in recent times, due to some controversy around it. In fact, there have been a couple of attempts to include it as a Schedule I substance of the Controlled Substance Act. But, thanks to the efforts of many kratom advocates, these attempts have been stopped. Despite all the above, kratom is still new to many people who very often feel overwhelmed when they want to try it for themselves. One of the main issues that new kratom users find, is that most vendors won’t give recommendations on how to take kratom. This is mainly due to the fact that this substance is not FDA approved as a supplement, so they can’t give advice on kratom consumption. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of kratom’s typical ways of consumption, so you can decide the best ways to take kratom for you.
Kratom Formats
You can find kratom in the market in various formats. The best format for you will depend on your needs. Whilst some people prefer taking a kratom tea, others rather avoid its bitter and earthy taste and take kratom capsules.
The most common formats that you can find in the market include:
- kratom powder
- enhanced kratom powder
- kratom extracts
- stem and vein
- kratom tincture
There is no general rule to what the best format is, this will depend on your preferences. Also, depending on the kratom format that you chose, the method of consumption will differ.
What are the Best Ways to Take Kratom?
There are various ways to take kratom and there is no general opinion on what the best way is to take it. The best way to take it will depend on your preferences and also on the format that you use. But, let’s have a look at the different methods of consumption so you can decide which one will work better for you.
Toss and Wash Method
Toss and wash is one of the most popular methods of consumption among experienced users. Basically, it consists of taking a spoonful of kratom powder and scooping it into your mouth. Then, you’ll need to take a big glass of water and swish it around your mouth to avoid it to clump together and swallow it. And remember to measure your dose before!
If you find that this method is too difficult for you, you can divide your kratom powder into smaller portions and repeat the process until you have taken your whole dose.
The disadvantage of this method is that you will be taking raw powder, so it won’t be previously boiled to get rid of contaminants.
Kratom Tea
Brewing kratom into a tea is one of the most common ways of consumption. It consists of taking your desired amount of powder and pour it into a pot filled with water and let it simmer for a few minutes (typically 10-15 minutes). After that, pour it into a cup through a strainer to get rid of any powder particles. You can also use this leftover material later to do another less potent tea.
The advantage of this method is that letting kratom simmer for a few minutes will help getting rid of potential contaminants that might be present in the powder. On the other hand, the disadvantage of tea would be the bitter taste that it has.
Kratom Capsules
Taking kratom capsules is one of the most convenient ways to enjoy its properties for those who don’t want to feel its taste. Although there are many vendors who don’t offer this format, you can easily make your own capsules at home.
The problem with this method of consumption is that, like toss and wash, kratom won’t be boiled before consumption, so it’s not the best way to get rid of possible contaminants that might be present in the powder.
Kratom Tincture
In order to use kratom tincture, you should use a dropper to be able to measure the dosage. The most common way to consume tincture is by placing the kratom dose under the tongue. Then, you should allow it to be absorbed by your mouth and avoid swallowing it.
The downside to this method is that many consider tincture too bitter. So, in order to avoid its taste, you can also dissolve your dosage into juices or mix it with yogurt. Nevertheless, if you chose to drink it in a juice, be careful not to choose grapefruit, as this can enhance kratom’s effects which can be potentially dangerous.
Chewing Kratom’s Leaves
The indigenous people of Thailand, Indonesia and other areas of South East Asia used to chew kratom’s leaves to feel its properties. Some users who have tried this method, report that chewing kratom leaves can extract its alkaloids more effectively and that the effects are more potent. Nevertheless, it is not easy to find raw kratom leaves in the market. Also, it is harder to measure the dosage when using this method.
Kratom Dosage
Once you’ve decided what is the best way to take kratom for you, you’ll need to pay close attention to the dosage.
Although there is no general rule on kratom’s dosage, there is common knowledge that it is typically more stimulant and energizing at lower doses, whilst more calming at larger ones. And it can even be sedating when the dosage is too high. Also, the dosage will depend on the variety or strain that you are using. Whilst white strains are typically more energizing, red varieties are more calming and relaxing. On the other hand, green kratom is a more rounded type that has properties of the other two. That’s why many users mix it with the white or red types to improve their properties.
When taking kratom for the first time, you should start at a lower dose. Then, start increasing the following days until you find the effects that you are looking for. Generally speaking, the typical dosages will be as follows:
- Starting dosage for newbies: 1-3 grams. If you don’t feel any effects during the first 4 hours, you can increase the dose by 0.5 grams.
- Low dose: typically, a low dose will be around 2-4 grams.
- Moderate dose: 4-5 grams. With this dose, you should be able to feel kratom’s painkilling properties.
- High dose: 5-8 grams. You’ll typically feel kratom’s sedative effects and it’s more effective when dealing with opiate withdrawal symptoms. But, keep in mind that this can be a too high dose to many users.
It is highly recommended not to exceed the above users to avoid developing tolerance.
Finally, remember that if you are using extracts or enhanced kratom, you’ll need to lower the dosage. These are more potent types, so you must be careful with the dose when using them.
