Kratom is a popular herb among individuals suffering from conditions such as pain and anxiety. Additionally, it is praised for its opioid-like effects, which makes it an herb of choice among people who seek natural alternatives to synthetic opioids, or just want to get off them completely. But there are places where kratom has been prohibited, so people don’t have access to it. For this reason, it is necessary for some individuals to look for kratom alternatives to ease their conditions.
One of kratom’s closest relative is Mitragyna Hirsuta. But is Mitragyna Hirsuta a good kratom alternative? Does it have the same properties and effects? Let’s explore both below to understand their differences and similarities if any.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa, is an evergreen tree that grows in the rainforests of many South East Asian countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, and Borneo. The tree belongs to the Rubiaceae family, which is the same as the coffee tree. That’s why kratom and coffee share some common properties.
The kratom tree can grow to 82 ft, and its leaves are harvested and processed into a fine powder, which is what we commonly see in the market.
In their countries of origin, the local population has used kratom for centuries, or even thousands of years for a number of purposes. But, probably, the most popular use was among laborers who wanted to increase their energy to face long working days. In the US, kratom was introduced only a few decades ago, but its popularity spiked in recent times. Here, the plant has different uses that we’ll see below.
Kratom Properties and Effects
Kratom has a wide variety of uses and effects so people take it for different purposes. The most popular kratom uses include:
- Analgesic: kratom’s alkaloids have powerful analgesic properties, since they bind to the opioid receptors of the brain. However, the plant is not an opioid.
- Stimulating: like its cousin coffee, kratom has stimulating and energizing effects. For this reason, users typically drink a white kratom tea in the mornings to get stamina and motivation for their daily jobs.
- Relaxing: kratom has relaxing and calming effects that can help ease conditions like anxiety. It also helps relax the muscles and help achieve better sleep.
Additionally, many individuals who want to get off dangerous opioids use this plant. As we already mentioned, kratom binds to the same receptors as opioids do. For this reason, kratom can alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of opiate withdrawal. At the same time, the plant doesn’t have the most dangerous side effect of opioids, which is respiratory depression. On the other hand, people who use kratom to get off opioids report that, contrary to opioids, kratom allows them to work and socialize normally.
What Is Mitragyna Hirsuta?
As you may have guessed by its name, Mitragyna Hirsuta (also known as Kra Thum Khok) is a very close relative to kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa). It also grows in the South East Asia region, including Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. In fact, Thai locals turned to this plant after the kratom ban in the country.
Like kratom, the plant is a tall tree that belongs to the Rubiaceae family. And like its cousin, traditionally locals have used its leaves to get a sense of stimulation.
Mitragyna Hirsuta Properties and Effects
Mitragyna hirsuta is a lesser-known plant than its cousin kratom, and it holds its own set of properties and effects, including:
- Stimulant and energizing: like kratom, Mitragyna hirsuta belongs in the coffee family. For this reason, it has stimulating, energizing and euphoric properties.
- Analgesic: the plant also has pain-relieving effects. In fact, it has been traditionally used in its region for this purpose.
- Anxiety relief: Mitragyna hirsuta also has soothing and relaxing properties that may help cope with anxiety.
So, is Mitragyna Hirsuta a good kratom alternative? Keep reading below to find out.
Is Mitragyna Hirsuta a Good Kratom Alternative?
Since they belong to the same family and genus, both kratom and Mitragyna Hirsuta share common properties and effects. That means that there are many Mitragyna hirsuta similarities to kratom. They are very similar in appearance and taste, and you can ingest both in the same way: brewing the leaf powder to prepare a tea.
As we’ve mentioned above, both herbs have stimulating, energizing, anxiety-relieving, and analgesic properties. But is Mitragyna Hirsuta a good kratom alternative? Are M. hirsuta similarties to kratom enough to make Mitragyna hirsuta a good kratom alternative? The answer to this will depend on the access that you have to each plant. Since kratom has been prohibited in some areas, Mitragyna Hirsuta is a great alternative for those who don’t have access to it. However, if you use kratom often, you’ll find Mitragyna Hirsuta’s effects to be milder than kratom’s. Additionally, you may need larger doses of Mitragyna Hirsuta to feel the same effects.
So, if you don’t have access to kratom, why not try Mitragyna Hirsuta instead? Have you already tried it yourself? Do you think Mitragyna Hirsuta is a good kratom alternative? Let us know in the comment section below!
