Do you know the benefits of kratom for your mental health? Millions of people use kratom to cope with many issues and ailments, ranging from chronic pain to opiate withdrawal. But kratom can also ease the symptoms of depression and anxiety. And there are many other ways that this leaf can help you improve your mental health. In this post, you will learn what kratom can do for your mental well-being.
How Does Kratom Work?
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is an evergreen tree that grows in Southeastern Asia. This tree belongs in the Rubiaceae family, along with coffee or gardenia. For many generations, people from Indonesia and other Asian countries have used the leaves of kratom to get an energy boost or to relieve pain.
Nowadays, we know that kratom contains many alkaloids (such as mitragynine or 7-OHM) that act on your nervous and your opioid system. Yes, we have an opioid system. The opioid system consists of opioid receptors and opioid peptides (endogenous opioids) that your body produces. The endogenous opioids (such as endorphins or dynorphins) activate the opioid receptors. When this occurs, your body feels different kinds of effects, such as pain relief, relaxation or euphoria. Opioids and opiates mimic the action of endogenous opioids and produce similar effects.
However, there are many other substances that activate your opioid receptors. Dark chocolate, dairy products, gluten, and even spinach also have compounds that act on these receptors. And they are not opioids. Kratom is also an opioid receptor agonist, but unlike opioids, kratom does not cause respiratory depression, which is the main cause of death of opiates. So, that means that kratom is not dangerous when used properly.
Kratom for Your Mental Health: Kratom for Depression
Millions of people must cope with the symptoms of depression. Depression is a serious mental illness and its symptoms range from a constant feeling of sadness to lack of energy. In some cases, depression can also lead to suicidal thoughts.
There are many factors that may lead to depression. However, the causes of depression are not clear yet. Maybe that’s why there is no cure for depression. Sadly, current treatments for depression are not aimed at curing it for good. Instead, they address its symptoms. That is also what kratom does.
Kratom relieves the symptoms of depression, but it will not cure the disease. Thanks to its energizing and euphoric properties, white and green kratom strains are the best choice for depression. You should use them at low doses to strength their stimulating effects and to avoid sedation. But if you are already under medical treatment for depression, talk to your doctor before consuming kratom. The combination of kratom and antidepressants might cause dangerous interactions.
Kratom for Your Mental Health: Kratom for Anxiety
There are many types of anxiety disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic anxiety disorder (PTSD), social phobia (or social anxiety), panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are arguably the most common types of anxiety disorders. There are specific symptoms to each of these disorders. Nonetheless, in general, they all share common symptoms, such as:
- Constant nervousness
- Rapid heart rate
- Difficulty focusing
- Hyperventilation
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Worrisome thoughts
The relaxing properties of kratom can help you cope with these symptoms. Generally speaking, red strains are better to cope with GAD and panic disorders. On the other hand, if you are suffering from social anxiety, kratom users usually recommend white or green kratom strains. And again, do not mix kratom with anxiolytics.
Other Ways to Improve Your Mental Health with Kratom
Kratom can also improve your mental well-being even if you are not suffering from anxiety or depression. If you are coping with pain, you will find the analgesic properties of kratom incredibly helpful. Thousands of individuals can now go on with their lives thanks to kratom. And that also helps their mental health.
Moreover, kratom has potent euphoric effects that will boost your mood and help you feel happier.
Recommendable Kratom Dosage
Whilst kratom is a safe product, it can also have unpleasant side effects. Kratom side effects include constipation, dizziness, migraines, dehydration or eye wobbles. Very often, these side effects are the result of inappropriate doses. Therefore, you must be careful with the doses.
If you don’t know how to start, you can follow this kratom dosage guide:
- New users: 2g
- Low doses: 2-4g
- Moderate doses: 4-5g
- High doses: 5-8g
- Very high doses (not recommendable!): More than 8g
If you opt for using kratom extracts or ultra-enhanced kratom, these dosages should be lower. You can read our article about kratom doses to learn more about this topic.
