Knowing how to use kratom properly is essential to avoid kratom side effects and tolerance. While keeping a kratom diary may not sound as a key measure, it is still a very effective way to prevent the negative effects of kratom. A kratom journal will help you check which kratom strains work best for you or which dosage you should use. And keeping your own diary is so easy! In this article, you will learn how to keep a kratom diary. It is very simple, yet very effective!
What Is Kratom Used for?
Kratom refers both to Mitragyna speciosa, a Southeast Asian tree, and to the powder made of M. speciosa leaves. This kratom powder seems to have many effects thanks to the alkaloids that the leaves contain. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are the most important kratom alkaloids. In the case of mitragynine, it is the most abundant alkaloid. But 7-hydroxymitragynine, while not so abundant, is perhaps the most potent kratom alkaloid.
Kratom alkaloids bind to your opioid receptors. Despite their name, opiates and opioids are not the only substances that activate these receptors. So, although its alkaloids activate the opioid receptors, kratom is not an opioid. By binding to the opioid receptors, kratom can trigger the following effects:
- Pain relief
- Relaxation
- Euphoria
- Stimulation
- Sedation
Hence, kratom has become a common remedy for alleviating:
- Chronic pain
- Symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Stress
- Insomnia
Moreover, kratom seems to have uplifting effects and could even improve concentration and focus. So, it is only natural that kratom has become a common product for millions of people.
Kratom Side Effects and Kratom Tolerance
Despite its benefits, kratom can also cause side effects, including:
- Constipation
- Dehydration
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Nausea and stomach upset
- Headaches and migraines
- Eye wobbles
Very often, these side effects are due to an incorrect use of kratom. Thus, inappropriate doses (that is, large doses) and frequent consumption may easily result in side effects. But the kratom strains you use and whether you are using regular kratom powder or extracts may also influence the side effects. For example, kratom extracts, while more potent than regular kratom, may also increase the risks of suffering from side effects.
But if you take kratom very often, you’ve got all the chances to build a tolerance to kratom. That means that you will need larger doses to notice the effects of kratom. Also, you will have to keep on increasing your dosage in every take. So, in the end, it all becomes a vicious circle.
Therefore, it is crucial to be cautious with both the dosage and the frequency of kratom consumption. But you should also take a close look at the type of kratom that you are using. And it is here when keeping a kratom diary can come in handy, as we will see in the next section.
How to Keep a Kratom Diary
Keeping a kratom diary may not look like a key step to protect yourself from side effects or tolerance. However, you should not underestimate its value. A kratom journal will help you establish factors like:
- What is the best dosage for you?
- When should you take your kratom?
- What kratom strains are best for you?
Knowing these factors can help you use kratom correctly and avoid side effects and prevent kratom tolerance.
If you want to keep a kratom diary, you can keep a record of many factors related to your kratom consumption. Keeping a journal of your kratom experiences will help you improve those experiences by being able to select the best dosage, strain, and how to take kratom. These tips will help you keep a kratom diary:
- Write your experience each time you consume kratom, at least at the beginning. This is especially important if you are a kratom newbie.
- Keep it organized and follow a pattern. That is, do not write things down as they come to your mind. Instead, write them in an organized way.
- Read your diary. The purpose of this diary is to help you use kratom better, so you should read the facts and figures that you include to learn how kratom works best for you.
- While there are many facts that you could include in your kratom diary, write down at least the facts that we will show you below. These facts will help you use your kratom more effectively.
1. Your Kratom Dosage
Keeping a record of your kratom doses is very important to use kratom safely. You may think that you may remember them, but it may not be always the case. So, measure your kratom dose before consuming it. Use a kitchen scale that is accurate enough to weigh such a small amount as a dosage of kratom.
2. Your Kratom Strain and Type
Each kratom type and strain may have different effects. That is why your kratom experience may vary a lot depending on the kratom strain that you use. For example, white strains are more energizing, whilst red kratom strains tend to be more relaxing. Also, if you are using extracts or enhanced kratom the experience will also be different. And if you mix different kratom strains, you should write down the “recipes” of these combinations accurately.
3. The Consumption Method
How you take your kratom (your consumption method) will also influence how kratom will affect you. For example, kratom capsules, convenient as they are, may have a slower onset because your body needs to absorb the capsule first. On the other hand, some methods might be more linked to certain side effects than others.
3. The Onset
You should also record when you start noticing the effects of kratom. This fact may vary depending on the dosage, the strain, and the consumption method. Write down when you start noticing the effects and how they intensify as time passes.
4. The Effects
This is perhaps the most important fact for kratom users. What effects are you noticing? Are they always the same? O do they change? How do they vary depending on the strain? Writing down the effects that you feel, and their potency is one of the most important things to record if you intend to keep a kratom diary.
5. The Duration of the Effects
Knowing how long the effects last is very important to establish your dosage and to choose the right kratom strain. Hence, when you keep a kratom diary, you should write down the duration of the effects. Again, keep in mind that these effects may vary depending on different factors.
Remember that the reason to keep a kratom diary is to help you establish the best doses, strains, combinations to get the most of your kratom experiences. And what about you? Do you keep a kratom diary? What other things do you record? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments section or in our social media accounts: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
